Ilocos Norte gives free patents to eligible residents
(PNA photo from Leilanie Adriano)
LAOAG CITY — The Ilocos Norte government continues to give free patents to all eligible residents who have been occupying alienable and disposable but untitled lands for a very long time.
Among the latest beneficiaries were 447 individuals who got hold of their free patents at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on Monday afternoon.
“More could have been awarded with their original certificate of land titles, but some are still being processed,” Evalaudia Duyor, acting provincial assessor of Ilocos Norte, said in a media interview on Tuesday.
The distribution of free patents has been a program of the provincial government since 2011, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to resolve issues on land ownership in the province.
To avail of the free land titling program dubbed “Titulo a Natalged: Sagut ni Ilokano,” Duyor advised applicants to visit their local government units or the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, whose jurisdiction covers the area where the parcel of land subject of the application is situated.
For Alvin Agbayani, a program beneficiary, seeing his name on the certificate of title gives him a sense of security and ownership.
The certificate of title bearing his name is for a 120-square-meter low-cost housing unit located at the boundary of Barangay Blight and Quiling Norte in Batac City.
Another beneficiary who received her free patent on Monday, Janin Faith Taclan, said she has been looking forward to receiving her land title through the program.
“I’m so happy and thankful for this program being implemented by the provincial government,” Taclan said. “It is a big help for us to secure our properties without spending too much.”
According to the provincial assessors’ office, the grant of free patent is awarded to natural-born Filipino citizens occupying and cultivating alienable and disposable lands of not more than 12 hectares for at least 30 years and have paid the corresponding real property taxes.
Every year, the provincial government aims to distribute 500 patents for residential or agricultural lots.
Among the requirements for the application are a duly accomplished application form; Tax Declaration, Deed of Sale, Extra Judicial Settlement or Waiver of Rights; Certification from the Municipal Circuit or Regional Trial Court concerned that there is no pending land registration case involving the parcel being applied for; Approved Survey Plan with Technical Description or Form V37, if covered with the isolated survey; Certification of the status of land from the Land Registration Authority, if the municipality is under cadastral proceedings or if there is an old survey (Private and Original Survey); certification that the land applied for is alienable and disposable; and documentary stamp.
Partners under this program are the Land Registration Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Agrarian Reform, Geodetic Engineers Association, and Private Realtors Association of Ilocos Norte.
