Survey, Subdivision, Improvement, and Disposition of Public Lands

June 27, 1930

ACT NO. 3673

AN ACT TO PROMOTE AND HASTEN THE SURVEY, SUBDIVISION, IMPROVEMENT, AND DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC LANDS IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

SECTION 1. Whenever in the opinion of the Secretary of a Agriculture and Natural Resources the public interests so require, he shall order the survey, delimitation and subdivision by the Bureau of Lands of such portions of the public domain as may be necessary and convenient. Said Secretary may also entrust such work, including the improvement of the land so surveyed and subdivided, to private surveyors or corporations under such terms and conditions as he may deem proper and advantageous to the Government.

SECTION 2. The parcels or lots thus surveyed, delimited and improved shall be disposed of by the Director of Lands or through the surveyors or corporations that executed the work under the supervision and control of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources and in accordance with existing law, to such persons, corporations, or associations as are entitled to apply for agricultural public lands under the provisions of the Public Land Act: Provided, however, That the expenses of the survey, delimitation, subdivision and improvement shall be apportioned, assessed and collected from all applicants irrespective of the nature or class of their applications, in addition to the fees, rentals, and other payments collectible under the provisions of said Act: Provided, further, That when the work is done by private surveyors or corporations, the same shall collect only the actual cost of the survey, subdivision, and improvement of the land and, in addition thereto, a profit not to exceed twenty per centum of such cost.

SECTION 3. All reimbursements for survey, delimitation, subdivision and improvement as provided in the next preceding section, and all proceeds, fees, rentals, and other collections that may be realized from the disposition and concession of parcels, tracts and lots surveyed, delimited and improved under this Act, shall constitute a special fund which shall be available for expenditure in the same manner and for the same purposes as those for which the original fund authorized in section four hereof is established.

SECTION 4. Out of the "Rice and Corn Fund" appropriated under the provisions of Act Numbered Twenty-eight hundred and eighteen, as amended, the sum of three hundred thousand pesos is hereby set aside to be known as the "Public Land Subdivision Fund." This sum and all moneys collected under the provisions of sections two and three hereof shall be expended to carry out the purposes of this Act and shall be disbursed by the Director of Lands under the direction and control of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on its approval.

Approved, June 27, 1930.