AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE GOVERNOR OF THE LAND AUTHORITY TO SIGN AND ISSUE LAND PATENTS OR CERTIFICATES FOR LOTS IN PUBLIC AGRICULTURAL LANDS RESERVED FOR OR PLACED UNDER T…

WHEREAS, pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 1160, the defunct National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) was granted, subject to the supervision and control of the President of the Philippines, the power to process and approve homestead, sales, free patent and other applications for the acquisition of public agricultural lands reserved for or placed under its custody, administration and disposition and to prepare and issue in the name of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, land patents or certificates for the lands applied for without coursing the papers relative thereto to the Bureau of Lands and the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 73 of Republic Act No. 3844, otherwise known as the Agricultural Land Reform Code, the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration was abolished and its powers and functions have been transferred to the Land Authority, a government agency which is directly under the supervision and control of the President of the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, administrative efficiency will be greatly enhanced and the speedy distribution of lands to landless citizens immediately effected if the provisions of Republic Acts Nos. 1160 and 3844 are implemented;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby authorize and empower the Governor of the Land Authority to sign and issue in the name of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines land patents or certificates pertaining to public agricultural lands reserved for or placed under the custody, administration and disposition of the defunct National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration and to affix thereto the Official Seal of the Land Authority. Land patents or certificates issued pursuant to this authority shall be signed by the Governor of the Land Authority “By authority of the President of the Philippines”.

This Order shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and sixty-eight.

By the President:

(Sgd.) RAFAEL M. SALAS
Executive Secretary