ACT No. 2874
As amended by Acts Nos. 3164, 3219, 3346, and 3517
TO AMEND AND COMPILE THE LAWS RELATIVE TO LANDS OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Legislature assembled and by the authority of the same:
TITLE I
TITLE AND APPLICATION OF THE ACT, LANDS TO WHICH IT REFERS, AND CLASSIFICATION, DELIMITATION, AND SURVEY THEREOF FOR CONCESSION.
CHAPTER I.
SHORT TITLE OF THE ACT, LANDS TO WHICH IT APPLIES, AND OFFICERS CHARGED WITH ITS EXECUTION.
Section 1. The short title of this Act shall be "The Public Land Act."
Section 2. The provisions of this Act shall apply to the lands of the public domain; but timber and mineral lands shall be governed by special laws and nothing in this Act provided shall be understood or construed to charge or-modify the government and disposition of the lands commonly called "friar lands" and those which, being privately owned, have reverted to or become the property of the...
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The Public Land Act, as ammendedTo Amend and Compile the Laws Relative to Lands of the Public Domain, and For Other Purposes
Act No. 2874
Summary of the Public Land Act:
Title and Application of the Act, Lands to Which It Refers, and Classification, Delimitation, and Survey Thereof for Concession:
- The Act shall be known as "The Public Land Act" and applies to lands of the public domain, excluding timber and mineral lands. (Sections 1-2)
- The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the executive officer charged with carrying out the Act, through the Director of Lands. (Sections 3-5)
- Lands of the public domain shall be classified into alienable/disposable, timber, and mineral lands by the Governor-General. (Section 6)
- Only delimited, classified, and surveyed lands not reserved or appropriated shall be open for disposition or concession. (Sections 7-8)
- Alienable lands shall be classified as agricultural, commercial/industrial, educational/charitable, and reservations for town sites and public/quasi-public uses. (Section 9)
Agricultural Public Lands:
Forms of Concession:
- Agricultural lands can only be disposed of through homestead settlement, sale, lease, or confirmation of imperfect/incomplete titles. (Section 11)
Homesteads:
- Qualified citizens can enter a homestead not exceeding 24 hectares. (Section 12)
- Requirements for homestead application, cultivation, residence, and final patent issuance are specified. (Sections 13-22)
- Non-Christian natives can request permits for occupation of up to 4 hectares within reservations. (Section 22)
Sale:
- Qualified individuals, corporations, associations, and partnerships can purchase up to 144 hectares for individuals and 1,024 hectares for corporations/associations. (Section 23)
- Restrictions on ownership and acquisition of agricultural public lands are specified. (Sections 24, 32-33)
- Procedures for land appraisal, sale announcement, bidding, payment, cultivation, and patent issuance are outlined. (Sections 25-31)
Lease:
- Qualified individuals, corporations, and associations can lease up to 1,024 hectares of agricultural public land. (Section 34)
- Procedures for lease announcement, bidding, rental rates, lease terms, improvements, and renewal are specified. (Sections 35-40)
- Lessees can purchase the leased land subject to restrictions. (Section 40)
Free Patents:
- Native Filipinos continuously occupying and cultivating public lands since July 4, 1907 or earlier can obtain free patents for up to 24 hectares. (Section 41)
- The Governor-General shall fix periods for filing free patent applications in specified areas. (Section 42)
- Procedures for free patent application and issuance are outlined. (Section 43)
Judicial Confirmation of Imperfect/Incomplete Titles:
- Qualified citizens can apply for confirmation of claims and issuance of titles for lands occupied or claimed before the U.S. occupation, subject to specified conditions. (Sections 44-54)
Lands for Commercial, Industrial, and Other Productive Purposes:
- Procedures for classification, lease, and sale of public lands suitable for commercial, industrial, and other productive purposes are specified. (Sections 55-65)
Lands for Educational, Charitable, and Other Similar Purposes:
- Procedures for concession of public lands for educational, charitable, and other similar purposes are outlined. (Sections 66-67)
Reservations:
- Provisions for town site reservations, reservations for public/quasi-public purposes, reservations for non-Christian tribes, and agricultural colonies are specified. (Sections 68-83)
- Common provisions for reservations, including survey, judicial proceedings, and non-alienability, are outlined. (Sections 84-86)
General Provisions:
Applications, Procedure, Concession of Lands, and Legal Restrictions and Encumbrances:
