Several measures seeking to institute reforms in land administration in the country and eliminate waste in resources and manpower are included in the priority bills to be considered when Congress resumes sessions on May 7, a press release from Congress said.

The consolidated bill had been referred to the Department of Budget and Management and other stakeholders for their respective position papers to help fine tune the delicate provisions of the measure, the press release said.

The reform measure seeks to integrate all land administration functions currently dispersed among multiple agencies into a single agency and to enable the lands sector to contribute to economic growth and poverty alleviation, Rep. Cesar Jalosjos, Chair of the House Committee on Government Reorganization, said in the press release.

The authors of the bill are Reps. Juan Edgardo Angara (Lone District, Aurora), Diosdado Arroyo (1st District, Camarines Sur), Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga), Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan de Oro), Maximo Rodriguez (Partylist, Abante Mindanao) and Salvador Escudero III (1st District, Sorsogon).

"The Philippines is unusual, compared to its neighboring countries. The government's land administration functions are currently dispersed across multiple agencies," Angara said.

Arroyo, meanwhile, said that the utilization of the country’s land resources for national and local development is crucial to maximize the benefits derived from utilization, management and ownership of land.

The five bills were the basis for the Committees on Government Reorganization, Natural Resources and Justice in coming up with a substitute measure, which has been referred to the Committee on Appropriations chaired by Rep.Joseph Emilio Abaya (1st District, Cavite) over funding provisions, the press release said.

Key provisions are that the Land Administration Authority be attached to the Office of the President and be the primary government agency responsible for land administration and public land management, Rodriguez said.

Under the bill, the LAA will formulate land administration and management policies in accordance with existing national laws, the press release said.*

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