A legal concept first introduced into the country from the West by Spain through the Laws of the Indies and the Royal Cedulas, all lands of the public domain belong to the State. This means that the State is the source of any asserted right to ownership of land, and is charged with the conservation of such patrimony. All lands not appearing to be clearly under private ownership are presumed to belong to the State. (Federation Of Coron, Busuanga, Palawan Farmer's Association, Inc. v. Secretary Of The Department Of Environment And Natural Resources G.R. No. 247866 September 15, 2020)