- Requirements for land applications, procedures, concessions, and legal restrictions/encumbrances are specified in detail. (Sections 87-122)
- Provisions restricting foreign ownership/acquisition of lands are included, subject to existing treaties. (Section 122A)
Penal Provisions:
- Penalties for false applications, evidence, affidavits, coercion, unauthorized form sales, and fraudulent land acquisition are outlined. (Sections 123-126)
Final Provisions:
- Provisions for the Act's effectiveness, repeal of inconsistent laws, and effective date are included. (Sections 127-129)
Title and Application of the Act, Lands to Which It Refers, and Classification, Delimitation, and Survey Thereof for Concession:
- The Act shall be known as "The Public Land Act" and applies to lands of the public domain, excluding timber and mineral lands. (Sections 1-2)
- The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources is the executive officer charged with carrying out the Act, through the Director of Lands. (Sections 3-5)
- Lands of the public domain shall be classified into alienable/disposable, timber, and mineral lands by the Governor-General. (Section 6)
- Only delimited, classified, and surveyed lands not reserved or appropriated shall be open for disposition or concession. (Sections 7-8)
- Alienable lands shall be classified as agricultural, commercial/industrial, educational/charitable, and reservations for town sites and public/quasi-public uses. (Section 9)
Agricultural Public Lands:
Forms of Concession:
- Agricultural lands can only be disposed of through homestead settlement, sale, lease, or confirmation of imperfect/incomplete titles. (Section 11)
Homesteads:
- Qualified citizens can enter a homestead not exceeding 24 hectares. (Section 12)
- Requirements for homestead application, cultivation, residence, and final patent issuance are specified. (Sections 13-22)
- Non-Christian natives can request permits for occupation of up to 4 hectares within reservations. (Section 22)
Sale:
- Qualified individuals, corporations, associations, and partnerships can purchase up to 144 hectares for individuals and 1,024 hectares for corporations/associations. (Section 23)
- Restrictions on ownership and acquisition of agricultural public lands are specified. (Sections 24, 32-33)
- Procedures for land appraisal, sale announcement, bidding, payment, cultivation, and patent issuance are outlined. (Sections 25-31)
Lease:
- Qualified individuals, corporations, and associations can lease up to 1,024 hectares of agricultural public land. (Section 34)
- Procedures for lease announcement, bidding, rental rates, lease terms, improvements, and renewal are specified. (Sections 35-40)
- Lessees can purchase the leased land subject to restrictions. (Section 40)
Free Patents:
- Native Filipinos continuously occupying and cultivating public lands since July 4, 1907 or earlier can obtain free patents for up to 24 hectares. (Section 41)
- The Governor-General shall fix periods for filing free patent applications in specified areas. (Section 42)
- Procedures for free patent application and issuance are outlined. (Section 43)
Judicial Confirmation of Imperfect/Incomplete Titles:
- Qualified citizens can apply for confirmation of claims and issuance of titles for lands occupied or claimed before the U.S. occupation, subject to specified conditions. (Sections 44-54)
Lands for Commercial, Industrial, and Other Productive Purposes:
- Procedures for classification, lease, and sale of public lands suitable for commercial, industrial, and other productive purposes are specified. (Sections 55-65)
Lands for Educational, Charitable, and Other Similar Purposes:
- Procedures for concession of public lands for educational, charitable, and other similar purposes are outlined. (Sections 66-67)
Reservations:
- Provisions for town site reservations, reservations for public/quasi-public purposes, reservations for non-Christian tribes, and agricultural colonies are specified. (Sections 68-83)
- Common provisions for reservations, including survey, judicial proceedings, and non-alienability, are outlined. (Sections 84-86)
General Provisions:
Applications, Procedure, Concession of Lands, and Legal Restrictions and Encumbrances:
- Requirements for land applications, procedures, concessions, and legal restrictions/encumbrances are specified in detail. (Sections 87-122)
- Provisions restricting foreign ownership/acquisition of lands are included, subject to existing treaties. (Section 122A)
Penal Provisions:
- Penalties for false applications, evidence, affidavits, coercion, unauthorized form sales, and fraudulent land acquisition are outlined. (Sections 123-126)
Final Provisions:
- Provisions for the Act's effectiveness, repeal of inconsistent laws, and effective date are included. (Sections 127-129)