Francisco Milla, Jr., regional director of DENR, said the LGU will expedite land titling activities in the city and has committed to integrate land administration in its 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.
Mabalacat is the second LGU in Pampanga that 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, Milla said.
The next step is to establish a land management office in Mabalacat City and to train the LGU staff in land management, he added.
For his part, Mabalacat City Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales, who is presently in the USA, 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.
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, Milla said.
