FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
.SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 789 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Education plays an essential role in the overall development effort of the 
country particularly in tapping the potentials and harnessing the talents of the 
Filipino youth. Unfortunately, the Department of Education reported that there are 
still 8,011 untitled and 6,257 unregistered school sites throughout the nation. This 
means that these schools are "squatters" in the sense that they do not have legal 
property rights over the land they occupy. 
In most cases, these school sites are owned by local government units or 
are leased from private individuals. On the other hand, some lands which were 
verbally donated, lack the proper legal documents to support the transfer of 
ownership. Thus, upon the death of the donors, their heirs claim the ownership of 
the land resulting to court litigation. Currently, most of these cases are pending in 
court. 
The passage of this bill will provide for the summary titling of all lands 
being utilized as public school sites and the registration of these real properties 
with the Registry of Deeds in the name of the Department of Education. This will 
enable the school authorities to have direct control and supervision over the land 
occupied by public schools. 
. 
I n view thereof, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF TI-!E REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 789 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUMMARY TITLING OF REAL 
PROPERTIES USED AS SITES FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Purpose of this Act - It is hereby declared the policy of the 
State to provide all lands being utilized as public school sites with titles under the 
name of the Department of Education to enable it to have legal ownership over 
these school sites. 
SEC. 2. Mandatory Titling of School Sites - Titles to real properties, 
public or private, including those owned or possessed by the national, provincial, 
city or municipal governments which are being utilized as actual sites for public 
schools for a period of at least five (5) years shall be transferred to the 
Department of Education by simple motion filed by the Office of the Solicitor 
General by the City or Provincial Prosecutor. 
The proceedings shall be administrative and summary in nature and the 
decision shall be final and executory and not subject to appeal except in a 
petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court. 
SEC. 3. Registration of Land Titles - The Registry of Deeds concerned 
shall forthwith register the properties as provided herein and issue the 
corresponding certificate of title to the Department of Education. 
SEC. 4. Rules and Regulations -
The Department of Justice, the 
Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education and the 
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority shall jointly promulgate 
the implementing rules and regulations within 60 days from the effectivity of this 
Act. 
SEC. 5. Appropriations - Funds necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be charged to the appropriations for the Department of Education under 
the General Appropriations Act. 


SEC. 6. Separability Clause - If any part or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby, shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 7. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
the completion of its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,