Sen. Aquilino Q. Pimentel : Bills : Senate Bill No. 276 - Cadastral Survey Act

14th Congress of the Philippines) of the Philippines ) First Regular Session )

SENATE
S. B. No. 276

Introduced by Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There is an imperative need to conduct a cadastral survey of the entire country to identify the bonafide landowners or claimants. This undertaking is necessary in order to curb the proliferation of fake land titles.

This is the proposal contained in this piece of legislation, authorizing the Land Management Bureau to undertake the cadastral survey.

Landowners must be protected against defective land titles. The integrity of the Torrens Title System, as foundation of ownership to real property, must be enhanced, so that in the end, the faith and reliance of the people in the integrity of the land title will be restored.

The passage of this bill is therefore earnestly requested.

AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL JR.

AN ACT

AUTHORIZING THE LAND MANAGEMENT BUREAU TO CONDUCT A SURVEY OF CADASTRAL LOTS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION1. TITLE. This Act shall be known as the “Cadastral Survey Act of 2004”.

SECTION 2. CONDUCT OF SURVEY. Any provision of law or regulations to the contrary notwithstanding, the Land Management Bureau, is hereby authorized to conduct a survey of the entire country to identify bonafide landowners or claimants. The survey shall consist of the following activities:

Research and reconnaissance
Project control recovery and densification
Computation of lot data
Political boundary surveys
Computation and cartographic works
Setting of cadastral lots and boundary
Plans finalization and submission

SECTION 3. AWARDING OF CONTRACTS. The Land Management Bureau may, subject to applicable bidding rules and regulations, award any survey contract under this Act to qualified geodetic engineers engaged in survey work with the most advantageous terms to the government.

SECTION 4. IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. Within three (3) months from the passage of this Act, the Land Management Bureau shall draw and adopt the required rules and regulations to govern the cadastral survey.

SECTION 5. APPROPRIATIONS. The amount necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in the budget of the Land Management Bureau. Thereafter, such amounts shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. REPEALING CLAUSE. All laws, executive orders, executive issuances or letters of instructions, or any part thereof, inconsistent with or contrary to the provision of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts thereof not affected thereby shall remain valid.

SECTION 8. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,