FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
"7 
l l l l - 2 : y  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
S.B. 
No. 
584 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Land is the ultimate resource, for without it, life on earth cannot be sustained, and thus, 
good stewardship of the land is essential for present and future generations. 
The world's population has doubled in the last 40 years and passed the 6 billion mark. It 
is predicted to reach 8.5 billion by the year 2030, a population level thought by many scientists 
to be the maximum number of people supported by the world's resources and capacity for food 
production. Less than half of the world's population has secure access to land. Women, who 
comprise roughly half the world's population, and 70 percent (70%) of whom live in poverty, own 
less than one percent (1%) of the world's wealth. This statistics only highlights the role of a 
good land administration system, not only to boost economic growth, improve access to land but 
also for sustainable development. 
The International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) in cooperation with the United Nations 
hosted the "Bathurst Workshop on Land Tenure and Cadastral Infrastructures for Sustainable 
Development" in Australia in October, 1999 and concluded that sustainable development is just 
rhetoric without appropriate land administration system. The Bathurst declaration recommends 
a global commitment to provide effective legal security of tenure and access to property for all 
men and women and to provide reforms in the land administration system essential for 
sustainable development and facilitating full and equal access for men and women to land- 
related economic opportunities, such as credit and natural resources. 
The performance, however, of government agencies undertaking land administration 
functions such as land surveys, mapping, classification, titling and disposition and registration is 
below par. The services being provided by these agencies are not contributing to address our 
domestic problems on sustainable development, much more to the global concerns. The 
problem is largely contributed by fundamental legal and institutional defects in both the structure 
and operations of the land administration system. For one, there are many laws governing the 
land administration functions including the existence of a number of institutions administering 
our scarce land resources resulting to confusions, delays, high transactions costs (government 
and users), low investment, and graft and corruption. 
These institutional and structural defects in land administration besides not contributing 
to the sustainable development of natural resources have also given rise to major inefficiencies 
including extensive delays in the disposition and titling of alienable and disposable land, 
inaccurate and incomplete land information and records, duplicate and fake titles, duplication 
and overlap of activities between government agencies, and unnecessary costs to both the 
national and local governments and the userslclients of land administration services. 
To address these problems, the Government has been undertaking a Land 
Administration and Management Project preparatory to a long-term program to fundamentally 
reform the present land administration system, thereby promoting sustainable development, 
economic growth, and poverty alleviation. 
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However, there is a widespread agreement that a fundamental prerequisite for the 
pursuit of the necessary reforms is the consolidation and streamlining within a single 
government agency of land administration powers and functions currently dispersed across the 
Department of Justice's 
Land Registration Authority and Registries of Deeds and the 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Lands Management Bureau, Land 
Management Services in the regional, provincial and community offices, National Mapping and 
Resource Information Authority, and CARP Secretariat and its field offices. 
The integration of these agenciesloffices into a single agency will: 
Implement the necessary reforms in the land administration system to enable to 
provide land information and services necessary to pursue sustainable management 
of natural resources, among others; 
Enable the integrated planning, budgeting and implementation of the long- term land 
titling program, including the development of integrated land classification, land titling 
and records management; 
Provide the necessary management structure for the creation and extension of a 
One-Stop Shop network for the delivery of land titling, registration and information 
services to members of the public; 
Consolidate staffing patterns and training programs for government staff engaged in 
the provision of land administration services, thereby establishing the basis for the 
major training and professional development of staff needed to support the proposed 
reforms and improve their career structures and opportunities; 
Create scope to achieve significant savings through the elimination over time of 
duplicated administrative support services and other costs arising from the current 
fragmentation of land administration services; and 
Enable the development of increased transparency and enhancement of 
professionalism and accountability across the whole land administration system. 
The Philippines is unusual, compared to its neighboring countries, in that the 
government's land administration functions are currently dispersed across multiple agencies. 
Without integrating these three agencies, it will be difficult to undertake the major long-term 
investment of resources that will be necessary to implement the required overall reforms. 
The proposed Land Administration Reform Act seeks to enable the land sector to 
contribute to sustainable development, economic growth and poverty alleviation. The Bill's early 
enactment will ensure Philippines' recognition to the global efforts for sustainable development 
while providing an improved access to land and services to the majority of our Filipino people, 
especially the poor. I strongly recommend the Bill for favorable consideration by the Senate. 
