By Jamie Joie Malingan

 

BANGUED, Abra, Philippines (PIA) — Thirty-three land titles were distributed to individuals and schools in Abra under the Handog Titulo Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

“We have 24 agricultural patents and nine special patents. Special patents ang binibigay sa ating mga government agencies like school sites,” DENR-Cordillera Assistant Regional Director Marcos Bias said  during the DENR Express  activity  on April 14, 2026, at the Provincial Capitol.

He said that the Handog Titulo Program aims to facilitate the faster transfer of public lands to qualified individuals and institutions.

“Sa mga school sites na nabigyan ng titulo, they will be eligible for infrastructure projects. Bibigyan ka ng funding para i-improve ang ating mga facilities sa schools,” he added.

Bias also noted that educational institutions that are given special patents are exempted from real property tax under the Constitution.

“Thank you, DENR. These [land titles] imply security among school personnel that the schools own the land and we can finally do a lot more for school facility development and environment protection,” said Principal Hilda Palecpec of the Mabungtot Elementary School in Langiden, Abra.

Other schools that received land titles during the DENR Express activity in Bangued on April 14 are the Pidigan Central School, Baac Elementary School, Manabo Pilot Elementary School, Cardona Primary School, Dolores Central School, San Juan Central School, and Supiil Elementary School.

An agricultural patent was also awarded to Mr. Emilio Quemerista. (JDP/JJMT- PIA-CAR, Abra)

 

Representatives of beneficiary schools and an individual patent receive land titles under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Handog Titulo Program during the DENR Express held on April 14, 2026, at the Provincial Capitol, Bangued.