Australian Government Provides $34-million For Philippines RM

March 3rd, 2006: The Australian Government has granted a substantial sum to the Philippines' Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for second phase of the Land Administration and Management Project (Lamp II).

According to The World Bank, which controls the LAMPII project, "In a Bank-sponsored Investment Climate Survey (2003) which included 12 countries, the Philippines came out second to last in terms of the number of days taken to register land transactions."

An AusAid document outlining the entire LAMP project realises the ongoing project as a massive undertaking, "The LRA Land Titling Computerization Project (LTCP) is a US$100 million project run by the LRA and contracted to a consortium of private enterprises. The LTCP, which commenced in 2000, requires the contractor to develop a computerized land titling system that will cover all major functions of the LRA and the conversion, creation and build up of records to establish the data bases. The plan calls for each registry of Deeds (ROD) throughout the Philippines (162) to be automated using document imaging and electronic workflow technologies within a three year period.

DENR Secretary Angelo T. Reyes commented that, "Our country stands to gain US$25.45 billion in the next five years if we work towards making our land administration and management system more adaptable to our current needs,"

This is an ideal outcome if the findings of a 2004 report from The World Bank are anything to go on. The report on LAMP states, 'In order to improve land administration services, the LRA has initiated a parallel program on the computerization of land registration, through awarding a private contract of "Build, Operate and Own" (B.O.T.) to computerize the functions of the Register of Deeds. IFC (International Finance Corporation - The World Bank's private lending body) has provided equity investment to the private consortium. Project implementation was delayed by a few years, and if it is implemented successfully, it will complement the objectives of the LAMP program. However, delays in implementation and disagreement between the government and the private consortium on the fees for registration and access of government to data may hinder its implementation.'

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