The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) plans to issue 660 legal titles for public school sites in 2026, granting permanent ownership of school lands and bolstering the nation's education system. Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna highlighted the need for secure learning spaces free from disputes.
In Manila, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced plans to distribute 660 legal titles for public school sites in 2026. The initiative is a collaboration with the Department of Education (DepEd), which supplies lists of school sites needing titling. As of March 6, DepEd has identified around 44,178 such sites.
DENR regional and field offices will conduct surveys, map boundaries, and verify them on the ground with school principals, barangay officials, and community representatives. The Land Management Bureau will oversee the processing of special patents or presidential proclamations.
This effort forms part of the "Handog ng Pangulo: Luntiang Bukas" program, which secures land titles, promotes climate-ready homes, creates green spaces, and restores forests while supporting livelihoods. "The most important thing we can give our children is a secure place to learn. When a school has a clear title, it is no longer at risk of being taken or disputed," Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna stated.
"A community that can keep its school land is a community that can plan for better teachers, better facilities and better chances for its children to succeed," he added. Securing school lands invests in people and resilient communities.