Surallah, South Cotabato – April 3, 2025 — To ensure legal ownership of public lands used by schools and government institutions, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Banga awarded three Special Patents through the Handog Titulo Program.
The ceremonial handover took place at the MPDO Training Hall of the Surallah Municipal Building, where land titles were officially granted to Purok Sison Elementary School, Libertad Central Elementary School, and the local government unit (LGU) of Surallah.
The issuance of the Special Patents is in line with the provisions of Republic Act No. 10023, also known as the “Free Patent Act,” particularly Section 4 on Special Patents and Section 7 on its implementing rules and regulations. This law allows the free titling of alienable and disposable public lands used for public purposes, including those occupied by government-run schools and LGUs.
Recipients of the titles expressed heartfelt gratitude to CENRO and those behind the swift processing and issuance of the documents. One of them, Mrs. Helen Estember of Purok Sison Elementary School, shared her emotional appreciation.
“I’m close to retirement, and it’s only now that our school has received its land title; Purok Sison Elementary School is now the rightful owner of the land it stands on,” Estember said. “This achievement not only secures our future but also opens up opportunities to expand our programs and better serve our community.”
She added that having legal ownership of the land will allow the school to improve its facilities and educational services for students.
The Handog Titulo Program is an initiative by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that aims to fast-track the distribution of land titles to eligible beneficiaries, supporting the government’s mission to provide land security for residential, educational, and public service purposes across the country.