EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC } 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
}
First Regular Session 
}
of till 
u c i . i n '
S E N A T E  
S.B.No. 
2 5 0
’19 Jli-8  P2-.03
REClIlVLU tv .
Introduced by SENATOR LACSON
AN ACT
INSTITUTING REFORMS IN LAND ADMINISTRATION
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Land is the ultimate resource in sustaining life, and thus, good stewardship 
in land use is essential for present and future generations.
The world’s population has doubled in the last 40 years and passed the 7 
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. Yet again, only less 
than half of the world’s population has secured access to land.
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. They also underscored the need to facilitate 
full and equal access to land-related economic opportunities such as credit and 
natural resources.
However, the performance of government agencies undertaking land 
administration functions such as land surveys, mapping, classification, titling and 
disposition and registration is considered below par. The services provided by 
these agencies do not address our domestic problems on sustainable development 
and much more, global concerns.
The problem is largely attributed to fundamental legal and institutional 
defects in both the structure and operations of the land administration system. For 
one, there are many laws governing land administration functions. This results in 
the existence of a number of institutions administering our scaree land resources 
which bring confusions, delays, high transaction costs for both government and 
users, low investment, and graft and corruption.


These institutional and structural defects in land administration are 
detrimental to the sustainable development of natural resources. More so, these 
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; proliferation of fake titles; duplication and overlap 
of activities among government agencies; and, unnecessary costs of land 
administration services to both the national and local governments and the clients.
To address these problems, the Government has been undertaking a Land 
Administration and Management Project preparatory to a long-term program to 
reform the present land administration system, thereby promoting sustainable 
development, economic growth, and poverty alleviation.
However, to pursue the necessary reforms, it is a fundamental prerequisite 
to consolidate and streamline within a single government agency of land 
administration the powers and functions currently dispersed across the Department 
of Justice’s Land Registration Authority and Registries of Deeds; 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, the Comprehensive Agrarian 
Reform Program (CARP) Secretariat and its field offices.
The integration of these agencies/offices into a single agency will:
■ Implement the necessary refonus in the land administration system 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 of 
duplicated administrative support services and other costs arising from 
the current fragmentation of land administration services over time; and
■ Enable the development of increased transparency and enhancement of 
professionalism and accountability across the whole land administration 
system.
The proposed Land Reform Act seeks to improve the land sector as a driver 
to sustainable development, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. The Bill’s 
enactment will ensure recognition of the Philippines in the global initiative for 
sustainable development. It will ultimately improve the access to land and services 
for the majority of the Filipino people, especially the poor.


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Senate.
I strongly recommend the Bill for the favorable consideration by the
PANF1L(W. LACSON 
Sieirator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC} 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
}
First Regular Session 
}
SENATE
Senate Bill No. 2 5 0
'19 JUL-8 P2-03
ffiTriwiibr
Introduced by SENATOR LACSON
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 PROVISIONS
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Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The Land Administration
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Reform Act of 2019."
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Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to institutionalize
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reforms in land administration in order to optimize and rationalize their contribution to
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the goals of national development, the eradication of poverty, and the attainment of
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social, economic, and cultural justice. Towards this end, the State shall:
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(a) Promote efficient and effective mapping, land survey, classification,
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disposition, registration, and management of private and public lands;
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(b) Undertake a comprehensive and continuing land administration program
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that will make the processes and procedures on land registration and
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titling affordable and expeditious;
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(c) Assist in the attainment of the government’s asset reform programs;
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(d) Accelerate and complete the distribution, titling, and registration of
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alienable or disposable lands to provide security of land tenure;
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(e) Undertake reforms in land administration and management to ensure
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equitable distribution and full utilization and development of alienable or
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disposable lands;


