EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E
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*19 OCT 14 P3 52
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE SUMMARY TITLING OF REAL PROPERTIES USED 
AS PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Education plays a vital role in the development of a nation. Not only does it stand 
as a foundation of our country's future leaders, but also, it provides the necessary 
preparations, skills, and even the character of our inhabitants to help themselves out of 
poverty and lead themselves into prosperity. However, the ends to be achieved will not 
come into fruition if the properties where public schools are situated are still subject to 
disputes such as frequent transfer of locations, revocation of donations of these lands 
and urban planning and development programs of the Local Government Units (LGUs).
The Department of Education's (DepEd) recent statistical data showed that there 
are still a number of untitled and unregistered public school sites across the country. The 
state has no legal ownership rights over these lands. Most of these properties are owned 
by LGUs or are subject to lease agreements with private individuals.
Moreover, there are certain parcels of lands that cannot be the subject of transfers 
because of the lack of proper legal documentations to support such transfer of ownership 
by the DepEd. Hence, becuase of the lack of documents, the heirs of a deceased donor


claim ownership over the subject property through the revocation of the original donation 
which results to an endless litigation prejudicing the public schools involved.
This bill seeks to address the need to acquire School Sites on Privately-Owned Lots 
and Lots Owned by the LGUs through donation, negotiated sale, expropriation or any 
other or any other modes of acquisition as provided by law. In addition, the proposed 
measure declares that DepEd will be the prima facie owner of all unregistered qualified 
school sites, thus, simplifying the process of land titling and registration in favor of DepEd.
Furthermore, if enacted into law, this meausre will enable the school authorities 
to have direct control and supervision over the land occupied by the public schools.
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill1 is earnestly sought.
ramo^
ong revilla, JR.
1 This bill was originally filed by Francis G. Escudero during the Seventeenth Congress, First Regular Session


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regulation Session
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S E N A T E
S. No. 1115
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■'9 OCT 14 P3 S3
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE SUMMARY TITLING OF REAL PROPERTIES USED 
AS PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
SECTION 1. Declaration o f Policy. -It is hereby the policy of the State to provide 
all lands utilized as public school sites by the Department of Education (DepEd) with titles 
under the "Republic of the Philippines represented by the Department of Education" to 
the DepEd to enable it to have legal ownership over these school sites.
Toward this end, the State shall ensure to prompt payment of just compensation 
for the acquisition of real property utilized as school sites and not owned by the DepEd, 
in accordance with the constitutional guarantee that private property shall not be taken 
for public use without just compensation.
Sec. 2. Qualified School Sites. - This Act shall cover all sites of public schools under 
the DepEd that have been utilized as such for at least five (5) years preceding the 
effectivity of this Act, which are:
(a) of the public domain; or


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(b) owned, whether registered or otherwise, by persons or entities other than the 
DepEd, including school sites that are owned by the national government or any 
of its agencies and instrumentalities or owned by the local government units 
(LGUs).
Sec. 3. Prima Facie Ownership by the DepEd o f Unregistered Land. - The DepEd 
shall be the prima facie owner of all unregistered qualified school sites.
Sec. 4. Summary Tiding o f Quaiified Schooi Sites on Unregistered Lots. - All actions 
for the original registration of qualified school sites under this Act shall be filed by the 
Office of the Solicitor General or by the municipal, city, or provincial prosecutor with the 
Regional Trial Court where the property is located with the action being summary in 
nature. The DepEd unit concerned need only establish that the school site is untitled and 
that it has been used as such for at least five (5) years; Provided, That the notice 
requirements stated in Section 23 of Presidential Decree No. 1529 shall be observed.
Sec. 5. Transfer o f Quaiified Schooi Sites Owned by the Nationai Government - All 
qualified school sites established on registered property owned by the national 
government or any of its agencies and instrumentalities shall be immediately transferred 
to and titled in favor of DepEd.
Sec. 6. Modes o f Acquiring Quaiified Schooi Sites Owned on Privateiy-Owned Lots 
and Lots Owned by the LGUs. - The DepEd may acquire qualified school sites on privately- 
owned lots and lots owned by the LGU's through donation, negotiated sale, expropriation, 
or any other mode of acquisition as may be provided by law.
Sec. 7. Donations not Formaiiy Accepted. - All donations of real property not 
formally accepted but are used as school sites shall be deemed perfected from the time 
the property was actually utilized as a public school site; Provided, That a public


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instrument signifying the acceptance of the donation is executed at the soonest possible 
time by the authorized representative of the DepEd.
Sec. 8. Guidelines for Negotiated Sale. - Should the owner of the property agree 
to a negotiated sale, the standards prescribed in Republic Act No. 8974 and other related 
laws, rules, and regulations shall be used to determine the fair market value of the 
property.
Sec. 9. Summary Expropriation o f Quaiified School Sites. - Qualified school sites 
on privately-owned lots and lots owned by LGUs may be acquired by the DepEd through 
expropriation, subject to the guidelines provided in Republic Act No. 8974; Provided, That 
the right of the DepEd to expropriated qualified school sites and that such taking is for a 
public purpose shall be presumed; Provided, further. That the expropriation proceedings 
shall be limited to the determination of just compensation unless the presumption is 
overturned by showing that the school site is not qualified under Section 2 of this Act.
Sec. 10. Order o f Registration Immediately Executory. - All judgements ordering 
registration of a qualified school site shall be final and executory and not subject to appeal 
except in a Petition for Certiorari under Rule 65 to the Supreme Court. The Register of 
Deeds, upon receipt of such order, shall forthwith issue the corresponding certificate of 
title in favor of the DepEd.
Sec. 11. School Sites under Contract o f Usufruct. - In order to protect the rights 
and interests of the DepEd in its use and employment of a school site under a Contract 
of Usufruct, the same shall be annotated in the Certificate of Title of such real property. 
All reasonable efforts should be exerted for the subsequent acquisition of these properties 
in favor of the DepEd.
Sec. 12. School Sites Owned by LGUs. - School sites situated on real property 
owned by LGUs may apply for the summary titling of the school site in the name of the


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DepEd. If the LGU wishes to reclaim the land, the LGU must provide for the replacement 
of the school site and the school buildings therein before this site is vacated.
Sec. 13. Exemption from Payment o f Fees and Taxes for the Registration o f Land 
W es for School Sites. - The DepEd shall be exempt from payment of all related costs, 
fees, and taxes to the national government agencies, including the Bureau of Internal 
Revenue, the Land Registration Authority, the Registry of Deeds, the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources-Land Management Bureau, the LGUs, and other 
government agencies involved in the registration and titling of school sites as provided 
herein; Provided, That the DepEd shall enjoy all the rights, exemptions, and privileges as 
may be authorized by law in all of its official transactions with national government 
agencies and LGUs involving titling and registration of its current school sites.
Sec. 14. Appropriations. - The funds necessary for the implementation of this Act 
shall be included in the annual appropriations of the DepEd under the General 
Appropriations Act.
Sec. 15. Separability Clause. - If any section or part of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions shall remain in full force and 
effect.
Sec. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, issuances, or any part thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
deemed repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,