.-d 
INGGO EJERCITO ESTRADA 
u
n
a
t
o
r
 
2 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
7 Jlit. -2 
t ) s  
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S.B. No. 584 
Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING REFORMS IN LAND ADMINISTRATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
ARTICLE I 
GENERAL PROVISION 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as “The Land Administration 
Reform Act of 2007”. 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
institutionalise reforms in land administration in order to optimise and rationalize their 
contribution to the goals of national development, eradication of poverty and attainment 
of social, economic and cultural justice. Towards this end, the state shall: 
Provide the leadership and management of reforms in land administration; 
Promote efficient and effective mapping, land survey, classification, disposition, 
registration and management of private and public lands; 
Undertake a comprehensive and continuing land administration program that will 
make the processes and procedures on land registration and titling affordable, 
reliable and expeditious; 
Assist in the attainment of the government‘s asset reform programs; 
Accelerate and complete the distribution, titling and registration of alienable or 
disposable lands to provide security of land tenure; 
Undertake reforms in land administration and management to ensure equitable 
distribution and full utilization and development of alienable or disposable lands; 
Improve the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and accountability of land 
administration services; 
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h) Rationalize the structure, powers and functions of the different land 
administration agencies and integrate all land administration and registration 
policies, plans, programs and projects of various government agencies to 
increase the efficiency of the land titling system of the government, with 
expeditious delivery of services that are viabie with sustainable land 
administration programs and projects; 
i) Establish a sustainable and viable administration of land through computerization 
of functions and removal of overlaps and duplication in the delivery of land 
administration services; 
j) Establish an administrative system for the cancellation of duplicate and fake titles 
and the eradication of land grabbing activities; 
k) Provide accessible, efficient and affordable land administration services to the 
people through the establishment of one-stop shops nationwide; 
I) 
Establish an effective land information system and provide easy and affordable 
access to land information by members of the public; 
m) Improve the skills of and career opportunities for government employees 
engaged in the provision of land administration services; 
n) Rationalize and clarify the entitlements of persons to land titles to make the 
process of issuing original titles fast and low-cost; 
0) Promote and support the development of a national land administration and 
management education system; 
p) Identify and reduce disincentives to the registration of property transactions; 
q) Mainstream gender in all aspects of the land administration system; and 
r) Recognize, respect, ensure participation and assist in the enforcement of land 
related rights of men and women of the basic sectors, as defined in Republic Act 
No. 8425, otherwise known as the "Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act". 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the following terms shall, 
a) "Alienable and disposable lands" refers to agricultural lands of the public domain 
which have been delineated, classified and certified as available for disposition 
under the Public Land Act. 
b) "Agricultural lands" refers to lands devoted to or suitable for the cultivation of the 
soil, planting of crops or growing of trees, and not classified as mineral land, 
forest land or national park, or sub classified as residential land, commercial land 
or industrial land. 
unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings: 
4 


c) “Automated registration system” refers to a system using appropriate technology 
for scanning, recording and land registration using electronic devices to store the 
copy of certificates of title and other documents relative thereto. 
d) “Classification and reclassification” refers to the act of Congress in setting the 
specific limits of forest lands and national parks, and increasing or decreasing 
their boundaries by law, as provided for in Article XII, Section 4 of the 1987 
Philippine Constitution. 
e) “Consulta andlor query” refers to the procedure where the Registrar of Deeds or 
the registrant may elevate the issue of registrability of certain instruments to the 
Land Registration Authority (LRA) Administrator as defined in Section 117 of 
Presidential Decree No. 1529, otherwise known as the Property Registration 
Decree. 
9 “Director General” refers to the person occupying the position of Director General 
of the Land Administration Authority created by this Act. 
g) “Land” refers to resources, both man-made and natural, found on the surface, 
h) “Land Administration and Management Project (LAMP)” refers to the project 
office providing technical and administrative support to the interagency endeavor 
of the Philippine government to identify strategic directions toward land 
administration reform in the land institutions, laws, taxes and fees, and valuation. 
i) “Land administration and public land management“ refers to the administration of 
all functions, powers and activities related to the mapping, land survey, 
classification, ownership, disposition and registration of land titles and deeds, 
and the management of public lands. 
j) “Land Management Bureau (LMB)” refers to the staff bureau of the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). 
k) “Land Management Services (LMS)” refers to the land management sector or 
below and above the ground, including inland waters and the air therein. 
offices of the DENR at the regional, provincial and district level. 
I) ”Land registration case” refers to the proceeding, either administrative or judicial, 
for registering the title to, or interest in, a land so that such title or interest 
becomes a matter for public record, and all persons who have interest in the land 
may be informed thereof, actually or constructively, and be bound thereby if they 
make no objections thereto within a specific time. 
m) “Land Registration Authority (LRA)” refers to the attached agency of the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), including the Registers of Deeds (ROD). 
5 


n) “National Mapping and Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA)” refers to the 
agency known by the name attached to the DENR. 
0) “President“ refers to the President of the Philippines. 
p) “Public Domain” refers to lands that belong to the State which may either be 
agricultural, forest or timber, mineral or national park as provided for in the 
Constitution. 
q) “Public lands” refers to lands which have not been subject to private property 
rights or subject to sale or other modes of acquisition or concession under 
general laws, and are devoted to public use. 