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(f) Improve the efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability of 
land administration services;
(g) 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;
(h) Establish an administrative system for the cancellation of duplicate and 
fake titles and the eradication of land grabbing activities;
(i) Provide accessible, efficient, and affordable land administration services 
to the people through the establishment of One-Stop-Shops nationwide;
(j) Establish an effective land infonnation system and provide easy and 
affordable access to land information by members of the public;
(k) Rationalize and clarify the entitlements of persons to land titles to make 
the process of issuing original titles fast and low-cost;
(l) Promote and support the development of a national land administration 
and management education system;
(m) Identify and reduce disincentives to the registration of property 
transactions;
(n) Mainstream gender in all aspects of the land administration system; and
(o) 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.”
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - For the purpose of this Act, the following terms 
shall, unless the context indicates otherwise, have the following meanings:
(a) "Director General” refers to the person occupying the position of Director 
General of the Land Administration Authority created by this Act including any 
person appointed as Acting Director General.
(b) "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.
(c) "Lands Management Bureau (LMB) ” refers to a staff Bureau of the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).


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(d) “Lands Management Services (LMS) ” refers to the land management sector or 
offices of the DENR at the regional, provincial, and district level.
(e) “Land Registration Authority (LRA) ” refers to an attached agency of the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), including the Registers of Deeds (RoD).
(f) “National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) ” refers to 
the agency known by that name attached to the DENR.
(g) “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 land institutions, laws, taxes and fees, and 
valuation.
(h) “Classification and Reclassification ” refers to the Act of Congress in setting 
the specific limits of forestlands and national parks and increasing or decreasing 
their boundaries by law, as provided for in Article XII, Section 4 of the 1987 
Philippine Constitution.
ARTICLE II
CREATION OF THE LAND ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITY
Section 4. Creation of the Land Administration Authority (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.
Section 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 infonnation 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 data base to support the determination of specific 
limits of forest lands and national parks by Congress as provided under 
Section 4, Article XII of the Constitution;


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(c) Survey, map, maintain 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;
(d) Manage, sell, and/or dispose the remaining Friar Lands under the provisions of 
Act No. 1120, as amended, and in accordance with existing laws;
(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 
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;
(g) Conduct, regulate and approve all types of land surveys including surveys 
intended for the implementation of Commonwealth Act No. 141, Republic Act 
No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), Republic Act 
No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) and Republic 
Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA);
(h) Prepare, issue, and register all titles to land issued pursuant to Commonwealth 
Act No. 141 and subsequent dealings of registered lands including all types of 
tenure instruments intended for the implementation of the CARL, UDHA and 
the IPRA;
(i) Determine, fix, and collect reasonable amounts to be charged as administrative 
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;
(l) Such other functions undertaken by the LRA/RoD, LMB/LMS, NAMRIA, 
DENR-Comprehensive Agrarian Refonn Program (DENR-CARP) National 
Secretariat under P.D. 1529 and C.A. 141, as amended; and
(m) Such other functions as are necessary, proper, and incidental to implement the 
provisions of this Act.


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Whenever any reference is made to the LRA/RoD, LMB/LMS, NAMRIA, 
DENR-Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (DENR-CARP) National Secretariat 
under E.O. 192, P.D. 1529, and C.A. 141, as amended, pertaining to a duty, 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 Land Administration Authority and the 
Director General of the LAA, as the case may be.
Section 6. Stakehol(Iers, Advisory Commi/tee. - The LAA shall be assisted by a 
Stakeholders’ Advisory Committee composed of the following:
(a) 
Six (6) Representatives from the Basic Sectors (farmers, fisherfolk, urban 
poor, workers in the informal sector; indigenous peoples and NGOs) 
chosen through the nomination process of the National Anti-Poverty 
Commission (NAPC);
(b) 
Two (2) Representatives from the NAPC Women’s Sectoral Council;
(c) 
Three (3) representatives from the private sector such as, but not limited to, 
real estate, professionals/practitioners, and academe to be appointed by the 
President; and
(d) 
The LAA Director General, as ex-officio member.
The President shall designate the chairperson from among the members of the 
Committee. The members of the Committee, except the LAA Director General, 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 rules and 
regulations promulgated by the Commission on Audit.
Section 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.
Section 8. Meetings of the Committee. - The Chairperson shall convene regular 
meetings of the Committee, which shall be at least once every quarter. Special meetings 
may also be called by the Chairperson or at the initiative of at least three (3) members.


