The local government unit (LGU) of Jagna, represented by Municipal Mayor Joseph A. Rañola and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), represented by Regional Executive Director Paquito D. Melicor Jr., signed two pacts in a ceremony at Lenny’s Function Hall, barangay Bunga Mar, Jagna.
One of two agreements signed is a Memorandum of Partnership Agreement (MOPA) for the land titling project.
The other pact is a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the joint implementation of the Forest Land Use Plan (FLUP).
The signing of the two pacts was held on Dec. 13, 2022.
This event was made more significant as it was witnessed by the Assistant Secretary of DENR Joan A. Lagunda, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Ariel N. Rica and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) Elena G. Suarez.
Moreover, also present on the said event were Sangguniang Bayan Members headed by Teofisto P. Pagar Jr.
The personnel of Kaluha Realty and Development Corporation headed by Noe B. Indonto were also in attendance including LGU department heads and representatives from the various barangays.
The MOPA recognizes the role of the LGU to make land titling easier to the public.
The DENR also sees the LGU as a valuable partner in the protection of forested areas through the joint implementation of the FLUP.
The MOPA aims to solve the difficulties of obtaining land titles especially in barangays Mayana, Boctol, Odiong and Lonoy which are under the National Integrated Protected Area System.
Making the land titling issue more difficult is the establishment of the Alejawan-Cansuhay-Anibongan River Watershed Project under Presidential Proclamation No. 881.
It is estimated that approximately 4,000 lots need to be titled in these four barangays.
Presently, lot owners only have tax declarations to show which are not considered proof of land ownership.
Dubbed “Titulo ng Lupa Ko, Buhay Ko,” the LGU will now help the people get titles for their lots.
The land titling concern was an issue that was brought to the attention of Rañola during the 2019 campaign.
Rañola, after winning the mayoralty seat, quickly went to connect with the DENR to secure land titles in the said barangays of Jagna.
In 2020, the PENRO and CENRO conducted some activities related to land titling but the Coronavirus disease pandemic slowed down the progress of the agencies to finally solve the land titling concerns.
The MOPA for the land titling gives birth to concrete plans accelerated to facilitate the process of getting lot titles.
The Municipality of Jagna has five land categories: residential, agricultural, industrial, institutional and government. Most of the lands in the town are untitled.
There is a total of 1,434 hectares of residential lots in Jagna but only 837 hectares are titled. About 19,483 hectares are considered to be agricultural but 2,895 hectares have land titles. Around 76 commercial lots are in Jagna but only 53 lots are titled. As far as institutional lands are concerned 3 out of 46 lots are titled while out of the 48 government lots only 5 lots are titled.
Land titling has always been a challenge in Jagna and it is now a concern of the present administration and private land owners.
Only one lot owned by the LGU has a title and it is the lot where the public market is situated.
Many residents struggle with the cost and time associated in securing a title for their respective lots.
Even the LGU is not spared from these difficulties of processing land titles for its lots.
Rañola does not waver in his commitment to serve the people. He is ably supported by the Municipal Assessor Camilo A. Rizano and with all the efforts, the land titling project in Jagna will have a bright future.
The signing of the pacts seems to be a significant moment in the long history of the town. The land development will now accelerate with the FLUP and the Comprehensive Land Use Program (CLUP).
More importantly, the land development can spur more economic growth for the town and in turn generate more taxes to be used in various plans, programs and activities of the LGU.
It is within the vision of Rañola that all lots in Jagna will be titled, which is something lot owners who have yet to get their respective tiles are thankful for. (Antonio V. Ranque)