ARTICLE II 
CREATION OF THE LAND ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITY 
SEC. 4. Creafion of fhe Land Administration Aufhonty (LAA) - To carry out the 
purposes of this Act, the Land Administration Authority (LAA) is hereby created and 
placed under the Office of the President. It shall be the primary government agency 
responsible for land administration and public land management. 
SEC. 5. Powers and Functions of the LAA. - The LAA shall exercise the 
following powers and functions: 
a) Conduct, integrate and regulate the functions of geodetic and geophysical 
surveys, land classification surveys, mapping, aerial photography, remote 
sensing, management of resource information needed by both public and private 
sectors, and research development thereof in accordance with existing laws and 
internationally accepted norms, procedures and standards; 
b) Survey, map and maintain a database to support the determination of specific 
limits of forest lands and national parks by Congress, as provided under Section 
4, Article XI1 of the Constitution; 
c) Survey, map, maintain a database on, administer, manage and/or dispose of all 
alienable and disposable lands of the public domain and other lands, including 
foreshore and marsh lands, under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, 
as amended, otherwise known as the Public Land Act, and in accordance with 
existing laws; 
Act No. 1120, as amended, and in accordance with existing laws; 
d) Manage, sell andlor dispose the remaining Friar Lands under the provisions of 
6 


e) Manage and dispose lands of patrimonial property of the national government 
under the provisions of Act No. 3038, or such other government lands as have 
not been placed under the administration, management, control or exclusive use 
of any other government agency by legislative or executive issuance; 
f) Register original titles to land issued pursuant to Commonwealth Act No. 141, as 
amended, and subsequent dealings of registered lands under the provisions of 
Act No. 496 and Presidential Decree No. 1529, otherwise known as the Land 
Registration Act and the Property Registration Decree, respectively; 
9) Conduct, regulate and approve all types of land surveys including surveys 
intended for the implementation of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, 
Republic Act No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) and 
Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA); 
h) Prepare, issue and register all titles to land issued pursuant to Commonwealth 
Act No. 141, as amended, and subsequent dealings of registered lands including 
all types of tenure instruments intended for the implementation of the CARL and 
the IPRA; 
i) Determine, fix and collect reasonable amounts to be charged as administration 
fees, fines and penalties relative to the implementation of this Act; 
j) Formulate land administration and management policies in accordance with 
existing national laws; 
k) Promulgate rules, regulations, circulars and other administrative issuances as 
may be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act; 
I) Perform such other functions undertaken by the LRNRoD, the LMBlLMS and the 
DENR-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DENR-CARP) National 
Secretariat under Presidential Decree No. 1529 and Commonwealth Act No. 141, 
as amended; and 
m) Perform such other functions as are necessary, proper and incidental to 
Whenever any reference is made to the LRA/RoD, the LMBlLMS and the DENR- 
CARP National Secretariat under Executive Order No. 192, Presidential Decree No. 
1529 and Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, pertaining to a duly, power, 
purpose, responsibility or jurisdiction transferred to the LAA by this Act, it shall be 
deemed to be a reference to, and to mean, the LAA and the Director General of the 
LAA, as the case may be. 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee. - The LAA shall be assisted by a 
Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee composed of the following: 
a) Six representatives from the basic sectors chosen through the nomination 
b) Two representatives from the NAPC Women’s Sectoral Council; 
c) Three representatives from the private sector such as, but not limited to, real 
estate, professionalslpractitioners and the academe to be appointed by the 
President; and 
process of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC); 
d) The LAA Director General, as ex officio member. 
The President shall designate the chairperson from among the members of the 
committee. Except the LAA Director General, the members of the advisory committee 
shall not hold office in the LAA nor receive any salary but shall be entitled, for actual 
attendance during meetings, to such allowances and honoraria as are allowed by the 
rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission on Audit. 
SEC. 7. Functions of the Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee. - The committee 
shall advise the LAA on the formulation of policies and policy development pertaining to 
land administration and public land management and shall monitor their implementation. 
It shall submit, within three months following the end of each calendar year, a report to 
the President on its advisory and monitoring activities. 
SEC. 8. Meetings of the Committee. - The chairperson shall convene regular 
meetings of the committee at least once every quarter. Special meetings may also be 
called by the chairperson or at the initiative of at least three members. 
SEC. 9. Secretariat and Logistical Support. - The office of the LAA Director 
General shall provide secretariat and logistical support to the committee. 
ARTICLE 111 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM 
SEC. I O .  Structure and Organization. -The LAA shall consist of: 
a) The office of the Director General; 
b) The offices of the Deputy Directors General; 
c) The offices of the Assistant Directors General; and 
d) Field offices. 