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Section 9. Secretariat and Logistical Support. - The Office of the Director 
General shall provide secretariat and logistical support to the Committee.
ARTICLE III
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM
Section 10. Structure and Organization. - The LAA shall consist of:
(a) 
The Office of the Director General;
(b) 
The Offices of the Deputy Director Generals;
(c) 
The Offices of the Assistant Director Generals; and
(d) 
Field Offices
Section 11. The Director 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, who shall 
exercise control and supervision over the LAA and shall be appointed by the President. 
For such purposes, 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) Exercise appellate jurisdiction of all cases arising from conflicting land 
surveys;
(c) 
Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective operations of 
the LAA in accordance with the programs of the Government;
(d) Promulgate rules, regulations, and other issuances necessary in carrying out 
the LAA’s mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs and project;
(e) 
Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of the LAA;
(f) 
Delegate authority over all powers, functions and activities of the LAA; and
(g) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the 
President.
Section 12. Office of the Director General. - The Office of the Director General 
shall consist of the Director General, his immediate staff, and the Office of the Legal 
Services.


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Section 13. Deputy Director Generals. - The Director General shall be assisted 
by at least three (3) Deputy Director Generals who shall likewise be appointed by the 
President. The Director General is hereby authorized to delineate, assign, and/or reassign 
the respective functional areas of responsibility of the Deputy Director Generals: 
Provided, That no Deputy Director 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 
other issuances with respect to his area of responsibility;
(b) Exercise supervision over the offices, departments, or operating units and 
officers and employees under his responsibility;
(c) Promulgate rules and regulations that will efficiently and effectively govern 
the activities of 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 Director 
Generals;
(e) Exercise authority on substantive and administrative matters related to the 
functions and activities of units under his responsibility as may be delegated 
by the Director General; and
(f) Perform other functions as may be provided by law or assigned by the Director 
General.
Section 14. Assistant Director Generals. - The Director General and Deputy 
Director Generals shall be assisted by five (5) Assistant Director Generals in the 
formulation, management and implementation of land administration and public land 
management laws, policies, plans, programs, and projects.
Section 15. Field Offices. - The LAA shall establish permanent field offices at 
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.
The field offices shall undertake, among others, the following functions:
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(a) Implement laws, policies, plans, programs, projects, rules and regulations of 
the LAA on land administration and public land management;
(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 
district/provincial/regional short and long term development plans for the 
management, administration, utilization, and disposition of such lands toward 
national development; and
(f) 
Perform such other functions as may be assigned by the Director General 
and/or as provided by law.
ARTICLE IV
LAND ADJUDICATION BOARD
Section 16. Creation of the Land Adjudication Board (LAB). - There is hereby 
created a Land Adjudication Board (LAB) that will exercise primary jurisdiction to 
determine and adjudicate land administration and public land management matters and 
shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over all matters involving the implementation of 
laws, rules and regulations on land administration and public land management including 
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 certificate of 
land titles, except those cases falling under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agrarian 
Reform unless specifically provided herein.
Section 17. Composition. - The LAB shall be composed of five (5) members who 
shall be nominated by the Stakeholders Advisory Committee and to be appointed by the 
President. 
The Presiding Officer shall be selected by the members from among 
themselves


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Section 18. Local Land Adjudication Board. - The Board shall create a Local 
Land Adjudication Board in the provincial or city office which shall be composed of five 
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.
Section 19. 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.
Section 20. 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. Toward this end, it shall adopt a uniform rule 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.
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 
LAB proceedings.
Section 21. Finality of Determination. - Any case or controversy before the 
LAB shall be decided within thirty (30) days after it is submitted for resolution. Only 
one (1) motion for reconsideration shall be allowed. Moreover, any order, award, ruling,


