The Mabalacat City will take the lead in the government’s land titling program after forging a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MoPA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Francisco Milla Jr., regional director of the DENR in Central Luzon, said the local government unit has committed to integrate land administration in the LGU activities to fast track the processing and distribution of land titles in their jurisdiction.
“Local government played a vital role in contributing to the effective development, administration and management of the country’s land resources, hence this partnership agreement,” Milla said.
He said Mabalacat is the second LGU in Pampanga that has partnered with the DENR in the LGU-led public land titling program after the town of Minalin.
Under the agreement, municipal assessors and planning officers, and staff from the environment or other offices may be deputized as Public Land Investigators after undergoing intensive training.
The next step is to establish a land management office in Mabalacat City and to train LGU staff in land management.
Milla said among the benefits of the land management partnership to the LGU includes the improvement of tax collection on titled properties, increase land market activities, better delivery of basic services, greater security of tenure and credit and the reduction of land litigation.
For his part, Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales expressed his gratitude for the support and technical assistance extended by the DENR in addressing his city’s environmental issues.
DENR records show that there are 20 cities and municipalities, including a provincial government in Central Luzon already committed to partner with the DENR on land titling.
These are the towns of Llanera, Carranglan, Laur, Gen. Tinio, Penaranda and Palayan City in Nueva Ecija; San Marcelino, Castillejos, Masinloc, San Antonio, Cabangan and Olongapo City in Zambales; Minalin in Pampanga; Limay in Bataan, Bulakan, Obando and Calumpit in Bulacan; Dipaculao in Aurora; Mayantoc in Tarlac; and the provincial government of Bulacan.