DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES

PART I
PROVISIONS GOVERNING ALL CLASSES OF LAND SURVEYS
DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER No. 98- 12:
CHAPTER I- LAND SURVEY'S AND GEODETIC ENGINEERS
CLASSIFICATION OF LAND SURVEYS
SUBJECT: REVISED MANUAL OF LAND SURVEYING REGULATIONS Section 1 - For the purpose of these regulations, the survey of lands used
IN THE PHILIPPINES for agricultural, residential, industrial, commercial, resettlement and other
similar purposes shall be divided into three (3) groups. These are:
(1) Isolated Land Surveys
The dynamic advancement of surveying science resulted in the new (2) Cadastral Land Surveys
survey technologies and practices. In view of this the "Manual for Land (3) Geodetic Surveys
Surveys in the Philippines" issued in 1980 is hereby revised and reissued
under the new name "Revised Manual of Land Surveying Regulations in Section 2 - Isolated land surveys shall comprise all classes of surveys of
the Philippines". It is an integration of the land surveys rules and isolated parcels of land used for agricultural, residential, industrial,
regulations of the Land Management and the Mines and Geo-Sciences commercial, resettlement, or other purpose. These surveys shall be
Bureaus, embracing the DENR policy on integrated approach in surveying classified as follows:
and mapping:
a) Public Land Surveys- All original surveys of lands of the public
domain classified as alienable or disposable pursuant to the provisions of
the public land laws.
b) Private Land Surveys- All original surveys of lands claimed or owned
by individuals, partnership, corporations, or any other form of
REVISED MANUAL OF LAND SURVEYING REGULATIONS
organization, undertaken for use in original land registration proceedings
pursuant to the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1529 otherwise
known as Property Registration Decree. It includes subdivision,
consolidation/subdivision of decreed, patented, or titled properties.
c) Government Land Surveys- All original surveys of lands administered
by or belonging to the National Government or any of its branches
pursuant to the provisions of Friar Lands Act No. 1120, as amended; Act

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No. 3038; or similar acts which may hereafter be enacted, geodetic engineers or junior geodetic engineers duly registered in
accordance with Republic Act No. 4374, as amended.
d) Conversion Surveys- All surveys converting graphical cadastral lots
into numerical cadastral lots, computed and plotted in the system of the Section 6 - Geodetic engineers and junior geodetic engineers who are in
cadastral project. the service of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR) may undertake public land surveys, private land surveys,
e) Other Land Surveys- All surveys made for the purpose of determining
government land surveys and other land surveys, subject to the
political boundaries, verifying or relocating prior surveys, delimiting
administrative direction, control and supervision of the Director of Lands
alienable and disposable areas, forestlands, parks and other protected
Management Bureau through the Regional Technical Director for Lands
areas, ancestral claims, watersheds, reservations, foreshore land;
Management Services.
determining the geographic coordinates, establishing location monuments
and triangulation stations, locating roads and streets, easements, and any Section 7 - Duly licensed geodetic engineers and junior geodetic
other survey work not included in the preceding classes. engineers in private practice may undertake private land surveys, subject
to these rules and regulations. In the case of Junior Geodetic Engineer,
Section 3 - Cadastral land surveys shall comprise all surveys of extensive
subject further to the limitation of three lots with an aggregate area of not
areas consisting of several lots for cadastral registration proceedings,
exceeding one hectare and other limitations prescribed by the Geodetic
agricultural development, or for any purpose, pursuant to the provisions of
Engineering Board.
Cadastral Act No. 2259, as amended; Act No. 3240, as amended; Act No.
3327, as amended; Sections 1850 to 1857 of the Administrative Code (Act Section 8 - Duly licensed geodetic engineers and junior geodetic
No. 2711, as amended); Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended; or engineers in private practice may be authorized to undertake surveys of
other acts which may hereafter be enacted. isolated parcels of public and government lands, subject to the
administrative direction, control and supervision of the Lands Management
Section 4 - Geodetic surveys shall comprise all surveys of extensive areas
Bureau through the DENR-Lands Management Services.
that take into account the curvature of the earth. This shall be made for
the purpose of determining the geographic positions of reference points of Section 9 – Duly licensed geodetic engineers in private practice may be
cadastral projects and other expansive isolated surveys. authorized to undertake cadastral surveys, subject to existing laws and
the administrative direction, control and supervision of the Lands
The establishment of the national geodetic network shall be in accordance
Management Bureau through the DENR-Lands Management Services.
with the specification of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department of the
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) which
follows international standards. BONDS FOR GEODETIC ENGINEERS
Section 10 - Geodetic engineer in private practice may be authorized to
WHO MAY EXECUTE SURVEYS undertake survey of isolated parcels of public lands under the
administration of the Lands Management Bureau, upon issuance of survey
Section 5 - Land surveys for registration and other surveys with
authority. The request for survey authority shall be accompanied by
prescribed precision of accuracy as stated in this Manual, shall be made by
documents that will show the actual occupation of the land by the

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claimant. Such documents may be a certification of the Barangay Captain with the terms and conditions of the contract for the cadastral project.
or the Municipal Mayor. Survey for homestead, lease or sale application is Section 14- The performance bond shall be in any of the following forms:
exempted from this requirement.
a) A cash deposit with the National Treasurer.
In case the geodetic engineer, when so notified, does not make the
necessary field correction, he may be required to deposit sufficient b) A cash surety furnished by the Government Service Insurance
amount to defray the cost of field correction survey or if the survey is System
rejected, a notation will be reflected in the in the records of the survey. c) Bonds of the Republic of the Philippines.
Section 11 - In the case of mineral land surveys, the geodetic engineer
duly authorized to execute the same, shall file a bond to be determined by
CHAPTER II - SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS
the Regional Executive Director and the Regional Director for Mines and
Geo-Sciences in the amount of not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos THEODOLITES, TRANSITS, ELECTRONIC DISTANCE
(20,000). Mineral land surveys includes the survey of mining claims, MEASURING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
quarry applications, sand and gravel applications, and other mineral lands
for lease, permit, license service contract and other purposes. (Sec. 108
Mineral Land Surveys Regulation, MLSR), Section 15 - Official surveys to be used in the issuance of land patents
and leases, adjudication of titles and other administrative or judicial
The bond shall guaranty the faithful and efficient execution of the
proceedings shall be made with transits, theodolites, photogrammetric
survey. It shall also cover any expenses that may be incurred by the DENR
instruments and other surveying and mapping instruments certified for
in the verification, correction, or field work. (Sec. 111r, MLSR)
use by the Director of Lands Management Bureau or Regional Technical
The bonds shall be in the form as stated in Section 14 of this Director for Lands. If theodolites or transits are used, they must be of the
Manual or a Torrens Title covering unencumbered private lands provided following specifications:
the assessed value is not less than twice the amount of the required bond
THEODOLITE
and this encumbrance shall be recorded in the Register of Deeds
concerned. The bond shall continue to be in force until the surveys are a) The telescope should have a magnifying power of not less than 30
approved or ordered cancelled or rejected by the Regional Executive diameters
Director and/or the Regional Technical Director for Lands. (Sec. 109 & b) The horizontal circle should have a minimum inside diameter of 80
110, MLSR; DAO 72). millimeters and provided with microptic reading devices.
Section 12 - A geodetic engineer in private practice who has been c) The horizontal and vertical circles should be full circles with least
authorized to undertake cadastral project shall file a performance bond in reading of twenty (20) seconds of arc or less or its equivalent in the
the amount to be fixed by the Regional Executive Director. The bond shall centesimal units. Angular units may be in the sexagesimal or centesimal
not be less than ten percent of the project cost. system.
Section 13 - The performance bond shall remain in force in accordance d) The stadia constant should preferably be one hundred (100).