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or decision shall be final after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from receipt by the parties of 
a copy thereof
Section 22. 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
Section 23. 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 fact of the LAA shall be final and conclusive if based on 
substantial evidence.
Section 24. 
Restraining Order or Preliminary Injunction. - The Court of 
Appeals and 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.
Section 25. 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 Court 
of Appeals, however, may require the parties to file simultaneous memoranda within a 
period of fifteen (15) days from notiee, after which the case is deemed submitted for 
decision.
ARTICLE VI
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS
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Section 26. 
Transfer of Powers. - 
The powers and functions of the LAA 
heretofore vested by law in the DENR, DOJ, LRA/RoD, LMB/LMS, NAMRJA except 
the powers and functions of its Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department, DENR- 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program National Secretariat, LAMP, or in any office 
within or attached to these agencies, are hereby transferred to and vested in the Office of 
the LAA Director General.
Section 27. 
Transfer of the Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department of 
NAMRIA to the Office of the Secretary of National Defense. - Within twelve (12) 
months upon the effectivity of this Act, the commissioned officers and enlisted and 
civilian technical personnel of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department of NAMRIA 
and a complement of administrative support staff shall be constituted as the National 
Hydrographic Office directly under the Office of the Secretary of National Defense. The 
National Hydrographic Office shall be responsible for the hydrographic and 
oceanographic surveys necessary in chart production and safety to navigation. It shall 
retain its budgetary allocation under the current General Appropriations Act, and all 
properties, survey instruments and equipment and other facilities necessary in the 
performance of its mandate.
Section 28. 
Organization of the LAA. - The LAA's organizational and 
administrative structure and functions and staffing pattern, including the personnel’s 
duties and responsibilities and the appropriate compensation package shall be submitted 
by the Director General for review and approval to the Congressional Oversight 
Committee within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. After the oversight 
committee’s review and approval, the proposed organizational structure and staffing 
pattern, which shall not exceed the total number of permanent positions that have been 
merged, shall be submitted to the President for final approval and shall be fully 
implemented within a period of three (3) months after such approval.
Section 29. Transfer of Personnel. - To ensure a smooth transition, all incumbent 
personnel of the DENR’s LMB/LMS, NAMRIA, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and 
its field offices, and LAMP; the DOJ’s LRA/RoD 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
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personnel shall be appointed by the Director General, or his/her duly authorized 
representative, on the basis of merit, previous permanent appointment, fitness, and 
seniority; Provided, moreover, That except for the position of Director General and 
Deputy Director Generals, there shall be no hiring of new personnel for the LAA.
Section 30. Separation and 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 a gratuity at a rate equivalent to the following;
(1) 
Two and one-half iVA) months basic salary for every year of service for 
the first twenty (20) years;
(2) 
Two and three-fourths (23/4) months basic salary for every additional year 
of service from the twenty-first (21st) to the thirtieth (30th) year of service;
(3) 
Three (3) months basic salary for every additional year of service from the 
thirty-first (31st) year of service and onwards.
Affected personnel shall also be entitled to other benefits as may be authorized by 
existing laws and regulations. Furthermore, they shall be entitled to the refund of their 
contributions including government share to the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag- 
IBIG) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and to the commutation of 
their unused vacation and sick leaves in accordance with existing rules and regulations.
Employees who are offered appointments under the new staffing pattern of the 
LAA without any diminution in rank and work conditions but who decline such 
appointments shall be deemed to have voluntarily resigned and shall be entitled only to 
separation benefits equal to those provided for by other laws; Provided, morever, That 
those who are qualified to retire shall be allowed to retire and be entitled to all the 
benefits provided under any of the existing retirement laws.
Section 31. 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
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pay for separation benefits: Provided further, That within two years after the effect! vity 
of this Act, any unutilized amount of the separation fund shall be reverted to the National 
Treasury.
Section 32. 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 and/or -  
Controlled Corporations, Government Financial Institutions (GOCCs/GFIs), or local 
government units.
Section 33. 
Unexpended Appropriations and Transfer of Assets. - The 
unexpended balances of appropriations in the current General Appropriations Act and 
