KORONADAL CITY (Mindanao Examiner / June 20, 2014) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Regional Office XII here and the municipal government of Polomolok signed a partnership agreement that would implement an administrative order that provides guidelines for the implementation of public land titling.
DENR Regional Director Datu Tungko Saikol and Polomolok Mayor Honey Matti signed the Memorandum of Partnership Agreement for the implementation of Administrative Order 2011-06.
Saikol said there is a need to define the agency’s partnership with local government to improve land administration and management at the local level.
“With the MOPA, the functions and responsibilities of the DENR and the concerned LGU are spelled out. Nevertheless, we had conducted awarding of land titles twice in Polomolok last year under the Handog Titulo Program and it was successful. We felt the joy of the lot owners upon receiving their land titles, even emotional at that and to the point of shedding tears of happiness,” Saikol said.
Matti, on the other hand, expressed her gratitude to the DENR for coming up with the partnership agreement that would facilitate the titling of lands in her town.
She said the process of land titling for the different villages can now be fast tracked.
Under the agreement, the DENR XII shall provide technical assistance to the local government personnel; provide pertinent electronic and paper-based record and data including maps and survey records to the municipality; conduct and facilitate the necessary training and capacity building; and provide monitoring and quick response and assistance to the municipality in all phases of titling activities, among others.
Furthermore, the local government shall spearhead the implementation of the agreed activities and the institutionalization and mainstreaming of land administration and management policy, processes and procedures. It shall also create and activate necessary committees and teams and appoint a permanent focal person that shall act as liaison between the municipal government and the DENR.(Reports by Rose Muneza, Rowanne Sumagpao and Manuela Locsin)
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