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 d) It should be provided with meteorological correction factor for
atmospheric conditions, earth curvature, refraction, and reflector constant
ENGINEERS TRANSIT
including cyclic errors.
a) The telescope should have a magnifying power of not less than 20
Section 17- The EDM instrument should be presented to the Lands
diameters.
Management Bureau for a full calibration or check and if necessary, a
b) The telescope should possess center cross wires or hairs and preferably separate cyclic test shall be carried out if any of the following is present:
with solar squares.
a) Upon receipt of new EDM.
c) The stadia constant should preferably be one hundred (100).
b) After any repair which affects the component such as the light source,
d) The minimum inside diameter of the horizontal circle should be 118 internal centering and/or alignment, replacement of parts, etc.
millimeters.
c) When malfunction is suspected;
e) The horizontal and vertical circles should be full circles.
d) When the distances measured by the EDM may be or are to be
The horizontal circle should be provided with two (2) verniers and the challenged in a Court of Law.
vertical circles with one (1) vernier with least reading of one minute or
Section 18- A partial calibration over one of the established calibration
less.
base should be carried out before its use in any project if the EDM
f) The transit should be provided with a magnetic compass with a least instrument has not been used for some time. If any discrepancy is noted
reading of one degree or less. then a full calibration may be necessary. The UP Calibration Base or the
g) The plate levels should have a sensitivity of seventy-five seconds of arc South Superhighway Baseline and other established baseline may be used,
(75") or less per 2mm graduation, provided the said baseline is in accordance with the standards.
Section 19 - To minimize the necessity of regular re-calibration of the
EDM instrument, immediately after a full calibration at the U.P. Calibration
ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT
Baseline or the South Superhighway Baseline and other Regional
Section 16- Electronic Distance Measuring (EDM) equipment of any kind established baseline, small check base should be established in the project
and model shall be tested for zero (prism/instrument) constant, area by the project chief. Two stations, approximately 300-400 meters
measuring scale frequency with the following specifications: apart, should be located and pegged with an intervening station at a
a) A measuring range of at least 300 meters when using one prism. commonly measured distance. A test over this check base prior to the
start of work may suffice to give confidence in the instrument or indicate
b) It should operate with an accuracy of +/- (5 mm + 5 ppm) probable
the need for further checks. The field notes of this test shall form part of
error and within temperature range of 15 to 40 degrees Celsius.
the survey returns.
c) It should have a measuring range display read-out to the nearest
Section 20 - The EDM instrument shall be used at both ends of a line to
millimeter.
measure a primary and secondary control distances in the forward and

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reversed directions. It shall be calibrated over the established baseline by
the Lands Management Bureau before and after its use in a project Section 25 - All temperature measurements shall be in the Celsius
control. system.
Same requirements and procedures from EDM shall also be applied
to the total station instrument.
Section 26 - No correction for temperature shall be required for tapes of
STEEL, INVAR OR LOVAR, AND OTHER TAPES standard length at temperature ranging from twenty-seven to thirty seven
Section 21- The measurement of distances shall be made with invar, degrees Celsius when used in tertiary surveys and in locating corners from
lovar or steel tapes graduated in the metric system. The true length of traverse stations.
these shall be determined by comparison with the standard and tested at Section 27 - The coefficient of stretch, standard temperature and unit
the calibration baseline. Other tapes such as Fiberglass, phosphor bronze weight of tape shall be stated in the certificates of examination and
or nylon-coated steel tape may be used as accessories but must be limited approval.
to locating details in topographic survey, locating corners from an
established control station or checking distances of witness points and in
survey which need not be approved for land registration. EXAMINATION, TEST, CERTIFICATION, AND RECORDS

Section 22 - Broken tapes which have been repaired (3) times or less Section 28 - The appropriate instrument shall be used in performing a
may be used only in lot surveys of tertiary precision. However, tests shall survey. Such equipment must be capable of achieving the standards of
be made to determine the correction to be applied to the measurements. accuracy prescribed for each kind of survey as stated in Sections 54, 55
If the correction to be applied is greater than one in ten thousandths and 116.
(1:10,000) of the tape length, the said tape shall not be used for survey
Section 29 -To ensure accuracy of angular and linear measurements,
of lands for registration or related purposes. Likewise, tapes that have
surveying instruments used in the survey of lands especially surveys for
been repaired more than three (3) times shall not be used for survey of
registration purposes shall be examined, calibrated, standardized, and
lands for registration or related purposes.
approved by the Lands Management Bureau.
Section 23 - The temperature of thirty-two (32) degrees Celsius shall be
Section 30 - Surveys made with instruments which have not been
adopted as the standard temperature at which each tape shall be of
examined and approved shall not be accepted for verification and
standard length with a tension of ten (10) kilograms when supported
approval.
horizontally throughout its entire length.
Section 31 - The original certificate for each instrument approved for use
Section 24 - Only steel tapes which are of standard length at
in property surveys, stating its technical data and condition at the time of
temperatures between twenty-seven (27) degrees Celsius and thirty-
examination shall be issued by the Land Management Bureau. Subsequent
seven (37) degrees Celsius; may be approved for use in primary,
examination and certification, except for GPS receivers, Theodolites, EDMs
secondary, and tertiary surveys.

