Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act

February 22, 2019

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11231

AN ACT REMOVING THE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED ON THE REGISTRATION, ACQUISITION, ENCUMBRANCE, ALIENATION, TRANSFER AND CONVEYANCE OF LAND COVERED BY FREE PATENTS UNDER SECTIONS 118, 119 AND 121 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 141, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE PUBLIC LAND ACT," AS AMENDED

SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the "Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act."

SECTION 2. It is the declared policy of the State to remove the restrictions on free patents to allow the efficient and effective utilization of these lands in order to contribute to wealth creation, entrepreneurship, and economic development.

SECTION 3. Agricultural public lands alienated or disposed in favor of qualified public land applicants under Section 44 of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, shall not be subject to restrictions imposed under Sections 118, 119 and 121 thereof regarding acquisitions, encumbrances, conveyances, transfers, or dispositions. Agricultural free patent shall now be considered as title in fee simple and shall not be subject to any restriction on encumbrance or alienation.

SECTION 4. This Act shall have retroactive effect and any restriction regarding acquisitions, encumbrances, conveyances, transfers, or dispositions imposed on agricultural free patents issued under Section 44 of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, before the effectivity of this Act shall be removed and are hereby immediately lifted: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall affect the right of redemption under Section 119 of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended, for transactions made in good faith prior to the effectivity of this Act.

SECTION 5. If any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 6. All laws, decrees, orders, rules, regulations, circulars and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved: February 22, 2019.

 

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 115, No. 17, p. 4178 on April 29, 2019.