Press Release
June 9, 2015

Senate approves new Registry of Deeds for Zamboanga Sibugay -- Pimentel

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III today said the creation of a new Registry of Deeds in Zamboanga Sibugay following the approval of a measure by Congress would help spur economic development in the area.

Pimentel said the Senate has just approved on third and final reading the bill creating the Registry of Deeds in the province, hurdling the final roadblock in the establishment of a separate office from Zamboanga del Sur.

"The Registry of Deeds is the repository of all instruments affecting registered lands. Through this office, we are able to find out the who, what, when and where of a particular real property," he said.

Pimentel, who is also the chairman of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan (PDP Laban), said the lack of a Registry of Deeds has caused great inconvenience for the people of Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said land owners in the province are forced to travel 130.2 kilometers away to fulfil their legal obligations because the current Registry of Deeds is situated in Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur.

Pimentel, who is also the chairman of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, said the new Registry of Deeds will be situated this time in the capital town of Ipil, right in the heart of the province.

The Mindanao senator sponsored the Senate Bill while Reps. Belma Cabilao (1st district, Zamboanga Sibugay), Ann Hoffer (2nd district, Zamboanga Sibugay), Niel Tupas (5th district, Iloilo), and Isidro Ungab (3rd district, Davao City) co-sponsored it in the Lower House.

Under the new measure, the Registry of Deeds will have territorial jurisdiction over all municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay.

It also mandates the President, taking into consideration the recommendation of the Justice Secretary, to appoint a Registrar, who will be assisted by a staff complement.

The new registrar will be authorized to collect fees and charges for services rendered to the people.

A deputy registrar, and in appropriate case, a second deputy, shall be appointed by the justice secretary upon the recommendation of the administrator of the Land Registration Authority.

But this would be realized only in the event that the amounts collected during the first three years of operation would meet the annual average revenue set by Presidential Decree No. 1529.

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