Title
Amendment to Public Land Act on Possession
Law
Republic Act No. 1942
Decision Date
Jun 22, 1957
Republic Act No. 1942 amends the Public Land Act to provide clearer guidelines for the acquisition of ownership of agricultural lands, requiring open, continuous, exclusive, and notorious possession and occupation for at least thirty years, with exceptions for war or force majeure, granting individuals who meet these conditions a certificate of title.
A

Definition of Possession and Occupation

  • The law applies to individuals or their predecessors who have been in possession and occupation of the land.
  • Possession must be open, contiguous, exclusive, and notorious.
  • Occupation must be under a bona fide claim of ownership acquisition.

Required Duration of Possession

  • The possession and occupation must have continued for at least thirty (30) years immediately before the filing of the application for title confirmation.
  • Exceptions to this period apply only in cases of war or force majeure that prevent continuous possession.

Legal Presumptions and Entitlements

  • Those who meet the above conditions shall be conclusively presumed to have fulfilled all conditions necessary for obtaining a government land grant.
  • Such individuals shall be entitled to receive a certificate of title for the land under the provisions of the Public Land Act.

Effectivity of the Law

  • The amendment takes effect immediately upon its approval by the legislative body.
  • The approval date was June 22, 1957.

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