Republic of the Philippines

SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD
General Santos City

SPPR 1919 - _______

Series of 2019

RESOLUTION REITERATING THE REQUEST OF THE SANGGUNIANG

PANLUNGSOD OF GENERAL SANTOS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR),
HONORABLE ROY A. CIMATU, TO LIFT THE TOTAL SUSPENSION OF THE
TITLING OF LANDS IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY EXCEPT THOSE AREAS
UNDER INVESTIGATION

HON. ROSALITA T. NUÑEZ, MNSA – Author, JOINT SPONSORSHIP

WHEREAS, public lands are those lands in which control and title rests with
the government, and may also refer to lands of the public domain which have been
classified as agricultural lands and subject to management and disposition or
concession;

WHEREAS, the legitimate owners/occupants/claimants of ancestral lands/

domains have grappled extensively for years for their clamor to secure title of their
ancestral lands, those occupied, possessed and utilized by such individuals, families
and clans who are members of the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous
Peoples since time immemorial, by themselves or through their predecessors-in-
interest, under claims of individual or traditional group;

WHEREAS, sometime in July 18, 2013, the then USEC Analiza Rebuelta-Teh,
from the Office of the Chief of Staff, DENR XII issued a Memorandum directing the
CENRO Region XII to secure copies of title included on the alleged illegal titling of
lands in South Cotabato and General Santos City;

WHEREAS, a Fact Finding Team was created to investigate the numerous

complainants of anomalous titling of public lands in South Cotabato, Sarangani
Province and General Santos City (SOCSARGEN) wherein it was found out that the
lands alluded to are confined only in a specific location within General Santos City;

WHEREAS, in July 22, 2013, the Office of USEC for Field Operations
Demetrio L. Ignacio issued a Memorandum with the subject, “Suspension of
issuance of survey authority, accepting and processing of all public land applications
and issuance of patents over lands located in the Provinces of South Cotabato and
Sarangani;

WHEREAS, the suspension affected those areas outside of the focus of

investigation conducted by the Fact Finding Team, especially those residential areas
that are genuinely alienable and disposable whose residents therein have looked up
to the passage of RA 10023, otherwise known as “An Act Authorizing the Issuance
of Free Patents to Residential Lands,” as their saving grace in the perfection of their
claim rights over their acquired lots, and with the suspension being implemented,
may lose hope in having their residential claimed lots titled;

WHEREAS, the CENRO Office in Buayan, General Santos City submitted a

Completed Staff Work (CSW) relative to the suspension order recommending that

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the suspension being implemented as sweeping as it may, be re-assessed in a way
that may only limit the suspension to those areas under investigation;

WHEREAS, under Section 12 RA 8371, otherwise known as “The Indigenous

Peoples Right Act of 1997,” legitimated ancestral land claimant are given the option
to have their lands titled under Commonwealth Act No. 141, otherwise known as,
“The Public Land Act of 1936,” instead of securing a Certificate of Ancestral Land
Title (CALT), and the option is until 2017. The suspension has likewise affected the
rights of those claimants to avail of said option;

WHEREAS, this Sanggunian passed Resolution No. 76, Series of 2015,

requesting the Honorable Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) to lift the total suspension of the titling of lands in General Santos
City except those lands being investigated;

WHEREAS, another Resolution No. 265, Series of 2016, urging the Secretary
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to lift the
suspension of the titling of land in General Santos City except those areas being
investigated;

WHEREAS, another Resolution No. 200, Series of 2017, and yet another
Resolution No. 486, Series of 2018 reiterating the request of this Sanggunian to the
Secretary of DENR to lift the total suspension of the titling in General Santos City
except those areas being investigated;

NOW, THEREFORE, on motion of City Councilor Rosalita T. Nuñez, duly

seconded by City Councilor(s) ___________________, be it -

RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to reiterate the request of the

Sangguniang Panlungsod of General Santos to the Secretary of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Honorable Roy A. Cimatu, to lift the
total suspension of the titling of lands in General Santos City except those areas
under investigation.

Prepared by:

ANTONIO A. PADILLA
Local Legislative Staff Assistant III
August 6, 2019

Reviewed by: Approved by:

ROSALINDA L. MONDIDO ROSALITA T. NUÑEZ, MNSA, PHD

Chief, Legislative Services Division City Councilor & Chair – Comm.
on City Land Use

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