MUNTINLUPA City Rep. Jaime Fresnedi has filed a bill seeking to reinforce, and protect the Department of Education’s ownership of lots occupied by public schools.

Fresnedi filed House Bill 10161 or the proposed Public Schools Lands Act.

The bill seeks to rectify the situation where a public school site is not titled in favor of the DepEd.

Fresnedi cited in his explanatory note that there are 17,742 sites, even as they are already occupied by DepEd and their occupancy is supported by documents such as deeds of sale, deeds of donation, and even presidential proclamations.

“As an example, 90% of school sites in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao are not titled in favor of DepEd,” Fresnedi said.

He added that the situation requires immediate action, so long as these sites are in legal limbo, government and private sector efforts to build more classrooms and facilities will be inhibited.

In some instances, the solon explained, lands donated for educational purposes become subject to court proceedings by the heirs of the donor, affecting the delivery of educational services to children in that community.

“Bureaucracy, the lack of proper documentation, changing policies in local government units and national government agencies that have donated land all contribute to the situation,” he stated.

The bill will give priority to the acquisition and titling of school sites to ensure the smooth operation, maintenance and development of school sites.

The solon said the Philippine educational system needs a lot of reforms which require the immediate and unequivocal support of the government.

He further said that it needs curriculum reform, more classrooms, and more teachers, among others.

However, he said, all these reforms will be for naught if students will not have a place conducive to their education due to the lack of titles to assert DepEd ownership over public school sites.