Public Land Laws and Laws on Natural Resources

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms related to land registration and property law in the Philippines, based on lecture notes.

Properties of Public Dominion

Lands intended for public use (e.g., roads, canals) or public service (e.g., government offices, schools).

Patrimonial Property of the State

Property owned by the State but not for public use or public service; may become registrable if declared alienable and disposable.

Foreshore Lands

The strip of land covered and uncovered by the ebb and flow of the tide.

Seashore

The maritime zone.

Mineral Lands

Lands containing valuable mineral deposits.

Timberlands and Forest Lands

Lands classified as such under forestry laws.

Lands Under Water Bodies

Including the beds of seas, lakes, rivers.

National Parks

Areas designated for the preservation of natural resources.

Alienable and Disposable Land

Land of the public domain that the government has declared can be subject to private ownership.

Land Registration Act

To establish a Torrens system of land registration, providing a secure and indefeasible title; applies to both private lands and alienable and disposable lands of the public domain.

Public Land Act

To govern the classification, disposition, and management of alienable and disposable lands of the public domain; applies exclusively to alienable and disposable lands.

Judicial Confirmation of Imperfect Titles

Applies to those in open, continuous, exclusive, and notorious possession of alienable and disposable public lands under a bona fide claim of ownership for a specified period.

Cadastral Act

Government initiates to survey and register all lands within a defined area (cadastral project) for the purpose of quieting title.

Republic Act 10023

Free Patent Act for Residential Land; allows qualified Filipino citizens to acquire ownership of residential land owned by the government through free patent.

Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act (IPRA)

Governs the rights of indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples to their ancestral lands and ancestral domains; provides for CADTs and CALTs.

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL)

Governs the redistribution of agricultural lands to landless farmers; provides for CLOA.

Republic Act No. 11231

Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act which amends the Public Land Act to remove the prescriptive period for acquiring agricultural free patents.