The city government has launched a ₱25 million land titling initiative aimed at clearing decades old application backlogs and providing residents with free land patents.
Elias Aoanan from the City Planning, Sustainability and Development Office said, “May ₱25-million, maghahire tayo ng Geodetic Engineers, at mga staff na magko-conduct ng cadastral-type surveys, manggagaling na sa gobyerno, wala nang babayaran yung individual na occupant, na usually ₱40,000 to ₱50,000, ang babayaran lang siguro yung mga certifications na kukunin nila sa bawat opisina.”
Aoanan said the effort is being done in tandem with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Cordillera, aiming to process and distribute 1,200 land patents under the program. The funding will fully subsidize property surveys, which typically act as a financial barrier for low-income families.
The initial phase of the government-funded surveys will launch in priority areas, including Barangays Irisan, Quezon Hill, Pinsao Proper, Pinsao Pilot, and Asin.
There is a backlog of over 5,000 public land applications in Baguio, some stretching as far back as 1978. Skyrocketing local property values have stalled applications, as the DENR’s fees often make land auctions unaffordable for long-time occupants.
To benefit from the program under the Residential Free Patent Act, Aoanan stressed that applicants must prove a minimum of 10 years of continuous actual occupation, and the property must not exceed a maximum area of 200 square meters.
“Ngayon ay very strict na tayo, hindi natin icocompromise yung safety ng mga titira, mayroon tayong 3-meter legal creek easement na hindi pwedeng patayuan, kasi ipupunta natin yan sa protected area,” Aoanan said. By Clariz Hidalgo, UC Intern
