March 23, 2008 [ journal.com.ph ]
By: Jester P. Manalastas
THOUSANDS of public schools in the country are reportedly squatting on untitled private properties.
Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez cited a report that there are 8,011 public schools squatting on untitled lands and another 6,257 unregistered school sites throughout the country.
“This means that these schools are ‘squatters’ in the sense that they do not have legal property rights over the land they now occupy,” Rodriguez said.
Because of this, Rodriguez has filed HB 3599 seeking the summary titling of all lands being utilized as public schools.
According to Rodriguez, majority of these school sites are owned by the local government units or are leased from private individuals.
Rodriguez said some of these lands are “verbally donated” and, therefore, lack the proper legal documents to support the land transfer of ownership.
“Upon the death of the donors their heirs claim ownership of the land resulting to court litigation. Most of these cases are now pending in the courts,” Rodriguez said.
“It is imperative that we provide a mandatory titling of all the lands being utilized as public school sites and the registration of these real properties with the Registry of Deeds,” he added.
If enacted, the bill will allow the school authorities to have direct control and supervision over the land occupied by public achool nbs.
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