Conditions for Title Acquisition
- Filipino farmers who have occupied and cultivated within the reservations may acquire land titles under the Public Land Act.
- Requirements:
- Full improvement and terracing of the applied portion of land within 3 years from the order date.
- Failure to improve or terrace results in automatic reversion of unimproved portions to public domain.
- Specific conservation instructions:
- Flat hilltops with steep rocky slopes: terrace and cultivate tops; plant trees or vegetation (paspallum grass) on slopes.
- Gentle slopes with steep pointed peaks: terrace slopes; plant peaks with trees or vegetation.
Application Process
- Claimants may file title applications within 3 years from the order date.
- Applications must follow the form and procedures set by the Director of Lands under the Public Land Act.
- Land applied for must first be excluded from the said reservations before proceeding.
Screening Committee and Title Issuance
- A specialized committee screens applications and recommends entitlement.
- Committee composition:
- Representative of the Director of Forestry
- Representative of the Director of Lands
- Representative of the Director of Soil Conservation
- Private citizen from the region appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources
- Conditions for title grant are strictly enforced and expressly stated in the title.
- Non-compliance post-issuance leads to reversion of land to the public domain.
Eviction and Prosecution of Alien Occupants
- All alien occupants/operators must vacate farm lots by June 30, 1956.
- Prosecution of aliens and Filipino dummies for violations of Public Land, Anti-Dummy, and Internal Revenue laws is mandated.
Enforcement and Interagency Cooperation
- National Bureau of Investigation, Anti-Dummy Board, Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Bureau of Internal Revenue tasked to jointly investigate and prosecute violations.
- Collaboration targets occupation and operation of farms by aliens within the two reservations.
Legal Effectivity
- The order is issued under the authority of the President of the Philippines, dated May 10, 1956.
- Enforcement mechanisms ensure compliance with land use, conservation, and anti-alien occupation policies.