8 


SEC. 11. The Direcfor General. - The authority and responsibility for the exercise of 
the mandate of the LAA, the accomplishment of its objectives and the discharge of its 
powers and functions shall be vested in the Director General, of cabinet rank, who shall 
be appointed by the President. The Director General shall have the following functions: 
a) Advise the President on the promulgation of rules, regulations and other 
issuances relative to land administration and public land management; 
b) Serve as ex officio - member of each division of the Land Adjudication Board 
pursuant to Section 16 hereof; 
c) Exercise appellate jurisdiction on all cases arising from conflicting land surveys, 
legal matters and consultas; 
d) Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operations of the 
LAA in accordance with the programs of the government; 
e) Promulgate rules, regulations and other issuances necessary in carrying out the 
LAA's mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and projects; 
9 Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of the LAA; 
g) Delegate authority over all powers, functions and activities of the LAA; and 
h) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
President. 
SEC. 12. Office of fbe Director General. - The office of the Director General shall 
consist of the Director General, his immediate staff and the office of the Legal Services. 
The Director General shall be appointed by the President, who shall be a member of the 
Bar with at least ten (IO) years in the practice of law. He shall have the rank, level and 
emoluments and privileges of a Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals. 
SEC. 13. Deputy Direcfors General. - The Director General shall be assisted by at 
least three Deputy Directors General who shall be appointed by the President. Upon 
recommendation of the Director General, provided that the Deputy Director Generals 
shall be officers from the ranks of existing government agencies exercising land 
administration functions, and provided further that at least one of the Deputy Directors 
General shall be a member of the bar and one geodetic engineer with at least five years 
experience in any land administration function. 
The Director General is hereby 
authorized to delineate, assign and/or reassign the respective functional areas of 
responsibility of the Deputy Directors General: Provided, That no Deputy Director 
9 


General shall be assigned primarily administrative responsibilities. Within his functional 
area of responsibility, a Deputy Director General shall have the following functions: 
a) Advise the Director General in the promulgation of administrative orders and 
b) Exercise supervision over the offices, departments or operating units, and 
c) Promulgate rules and regulations that will efficiently and effectively govern the 
other issuances with respect to his area of responsibility; 
officers and employees under his responsibility; 
activities of the units under his responsibility: 
d) Coordinate the functions and activities of the units under his responsibility with 
those of other units under the responsibility of other Deputy Directors General: 
e) Exercise authority on substantive and administrative matters related to the 
functions and activities of the units under his responsibility as may be delegated 
by the Director General: and 
f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
Director General. 
SEC. 14. Assistant Directors General. - The Director General and Deputy Directors 
General shall be assisted by five Assistant Directors General in the formulation, 
management and implementation of land administration and public land management 
laws, policies, plans, programs and projects. There are hereby created the following 
departments in the Authority to be headed by the five Assistant Director Generals: 
(a) Land Administration and Management Department shall assume the 
functions currently undertaken by the Land Management Bureau 
(LMB), the Land Management Services (LMS), the National Mapping 
and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), LRA-CARP, Housing 
and Land Regulatory Board (HULRB) and the DENR-CARP National 
Secretariat and such other functions as may be assigned by the 
Administrator, 
(b) Department on Registration, with the following functions: 
1, Verification/examination of all documents forwarded by the Court 
relative to land registration proceedings. 
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2. Preparation of decrees of registration pursuant to final land 
registration proceedings such as 
preparation of reports, 
manifestation and the like. 
3. Extends assistance to court in ordinary and cadastral land 
registration proceedings such as 
preparation of 
reports, 
manifestation and the like. 
4. Issuance of the needed certifications by the DENR, DAR and 
HLURB in connection with their functions relative to issuance of 
patent, CLOAs and condominium certificate of title, respectively. 
(c) Financial Management Department, with the following functions: 
1. Preparation of the annual and special budget of the Authority, and 
consequently, budget execution and control of funds. 
2. Give technical advice on fiscal matters. 
3. Submit performance and fiscal reports. 
4. Maintain and keep the books of accounts of the Authority. 
5. Undertake regular management studies of the Authority 
organizational structure, manpower and operations. 
6, Preparation of Agency Work and Financial Plans. 
7. Preparation of Agency reportslbudget hearing materials for the 
approval of 
Agency 
Annual Budget by the 
House of 
Representatives and the Senate. 
(d) Administrative & Personnel Management Department, with the 
following functions: 
1. Implements memoranda and circulars promulgated by the 
Administrator with regard to personnel services and requirements. 
2. Execution direction, control and supervision over all employees 
and activities pertaining to: 
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a) Personnel services. 
b) Systematic filing and custody of records and documents. 
c) Procurement, distribution and custody of office supplies and 
equipment. 
d) Maintaining of security, hygiene and other healthful 
conditions in the office building and premises. 
(e) Legal Affairs Department, with the following functions: 
1. Acts as counsel of the authority and the Land Registration Offices. 
2. Reviews, studies and replies to legal queries. 
3. Reviews pleadings and represents the Authority in Court. 
4. Reviews drafts of resolution to consultas before final review by the 
Deputy Administrator for Operations. 
