THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
5 JUN -6 P4 100 
SENATE 
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RECEIVED BY ' 
- 
S.B. No.- 
203$ 
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Effective reforms must be made in the land administration system in the 
country as it is essential for sustainable development and facilitating full and 
equal access for men and women to land -related economic opportunities, such 
as credit and natural resources. 
However, the services being provided by the government agencies such 
as land surveys, mapping and classification, titling and disposition and 
registration are not contributing to address our domestic problems on sustainable 
development. 
At the core of these problems is an inefficient and inequitable land 
administration system that constrains economic development and discourages 
sustainable management of resources. 
The problem is largely contributed by fundamental legal and institutional 
defects in both the structure and operations of the land administration system. 
Such defects in land administration cause major inefficiencies which include, 
among others, extensive delays in the disposition and titling of alienable and 
disposable land, inaccurate and incomplete land information and records, 
duplicate and fake titles, duplication and overlap of activities between 
government agencies, and unnecessary costs to both the national and local 
government and the users/clients of land administration services. 
To address these concerns, the Government has undertaken a Land 
Administration and Management Project preparatory to a long-term program to 
fundamentally reform the present land administration system, thereby promoting 
sustainable development, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. 
One of the proposals is this bill which seeks to institute a Land 
Administration Reform Act ( LARA ) to reorganize the land administration system 
in the country. 
This legislative initiative is included in the Medium-Term Philippine 
Development Plan 2004 - 2010. 
Since the government's land administration functions are currently 
dispersed across multiple agencies, integrating these agencies will make it easy 
to undertake the major long-term investment of resources that will be necessary 
to implement the required over all reforms. 
The recognized fundamental prerequisite in pursuit of the necessary 
reforms is the consolidation and streamlining within a single government agency 
of land administration powers and functions currently dispersed across the 
Department of Justice's Land Registration Authority and Registries of Deeds and 
1 


the 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 CARP 
Secretariat and its field offices. 
The integration of these agencies/offices into a single agency will: 
Implement the necessary reforms in the land administration system to 
enable 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 
over time of duplicated administrative support services and other costs 
arising from the current fragmentation of land administration services; 
and 
Enable the development of increased transparency and enhancement 
of professionalism and accountability across the whole land 
administration system. 
The proposed Land Administration Reform Act seeks to enable the lands 
sector to contribute to sustainable development, economic growth and poverty 
alleviation. The early enactment of this bill will ensure recognition of the 
Philippines to the global efforts for sustainable development while providing 
improved access to land and services to the majority of our Filipino people 
especially the poor. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is sought. 
2 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
5 JUN -6 ?4:01 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S.B. N o . 2 0  
Introduced by Senator Franklin M. Drilon 
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 
Section 1. 
Short We.- This Act shall be known as "The Land 
Administration Reform Act". 
Section 2. 
Declaration of Policy.- It is the policy of the State to 
institutionalize reforms in land administration in order to optimize and rationalize 
their contribution to the goals of national development, the eradication of 
poverty, and the attainment of social, economic, and cultural justice. Towards 
this end, the State shall: 
a) Promote efficient and effective mapping, land survey, classification, 
disposition, registration, and management of private and public 
lands; 
b)Undertake a comprehensive and continuing land administration 
program that will make the processes and procedures on land 
registration and titling affordable and expeditious; 
c) Assist in the attainment of the government's asset reform programs; 
d)Accelerate and complete the distribution, titling, and registration of 
alienable or disposable lands to provide security of land tenure; 
e) Undertake reforms in land administration and management to 
ensure equitable distribution and full utilization and development of 
alienable or disposable lands: 
f) Improve 
the 
efficiency, 
effectiveness, 
transparency, 
and 
accountability of land administration services; 
I 


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 information 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; 
I) 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.” 
ARTICLE II 
CREATION OF THE LAND ADMINISTRATION AUTHORITY 
Section 3. Creation of the Land Administration Aufhority (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 4. 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 
2 


information 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 XI1 of the Constitution; 
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 which 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) and Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous 
Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA); 
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 and the IPRA; 
3 


i) Determine, fix, and collect reasonable amounts to be charged as 
administration 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; 
I) Such other functions undertaken by the Land Registration 
Authority ( LRA ), Register of Deeds, Lands Management Bureau 
(LMB), Lands Management Services (LMS), National Mapping and 
Resources Information Authority (NAMRIA), Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources - Comprehensive Agrarian 
Reform Program (DENR - CARP) National Secretariat; and 
m) Such other functions as are necessary, proper, and incidental to 
implement the provisions of this Act. 
Whenever any reference is made to the LRA, Register of Deeds, LMB, 
LMS, NAMRIA, 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 5. Stakeholders' Advisory Committee.- The LAA shall be 
assisted by a Stakeholders' Advisory Committee composed of the following: 
a) Four (4) representatives from the basic sectors as defined under 
Republic Act No. 8425 ( Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act ) 
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 Indigenous Peoples, at least one of 
whom should be a woman; 
d) Three (3) representatives from the private sector such as, but not 
limited to, real estate, professionalslpractitioners, and academe to be 
appointed by the President; and 
4 


e) 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 6. 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 7. 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. 
Section 8. Secretariat and Logistical Support- The Office of the 
Director General shall provide secretariat and logistical support to the 
Committee. 
ARTICLE 111 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISM 
Section 9. Structure and Organization.- The LAA shall consist of: 
a) The Office of the Director General; 
b) The Offices of the Deputy Director Generals; and 
c) Field Offices 
Section I O .  The Director Genera/.- 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, a cabinet rank, who shall exercise control and supervision over the 
5 


