Amendment to R.A. No. 477 Re: Lands Transferred to the Republic of the Philippines Under the Philippine Property Act of 1946

June 18, 1961

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3348

AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS ONE AND THREE OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FOUR HUNDRED SEVENTY-SEVEN

 Section one of Republic Act Numbered Four hundred seventy-seven, as amended by Republic Act Numbered Nineteen hundred seventy, is further amended to read as follows: casia

"SEC. 1. All lands which have been or may hereafter be transferred to the Republic of the Philippines in accordance with the Philippine Property Act of nineteen hundred and forty-six (Act of Congress of the United States of July three, nineteen hundred and forty-six), and Republic Act Numbered Eight and all the public lands and improvements thereon transferred from the Bureau of Lands to the National Abaca and other Fibers Corporation under the provisions of Executive Order Numbered Twenty-nine, dated October twenty-five, nineteen hundred and forty-six and of Executive Order Numbered Ninety-nine, dated October twenty-two, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, shall be subdivided by the National Abaca and other Fibers Corporation into convenient-sized lots, except such portions thereof as the President of the Philippines may reserve or transfer title thereto for the use of the National or local governments, or for the use of corporations or entities owned or controlled by the Government. Subdivision lots primarily intended for, or devoted to, agricultural purposes shall not exceed an area of five hectares for coconut lands, ten hectares for improved abaca lands, and twelve hectares for unimproved lands; urban homesite or residential lots shall not exceed an area of one thousand square meters: Provided, That any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, the Department of General Services shall determine the minimum size of said urban homesites or residential lots and shall allot said lots to the actual occupants thereof at the time of the approval of this Act." cdt

 Section three of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 3. All lands so subdivided except commercial and industrial lots shall be sold by the National Abaca and other Fibers Corporation without the sales application, publication and the public auction required in Sections twenty-four, twenty-five, and twenty-six of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred forty-one, as amended, to persons who are qualified to acquire public agricultural lands: Provided, however, That sales of such lands heretofore made by the National Abaca and other Fibers Corporation without the sales application, publication and public auction as provided in the above-mentioned sections of the Public Land Law are hereby authorized, ratified and confirmed: Provided, further, That preference shall be given first to bona fide occupants thereof on or before December twelve, nineteen hundred and forty-six and second to veterans of the last war, and to members of the guerrilla organizations and other qualified persons who entered the land after December twelve, nineteen hundred and forty-six, but not later than December thirty-one, nineteen hundred and fifty-three and who shall be limited to the area they have actually improved and maintained: Provided, finally, That the subdivided lots which may still be unoccupied shall be disposed of by drawing lots among qualified persons who may apply for said lots."

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Enacted without Executive approval, June 18, 1961.

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 58, No. 22, p. 4270 on May 28, 1962