An Act to Authorize the Reconveyance of Lands Donated to the National Government Under Commonwealth Act Numbered Forty-One, to Provide for the Disposition Thereof, and for Other Purposes

REPUBLIC ACT No. 2348

An Act to Authorize the Reconveyance of Lands Donated to the National Government Under Commonwealth Act Numbered Forty-One, to Provide for the Disposition Thereof, and for Other Purposes

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1. The Director of Lands is hereby authorized to donate back to the respective provinces, cities and municipalities which donated the same, such lands to include government buildings and other installations thereon under Commonwealth Act Numbered Forty-one, entitled "An Act authorizing the provincial, municipal and city governments to appropriate funds to purchase real or personal property and to donate the same to the National Government for the use of the Philippine Army," which may be declared by the President of the Philippines as no longer needed for military purposes.

Section 2. The respective provincial and municipal boards or councils are authorized to dispose of the same by sale to persons qualified to acquire agricultural public lands under the provisions of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred and forty-one, commonly known as the Public Land Act, for such price as they may determine, considering the current market value thereof: Provided, However, That if the acquisition thereof was by eminent domain, first priority shall be given to former owners, their heirs or legal representatives at the same cost when acquired from them, and thereafter the bona fide occupants of such lands, and war veterans, in the order named: Provided, further, That should government buildings and other installations still fit for use and occupation, be still standing on such lands, the respective provinces, cities or municipalities, at their discretion, may retain ownership of the buildings and other installations and so much of the premises as would be necessary for the use and occupation for governmental purposes, or convey by sale at a fair market price the land acquired by voluntary transaction and such buildings and other installations with the land to the persons hereinbefore named in this section: And Provided, finally, That in cases where the lands used as cadre site were gratuitously donated by the owner or owners to the municipal, provincial or city governments which in turn donated same to the National Government, said lands shall be reconveyed to the respective owner or owners by gratuitous donation.

Section 3. All provisions of laws, executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Section 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 20, 1959.