Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page C3 of the August 3, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
THE RECENT appointment of Peruvian Hernando de Soto, a renowned social science expert, as one of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's economic advisers, is a significant step in the government's continuing effort to alleviate poverty and promote economic growth.
Known as the "poor man's capitalist," De Soto has been successful in carrying out economic reforms that empower the poor. His specific advocacy: granting the poor legal rights over lands they occupy so these can be used as collaterals to borrow from banks and other sources for investments in their own small businesses. The President herself had said her own program enabling the squatters to buy the public or government lands they occupy was really drawn from De Soto's idea.
Computerization project
The ongoing land title computerization project at the Land Registration Authority fully supports the present administration's direction to awaken the country's "dead capital" which De Soto estimates at P100
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billion. "Dead capital" refers to pieces of real property occupied by poor families not covered by legal titles of ownership but which could be tapped to improve their lives.
LRA's information technology project for the land titling system is a vital government undertaking aimed at improving the present land registration and titling processes. The goal is not only to speed up land titling, but more important, to minimize or eliminate fraudulent land transactions.
LRA and private sector studies show that it is the poorer sector of society that suffers the consequences and bears the costs of a dysfunctional land administration system and the informal transactions associated with it. Such studies jibe with De Soto's idea that improving regulations and simplifying processes can unleash the power and capital of the poor.
Still committed to its mission
Over the years, LRA remains committed to its mission to preserve the stability and integrity of land ownership and maintain the public trust in the Torrens system. It remains firm in its fight against fake and fraudulent titling as it seeks amendments of the law to consider such offense as a heinous crime. It keeps trying to improve its facilities and make its services available to the transacting public, especially the clientele from remote municipalities.
Objectives
Realizing the importance of information technology to improve its operational efficiency, LRA has embarked on a computerization project. The twin objectives: speed up the delivery of services to the public, especially the poor, and eliminate graft and eradicate fraud in the registration and titling process.
What are the specific objectives of the computerization project? Fast and reliable land registration and titling through a nationwide online, real time processing of transactions. Automation of titling to ensure the integrity of titles, accurate land information, preservation of land records, integration of all LRA levels with the central office and all its registries of deeds. Access by other sectors to historical data and other knowledge bases for land titling and registration in various formats for decision-making.
Thus, the expected results are, first, current, complete and accurate information on land titles online and safeguarding of records against tampering and destruction. Another, a change from a paper-based to paperless system for tighter control over the titles. A modern digital technology to avoid overlapping or duplication of titles and create accurate, updated municipal and cadastral index map sheets. Moreover, the use of security-tested document imaging technology protects land titles from loss due to fire, theft, natural disasters and the normal ravages of time. Other government programs are directly linked to the land titling system. The LRA administrative support application system is strengthened, thus enabling the agency to improve its revenue collection.
But more significantly, the poor stands to benefit the most from with the LRA's computerization project. It will reduce or eliminate red tape and bureaucratic practices that the poor do not have the means-money and time for information negotiations, even legal assistance-to put up with. Under a system that immediately detects fake land titles and pinpoints the persons perpetrating the criminal activities, the poor seeking legal rights for their property will be amply protected.