Philippines-Australia Land Administration and Management Project – Phase II

From Public Relations To Social Mobilization: Tweaking LAMP II IEC To Fit Philippine Social Realities

Many long hours went into the production of the Technical Assistance Annual Plan for 2007-2008. The initial plan had to be revised to reflect the reduced level of TA funding from AusAID in the current financial year. The revised Plan was approved in August and recruitment of international and national TAs to assist the GOP with the agreed program activities is now in full swing. Organisational assessments were completed for the Land Management Bureau (LMB) and the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) and both organisations have agreed to participate in a Change Management Program.

The Land Registry Authority (LRA) has undertaken a parallel integrity development review and has undertaken to share the results so that it can benefit from capacity building initiatives that will enable these agencies to lead the land sector reform process. The Competency Based staff recruitment and training approach of LAMP will be strengthened with the recruitment of new advisers in the areas of GIS, surveying and mapping.

Productivity of titles improved in June 2007 in Leyte Province and has been maintained through the last quarter. The Leyte Project Implementation Office, through the PENRO, has declared its intention to reach the targeted output of titles for the calendar year. What an end of year celebration there will be if that goal is reached! The One-Stop-Shop (OSS) is bursting at the seams with mapping support to titling and land registration services as well as the development of the computerised information system. Work is underway to assess the feasibility of an extension of the current building on an adjacent site or construction of a new building in Tacloban City. Transactions at the Front Office of the OSS have been increasing in number and now average 50 per day. It is fitting that Responsive and Timely Services to Clients: A Service Delivery Standard in the OSS, has been formerly adopted and progressively implemented.

The new Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Jose Atienza, took up his new post in September. Secretary Atienza was previously Mayor of Manila for three terms and is an active, hands-on administrator. On September 14 the Secretary attended the official commencement of LAMP phase 2 in the province of Bohol. The guests at the OSS ground breaking ceremony were welcomed by the Mayor of Tagbilaran City, Dan Neri Lim and addressed by DENR Secretary, Jose Atienza, Department of Justice State Counsel Ruben Fondevilla, Governor of Bohol Erico Aumentado, World Bank Acting Country Director Jehan Arulpragasam and AusAID Counselor Sam Zappia.

The ceremony involved a ground breaking to officially mark the site for the construction of the OSS for the province of Bohol. The site selected is at the heart of provincial government institutions and within easy access of Tagbilaran for the general public. More than ceremonial shoveling of dirt and tugging of curtain cords, this ceremony signifies a commitment towards a cohesive, transparent and service orientated land sector.

The OSS aims to improve the delivery of land administration services through an integrated approach, bringing together appropriate government units involved in land management under one roof, thus ensuring sustainable tenure security. These units include the Registrar of Deeds, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, and the provincial and municipal local governments. The OSS establishes standard and accessible land records systems that link spatial with textual data on titles and land information. It likewise reviews and rationalizes sporadic titling and registration processes in accordance with world class service standards for the delivery of land administration services.

As the Secretary of DENR, Sec. Jose Atienza Jr stated in his opening address: the common aspiration of Filipinos to have land of their own is being frustrated by the slow and tedious process of land registration and administration. And it is these “tedious” processes of land registration and administration that are hampering the countries ability to reduce poverty and build a sustainable platform for economic growth.

Provided by Rae Porter Acting Team Leader and Clare Brazenor Systematic Adjudication Adviser