Question & AnswerQ&A (Act No. 926)
A citizen may enter a homestead of not exceeding sixteen hectares of unoccupied, unreserved, unappropriated agricultural public land in the Philippine Islands.
Any citizen of the Philippine Islands, or of the United States, or any insular possession thereof, over the age of 21, or the head of a family, who does not own more than sixteen hectares or has received any gratuitous allotment of sixteen hectares since the US acquisition.
The applicant must have resided and cultivated the land for five years continuously, not alienated or encumbered the land, and borne true allegiance to the Governments of the United States and the Philippine Islands, supported by two credible witnesses' affidavits.
No, such lands shall not become liable to the satisfaction of any debts contracted prior to the issuance of the patent.
An individual may purchase up to sixteen hectares, while corporations or associations may purchase up to one thousand and twenty-four hectares of unoccupied, unappropriated agricultural public land.
The minimum appraised price shall not be less than ten pesos Philippine currency per hectare.
No, the land must not have been sold or encumbered before patent issuance, and abandonment or non-compliance can cause forfeiture.
Natives of the Philippine Islands who have continuously occupied and cultivated unreserved, unappropriated agricultural public land since August 1, 1898, or who occupied and cultivated it for three years immediately before that date, and have been continuous occupiers since July 4, 1902, may apply for a free patent for up to sixteen hectares.
Leases shall run for not more than twenty-five years, renewable for an additional twenty-five years with rent adjustments.
The lessee's last payment of rent will be forfeited, and he may be subject to immediate dispossession and suit for damages.
The Court of Land Registration of the Philippine Islands is designated to confirm such claims and issue certificates of title.
No title may be acquired by prescription or adverse possession under laws prior to American occupation except as expressly provided by laws enacted since acquisition by the United States.
They shall be guilty of perjury and punished accordingly.
Town sites may be reserved by the Secretary of the Interior and subdivided for public and private use; lots may be sold under prescribed regulations to promote orderly settlement and development.