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 
c) Establish policies and standards for the efficient and effective 
operations of the LAA in accordance with the programs of the 
Government; 
surveys; 
d) Promulgate rules, regulations, and other issuances necessary in 
carrying out the LAA's mandate, objectives, policies, plans, programs 
and project; 
LAA; and 
f) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law or assigned 
by the President. 
e) Exercise control and supervision over all functions and activities of the 
Section 11. Deputy Director Generals- The Director General shall be 
assisted by at least three (3) Deputy Director Generals to be appointed by the 
President, each of whom shall head, respectively, the management support and 
information services, operations management services and legal and legislative 
services. The Director General is hereby authorized to delineate, assign, andlor 
reassign the respective functional areas of responsibility of, the Deputy Director 
Generals. 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; 
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; 
b) Exercise supervision over the offices, departments, or operating 
6 


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 12. 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: 
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 
districtlprovinciallregional 
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 
7 


Section 13. 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 
(DAR) unless specifically provided herein. 
Section 14. Composition.- The LAB shall be composed of five (5) 
members to be appointed by the President, , one of whom must be a member of 
the Bar. The members of Board must have had at least five ( 5 ) years exposure 
to land administration and management-related concerns and issues. The 
Presiding Officer shall be selected by the members from among themselves. 
Section 15. Local Land Adjudication Board.- The Board shall create a 
Local Land Adjudication Board in the provincial or city office which shall be 
composed of three 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 16. 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 17. 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 
8 


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 18. 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, or decision shall be final after the lapse of fifteen (15) 
days from receipt by the parties of a copy thereof. 
Section 19. 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 20. 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. 
9 


The findings of fact of the LAA shall be final and conclusive if based on 
substantial evidence. 
Section 21. 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 22. 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 notice, after 
which the case is deemed submitted for decision. 
ARTICLE VI 
TRANSITORY PROVISIONS 
Section 23. Transfer of Powers.- The powers and functions of the LAA 
heretofore vested by law in the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources, Department of Justice, LRA I Register of Deeds, Commission on the 
Settlement of Land Problems ( COSLAP ), LMB, LMS, NAMRIA except the 
powers and functions of its Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department, DENR- 
CARP 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 24. 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 
10 


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 25. Organization of the LAA.- The LAAs 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 to the President within six 
(6) months from the effectivity of this Act and shall be fully implemented within a 
period of three (3) months after such approval. The proposed staffing pattern 
shall not exceed the total number of permanent positions that have been 
merged. 
Section 26. Transfer of Personnel.- To ensure a smooth transition, all 
incumbent personnel of the DENR, LMB, LMS, NAMRIA, DENR - CARP 
National Secretariat and its field offices, and LAMP; the DOJ's LRA/RoD and 
COSLAP 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 personnel 
shall be appointed by the Director General, or hislher duly authorized 
representative, on the basis of merit, previous permanent appointment, fitness, 
and seniority: Provided, furfher, That except for the position of Director General 
and Deputy Director Generals, there shall be no hiring of new personnel for the 
LAA. 
Section 27. 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: 
a) Two and one-half (2%) months basic salary for every year of 
service for the first twenty (20) years; 
11 


b) Two and three-fourths (2%) months basic salary for every 
additional year of service from the twenty-first (21") to the thirtieth 
(3Oth) year of service; 
c) Three (3) months basic salary for every additional year of service 
from the thirty-first (31") 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, 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 28. Separation Fund.- 
There is hereby established a 
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 pay for separation benefits: Provided further, That within two years 
after the effectivity of this Act, any unutilized amount of the separation fund shall 
be reverted to the National Treasury. 
Section 29. 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 andlor Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), Government 
Financial Institutions (GFls), or Local Government Units (LGUs). 
Section 30. 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, 
12 


held, or used by, or available to the LRA and Register of Deeds, 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, NAMRIA except those 
pertaining to its Coast and Geodetic Survey Department, DENR-CARP National 
Secretariat and its Field Offices, LRAIRoD, and LAMP, are hereby transferred to 
the LAA. 
Section 31. Penal Provisions. - Any person who violates any of the 
provisions of this Act shall suffer the following penalties : 
a) 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 (PlO0,OOO.OO) and not more than One 
Million Pesos (PI ,000,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than six 
(6) months nor more than three (3) years, or both, in the discretion 
of the Courts. 
b) Any person, corporation, association, or partnership which, not 
being qualified or no longer authorized to apply for registration 
purposes, files or induces or knowingly permits another person, 
corporation, association, or partnership to file an' application in 
hidher or its behalf or for hislher or its interest, benefit, or 
advantage, shall be punished for each offense by a fine of not less 
than 
One 
Hundred 
Thousand 
Pesos 
(P100,OOO.OO) 
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. 
c) 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 (PlO0,OOO.OO) 
and 
imprisonment of not less than five (5) years nor more than twelve 
(12) years, or both, in the discretion of the Courts. 
d) 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,OOO.OO) 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 32. Preservafion 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 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 hidher 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 (Pl,OOO,OOO.OO) or imprisonment of not more than five (5) 
years, or both, upon the discretion of the Court. 
Section 33. 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, COSLAP, 
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, COSLAP, DENR-CARP National Secretariat and its field 
offices, and LAMP, the functions of which are transferred by this Act to the LAA 
shall abate by reason of 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 VI1 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
Section 34. 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 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 35. Implementing Rules and Regufations- 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. 
Section 36. 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 37. Repealing Clause.- The pertinent provisions of Republic Act 
No. 6657 ( Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law ) and Republic Act No. 8371 
(Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997 )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 38. Effecfivify.- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation. 
Approved,