5. Conducts inspection of Land Registration Offices. 
6. Reviews investigation reports on complaints submitted to the 
Authority against erring Land Registration Officers, the employees, 
and also of the Central Office. 
7. Assist the Department of Agrarian Reform in the land reform 
program of the government by determining which landholdings are 
deemed legal for the purpose of transferring the same to rightful 
tenantslbeneficiaries. 
SEC. 15. Field Offices. - The LAA shall establish permanent field offices at the 
region, city and provincial levels. The LAA may also establish additional field offices in 
a city or province as it may determine for the efficient and effective delivery of its 
services subject to the approval of the President: Provided, That the additional field 
offices may be abolished by the Director General when these are no longer necessary. 
The field offices shall undertake, among others, the following functions: 
a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations of the 
LAA on land administration and public land management; 
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b) Provide efficient and effective delivery of services to the people; 
c) Coordinate with field or branch offices of other agencies of the government in the 
region and with local government units in the enforcement of land administration 
and public land management laws and regulations and in the formulation and 
implementation of programs and projects; 
d) Recommend and, upon approval, implement programs and projects on land 
administration and management and related concerns; 
e) Conduct a comprehensive inventory of alienable and disposable lands of the 
public 
domain 
and 
of 
patrimonial 
properties 
and 
formulate 
districffprovinciallregional short-and long-term development plans for the 
management, administration, utilization and disposition of such lands toward 
national development; and 
9 Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Director General and/or 
as provided by law. 
SEC. 16. Regional, Provincial and City Land Registration Offices. - The LAA shall 
establish permanent field offices at regional city and provincial levels. The LAA may 
also establish additional field offices in a city or province as it may determine for the 
efficient and effective delivery of its services subject to the approval of the President: 
Provided, That said additional field offices may be abolished by the Director General 
when no longer necessary. 
SEC. 17. Regional Land Registration Officer and Assisfanf Land Registration 
Officer, Qualifications. - The Regional Land Registration Officer and Assistant Land 
Registration Officer must be a member of bar with at least ten (IO) years experience in 
any land registration function. 
In order not to disrupt the operations of the authority, the incumbent Regional Land 
Registration Officer shall be in charge of the Authority in his region during the transition 
period and shall be assisted by his Assistant Land Registration Officer. 
SEC. 18. Provincial/City Land Registration Officer and Deputy Provincial/City Land 
Registration Officer, and his Deputies, Qualifications. - 
The ProvinciallCity Land 
Registration Officer and his Deputy must be a member of the bar, and who has been 
engaged in the practice of law at least five (5) or has been employed for a like period in 
any branch of government with land administration function. 
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In order not to disrupt the operations of the authority, the incumbent ProvinciallCity 
Land Registration Officer shall be in charge of the Authority in their respective cities and 
provinces during the transition period and shall be assisted by his Deputy ProvinciallCity 
Land Registration Officer. 
SEC. 19. Functions of Regisfrafion Officer. - The field offices shall undertake, 
among others, the following functions: 
a) The ProvinciaKity Land Registration Officer shall head a Field Office and shall 
be accountable to the Regional Land Registration Officer. The Land Registration 
Officer shall directly administer programs in hislher jurisdictional area and ensure 
their proper implementation. 
b) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations of the 
LAA on land administration and public land management; 
c) Provide efficient and effective delivery of services to the people; 
d) Coordinate with field or branch offices of other agencies of the government in the 
region and with local government units in the enforcement of land administration 
and public land management laws and regulations and in the formulation and 
implementation of programs and projects. 
ARTICLE IV 
LAND ADJUDICATION BOARD 
SEC. 20. Creafion of fhe Land Adjudicafion Board (LAB). - There is hereby created 
a Land Adjudication Board (LAB) that shall exercise primary jurisdiction to determine 
and adjudicate land administration and public land management matters. The LAB shall 
have exclusive original jurisdiction over all matters involving the implementation of laws, 
rules and regulations on land administration and public land management including but 
not limited to the following: 
a) Petitions for the correction of clerical or typographical errors committed in writing, 
copying, transcribing or typing of an entry in the maps, survey plans and 
certificates of land titles; 
b) Petition for change of civil status; 
c) Petition for correction of technical description on the certificate of title; 
d) Petition for issuance of new owner's duplicate copy of certificate of title; 
e) Reconstitution of lost or destroyed certificates of title; 
f) Petition for cancellation of annotations wrongfully carried over. 
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Except those cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Department of Land Reform 
(DLR) unless specifically provided herein. 
The LAB shall be divided into three divisions. Each division shall exercise equal 
powers, independently resolving cases raised on appeal from the decisions of the Local 
Land Adjudication Boards, created pursuant to Section 18 hereof, from Luzon, Visayas 
and Mindanao: Provided, That the divisions assigned to handle cases from Visayas 
and Mindanao shall hold permanent office in any of the cities therein. 
