The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 6 continues with its issuance of residential and agricultural free patents to qualified beneficiaries and lays out accomplishments from July 2022 to October 2023, so far under the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

During the said period, DENR field offices in Western Visayas distributed 1,847 residential free patents with a total area of 55.4457 hectares. In Aklan province, 375 patents were distributed covering a total land area of 13.516 ha.; Antique with 385 for 11.2582 ha.; Capiz with 125 for 3.6418 ha.; Guimaras with 97 for 5.024 ha.; Negros Occidental with 357 for 7.0739 ha.; and Iloilo, having the lion’s share with 508 issued residential free patents with a total land area of 14.9318 hectares.

For the agricultural free patents, Aklan had the greatest number of patents issued at 674 with a total area of 280.6157 ha. Other provinces namely: Iloilo granted 452 patents with an area of 318.9385 ha.; Antique with 273 covering 181.3425 ha.; Capiz granting 178 patents with a total area of 216.724 ha.; Guimaras with 89 and an area of 83.9795 ha.; and, Negros Occidental having given 103 patents with a span of 84.5889 ha. In total, 1,769 agricultural patents were issued in the region with a total area of 1166.1891 ha. on the same period.

Combining both residential and agricultural free patents issued, it has reached 3,616 with a total area of 1221.6348 ha. granted to applicants in Region 6 for the past one year and three months since President Marcos’ term started.

“Granting of free patents for agricultural and residential lands is one of DENR’s responsibilities in serving the people and giving them rights to own these spaces provided that they meet the requirements. We help empower our beneficiaries by making them landowners,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

Republic Act No. 11573 signed in 2021 by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte is the new law that governs the grant of agricultural and residential free patents. It aims to improve the process of confirmation concerning imperfect land titles and amends Commonwealth Act No. 141 known as the “Public Land Act” and PD No. 1529 or the “Property Registration Decree”.

Free patents for residential and agricultural lands are given to qualified applicants in a much more simplified and practical administrative titling process. It gives the current occupants or owners of alienable and disposable lands a sense of security.