Legal basis and prior circular amended
- LRA is mandated to preserve the integrity of the land registration process, protect the sanctity of the Torrens Title, and act as the central repository of land records through Registry of Deeds offices nationwide.
- LRA Circular No. 19-2014 amends LRA Circular No. 05-2011 issued on March 28, 2011.
- LRA Circular No. 05-2011 provided that unpaid entries in the Primary Entry Books using electronic computerized systems are null and void if fees are unpaid within five (5) business days.
Policy and program objectives
- LRA Circular No. 19-2014 is issued to maximize the benefits of the land Titling Computerization Project (LTCP).
- The LTCP aims to keep online title information current, complete and accurate.
- The LTCP aims to safeguard records against tampering or destruction and deter substitution or insertion of questionable data.
- The LTCP aims to move from a largely paper-based to a largely paperless land registration system and protect titles from loss due to fire, theft, natural disasters, and the normal ravages of time.
Core rule: automatic voiding of entries
- LRA Circular No. 19-2014 applies to entries made into the Primary Entry Books of the Registries of Deeds using Electronic Primary Entry Books for the computerized system.
- If the payment of assessed fees is not made within ten (10) calendar days, the resulting entry is considered a null and void entry.
- The nullity rule in LRA Circular No. 19-2014 replaces the prior timing requirement in LRA Circular No. 05-2011 for the same computerized Primary Entry Books setting.
Holiday/work-day adjustment rationale
- LRA Circular No. 19-2014 addresses differences in working days among Registries of Deeds caused by different regular local holidays and declared holidays.
- The timing standard is adjusted to ten (10) calendar days to account for variations in holiday calendars across offices.
Effect on prior rule
- LRA Circular No. 19-2014 amends LRA Circular No. 05-2011 by extending the payment window from five (5) business days to ten (10) calendar days for electronic Primary Entry Books entries.
- LRA Circular No. 19-2014 makes the adjusted nulling rule operative immediately upon effectivity.