SEC. 21. Composition. - Each division of the LAB shall be composed of three 
permanent members who shall be appointed by the President: Provided, That the 
Director General of the LAA shall sit as ex officio or fourth member of each division. 
The permanent members of each division shall elect their presiding officer. 
SEC. 22. Local Land Adjudication Board. - The LAB shall create a Local Land 
Adjudication Board in the provincial or city office which shall be composed of three 
members who shall be appointed by the LAB. Decisions, orders and resolutions of the 
Local Land Adjudication Board shall be raised on appeal to the LAB. 
SEC. 23. Budget and Administrative Support. - The LAB shall determine and 
propose its budgetary requirements and shall be submitted as part of the LAA's budget 
request. 
Disbursements of the approved budget resources shall be the sole 
responsibility of the LAB. Secretariat services shall be provided by the LAA. 
SEC. 24. Proceedings and Procedures. - The LAB shall not be bound by technical 
rules of procedure and evidence but shall proceed to hear and decide all cases, 
disputes or controversies in a most expeditious manner, employing all reasonable 
means to ascertain the facts of every case in accordance with justice and equity and the 
merits of the case. Towards this end, it shall adopt if uniform rules of procedure to 
achieve a just, expeditious and inexpensive determination of merits: Provided, That it 
shall endeavor to settle disputes and controversies amicably. 
In the exercise of its functions, the LAB shall have the power to summon witnesses, 
administer oaths, take testimony, require submission of reports, compel the production 
of books and documents and answers to interrogatories, issue subpoena and subpoena 
duces tecum and enforce its writs through sheriffs or other duly deputized officers. It 
shall punish direct and indirect contempt in the same manner and subject to the same 
penalties as provided for in the Rules of Court. 
15 


Responsible persons shall be allowed to represent themselves or their organizations 
in any proceedings before the LAB: Provided, however, That when there are two or 
more representatives for any individual or group, the representatives should choose 
only one from among themselves to represent such party or group before any 
proceedings. 
SEC. 25. Finality of Deferminafion. - Any case or controversy before the LAB shall 
be decided within thirty (30) days after it is submitted for resolution. Only one motion for 
reconsideration shall be allowed. Moreover, any order, award, ruling or decision shall 
be final after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from receipt by the parties of a copy thereof. 
SEC. 26. Frivolous Appeals. - To discourage frivolous or dilatory appeals from the 
decisions, awards, rulings or orders, the LAB may impose reasonable penalties 
including, but not limited to, fines or censures upon erring parties. 
ARTICLE V 
JUDICIAL REVIEW 
SEC. 27. Certiorari - Any decision, order, award or ruling of the LAA on any 
dispute or on any matter pertaining to the application, implementation enforcement or 
interpretation of this Act and other pertinent laws on land administration and public land 
management may be brought to the Court of Appeals by certiorari within fifteen (15) 
days from the receipt of a copy thereof. 
The findings of the fact of the LAA shall be final and conclusive if based on 
substantial evidence. 
SEC. 28. 
Restraining Order or Preliminary Injuncfion. - Only the Court of 
Appeals and the Supreme Court of the Philippines shall have jurisdiction to issue any 
restraining order or writ of preliminary injunction against the LAA or any of its duly 
authorized or designated offices in any case, dispute or controversy arising from, 
necessary to, or in connection with the application, implementation, enforcement or 
interpretation of this Act and other pertinent laws on land administration and public land 
management. 
SEC. 29. Procedure on Review. - Review by the Court of Appeals or the 
Supreme Court, as the case may be, shall be governed by the Rules of Court. The 
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Court of Appeals, however, may require the parties to file simultaneous memoranda 
within a period of fifteen (15) days from notice, after which the case is deemed 
submitted for decision. 
ARTICLE VI 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 
SEC. 30. Transfer of Powers. - The powers and functions of the LAA heretofore 
vested by law in the DENR, the DOJ, the LRNRoD, the LMBILMS, the DENR-CARP 
National Secretariat and the LAMP, or in any office within or attached to these agencies, 
are hereby transferred to and vested in the office of the vI\A Director General. 
SEC. 31. Transfer of the NAMRIA as an Attached Agency of the LAA. - The 
NAMRIA is hereby attached to the LAA. It shall retain its functions, structure, budgetary 
allocation under the current General Appropriations Act and all properties, equipment 
and other facilities necessary in the performance of its mandate. 
SEC. 32. Organization of fhe LAA. - The LAA’s organizational and administrative 
structure and functions and staffing pattern, which shall not exceed the total number of 
permanent positions that have been merged, including the personnel’s duties and 
responsibilities and the appropriate compensation package, shall be submitted by the 
Director General for review and approval of the President and shall be fully 
implemented within a period of three months after such approval. 
