Parañaque 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan has filed a bill to ensure permanent government ownership of lands occupied by public schools that currently lack titles. Under House Bill (HB) 9477, the process of titling and registering these lands under the Department of Education (DepEd) will be accelerated to avoid legal complications in the construction and repair of classrooms.
Background of the bill
Yamsuan introduced the measure following DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara's directive to conduct structural safety inspections on schools affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Mindanao last Monday. The lawmaker emphasized that the classroom shortage cannot be resolved if land ownership issues persist due to lack of documentation.
Current situation
According to the Edcom II report, around 122,000 classrooms nationwide have exceeded their lifespan and require immediate rehabilitation or retrofitting. To expedite the process, HB 9477 stipulates that lands already used as schools for ten years or more will be considered formal property of DepEd.
The bill also grants DepEd the authority to acquire private lots currently occupied by schools through expropriation or payment of just compensation to the owners.
