Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 3323)
The maximum area of friar lands that can be sold to an individual is one hundred and forty-four (144) hectares.
A corporation may purchase up to one thousand and twenty-four (1,024) hectares.
No, the limitation on area does not apply to sales made to a provincial or municipal government or any other branch, subdivision, or entity of the Government.
The Director of Lands is directed to take possession and charge of vacant friar lands and may either lease such lands for a term not exceeding three years or sell them as may be solicited, proceeding as provided in section eleven of the Act.
The term for leasing vacant friar lands may not exceed three years.
They are entitled to purchase the portion of land they occupy at the actual cost to the government and may pay for the land in equal annual installments within fifteen years, with an interest rate of four percent per annum on deferred payments.
The Director of Lands must notify the municipal president of the municipality or municipalities where the lands lie. The municipal president must publish the notification for three consecutive days by bandillos in the poblacion and affected barrios and certify these acts to the Director before executing the lease or sale.
Preference is given to the purchaser who has been a tenant or bona fide occupant of the lands or part thereof. If there has been more than one occupant, preference goes to the last tenant or occupant.
No, such leases or sales are not valid or effective without the requisite publication by bandillos for three consecutive days.
When authorized by resolution of the Senate, the Governor-General may designate any tract or tracts of friar lands as non-alienable by proclamation and reserve them for public use, after which they cannot be sold, leased, or otherwise disposed of under the Act.
The Governor-General may exempt such lands by executive order. The government entity must pay the full value of the property plus accrued interest to the friar lands sinking fund. After payment, the title is transferred to the concerned government entity by the Director of Lands.