Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Ctiy

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO,_165

Introduced by HON, FELICIANO R. BELMONTE, JR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Barangay Krus na Ligas (KNL) is a community in Diliman, Quezon City that has
been in existence as early as the Spanish occupation of the Philippines

. During the
1896 Philippine Revolution, the area was used as a retreat place of Andres Bonifacio
and the Katipuneros. Numerous other documents indicate the history and existence
of KNL as early as the 19% Century, preceding even the establishment of the
University of the Philippines (U.P.).

In 2 April 1949, President Elpidio Quirino sold a large parcel of land to the
University of the Philippines for one peso, which included the KNL area. Various
petitions have been made by the residents to protect their lands, but the right of
ownership remained with U.P,

From 1975 to 1981, the administration of the University of the Philippines took the
initiative to resolve twenty-six (26) cases involving U.P. and the residents of KNL.
On 28 July 1979, then U.P. President Onofre D. Corpuz recogni

ed the need to
address the issue concerning the ownership of land due to the growing number of
residents of Krus na Ligas and the U.P, Community. A number of U.P.
Administrations have also shown resolve to transfer ownership of Krus na Ligas to
its legitimate residents, including an attempt to donate the KNL estate to the Local
Government of Quezon City. Unfortunately, these efforts have not come into
fruition.

‘Through the years, the UP Administration and the UP Community have manifested
their willingness to recognize the rights of the people of Barangay KNL, and to


transfer to the qualified residents of KNL the ownership over the properties upon
which they have built their homes and raised their families for generations.

‘The precepts of social justice that are enshrined in the 1987 Constitution compel us to
give the highest and utmost priority to enact this law in order to fully and finally
protect and recognize the rights of the people of Barangay KNI. to the land over
which they have long resided.

Having been approved on Third Reading in the Sixteenth Congress, the immediate
passage of the bill is earnestly sought.

Fetes Bi 2x,

‘LICIANO BELMONTE, JR.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon Ctiy

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 165

Introduced by HON. FELICIANO R. BELMONTE, JR.

AN ACT
AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF PARCELS OF LAND IN BARANGAY KRUS
NA LIGAS, QUEZON CITY TO ITS LEGITIMATE AND QUALIFIED
RESIDENTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9500,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
CHARTER OF 2008”

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

SECTION 1. Section 23 of Republic Act No. 9500 or “The University of the
Philippines Charter of 2008” is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 23, Safeguards on Assets Disposition. - ‘The preservation of
the value of the assets of the national university shall be of primordial
consideration.

“The sale of any existing real property of the national university
shall be prohibited: Provided, That the Board may alienate real property
donated after the effectivity of this Act if the terms of the donation
specifically allow it[.]: PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT AS A MATTER
OF SPECIFIC EXCEPTION, BARANGAY KRUS NA LIGAS,
QUEZON CITY IS HEREBY DECLARED AS A DISPOSABLE
ASSET FOR SALE OF THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY FOR
HOUSING AND URBAN SETTLEMENT PURPOSES ONLY,
SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7279,


OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND
HOUSING ACT OF 1992”, AS AMENDED: PROVIDED,
FURTHERMORE, THAT ONLY LEGITIMATE RESIDENTS OF
BARANGAY KRUS NA LIGAS WHOSE LONG-STANDING
RESIDENCE IN THE AREA CAN SUFFICIENTLY BE
‘ABLISHED BY AUTHENTICATED DOCUMENTARY AND
TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE ARE QUALIFIED TO BECOME
BUYERS OF PARCELS OF LAND IN BARANGAY KRUS NA
LIGAS: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT FOR PURPOSES OF
EVALUATING THE LEGITIMACY OF APPLICANTS, ONLY
THOSE WHO BY THEMSELVES, OR THROUGH THEIR
PREDECESSORS-IN-INTEREST, HAVE BEEN IN CONTINUOUS
POSSESSION AND OCCUPATION OF THE SAME PARCELS OF
LAND IN THE CONCEPT OF OWNE! SINC) TIME
IMMEMORIAL, OR FOR A PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN THIRTY
(30) YEARS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING 1 APPROVAL OF
THIS ACT, AND UNCONTESTED BY ANY OTHER RESIDENT OF
THE SAME PARCELS OF LAND, SHALL HAVE THE OPTION TO
SECURE TITLE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT.

SEC. 2. Suppletory Application of the Urban Development and Housing Act. =
Republic Act No. 7279, otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing,
Act of 1992”, shall have suppletory application to the housing and urban settlement
components of this Act

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations, - An interagency committee

headed by the local government of Quezon City and composed of the University of
the Philippines, the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating, Council and
the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor shall issue the nece:

regulations for the effective implementation of this Act, including the

ry rules and

determination of the actual metes and bounds and the process of valuation of the
area of Krus na Ligas: Provided, That the area covered under ‘Transfer Certificate of

‘tle (TCT) No, RD 57197 (192690) shall already be deemed included and part of
Krus na Ligas: Provided, further, That the total area shall not exceed a maximum of
twenty-five (25) hectares: Provided, finally, That the total area shall not include any
currently existing vital facility of the University of the Philippines.


SEC. 4. Separability Clause. ~ If, for any reason, any provision of this Act is
declared invalid and unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause, ~ All other laws, rules and regulations inconsistent
with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

‘ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
ation in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,