other Acts in force upon approval hereof, pertaining to, held, or used by, or available to 
the LRA and RoD, NAMRIA except the budget for its Coast and Geodetic Survey 
Department, LMB, LMS, 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, NAMRIA except those pertaining to its Coast 
and Geodetic Survey Department, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its Field 
Offices, LRA/RoD, and LAMP, are hereby transferred to the LAA.
Section 34. 
Penal Provisions. -  Any person who sells 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 and not more than one 
million pesos or imprisonment of not less than six months nor more than three years, or 
both, in the discretion of the Courts.
Any person, corporation, association, or partnership which, not being qualified or 
no longer authorized to apply for registration purposes, files or induces or knowingly
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permits another person, corporation, association, or partnership to file an application in 
his/her or its behalf or for his/her or its interest, benefit, or advantage, shall be punished 
for each offense by a fine of not less than one hundred thousand pesos (PI00,000.00) or 
imprisonment of not less than five (5) years, or both, at the discretion of the Courts: 
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 and imprisonment of not less than five years nor more than 
twelve years, or both, in the discretion of the Courts.
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 
(P500,000.00) 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 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.
Section 35. 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 personal, 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
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relating to the affairs of the LMB, LMS, NAMRIA, the DENR-CARP National 
Secretariat and its field offices, the LRA and the RoDs to protect and preserve such 
records.
Without prejudice to any other penalties provided for by law, any person who fails 
to fulfill his/her 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 
(P 1,000,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than five years, or both, upon the discretion 
of the Court.
Section 36. Saving Clause. - All orders, determination, rules, regulations, permits, 
certificates, licenses, and privileges which have been issued, made, or granted effective 
by the former LMB, LMS, NAMRIA, LRA, RoDs, DENR-CARP National Secretariat 
and its field offices, and LAMP, or their predecessors shall continue to be in effect 
according to their terms until modified, terminated, superseded, set aside, or repealed.
No suit, action, or other proceeding commenced by or against any officer in his 
official capacity as an officer of any division or unit of the former LMB, LMS, 
NAMRIA, LRA, RoDs, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field offices, and 
LAMP, the functions of which are transferred by 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 VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 37. Use of Income. - The LAA is hereby authorized to use twenty 
percent (20%) of all revenues derived from fees, charges, and other sources in the 
implementation of its projects.
Section 38. 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 PD No. 1529. Claims from the
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Assurance Fund shall be heard, decided, and determined by the Land Adjudication 
Board. 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 Land Adjudication Board. Thereafter, the National Treasurer shall no 
longer be impleaded as party in any action against the Assurance Fund.
Section 39. 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, 
official or employee to repay the amount advanced should it ultimately be determined by 
the LAA that he/she is not entitled to be indemnified as provided in this section.
Section 40. Implementing 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.
Section 41. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Administration 
Act. - There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of seven 
(7) members from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and 
seven (7) members from the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources.
The oversight committee, which shall function for a period not more than three (3) 
years, shall review the administrative structure, functions, staffing pattern, duties and
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responsibilities of personnel, the implementing rules promulgated by the LAA including 
the procedures on claims against the assurance fund, and oversee the implementation of 
this Act. Provided, That the secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from 
the existing secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight and the 
funding shall be taken from the appropriations of both the House of Representatives and 
the Senate.
Section 42. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or any part 
thereof be declared unconstitutional or invalid by a Court, the other provisions hereof 
which are not affected thereby, shall remain in force and effect.
Section 43. Repealing Clause. - The pertinent provisions of CARL and IPRA with 
regard to the conduct of survey, approval of survey results, preparation and issuance of 
tenure instruments, and the provisions of PD 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, 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 30 September 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.
Section 44. Effectivity. - 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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