SEC. 33. Status of Personnel. - To ensure a smooth transition, all incumbent 
personnel of the DENRs LMBILMS, the DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field 
offices, the LAMP and the DOJ’s LRNRoD shall continue to perform their present duties 
and functions as interim personnel of the LAA until such time, being not later than 
twelve (12) months from the effectivity of this Act, that the regular staff of the LAA, 
based on the new staffing pattern, shall have been appointed: Provided, That the 
regular personnel shall be appointed by the Director General, or hidher duly authorized 
representative, on the basis of merit, previous permanent appointment, fitness and 
seniority: Provided, moreover, That except for the positions of Director General and 
Deputy Directors General, there shall be no hiring of new personnel for the LAA. 
Provided, furthermore: 
In order not to disrupt the operation by the Authority, the 
incumbent Administrator of the Land Registration Authority shall be in charge of the 
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Authority during the transition period, who shall be assisted by the two (2) incumbent 
Deputy Administrators. 
SEC. 34. Merger of the LMEVLMS, fhe DENR-CARP National Secretariat and the 
LRNRoD. - The DENRs LMB, LMS and CARP National Secretariat and its field 
offices, and the DOJ’s Land Registration Authority and Register of Deeds are hereby 
merged. 
SEC. 35. Separation Pay and Other Benefits. - Personnel who are not offered 
appointment within twelve (12) months upon the effectivity of this Act under the new 
staffing pattern of the LAA on at least equivalent terms and conditions as their present 
employment by reason of duplication or redundancy and those who decline an 
appointment in the LAA by reason of diminution in rank and conditions shall be entitled 
to the separation pay and other benefits in accordance with Sections 10.1 to 10.3 and 
13 of Executive Order No. 366 dated October 4, 2004. 
SEC. 36. Reemployment. - Government personnel who are separated as a 
result of the integration of the aforecited offices may apply for positions and be 
employed in other agencies or branches of the government including government- 
owned andlor -controlled corporations (GOCCs), government financial institutions 
(GFls) or local government units (LGUs). 
SEC. 37. Unexpended Appropriations and Transfer of Assets. - The unexpended 
balances of appropriations in the current General Appropriations Act and other laws in 
force upon approval hereof, pertaining to, held, or used by, or unavailable, to the LRA 
and ROD, the LMB, the LMS, the DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field offices, 
and the LAMP are hereby transferred to the LAA. 
Such other unexpended balances of appropriations as may be deemed 
appropriate by the Department of Budget and Management for transfer to the LAA shall 
also be so transferred. 
All real and personal properties, assets, liabilities, records, documents, positions, 
appropriations, contracts and agreements which, upon the effectivity of this Act, are 
vested in, or owned, by the LMB/LMS, the DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its 
field offices, the LRAlRoD and the LAMP are hereby transferred to the LAA. 
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SEC. 38. Separation Fund. - There is hereby established a “one time” 
separation fund in the amount of TWO BILLION PESOS (P2,000,000,000.00) to pay the 
separation benefits herein provided: Provided, That the fund shall be used exclusively 
to pay for the separation benefits. Provided further, That within two (2) years after the 
effectivity of this Act, any unutilised amount of the separation fund shall be reverted to 
the National Treasury. 
SEC. 39. Penal Provisions. - Any person who sell forms issued and distributed 
gratuitously under this Act or who, being an officer charged with distributing them, 
refuses or fails without sufficient reason to furnish the same shall be punished for each 
offense by a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P700,000.00) and not 
more than One Million Pesos (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not less than six 
months nor more than three years, or both, at the discretion of the court. 
Any person, corporation, association or partnership which, not being qualified or 
no longer authorized to apply for registration purposes, files or induces or knowingly 
permits another person, corporation, association or partnership to file an application in 
hidher or its behalf, or for hidher or its interest, benefit or advantage shall be punished 
for each offense by a fine of not less than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO) 
or imprisonment of not less than five years, or both, at the discretion of the court: 
Provided, That in case the offender is a corporation, association or partnership, their 
responsible officials shall be deemed jointly and severally liable. The application shall 
be cancelled. 
Any person who shall, by deceit or fraud, acquire or attempt to acquire lands of 
the public domain or other real property or any right, title or interest, or property right of 
any class to the same, and any person aiding and abetting him therein or serving as a 
means or tool thereof shall, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than One 
Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlO0,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than five years 
nor more than twelve (12) years, or both, at the discretion of the court. 
Any person who shall tamper or attempt to tamper any records of the LAA that 
will result in the acquisition of rights, title or interest over real property and any person 
aiding and abetting him therein or serving as a means or tool thereof shall, upon 
conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos 
(P500,OOO.OO) and imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years, or both, at the 
discretion of the court. 
For purposes of this Act, if the offender is a public official or government official 
or employee, he or she shall be, in addition to the existing penalties, removed from 
19 


office, forfeit all retirement benefits except the monetary value of accumulated leave 
credits and be perpetually disqualified from holding any elective or appointive public 
office. 
