Government launches electronic land titles

By Katlene O. Cacho

Sunday, March 4, 2012

REGISTERED landowners now have the option to have their existing land titles replaced with electronic titles (e-Title) under the Land Registration Authority (LRA)’s Voluntary Title Standardization Program or e-Title Program.

According to LRA administrator Eulalio Diaz III, the program gives registered landowners the opportunity to replace their existing titles into eTitles that are printed on security paper with unique technological features.

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Diaz said the registry copy will be electronically stored in an online system to secure it from fraud and tampering, and to protect these from loss and destruction due to fire, theft, natural disasters and the normal ravages of time.

“The launching of the e-Title is part of the standardization process adopted by LRA now to ensure fast and reliable system that is convenient to everyone,” Diaz said.

The e-Title program will initially be offered in the Registries of Deeds of Cebu Province and the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Danao and Toledo and eventually rolled out to all LRA’s Registries of Deeds nationwide.

In his presentation, lawyer Sedfrey Garcia, head of Marikina Registries of Deeds Operations Committee, said the voluntary upgrade from manual title to e-title does not involve changes of the content of the title.

“There will be no alterations or any modifications. We will only be changing the form not the content of the title. This is an “as-is-where-is” upgrade,” Garcia said.

He said the e-title program offers more secure registry copy and owner’s duplicate copy of the certificate of title, faster transaction processing and clearer certified true copies.

When applying for an e-Title, registered landowners only need to file a petition for a voluntary standardization of certificate of title, submit valid government IDs, owner’s duplicate certificate of title, all issued co-owner’s duplicate certificate of title and other required authorized documents for representatives of owners.

Garcia said it takes a maximum of five working days to process the e-Title.

An e-Title cost P870.82 inclusive of VAT. However, the LRA is giving a discounted rate of P638 for Cebu until July 8.

The e-Titling program of the LRA is under a build-own-operate agreement in partnership with the Land Registration Systems Inc., through the Land Titling Computerization Project.

Since its soft launching last Jan.9, LRA was able to record only 41 e-Title holders.

Cebu Registry of Deeds head Emmanuel Gimarino said he is hoping the number of registrants will increase.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 05, 2012.

Camella to start building malls

By Mia E. Abellana

Sunday, March 4, 2012

AFTER years of establishing itself as a developer of housing units in the country, Vistaland, developers of Camella Homes, is setting its sights on building community malls.

In a visit to Cebu Friday, Vistaland founder Manuel Villar said they are ready to build their own brand of Camella Malls in areas where they have built communities. One of these malls will be the Camella Plaza in Talisay City.

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Villar told reporters Friday that after 21 years in Cebu, they want to make it known that they have accomplished a lot since they first began.

‘Big bang’

He admitted that his company has kept a low profile in Cebu for several years.

“We want this year to be memorable. We want a big bang. Everything we have done, it has to be known. We intend to blaze trails again,” he said.

Villar said that although they have sales revenues that are much higher than other developers, not many people know it because they don’t make enough announcements.

He felt that they owed it to their stakeholders to be proud of their accomplishments and to “start bragging.”

Camella Plaza, which sits on a one-hectare property, will be a 6,000-square meter commercial area with a department store, supermarket and other concessionaires.

He admitted that they have been planning the construction of the mall for a long time but it was only recently that they decided to finally start on the project. “Anytime soon, we will start construction. We will be very aggressive in the next two years.”

Villar said their malls will not be imposing structures because these are designed to complement the communities they have built.

He added that sometimes, people do not want to have to park in a large parking lot and walk inside a big building just to grab a bite to eat at their favorite fast food outlet.

While they have completed plans for Camella Plaza in Talisay City, Villar said the areas of Talamban and Mactan are “good candidates” for areas that could use strip malls that they have in mind.

Moving to suburbs

He said that just like in Manila, Cebu will see more people moving to the suburbs and that community centers that they are planning are ideal for such areas. He explained that the concept they have in mind are complete amenities that a community needs such as a shopping area, schools and churches.