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and other sophisticated instruments, may be done in the Lands for verification and approval.
Management Services. If subsequent examination proves that the
instrument is no longer fit for use in property surveys, the certificate shall
be cancelled. A copy of the renewed certificate or letter of cancellation
issued by the Lands Management Services shall be furnished to the Lands
Management Bureau (LOC No. 80 and 80-1, S-1983).
Section 32 - The Lands Management Bureau shall keep an up-to-date
record of the instruments examined. The Lands Management Services
shall likewise keep a record of all re-inspected instruments in the region. CHAPTER III- POSITION OF SURVEYS

Section 33 - Individuals, corporations, or associations engaged in the POINTS OF REFERENCE

importation, purchase, sale, repair, or adjustment, etc., of surveying
instruments shall submit their instruments to the Lands Management
Section 38 - Land surveys shall be fixed in position on the surface of the
Bureau for examination, test, certification and record shall before the sale,
earth by monuments of permanent nature and by azimuths and distances
Section 34- A certificate for the use of: (1) transits and theodolites shall to "points of reference" of known geographic positions. The geographic
be valid for a period of five (5) years; and (2) tapes for two (2) years from positions shall be in the Philippine Plane Coordinate System - Transverse
the date of last examination and certification. A new certificate shall be Mercator/Philippine Reference System 1992 (PPCS-TM/PRS-92). These
issued after the physical re-examination of the instrument when the points of reference shall be as follows:
instrument is found fit for use in property surveys. A certificate is deemed
a) Bureau of Lands Location Monuments (BLLM);
cancelled upon its expiry date and Section 30 shall apply.
b) Political Boundary Monuments:
Section 35 - The fees that shall be charged for the examination,
calibration, certification of each instrument and the re-issuance of true 1) Provincial Boundary Monument (PBM) and City Boundary
copy of certificate thereof shall be as prescribed by DENR from time to Monuments (CBM),
time.
2) Municipal Boundary Monuments (MBM),
3) Barangay Boundary Monuments (BBM);
OTHER INSTRUMENTS
c) Triangulation stations established by the:
Section 36- Thermometers, barometers, chronometers and other
1) Bureau of Lands
instruments used in property surveys shall be frequently tested and
compared with established standards, 2) Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey
Section 37- LMB shall test and calibrate GPS receivers at stations 3) United States Army Corps of Engineers
designated by NAMRIA. The results shall form part of the survey returns 4) Other organizations, the work of which is of acknowledged

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 standard Section 43 - The geographic position of the control points shall be
derived from the adopted coordinates of previously established stations as
d) Primary stations of cadastral surveys;
referred to the standard datum by a network of triangulation, trilateration,
e) Church towers, historical monuments and other prominent permanent traverse, leveling, GPS, or by any other method of recognized standard.
structures of known PRS 92 geographic or grid coordinates;
Section 44- The standard datum for the Philippines shall be defined by
f. Stations established by Global Positioning Systems, Doppler, Hiran, and the geographic coordinates of the triangulation station of the Coast and
Loran, and other similar stations of at least third order accuracy and in the Geodetic Surveys, known as "Balanacan" which are:
PPCS-TM/PRS-92.
Section 39 - The Lands Management Bureau/Services shall establish at
Latitude = N 13 deg. 33 min. 41.000 sec.
least one pair of standard location monuments to be designated as BLLM
No. 1 and BLLM No. 2 in each city and municipality of the Philippines. Longitude = E 121 deg. 52 min. 03.000 sec.
Section 40 - Additional location monuments shall be established along Geoid/spheroid separation = 0.34 meters
the controls of projects. These monuments shall be by pairs with an
average interval of five or six kilometers. These shall be designated and
numbered as BLLM No. 3 and BLLM No. 4, BLLM No. 5 and BLLM No. 6, The azimuth from triangulation station "Balanacan" to triangulation
and so forth. However, the pair of location monuments shall be established station "Baltazar" is 9°12' 37.000" and the distance is 37,680.90 meters.
as near as possible to the center of the Barangay. The back azimuth is 189° 11'50.60".
The description of the triangulation station, Balanacan, is as
follows:
GEOGRAPHIC POSITION
Balanacan (Marinduque Province, O. W. Ferguson, 1906, 1907). On
the highest hill at the northwest point of Marinduque Island. Salvaria
Section 41 - The complete geographic position of points of reference shall Island in the entrance to Looc Bay bears N. 9° E., distance 3 kilometers,
be expressed in latitude, longitude and elevation. and the highest point to the western one of the two San Andres Islands
Section 42 - The geographic position of points of reference shall be bears S. 80° E., distance 3 kilometers. It is on the northwest end of the
referred to the standard datum of the Philippines and shall be classified hill, 10 meters northwest of the highest point, and is in a commanding
into four categories, namely: situation, seeing a hundred miles of the south coast of Luzon, much of the
north and west coasts of Marinduque, the coast of Mindoro and other
a) First Order
islands.
b) Second Order
Station mark is the center of a hole 1.5 centimeters in diameter
c) Third Order and 6 centimeters deep, drilled at the center of a triangle 16 centimeters
d) Fourth Order on a side, cut in a hard rock. Reference mark is on a hard, white boulder
of about one cubic meter in volume, standing 80 centimeters above the

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ground and 90 centimeters higher than the station. The mark is a hole 1.5 geographic coordinates are geocentered, earth fixed coordinate system
centimeters in diameter and 8 centimeters deep, at the center of a cross defined by the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite ephemerides.
cut on top of this stone. From the station, the reference mark is in The geocentric Cartesian coordinates must be transformed to
azimuth 326° 34' and is distant 18.85 meters, Cartesian coordinates on the Luzon Datum with the following parameters:
Section 45 - The mean sea level obtained from the tidal observations of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department/NAMRIA shall be used as
vertical datum of bench marks. The elevation of these bench marks shall Translation : ΔΧ = 127.62195 meters
be used in leveling other points or bench marks. ΔΥ = 67.24478 meters
Section 46- In topographic or any other surveys where elevations are ΔZ = 47.04305 meters
necessary, the said elevations shall be referred either to an assumed or a
local mean sea level, when there are no established bench marks.

Rotation : Rot X = -3.06762 secs

Rot Y = +4.90291 secs

PHILIPPINE REFERENCE SYSTEM OF 1992 Rot Z = + 1.57790 secs

Section 47- The Philippine Reference System of 1992 (PRS-92) is the

new reference system for all surveys and maps in the country pursuant to Scale Parameter = 1.06002
Executive Order Number 45 dated 5 January 1992. It is also known as the
Philippine Plane Coordinate System-Transverse Mercator/Philippine
Reference System of 1992 (PPCS-TM/PRS-92) to distinguish it from the PRS-92 Spheroid - Clark Spheroid of 1866. The signs are reversed
PPCS of 1965. A transition period up to the year 2000 is allowed in order when transforming from Luzon Datum to World Geodetic System 1984
to integrate existing surveys into the system after which the PRS-92 shall (WGS 84). The general transformation formula that relates the two sets of
be recognized as the Sole reference. coordinates is as follows:

Section 48 - The PRS-92 is based from the Luzon Datum with origin at
station Balanacan in Marinduque, Luzon Datum as defined in Section 44.
Section 49- Geodetic control surveys shall be established in the system
of PRS-92 by GPS or by conventional surveying methods using duly
registered instruments.
Section 50 - Positions read out direct from the GPS Receivers are
referred to World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS-84). As such the