SEC. 40. Preservation of Records. - The LAA shall have possession and control 
of all records, books, papers, offices, equipment, supplies, moneys, funds, 
appropriations, land and other property, real or personai, held for the benefit or use of 
all bodies, offices and officers whose duties, powers and functions have been 
transferred to and conferred upon the Authority. 
Pending a written notice of receipt issued by a duly authorized officer of the LAA, 
it shall be the duty of any and all personnel responsible for, or in possession of records 
relation to the affairs of the LMB, the LMS, the DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its 
field offices, the LRA and the ROD to protect and preserve such records. 
Without prejudice to any other penalties provided for by law, any person who fails 
to fulfil hidher duty pursuant to the above paragraph shall be guilty of an offense 
against the provisions of this Act, punishable by a fine of not less than One Million 
Pesos (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both, at the 
discretion of the court. 
SEC. 41. Saving Clause. - All orders, determination, rules, regulations, permits, 
certificates, licenses and privileges which have been issued, made or granted effective 
by the former5 LMB, LMS, LRA, ROD, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field 
offices, and LAMP, the functions of which are transferred by this Act to the LAA shall 
abate by reason of this Act. In like manner, no cause of action by or against such 
division or unit or by or against any officer thereof in his official capacity shall abate by 
reason of the enactment of this Act. Causes of actions, suits or other proceedings may 
be asserted for or against the LAA or such official of the LAA, as may be appropriate. 
ARTICLE VI1 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
SEC. 42. Use of Income - The LAA is hereby authorized to use twenty per cent 
(20%) of all revenues derived from fees, charges and other sources in the 
implementation of its projects. 
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SEC. 43. Assurance Fund. - A special account within the LAA is hereby created 
for the entire proceeds of the Assurance Fund, which shall no longer be paid to the 
National Treasurer as provided for in Section 94 of Presidential Decree No. 1529. 
Claims from the Assurance Fund shall be heard, decided and determined by the LAB. 
All pending cases or claims against the Assurance Fund now being handled by the 
Bureau of Treasury, through the Office of the Solicitor General, shall likewise be 
transferred to the LAB. Thereafter, the National Treasurer shall no longer be impleaded 
as party in any action against the Assurance Fund. 
SEC. 44. Indemnification of Officials and Personnel. - The LAA shall indemnify 
all officials and personnel for all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by such 
persons in connection with any civil or criminal actions, suits or proceedings to which 
they may be or made a party by reason of the performance of their functions or duties, 
unless they are finally adjudged in such actions or proceedings to be liable. 
In the event of settlement or compromise, indemnification shall be provided only 
in connection with such matters covered by the settlement as to which the LAA is 
advised by an external counsel that the persons to be indemnified did not commit any 
gross negligence or misconduct. 
The costs and expenses incurred in defending the aforementioned action, suit or 
proceeding may be paid by the LAA in advance of the final disposition of such action, 
suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Director 
General wherein the official or employee shall repay the amount advanced should it 
ultimately be determined by the LAA that such official or employee is not entitled to be 
indemnified as provided in this section. 
SEC. 45. lmplementing Rules and Regulations. -Within sixty (60) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the LAA shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement 
the provisions of this Act. 
Said rules and regulations shall be submitted to the 
Congressional Oversight Committee for approval. 
SEC. 46. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Administration 
Reform Act. - There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee 
composed of seven Members from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural 
Resources and seven Members from the House of Representatives Committees on 
Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Development, and Government Reorganization. 
21 


The Congressional Oversight Committee, which shall function for a period of not 
more than three years, shall review the implementing rules promulgated by the LAA 
including the procedures on claims against the Assurance Fund and shall oversee the 
implementation of this Act. 
The secretariat of the Congressional Oversight Committee shall be drawn from 
the existing secretariat personnel of the committees of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives comprising the oversight committee and the funding for its operations 
shall be taken from the existing budget of the concerned committees. 
SEC. 47. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or any part 
hereof be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a coyrt, the other provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect. 
SEC. 48. Repealing Clause. - The pertinent provisions of the CARL and the 
IPRA with regard to the conduct of survey, approval of survey results, preparation and 
issuance of tenure instruments, and the provisions of Presidential Decree No, 1529 
pertaining to the Assurance Fund and their implementing rules and regulations are 
hereby amended or modified accordingly. 
All other laws, decrees, orders, instructions, proclamations, rules and regulations 
or parts thereof, including pertinent provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as 
amended, Act No. 496, Presidential Decree No. 1529, Executive Order No. 192 and its 
related rules and regulations; Executive Order No. 469 dated February 11, 1981 and the 
subsequent Presidential Memorandum Circular dated September 30, 1988 and their 
related rules and regulations; and the Administrative Code of 1987, which are 
inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are hereby repealed, modified or amended 
accordingly. 
SEC. 49. Effecfivify. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved. 
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