The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) on Tuesday underscored the need to adopt the results of the most recent cadastral survey, even as it urged the immediate Congressional passage of the National Land Use Act (Nalua).
In a news statement, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia said data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources showed 71 percent or 1,163 out of the 1,634 cities and municipalities have been contesting the computation of their land area.
To resolve land valuation issues, Pernia also urged government sectors to look at the 2011 to 2015 cadastral survey data as an instrument in addressing land boundary conflicts and in adjusting local government units’ internal revenue allotments.
“The national government needs to immediately decide on the official adoption of the said survey data to resolve lingering contestations. Thus, the National Land Use Committee [NLUC] is urging the tripartite committee to look at the results of the 2011-2015 cadastral survey and arrive at a consensus on the official adoption of the survey results,” Pernia said.
Pernia sits as chairman of the Neda Board’s NLUC, which recently discussed the land valuation disputes and the bill as in need of immediate action.
The tripartite committee is composed of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority and the Department of Budget and Management .
The NLUC also expressed its strong support for the immediate enactment of the Nalua or House Bill 5240 to Congress, which will institutionalize a national land use policy and ensure the sustainable use of the country’s land and physical resources.
The bill also intends to address agrarian-reform issues, climate change, national database completion and geo-hazard mapping and disaster-risk reduction and management.
“The National Land Use Act was identified as a priority legislative measure during the second State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo R. Duterte on 24 July 2017, where the President appealed to all legislators to immediately pass the Nalua to ensure the rational and sustainable use of our land and our physical resources,” an NLUC resolution stated.
The resolution is due for confirmation through referendum by all principal members of the NLUC.
The House of Representatives has already approved on May 2, 2017, its version of the Nalua bill.
Currently, five Nalua bills have been filed in the Senate, but have reached committee discussions as of this writing.