Aside from these plans, Villar said they are returning to their old developments because he wants to improve them.

He promised a year-long celebration in Cebu and assured that Cebuanos will feel and see physical developments in all of their projects.

Camella’s first project in Cebu was in Lapu-Lapu City in June 1991. It currently has developments in Mactan, Talamban, Guadalupe, Talisay City and Carcar City.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 05, 2012.

Villar Become a leader, not just an employee

	3/3/2012
To become leaders, Filipinos shouldn’t be contented with being employees, said Sen. Manuel Villar yesterday. “Our culture is so secure just following. We are a nation of employees. We have to stop that way of thinking. It’s about time we change that mind-set. We can lead, we can be independent,” he said during the Gullas Leadership Lecture Series at the Cebu Country Club. The lecture series is sponsored by the University of the Visayas (UV). Its first lecturer last month was Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile. Own your first Condo for as low as 3,163/month Villar, who ran for president in 2010, said Filipinos need sincere, independent leadership to move the country forward. Poverty should not be an obstacle. “I didn’t know I could be a leader. I just wanted to get out of poverty, get my sisters to school, help my mother. But I realized that in all the organizations I joined, I ended up the leader. Then I was elected,” Villar said. The senator grew up in the slums of Tondo, Manila, and worked his way up by selling fish and bread. Villar then became a sand and gravel contractor, which opened opportunities for him to enter into housing development. Villar told participants that success means being persistent, working hard and standing up every time one falls. The youth shouldn’t be contented being employees; they should aim to be their own bosses, he said. “Do not assume that if you are poor, you cannot be a leader. Just show sincerity, do your work well and your peers will see it and elect you as a leader,” the senator said. Villar said popularity and sentimentality shouldn’t influence Filipinos in voting for leaders, something he said that happened in the 2010 elections. “We have used emotions and popularity in electing our officials. This is probably the reason we haven’t moved forward in the last decade,” Villar told the audience that included students, government officials and the academe. The senator ran for president under the Nacionalista Party but lost to Benigno Aquino III, who ran after constant prodding from party mates following the death of his mother former president Corazon Aquino. Villar said his determination to rise above poverty should inspire youths to do the same. He said it’s the person’s track record and not popularity that should be the gauge in electing a leader. “Look at the person. Has she or he led anything? Has he managed anything? Then that’s the time to decide who we should elect,” he said. Even if he lost in the 2010 elections, Villar said he isn’t retiring from politics. He said he will focus on supporting NP candidates and helping others through the Villar Foundation. Retirement isn’t an option, the senator said. “Success can be redefined. Sometimes you shift arenas. And working on a nongovernment organization is one area I haven’t led. I haven’t decided really which I will focus on more, business, philanthropy or politics,” Villar said. /By Marian Z. Codilla, Reporter