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 Min. Period in minutes 30 15 15 15
Min. number of quadrants with 3 3 3 2
satellite observations
GDOP value to be achieved 5 6 7 10
during
an observing period (c)
Max. period between 60 Optiona Optiona Optiona
meteorological l l l
observation in minutes (d)
Min. crystal frequency (e) (e) (e) (e)
standard
warm-up period hours
Min. elevation of satellite in 10 5 5 5
degrees

Section 51 - Observation Requirements for GPS Surveys shall be as

follows: *Provided a precise ellipsoid height is known for each station and/or an
atomic frequency standard is used to constrain the solution.
Order 1 2 3 4
Min. observation period in 60 30 15 15
minutes Those in parenthesis mean:
Independent occupations per station (a) Independent occupations per station may be back to back, but the
at least three (% of total stations) 20% 10% - - antenna must be re-setup for each occupation. Antenna heights are to be
(b) changed by at least 0.5 m. The full specified minimum observation period
must be observed with each occupation.
at least two (% of total stations) 50% 30% 30% -
(b) (b) For 1st ORDER Network;
(I) 20% of stations are to be occupied at least three times;
Common satellites observed simultaneously (II) 50% of stations are to be occupied at least twice.
Min. number 4 3* 3* 3* (c) Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) is an indicator of the

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geometrical strength of a four or more satellite constellation as it applies Section 53 - In the establishment of geodetic networks, connections
to instantaneous point position fixing. The lower the number, the better must always be made to a network that is higher in accuracy than the one
the geometry for achieving an accurate point position. to be established.
Caution should be used in applying this parameter as an absolute Section 54- To integrate all surveys to the PRS-92, all subsequent
acceptance/rejection criterion. This is particular in relative GPS positioning interconnections must be surveyed at the following geometric relative
where longer observation periods largely remove common biases. positioning accuracy standards:
Rapidly changing GDOP during a recording session assists in the
determination of ambiguities. Therefore it is desirable to incorporate at Positional Accuracy
least one such period in an observing session. 1st Order – 10 parts per million – 1/100000 – 1 cm per km
Ideal constellations, in addition to exhibiting rapidly changing 2nd Order – 20 parts per million – 1/50000 – 2 cm per km
GDOP is less than or equal to those values detailed in the above Table. 3rd Order – 50 parts per million – 1/20000 – 5 cm per km
4th Order – 100 parts per million – 1/10000 – 10 cm per km
(d) Observations of temperature and relative humidity should be collected
at or near the location of the phase center of the antenna, Observations of
Vertical Accuracy
wet-bulb and dry-bulb temperature readings should be recorded to the
nearest 0.5 c. The relative humidity should be measured to the nearest 2nd Order - 8.4 mm times square root of the distance
2%. Barometric readings at the station site should be recorded to the 3rd Order - 12.0 mm times square root of the distance
nearest millibar and corrected for any significant difference in height
between the antenna phase centre and location of the barometer. The Section 55 - The accuracy of the following surveys or connection surveys
meteorological instruments should be brought and compared against a to PRS-92 shall be in accordance with the orders in the preceding section.
standard at least once a month. The logs should include the name of (a) Densification of the 1st Order PRS-92 National Network shall be
manufacturer, model, and serial numbers of instruments used. in 2nd and 3rd Order accuracy.
(e) The amount of warm-up time required is instrument dependent. It is (b) Project controls of cadastral projects shall be at least in 3rd
very important to follow the manufacturer’s specification. Order accuracy.
(f) Elevations may be reduced if suitable models for tropospheric (c) Political boundary surveys shall be at least in 3rd Order
refraction are used in the data reduction. accuracy.
Section 52 - For land surveys the Relative Positioning Technique is (d) Delimitation surveys of Integrated Social Forestry Projects;
advisable to be used. With this technique, positions can be determined mineral land surveys; relocation or delimitation of national parks and
with respect to another point, taking one point as the origin of a local other protected areas, reservations, classified forests including buffer
coordinate system. Relative positioning may be Static or Kinematic. Static zones; delimitation of ancestral claims shall be in 4th Order accuracy.
refers to the positioning of stationary object while kinematics is the
(e) Ground control surveys for topographic and hydrographic
positioning of a moving object.

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activities shall be in 4th Order accuracy. g) Time per occupation as a function of satellite geometry;
h) Number of occupation per site;
Section 56- New GPS Stations in PRS-92 may be established by i) Number of repeated baselines;
government agencies and accredited geodetic engineering professionals j) Cut off elevation;
with capabilities in GPS surveying; provided their receivers are duly
registered with NAMRIA or ᏞᎷᏴ. k) Antenna set-up specifications;

Section 57- The GPS Station in PRS-92 shall be monumented with 1) Number of receivers; and
subsurface marking and reference point numbering of the 1st, 2nd and m) Ephemeris source and age.
3rd Order accuracy. It shall follow those established by CGSD/NAMRIA in
GPS receivers that will be used in land surveys, survey controls and
setting up the PRS-92. CGSD/NAMRIA should be consulted as to what
establishment of Political boundary shall be submitted to the LMB for
number shall be used.
certification based on the aforementioned requirements.
The Lands Management Bureau and/or Lands Management
Services and the CGSD/NAMRIA may design their own set of numbering
for new stations of lower accuracy. The RTD for Lands shall forward, Section 59 - The connection survey returns of the reference points
through the Lands Management Bureau, whatever system they adopt to monumented in Section 38 using conventional instruments such as
CGSD/NAMRIA for completion of the central data bank. Theodolite, EDM and/or total stations shall be submitted to Lands
Management Services for verification and approval before its integration to
Section 58 - Geodetic Engineers in the government and private sectors
PRS -92. A copy of these approved data shall be sent to the Lands
who established GPS Station which form part of the national geodetic
Management Bureau and CGSD/NAMRIA for incorporation into the
network, shall submit to CGSD/NAMRIA the GPS Survey Pre/Post
National Geodetic Data Bank,
requirements for evaluation of the design and survey results using GPS
Receivers. This shall contain the following:
a) Type of GPS Receivers (Brand/Model);
b) Technique/survey practices to be utilized in the survey; PHILIPPINE PLANE COORDINATES SYSTEM AND THE PHILIPPINE
REFERENCE SYSTEM OF 1992
c) Reduction techniques and computer programs for adjustment;
d) Network design;
Section 60 - Philippine Plane Coordinate System (PPCS), also known as
e) Results of a minimally constrained least squares network adjustment Philippine Transverse Mercator Grid (PTM), are transformed cartesian
computed on the ellipsoid associated with the datum on which the coordinates on the Luzon Datum from geographic coordinates determined
observations were acquired; through astronomical observations. PPCS-TM was adopted in 1965 as the
f) Number of existing horizontal control points to be occupied; reference system in the Philippines. Prior to the adoption of PRS92, the
geographic coordinates of the points of references enumerated in Section

