The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – MIMAROPA Region warns the public to take extra caution when dealing with real property investments particularly those that involve forestlands and other government lands.

Republic Act (RA) 7586 as amended by RA 11038 or the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System (E-NIPAS) Act of 2018 prohibits occupying or dwelling in any public land within the protected area without clearance from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) and the DENR.

Similarly, Presidential Decree 705 or the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines issued on May 19, 1975, specifies that no person may utilize, exploit, occupy, possess or conduct any activity within any forestland, unless he has been authorized to do so under a license agreement, lease, license, or permit.

Pending applications for tenurial instruments or license agreements do not, in any way, signify approval, hence no activity or development in the area shall take place while such applications are under review, or are being processed.

It is for these reasons that DENR MIMAROPA Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio calls on the public to exercise due diligence when acquiring land properties.

“We understand that land investments entail huge amounts of resources—money, effort, and time. We want you (public) to be rightfully informed so that you will not end up putting your resources to waste, more so, facing charges merely because of misinformation,” RED Claudio said.

The DENR likewise clarifies that tax declarations are not proof of ownership if the subject areas are forestlands and/or government lands. A tax declaration is a property record issued by provincial, city or municipal assessors, showing, among others, the market and assessed values of the property as basis for the collection of real property tax.

PD 705 also prohibits any public officer or employee from issuing a tax declaration without securing a certification from the DENR that the real property to be declared is alienable and disposable, and not timberland or forestland.

“That is why it is critical to know first, the classification of land you are buying. You better think twice if the parcel of land you wish to invest in is a timberland and you are only presented with a tax declaration,” the DENR MIMAROPA chief clarified.

“Being rightfully informed is our best defense against illegal transactions and anomalous titling of real properties,” she added.

The Director also reminded Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers (PENROs and CENROs) in the region to ensure local officials within their jurisdiction are apprised of the prohibition and penalties on the issuance of illegal tax declarations.

MIMAROPA Region is composed of five island provinces, namely Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan, all of which boast of rich biodiversity that attracts thousands of tourists and investors.

RED Claudio expressed that while the DENR welcomes opportunities that will reinvigorate the economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, she asserted that the state of the environment and the enforcement of laws should not be compromised.

“We are here to ensure that environmental laws are complied with, and that our people know their responsibilities. As we always say, we all have a stake at sustaining our environment and natural resources so that they may still be enjoyed by generations to come,” the Director concluded. (30)

Details
Parent Category: News & Events
Category: Press Releases
Published: 13 May 2022