By Artemio Dumlao (The Philippine Star) Updated June 12, 2010 12:00 AM
BAGUIO CITY , Philippines – The Land Registration Authority (LRA) has gone digital through its Land Titling Computerization Project (LTCP).
LRA Deputy Administrator Ronald Ortile said they have already automated 70 Registries of Deeds and are targeting to automate 168 more by May 2011.
Ortile said they have compiled all the voluminous records in their agency and stored them in digital format under the LTCP to make it more accessible and to preserve some of the decades-old land records.
“With the computerized system, land titles are protected from (damage) due to fire, theft, natural disasters and the normal ravages of time using security-tested document imaging technology,” Ortile told the 36th Annual National Directorate Meeting and National Convention of the Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines Inc. at the Teachers Camp here.
Ortile said the LRA has also introduced security features in every hard copy of a document obtained under the new system to prevent forgery.
He said voluminous documents would be a thing of the past under the LTCP program since the Office of the Register of Deeds is mandated to release the electronic copy of the certificate of land title with the original and physical copy of the document remaining in the custody of the agency.
Ortile said the LTCP program provides a fast and timely response to queries through user-friendly electronic information access to land title information from the LRA Central Office and all Registry of Deeds offices.
When the system is completely in place, Ortile said records could be accessed anywhere.
With the automated system, government programs directly linked to the land titling system are supported and provided with a system of timely detection and identification of fake land titles that will assist in the identification of persons responsible.
Government will also improve its revenue collection under the system, Ortile said.
The LTCP provides a system of control to prevent overlapping or duplication of titles by using modern digital mapping technology to create an accurate updated municipal/cadastral index map.
“It helps in eliminating fraudulent and inaccurate surveys by using modern digital mapping technologies to create accurate Municipal Index Sheets and for updating them with parcel boundaries,” Ortile said.
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