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38 are transformed into the Philippine Transverse Mercator Grid System. V 125º 123º 30’ to 127º 00’
The transformed coordinates are simply referred to as PPCS-TM Grid. The Section 62 - The geographic coordinates of PRS-92 can be converted to
geocentered geographic coordinates of a reference point defined by the PPCS-TM/PRS-92 Grid Coordinates and vice versa using the following
Global Positioning System (GPS) Satellite ephemerides which are referred formulas:
to WGS 84 Satellite Datum are transformed to geocentered cartesian
coordinates. This is then transformed to cartesian coordinates on the Section 63 - In converting the PRS 92 geographic coordinates to PPCS-
Luzon Datum (PRS-92) using the transformation formula and parameters TM/PRS 92 grid coordinates and vice versa, the transformation formulas in
in Section 50 before its transformation to geographical PRS-92 Section 62 and the procedures as contained in DNR/Bureau of Lands (now
coordinates. The transformed cartesian coordinates on the PRS92 Luzon DENR/LMB) Technical Bulletin Number 26 (Philippine Transverse Mercator
Datum is referred to in the survey returns as PPCS-TM/PRS-92. Grid Tables) shall be used.
Section 64 - All computations, maps and plans of cadastral surveys,
public land subdivisions and group settlement surveys and other kinds of
Section 61 - The characteristics of the Philippine Plane Coordinate Surveys shall be prepared using the PPCS-TM/PRS 92. This shall be
System are: submitted to the Lands Management Services for verification and
1. Spheroid: Clarke's Spheroid of 1866 approval.
2. Projection: Transverse Mercator, in zones of two degrees net width Section 65 - The assignment of provinces into the map projection zones
of the PPCS-TM/PRS 92 shall be as follows:
3. Point of Origin: Intersection of the Equator and the Central
Meridian of each zone, with Northing of 0 meter and an Easting of 500,000
meters a. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)
1 Abra Zone No. III
4. Scale factor at the Central Meridian: 0.99995
2 Benguet -do-
3 Ifugao -do-
4 Mountain Province (Bontoc) -do-
5 Kalinga -do-
5. Zonification: 6 Apayao -do-
b. National Capital Region (NCR)
Zone No. Central Meridian Extent of Zone
1 Metro Manila Zone No. III
I 117º 116º 00’ to 118º 30’ c. Region No. I Northwestern
II 119º 117º 30’ to 120º 30’ Luzon
1 Ilocos Norte Zone No. III
III 121º 119º 30’ to 122º 30’ 2 Ilocos Sur -do-
IV 123º 121º 30’ to 124º 30’ 3 La Union -do-
4 Pangasinan -do-

12
d. Region No. II Northeastern Luzon 3 Camarines Sur -do-
1 Batanes Zone No. III 4 Catanduanes -do-
2 Cagayan -do- 5 Masbate -do-
3 Isabela -do- 6 Sorsogon -do-
a Municipalities West of 122 ° E Longitude- Zone III h. Region No. VI Western Visayas
b Municipalities East of 122° E Longitude- Zone IV 1 Aklan Zone No. IV
4 Neuva Viscaya Zone No. III 2 Antique -do-
5 Quirino -do- 3 Capiz -do-
e. Region No. III Central Luzon 4 Iloilo -do-
1 Bataan Zone No. III 5 Negros Occidental -do-
2 Bulacan -do- 6 Guimaras -do-
3 Nueva Ecija -do- i. Region No. VII Central Visayas
4 Pampanga -do- 1 Bohol Zone No. V
5 Tarlac -do- 2 Cebu Zone No. IV
6 Zambales -do- a Camotes Island Zone No. V
f. Region No. IV Southern Tagalog 3 Negros Oriental Zone No. IV
1 Aurora Zone No. III 4 Siquijor -do-
2 Batangas -do- j. Region No. VIII Eastern Visayas
3 Cavite -do- 1 Eastern Samar Zone No. V
4 Laguna -do- 2 Leyte -do-
5 Marindique -do- 3 Northern Samar -do-
6 Occidental Mindoro -do- 4 Samar (Western Samar) -do-
7 Oriental Mindoro -do- 5 Southern Leyte -do-
8 Palawan Zone 1 (a) 6 Biliran -do-
*Central Meridian 118° 30’ E k. Region No. IX Western Mindanao
9 Quezon 1 Basilan Zone No. IV
a Municipalities East of 122° E, Zone No. IV 2 Zamboanga del Sur Zone No. IV
Longitide 3 Zamboanga del Norte -do-
b Municipalities West of 122° E, Zone No. III l. Region X Northern Mindanao
Longitide 1 Bukidnon Zone No. V
c Polillo Islands Zone No. III 2 Camiguin -do-
10 Rizal Zone No. III 3 Misamis Occidental Zone No. IV
11 Romblon Zone No. IV 4 Misamis Oriental Zone No. V
g. Region No. V Bicol m. Region No. XI Southern Mindanao
1 Albay Zone No. IV 1 Davao del Norte Zone No. V
2 Camarines Norte -do- 2 Davao del Sur -do-

13
 3 Davao Oriental -do- (PRS-92). All other location monuments, triangulation stations, etc.,
4 South Cotabato -do- situated within the jurisdiction of the municipality or city shall have their
5 Sarangani -do- coordinates in the PRS-92.
n. Region No. XII Central Mindanao
1 Lanao del Norte Zone No. V Section 69 - In the case of islands, which form part of the municipality,
2 North Cotabato -do- the location monument which is most centrally and conveniently located in
3 Sultan Kudarat -do- the island shall be referred to the Central Meridian of the province.
o. Region No. XIII
1 Agusan del Norte Zone No. V
2 Agusan del Sur -do- ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS
3 Surigao del Norte -do- Section 70 - Astronomical observations for time, latitude, longitude and
4 Surigao del Sur -do-
azimuth shall be made whenever necessary to determine the following:
p. Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao
(ARMM) a) The error in the time shown by watches or chronometers.
1 Lanao del Sur Zone No. V b) The latitude and longitude of points of reference which have not
2 Maguindanao -do-
been connected to other points of known geographic coordinates.
3 Tawi-Tawi Zone No. III *
4 Sulu Zone No. III c) The azimuths of lines of survey.
(*Zones are revised)
d) A check for the geographic position.
Section 71 - Astronomical observations shall be made on either the sun
or the stars, as the geodetic engineer may prefer, using the procedures as
Section 66– The transformation of geographic to grid coordinates and
prescribed in this Manual. However, the azimuth between BLLM Nos. 1 to 2
vice-versa, the determination of the convergence between the local and
shall be obtained through stellar observations if there is no direct
central meridians, and the determination of the scale factor at any station,
connection made to established geodetic control lines.
shall be referred to DNR/BL (now DENR/LMB) Technical Bulletin Number
26. Section 72 - All observed altitudes of the sun shall be corrected for index
error, refraction and parallax in the order given. Only corrections for index
Section 67 - The Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department of NAMRIA and
error and refraction shall be applied to observed altitudes of the star.
the Lands Management Bureau shall publish the Philippine Reference
System of 1992 (PRS-92), geographic and grid coordinates and Section 73 - The altitude of the sun's center shall be determined by
descriptions of the established points of reference in the cities and observing its lower or upper limb and correcting the vertical angle
municipalities of the Philippines. observed. The correction shall be done by adding or subtracting its
angular semi-diameter or by centering the sun's disc in the solar circle or
Section 68 - In all land surveys, the position of BLLM No. 1 of each
square which shall be taken first with the telescope direct, then twice with
municipality or city as referred to the national datum shall have its
the telescope reversed and finally with the telescope direct.
corresponding coordinates in the Philippine Reference System of 1992

