The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will roll out 660 land titles for public school sites this year, giving schools permanent ownership of the land they occupy.
DENR Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said the move will protect schools from land disputes and help them improve facilities. He said the initiative follows the directive of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to secure school properties as a foundation for better education.
The project is being carried out with the Department of Education (DepEd), which provides a list of school sites needing titles. As of March 6, 2026, there are 44,178 identified school sites nationwide.
DENR teams will survey and map each site, confirm boundaries with school and community representatives, and prepare legal documents for land titles. These may be issued as special patents or presidential proclamations, officially declaring the land as government-owned school property.
Local stakeholders, including school heads and barangay officials, will be involved in verifying site details to ensure accuracy.
The program is part of DENR’s “Handog ng Pangulo: Luntiang Bukas,” which focuses on land security, climate-ready housing, green spaces, and forest restoration.
Cuna said securing school land will lead to safer buildings, better planning, and improved opportunities for students, adding that education remains key to reducing poverty and driving national development.