Osmeña seeks wider road to support Gorordo flyover

	3/4/2012
A second underpass and a wider F. Sotto Road in Cebu City is being pushed by Rep. Tomas Osmeña. He said widening the two-lane F. Sotto Road near Asilo dela Milagrosa would allow two-way traffic and “complement” the proposed Gorordo Avenue flyover. “All I have to do is to convince the lot owners (in the area) not to be tough on us (in acquiring road right of way),” said Osmeña in a press conference at his Guadalupe residence. Own your first Condo for as low as 3,163/month The flyover is one of two suspended by the Department of Public Works and Highways last October 2011 amid opposition from traffic managers, urban planners and environment groups but proponents Rep. Cutie del Mar of the north district with Osmeña of the south district continue to press its revival. Osmeña said he is also pushing for a new underpass in Block 10 of the North Reclamation Area to cut travel time from north to south. Funding and plans to widen F. Sotto Road have not yet been approved by the DPWH. The congressman said he sat down with Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson who assured that a technical survey would be made first. “There is still no assurance from Secretary Singson if they will do the project. That is why I need public support on this,” said the congressman, who has announced plans for running for Cebu City mayor in 2013. Del Mar in an earlier interview said a survey was under way for the acquisition of lots for road widening below the proposed Gorordo Avenue flyover. F. Sotto Street, which connects to D. Jakosalem Street and Gen. Maxilom Avenue near the Iglesia ni Cristo church, is a one-way road. Widening it would allow two-way traffic. To do this, a gasoline station near the Asilo dela Milagrosa would have to be removed. Osmeña called the press conference to comment on recent political developments Contrary to criticisms that he’s sleeping on the job, Osmeña said he’s been working on projects for the city's north and south districts. The P150-million rehabilitation of roads at the South Road Properties (SRP) is scheduled for bidding and may be implemented in the next two years, he said. Osmeña said he is also negotiating with the DPWH on a proposal to build a second underpass near Block 10 at the North Reclamation Area . Block 10 is the parcel of land onwed by the Cebu city government in the NRA, which is occupied by the Community Scouts. A second underpass would reduce travel time to 15 minutes from the Talisay City boundary of the SRP to the boundary between the cities of Mandaue and Cebu, he said. Osmeña said he wanted the South Coastal Road (SCR) to become a freeway by closing access to its center islands. He said business in the SRP is expected to pick up with the completion of the Filinvest condominium projects and SM mall. The congressman said the price of lots at the SRP are expected to soar once SM's multi-million peso project is completed. He said it will be at par with properties at the Asiatown IT Park and the Cebu Business Park. “If we sell five to 10 hectares of land a year, that will already take care of our college scholarship program and the financial assistance for senior citizens in Cebu City,” said Osmeña. /By Doris C. Bongcac, Chief of Reporters

Government launches electronic land titles

By Katlene O. Cacho

Sunday, March 4, 2012

REGISTERED landowners now have the option to have their existing land titles replaced with electronic titles (e-Title) under the Land Registration Authority (LRA)’s Voluntary Title Standardization Program or e-Title Program.

According to LRA administrator Eulalio Diaz III, the program gives registered landowners the opportunity to replace their existing titles into eTitles that are printed on security paper with unique technological features.

Own your first Condo for as low as 3,163/month

Diaz said the registry copy will be electronically stored in an online system to secure it from fraud and tampering, and to protect these from loss and destruction due to fire, theft, natural disasters and the normal ravages of time.

“The launching of the e-Title is part of the standardization process adopted by LRA now to ensure fast and reliable system that is convenient to everyone,” Diaz said.

The e-Title program will initially be offered in the Registries of Deeds of Cebu Province and the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Danao and Toledo and eventually rolled out to all LRA’s Registries of Deeds nationwide.

In his presentation, lawyer Sedfrey Garcia, head of Marikina Registries of Deeds Operations Committee, said the voluntary upgrade from manual title to e-title does not involve changes of the content of the title.

“There will be no alterations or any modifications. We will only be changing the form not the content of the title. This is an “as-is-where-is” upgrade,” Garcia said.

He said the e-title program offers more secure registry copy and owner’s duplicate copy of the certificate of title, faster transaction processing and clearer certified true copies.

When applying for an e-Title, registered landowners only need to file a petition for a voluntary standardization of certificate of title, submit valid government IDs, owner’s duplicate certificate of title, all issued co-owner’s duplicate certificate of title and other required authorized documents for representatives of owners.

Garcia said it takes a maximum of five working days to process the e-Title.

An e-Title cost P870.82 inclusive of VAT. However, the LRA is giving a discounted rate of P638 for Cebu until July 8.

The e-Titling program of the LRA is under a build-own-operate agreement in partnership with the Land Registration Systems Inc., through the Land Titling Computerization Project.

Since its soft launching last Jan.9, LRA was able to record only 41 e-Title holders.

Cebu Registry of Deeds head Emmanuel Gimarino said he is hoping the number of registrants will increase.

Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on March 05, 2012.