14
Section 74 — In solar observations and computations of declination of a) Time by transit of the sun;
the sun, the standard time (120° EMT) shall be determined by: b) Time by transit of a star;
a) Observing for the local apparent time, converting it into mean c) Time by an altitude of the sun at any hour angle;
time and finally reducing to standard time.
d) Time by an altitude of a star at any hour angle;
b) Comparing watch time with the official standard time signals.
(e) Time by equal altitudes of a star.
Section 80 -The official or standard time to be used in astronomical
Section 75 - When making solar observations the following shall be observation shall be the mean time corresponding to the one hundred
observed: twentieth degree (120°) meridian east of Greenwich.
a) The index error of the vertical circle shall be determined by Section 81 - Geodetic engineers shall use accurate watches or
direct and reversed sighting at a fixed point. The average of at least ten chronometers for astronomical observations
direct and ten reversed readings on as many points of different elevations Section 82 -.The accuracy of the times kept by a watch or chronometer
shall be used for determining the index error. The observed vertical angles shall be verified by comparison with standard chronometers or by
shall be corrected by the amount of the index error. The value of the index observations for local mean time. This is to determine the correction to be
correction shall be entered with the data for each solar observation. applied to the time indicated by the watch or chronometer.
b) Observations shall be taken when the altitude is not less than Section 83 - Local mean time shall be determined by altitude
twenty degrees. observations on the sun or stars at the moment of meridian passage or at
Section 76 - If the direct and reversed readings of the vertical angles to a any hour angle.
point, corrected for index error, differ by more than thirty seconds of arc, Section 84- When local mean time is determined by altitude of the sun
the instrument shall be tested and adjusted accordingly. before or after meridian passage the procedure outlined in Section 104 for
determining azimuth shall be followed.
TIME Section 85 - Any formula for determining the hour angle may be used,
but the following tangent formula shall be adopted from altitude
Section 77 - For the purpose of determining the hour angle of the sun's
observation for time:
center or the hour angle of the vernal equinox at any instant, observations
for time shall be made to find the error of a timepiece. 1
Tangent T =√ cos S sec ( S−P ) sin ( S−H ) csc ( S−L )
Section 78 - Observations on celestial bodies shall be made when the 2
observed body is on the prime vertical. If this is not possible, observations
can be made along the meridian but this should be limited.
where: S = 1/2 (P+H+L)
Section 79- Any of the following methods for determining the time shall
T = Hour angle of the observed celestial body
be followed:

15
 H = Observed altitude of the celestial body, corrected for refraction e) By altitude of Sun at noon
in case of stars and parallax and refraction in the case of the sun. Section 91 - The highest recorded altitude of the sun when corrected for
L=Latitude of the place of observation refraction, index error, semi-diameter and parallax may be accepted and
used for determining the latitude.
P = North polar distance of the celestial body
Section 92 - Observations on the sun shall consist of a series of not less
than 8 altitude observations alternately with the transit in the direct and
Separate computation shall be made for each set of observations the reversed positions. Half of the series shall be made before the time of
with the telescope in the direct and the reversed positions as provided in the meridian passage and the other half after the time of meridian
Sections 103 and 104. passage.
Section 86 - The time obtained by observations on the sun is local
apparent time which shall be transformed into local mean time. Equation
Section 93 – When more accurate results are desired, the latitude shall
of time is equal to apparent time minus local mean time.
be determined by observations of Polaris at culmination. The average of
Section 87 - The time obtained by observations on the star is local the reduced altitudes shall be accepted and used for determining latitude.
sidereal time which shall be transformed into local mean time.
Section 88 - At least two complete sets of observations shall be made.
Section 94 - When a latitude is determined by Polaris or any circumpolar
The average shall be transformed into local mean time. The data obtained
star at any hour angle, these procedures shall be followed:
for determining time may be used also for determining the azimuth of line.
a) Set and level the instrument over the point.
b) By means of the upper motion take several altitude observations on
LATITUDE
Polaris in the direct and reversed positions.
Section 89 - Observations for latitude shall be made whenever the
latitude of the station occupied is not known from previous observations or c) Take note of the time at each pointing of the star.
from connection to a point of reference of known latitude. d) Apply index correction to the observed altitude when necessary and
Section 90 - Of the various methods for determining latitude, the then take the mean of the altitudes and the mean of the times and treat
following may be used with the transit or Theodolite: the results as a single observation.
a) By a circumpolar star at culmination e) Compute the hour angle of the star.
b) By meridian altitude of a southern star f) Compute the latitude (f) using the formula:
c) By circum-meridian altitudes 1 2 2
Lat =h− pcost + p sin t tan h sin1 ' '
d) By altitude of Polaris at any hour angle 2
where: h = corrected mean observed altitude

