Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

88

45
HOUSE BILLNO,

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero and Enrico A. Pineda

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There is a now an extreme demand to update the Land Registration Act and to
codify the various laws relative to registration of property, in order to facilitate
effective implementation of its mandated laws.

To strengthen the Torrens system, it is deemed necessary to adopt safeguards to
prevent anomalous titling of real property, and to streamline and simplify
registration proceedings and the issuance of certificates of title;

This House Bill seeks to promulgate decrees relative to the registration of
certificates of land transfer and emancipation patents issued pursuant to
Presidential Decree No.27 to hasten the implementation of the land reform
program of the country and establish the corresponding property registration
laws.

Earnest approval of this bill is hereby requested.
Se

ICH. L. ROMERO Ph.D we A. PINEDA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House ditto, 4588

Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero and Enrico A. Pineda

AN ACT

TO INSTITUTIONALIZE THE POWERS OF THE LAND REGISTRATION
AUTHORITY (LRA), RATIONALIZING ITS FUNCTIONS TO PROVIDE
FASTER AND MORE EFFECTIVE ADJUDICATION ON ALL LAND
REGISTRATION CONCERNS, TO PRESERVE AND MAINTAIN THE
INTEGRITY OF ALL LAND RECORDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy - i! shall be the policy of the Land
Registration Authority (LRA) to have a more efficient execution of the laws
relative to the registration of lands, geared to the massive and accelerated land

reform and social justice program of the government.

SECTION 2. Powers and Functions of the LRA:
4. To Expand the speedy and effective assistance to the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), and other


concerned agencies in the implementation of the land reform program of

the country;

2. To Expand ifs assistance to courts in ordinary or cadastral land

registration proceedings;

3. To Be the central repository of records relative to original registration of
lands titled under the Torrens system, including subdivision and

consolidation plans of this titled lands;

4. To provide its ministry the sense that they act under the orders of the
court and the decree must be in conformity with the decision of the court
and with the data found in the record, as to which they have no

discretion on the matter;

5. To refer the matter to the proper courts, If they are in doubt upon any
point in relation to the preparation and issuances of such decree. In
respect, then they act as officials of the court but their acts are the acts of
the court itself;

6. To issue this decrees of registration, as part of the judicial function and is
not compellable by mandamus because it involves the exercise of

discretion;

7. To render reports, that is not limited to the period before a decision
becomes final, but may extend ever after its finality but not beyond the

scope of one year (1) from the entry of the decree;

8. To issue decrees of registration pursuant to final judgments of the courts
in land registration proceedings and cause the issuance by the Register of

Deeds of the corresponding certificates of title;

9. To exercise supervision and control over all Registers of Deeds and other

personnel of the Commission;


10. To resolve cases elevated en consulted by, or on appeal from a

decision of a Register of Deeds;

11. To exercise executive supervision over all clerks of courts and
personnel of the CFI throughout the Philippines with respect to the

discharge of duties and functions in relation to the registration of lands;

12. To implements all orders, decision, and decrees promulgated related
fo the registration of lands and issue, subject to the approval of the

Secretary of Justice, all needful rules and regulations therefore;

13. To verify and approve subdivision, consolidation, and consolidation
subdivision survey plans of properties titled under Act 496 except those
covered by PD 957; and

14, Other Discretionary functions

SECTION 3. Administrative Provisions - The LRA shall be:

a. Headed by an Administrator, who shall be assisted by two (2) Deputy
Administrators.

b. All of whom shall be appointed by the President through the
recommendation of the Secretary of Justice.

c. All other officials except the Register of Deeds shall be appointed by

the Secretary of Justice upon recommendation of the Administrator.

SECTION 4. Constitutional Provisions — the LRA administrator functions are
plainly executive and subject to the President's power of supervision and
control. He can be investigated and removed only by the President. If the
legislature really intended to include the grant of privileges or rank or privileges
of Judges of CFl the right to be investigated by the SC, and to be suspended or

removed only upon recommendation of that court, then such grant of privileges


would be unconstitutional as it would violate then fundamental doctrine of
separation of powers. Within this resolutions is a judicial function, as contrasted

with an administrative process.

This resolutions are only binding to all Registers of Deeds and not to other parties
and assuming that it is quasi-judicial in nature, it is merely incidental or minimal to

the overall functions of the Administrator.

SECTION 5. Periodic Reports - The LRA shall submit periodic reports on its
accomplishments and expenditures and make recommendations on actions to
be taken by Congress and Senate and other appropriate departments to carry
out the objectives and mandates of this Act.

SECTION 6, Automatic Review - Every year after the effectivity of this Act,
an independent review panel composed of experts to be appointed by the
President shall review the policies, programs and expenditures in the LRA and
shall make recommendations, based on its findings, to the President and to both
Houses of Congress.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any portion
of provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining

provisions not affected thereby shall continue fo be in full force and effect.

SECTION 9. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,