PAMPANGA, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. granted the Provincial Government of Zambales special patents for two educational institutions during the distribution of land titles in San Ferando City, this province, on September 19.
Zambales Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. personally received from the President the two special patents for Iba Elementary School, and Zambales National High School.
A special patent is a document granted by the government that confirms the transfer of ownership to the grantee over a parcel of public land for government use, such as public schools.
“This is momentous day for our educational history,” said Gov. Ebdane, adding that for more than a century, the two Zambales schools are sitting on government land. “Now, they are on their own property.”
In 1913, then Congressman Alejo Labrador established a vocational school in a property donated by the province. The school later became Zambales National High School, however, the property remains owned by the local government, until the awarding of special patent.
The two special patents were among the 11 special patents awarded by the President during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Financial Assistance to Farmworkers and Distribution of Titles” ceremony held in San Fernando, Pampanga.
Present during the ceremony were Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda, DSWD Sec. Rex Gachalian, DPWH Sec. Vivencio Dizon, and DENR Sec. Rafael Lotilla, and thousands of farm workers from across Region I, II, III, V, IV-A, and CAR.
Under the vison of Bagong Pilipinas, the President distributed 520 land patents and deeds of sale to beneficiaries, five (5) for agricultural free patents, 11 special patents, and three (3) deeds of sale.
The program aligns with the President’s directive for bureaucratic efficiency by simplifying land titling processes, reducing disputes and improving transparency in land management.
It is an ongoing initiative where qualified recipients are granted land ownership rights by the DENR’s regional and field offices through land patent issuance under Commonwealth Act 141, as amended by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11573, R.A. No. 10023 or the Residential Free Patent Act, and Proclamation No. 172, along with other legal requirements.