16
 t = hour angle of Polaris or any circumpolar star (difference a) Longitude by transportation of a timepiece.
between sidereal time and the star's right ascension) b) Longitude by transit of the moon.
р = polar distance in seconds of Polaris or any circumpolar star. c) Longitude by the time signals.
d) Laplace observation method.
Section 95 - In all land surveys, the latitude shall be determined by a ELEVATION
control connection with points of reference of known geographic positions.
Section 100- Elevations may be determined by lines of levels starting
from bench marks of known elevations, by trigonometric leveling, spirit
Section 96 -Latitude determination by observations on the star or the leveling or by means of the barometer.
sun at meridian passage shall be made using the following formula:
For the star's and the sun's center south of the Zenith but north of AZIMUTH
the equator:
Section 101 - The azimuths of all lines of survey lines shall be reckoned
L=Z+D from the south as the zero direction following clockwise of the quadrants.
and for those south of the zenith and south of the equator: This shall be carried from the astronomical azimuth of one or more lines of
the survey,
L=Z-D
Section 102 - The astronomical azimuth of a line shall be determined by
In those north of Zenith and north of the equator
observations on the sun or stars. It shall consist of at least one to eight
L=D-Z series of observations as required using an instrument tested beforehand.
where: L = Latitude of observer Section 103- Each series shall consist of two sets of observations. One
Z = Zenith distance of celestial body set shall consist of the mean of observed readings with the telescope in
the direct and reversed positions.
D = Declination
Section 104 - In solar observations for azimuth using the vertical and
Section 97 – The latitude used in the computations for azimuth shall be horizontal cross wires, the cross wires shall be made tangent to the left
derived from the latitude as determined by the position computation. and lower, right and upper, right and lower, or left and upper limbs of the
Section 98 - If the above method is not feasible, the latitude shall be sun, as the case maybe. The procedures to be followed are:
determined by astronomical observations. 1) Set up the instrument over the station and level the instrument.
LONGITUDE 2) Set the vernier plate or micrometer reading to 00°00'00" and sight the
Section 99- Longitude shall be determined by means of control starting rearward station, the azimuth of which is to be determined using the lower
from reference points of known geographic positions. Other methods for motion and lower tangent screw.
determining longitude shall be used as follows: 3) Screw the colored prismatic glass to the eyepiece and using the upper

17
motion and upper tangent screw turn the telescope toward the sun. 6) The allowable horizontal angle of closure shall be within +/- 30 seconds
of arc and must be distributed equally among the horizontal angle
4) Observe the sun in accordance with the following tangent positions and
readings.
record the time, vertical angle or zenith distance and horizontal angle for
each sighting as shown by the following example: 7) After the observations have been completed, test the accuracy of the
observations by determining the rate of motion of the sun. This is to
detect any mistake in the observations and to be able to make additional
series as required.
The test for solar variation shall be made by horizontal and vertical
variation methods as follows.
a) To find the variation in horizontal angle divide the difference in
horizontal angle readings by the corresponding difference in time.
Combinations are from any two horizontal readings from the left-side of
the telescope vertical cross-hairs or any two readings from the right-side
of the vertical cross-hairs.

( Hn−Hm)
Hvar=
(Tn−Tm)
(1) (4-1) (5) (4-1) (9) (4-1)
(2) (4-1) (6) (4-1) (10) (4-1)
(1) Telescope direct (5) Telescope reverse (3) (4-1) (7) (4-1) (11) (4-1)
(2) Telescope direct (6) Telescope reverse (4) (4-1) (8) (4-1) (12) (4-1)
(3) Telescope reverse (7) Telescope direct
(4) Telescope reverse (8) Telescope direct b) To find the variation in vertical angle divide the difference in vertical
angle readings by the corresponding difference in time. Combinations are
from any two vertical readings from the upper-side of the telescope
5) After the eight sightings, turn the telescope to the rearward station horizontal cross-hair or any two readings from the lower-side of the
using the upper motion then read and record the horizontal angle. The horizontal cross-hair.
time interval between successive sightings shall in no case exceed two
minutes. The eight sightings constitute one series of observation and shall (Vn−Vm)
Vvar=
be completed within twenty minutes otherwise the results shall be voided (Tn−Tm )
and another series shall be made.

18
 (1) (3-1) (5) (7-3) (9) (8-2) Z = angle of star reckoned from the north
(2) (5-1) (6) (7-5) (10) (6-4)
The time shall be determined from the following formulas:
(3) (7-1) (7) (4-2) (11) (8-4)
(4) (5-3) (8) (6-2) (12) (8-6) S=∝s +t s

S=( ∝sun +12h ) +T

In both cases, the results should not differ from the mean variation
by more than two seconds of arc per second of time. Other combinations where S = sidereal time
using the mean of a direct and reverse positions shall be used to ∝s = right ascension of star
determine the variation.
T = local civil time
Additional safeguard against mistakes in observations shall be
determined by noting that the average apparent angular diameter of the ts = hour angle of star
sun is about thirty two minutes of arc in the vertical and thirty-two
∝sun = right ascension of sun (n)
minutes of arc divided by secant of altitude in the horizontal.
Section 105 - In case of stellar observations, the star shall be centered
as closely as possible at the intersection of the cross wires. The accuracy Section 107- The procedure for observing stars for azimuth at elongation
of the observations shall be tested by comparing the rate of motion of the shall be as follows:
stars in the horizontal and vertical angles.
1) Find the sidereal time of elongation:
Section 106 -For observations on circumpolar stars for azimuth at
a) Compute the hour angle (t) of the star of elongation (cos t = tan
elongation, the following formulas for determining the hour angle and
L cot D).
azimuth of a star shall be used:
b) Add the hour angle for western or eastern elongation to the
cos t = tan L cot D
right ascension of the star to get sidereal time.
sin Z = sin P sec L
2) Find the local civil time at the same instant.
where ; t = hour angle of star at western elongation
a) Determine the (αsun + 12h) corrected for longitude.
and t =24 – t at eastern elongation
b) Subtract the result of (a) from the sidereal time determined in
L = latitude of place step (1). The result is sidereal interval which shall be converted to
D= declination of star local civil time by the application of correction from sidereal into
mean solar time.
P = north polar distance of star
c) The result shall be corrected for longitude difference to reduce to

19
 120° E time. in case of stars and for parallax and refraction in the case of the
sun
L = Latitude of the place of observation
3) Set the instrument over the station in position at least thirty minutes
before the time of elongation. P = north polar distance of the observed celestial body.
4) Set the micrometer (vernier) reading to approximately 00°00'00" and S = 1/2 (P + H + L)
sight the azimuth mark. P is (90-D) when the declination is north and (90+D) when the
5) About five minutes before elongation bisect the star with the cross declination is south.
wires and follow it as it moves toward elongation using the tangent screw.
6) At elongation, read and record the horizontal angle and time. In the morning the azimuth of sun is 360° minus A and in the
7) Reverse the telescope, bisect the star again and read and record afternoon, the azimuth of sun is A. If the station mark is to the left of the
horizontal angle and time. sun, the horizontal angle is to be subtracted from the azimuth of the
observed celestial body; if to the right it is to be added.
8) Return the telescope to the azimuth mark and check the closing
reading.

Section 108 - In all azimuth observations, points occupied and observed

shall always be stations of the survey controls.

Section 109 - The following formula shall be used for determining

azimuth of a line by observations on the sun or stars at any hour angle:
1
cot A= √ sec S sec ( S−P ) sin ( S−H ) sin (S−L)
2
The result shall be checked using the formula:
cos A = tan H tan L - cos P sec H sec L
CHAPTER IV - GEODETIC AND PROJECT CONTROL SURVEYS
CLASSES OF CONTROL SURVEYS
In both formulas:
Section 110 - There shall be two classes of control surveys; namely,
A = angle between the celestial body and the south
geodetic and project control surveys.
H = observed altitude of the celestial body corrected for refraction

20
Section 111 - The basis of classification of geodetic and project control SPECIFICATION TRAVERSE
surveys shall in general be the accuracy with which the length and Primary Secondary Tertiary
azimuth of a line of the triangulation, traverse or trilateration is
Spacing of stations between 100 100 m. to 500 as required
determined. m. to 1,000m m.

