RA 9176 IRR: Free Patent Filing Extension

Any natural-born Filipino citizen who does not own over twelve (12) hectares of land may apply.
Applicants must have continuously occupied and cultivated the land, or had such occupation through their predecessors-in-interest, for at least thirty (30) years prior to the application.
The land must be public agricultural land subject to disposition and must have had real estate taxes paid prior to occupation by any person.
The total land area applied for must not exceed twelve (12) hectares.

Filing, investigation, and processing of free patent applications shall be conducted through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs).
These procedures will conform to existing rules and regulations under the "Handog Titulo" program, which facilitates land title legalizations.

All relevant applications from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2020 fall within this administrative order's scope.
The order ensures conformity with the amended sections of Commonwealth Act No. 141 and integrates their provisions.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary adopted the order on December 9, 2002, with immediate effect.