Reorganization of the Presidential Action Committee on Land Problems.
Section 1
SECTION 1. Reorganization of the Presidential Action Committee on Land Problems.—The Presidential Action Committee on Land Problems, herein referred to as the PACLAP, created by Executive Order No. 251, dated July 31, 1970, as amended by Executive Order No. 305, dated March 19, 1971, hereby reorganized as follows: Secretary of Natural Resources Chairman PANAMIN Secretary Member Deputy Executive Secretary " Undersecretary of Agriculture Member " Undersecretary of Justice " Undersecretary of Agrarian Reform " Undersecretary of National Defense " Chief of Constabulary " Commissioner of Land Registration " Chief, Citizens Legal Assistance Office " Director of Lands " Director of Forest Development " Director of Mines " The PACLAP shall have a Policy Body which shall formulate its policies and submit them for its approval. The Policy Body shall be composed of the Secretary of Natural Resources, as Chairman, and the following members: the PANAMIN Secretary, the Deputy Executive Secretary, the Undersecretary of Agriculture, the Undersecretary of Justice, the Undersecretary of Agrarian Reform, and the Undersecretary of National Defense. Said Body shall meet upon the call of its Chairman. The PACLAP shall also have an Executive Committee which shall implement its policies and be in charge of its overall operations. It shall be composed of the Director of Lands, as Chairman, and the following members: the Director of Forest Development, the Chief of the Citizens Legal Assistance Office, the Commissioner of the Land Registration Commission, the Chief of Constabulary, and the Director of Mines. Said Executive Committee shall meet on call of its Chairman. The Chairman of the PACLAP may create such subcommittees and positions as may be necessary to enable the PACLAP to perform its functions and discharge its duties effectively. All the government agencies represented in the membership of the PACLAP and other agencies involved in land problems or disputes shall be member agencies thereof. SEC. 2. Functions and duties of the PACLAP.—The PACLAP shall have the following functions and duties: Direct and coordinate the activities, particularly the investigation work, of the various government offices and agencies involved in land problems or disputes, and streamline administrative procedures to relieve small settlers and landholders and members of cultural minorities of the expense and time-consuming delay attendant to the solution of such problems or disputes; Refer for immediate action any land problem or dispute brought to the attention of the PACLAP, to any member agency having jurisdiction thereof: Provided, That when the Executive Committee decides to act on a case, its resolution, order or decision thereon, shall have the force and effect of a regular administrative resolution, order or decision, and shall be binding upon the parties therein involved and upon the member agency having jurisdiction thereof; Recommend to the President innovative, bold and decisive measures to resolve expeditiously cases involving, among others, (a) public lands that have been titled in a manifestly erroneous or illegal manner, and (b) implementation of decisions-resolutions of administrative/quasi-judicial agencies vested with jurisdiction to resolve land problems or disputes; Evolve and implement a system of procedure for the speedy investigation and resolution of land disputes or problems at provincial level, if possible; Undertake a comprehensive study of the causes of land disputes or problems in the country and recommend to the President of the Philippines policies and courses of action to avoid or, at least, minimize their occurrence; Study and review present policies as embodied in land laws and administrative rules and regulations, in relation to the need for land of the agro-industrial sector and the small farmer, with the end in view of evolving and recommending new laws and policies and establishing priorities in the grant of public lands; Maintain a systematic and permanent management of all records pertaining to land disputes or problems; and Perform such other functions as may hereafter be assigned to it by the President of the Philippines. In the performance of its functions and discharge of its duties, the PACLAP is authorized, through its Chairman, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum for the appearance of witnesses and the production of records, books and documents before it. It may also call upon any department, office, agency or instrumentality of the National Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and local governments for assistance. This authority is, likewise, conferred upon the Chairman of the Provincial Committee.