* Angular error of
GEODETIC CONTROL SURVEYS closure not to exceed ___ ___ ____
2”.5 √ P 10”.0 √ S 30” √ T
Section 112 - Geodetic control surveys shall consist of triangulation,
traverse, trilateration and any combination thereof, which together with No. of observations: 2 1 as required
leveling and astronomic observations, shall determine the accurate Positions with 1 second
geographic positions of points on the earth's surface taking into account Theodolite
the curvature of the earth. It also includes determination of positions of
Set with 20 or 30 second 6 D/R for 4 D/R for Clamped
points through satellite survey or photogrammetric aerial triangulation.
transit interior and interior angle plate
Section 113 - Geodetic control surveys shall be made in accordance with exterior for circuit and
the general instructions contained in the special publications used by the angles loop traverse
Coast and Geodetic Survey Department/NAMRIA for first, second and third clamped
order control work.
PROJECT CONTROL SURVEYS
** Linear error of closure 0.0001 P 0.0002 P 0.0005 P
Section 114 -Project control surveys shall consist of traverse, p 1 1
not to exceed
triangulation or any combination thereof, which together with leveling,
shall determine the positions of control points between stations of
geodetic accuracy over an area of limited extent such as isolated tracts of Azimuth reading 1.0 second 10 to 15 sec. 30 sec. to 1
lands, group settlement, barangay areas, municipalities or group of minute
municipalities.
Instrument least reading 1 sec. 1 sec. 1 minute
Section 115 - There shall be three classes of project control surveys, Theodolite; Theodolite or transit
namely, primary, secondary and tertiary controls. 20” to 30” 20” to 30”
transit transit
Section 116- The following classification and standards of accuracy in
Astronomic 8 or 4, am 4 or 2, am
project control establishment shall be adopted.
Observations: and 4, pm and 2, pm
CLASSIFICATION AND STANDARDS OF ACCURACY OF PROJECT No. of series night or day
CONTROLS FOR LAND SURVEY

21
 Probable error of 5” 10” 15” Triangle closure not to
astronomical exceed Base 5’’ 10’’ 30’’
observations not to Measurement
exceed
Azimuth checks not to 20” 30” as required Probable error not to 1:40,000 as required as required
exceed exceed

Check on base not to 1:20,000 1:10,000 1:5,000

No. of stations between 25 35 50 exceed
azimuth checks not to
exceed
Section 117 - Project controls shall be classified as follows:
*** Distance Nearest mm. a) Primary control:
Measurement
The azimuth shall be determined to the nearest one second of arc and the
Probable error or 1:40,000 as required as required distances shall be measured twice to the nearest millimeter taking into
distance measurement account the temperature, sag, pull, grade and sea level corrections.
not to exceed
b) Secondary control:
Relative error after 1:20,000 1:10,000 1:5,000
The azimuth shall be determined to the nearest fifteen seconds of arc or
azimuth adjustment
less and the distances shall be measured once to the nearest millimeter,
taking into account the temperature, sag, pull, grade and sea level
SPECIFICATION TRIANGULATION corrections.
1-3 km 1 km Consistent c) Tertiary control:
Spacing of stations not to
with good
exceed The azimuth shall be determined to the nearest one minute of arc or less
sighting
Angular Observations and the distances shall be measured once to the nearest centimeter,
Positions with 1 second taking no account of temperature, pull, sea level and sag corrections if the
2 2 As required
Theodolite weight of the tape per meter does not exceed fifteen thousandths (0.015)
kilogram.
Set with 20 or 30 second 6 D/R for 4 D/R for 2 D/R
transit interior and interior angle Section 118 - The main control shall be the primary, secondary, or
exterior and exterior tertiary control, as the case may be, from and to which all other controls
angles angles established in the survey of an area shall begin or close.
Section 119 - When the main control is fixed by:

22
a) Primary control, the details of the survey may be located by the 1 of the project shall be established to control all subsidiary controls
primary control or by secondary and tertiary controls connected thereto. within the project.
b) Secondary control, the details of the survey may be located by the Section 124- The main control starting from and closing to the BLLM No.
secondary control or by tertiary control connected thereto. 1 of the project shall be established to control all subsidiary controls
within the project.
c) Tertiary control, the details of the survey may be located by the main
control or by other tertiary controls connected thereto. Section 125 - From the BLLM No.1, the main control shall generally
follow the project boundary. If the place is rugged, it may be run through
Section 120 - A traverse which closes to the point of its origin shall be
fairly level area near the boundary and include at least three second or
known as a circuit traverse. A traverse starting from a station and closing
third order geodetic control stations.
into another station of the same or another traverse shall be known as a
loop traverse. A traverse which does not close into another station of the Section 126 - In case mountain peaks or hills define the boundary of the
same or of any other traverse shall be known either as a loose tie line or municipality or project, the primary control shall be located at the base of
connection traverse. the mountains or hills. If the terrain is rugged, it may be run through
existing road located as near as possible to the boundary for convenience
Section 121 - The quality of control to be used for isolated land surveys
and to produce a more reliable control. Traverse lines may be longer than
shall be as follows:
1,000 meters as prescribed in Section 129 as systematic errors on angle
AREA TO BE CONTROLLED QUALITY OF CONTROL and distance measurements will be smaller.
less than 1,500 hectares Tertiary Control Section 127- Whenever the main control includes established geodetic
1,500 to 15,000 hectares Secondary control control stations as specified in Section 125, the main control shall be
divided into loops, each loop starting from one geodetic control station
Over 15,000 hectares Primary Control
and closing on another geodetic control station.
Section 128 - Main control stations shall be numbered consecutively from
In isolated parcels of land having an area of less than 1,500 hectares to one for each project. This shall be inscribed on the monuments in a
be subdivided into fifty or more lots, at least one pair of location clockwise order and shall be indicated in the field notes, computations and
monuments shall be established. The location monument shall be maps as P1, P2, P3, P4, and so on. The BLLM No. 1 of the project shall be
connected by a control of secondary precision from previously established the first main control station to be known as P1 of the main control; the
reference point provided that no lots shall have a distance of more than BLLM No. 2 shall be made as the second or last main control station,
one (1) kilometer from the nearest point of reference. without changing the marks thereon.
Section 122 -The main control for cadastral projects shall be established Section 129 - The primary traverse station shall be established on the
by traverse, triangulation, trilateration, or combination thereof with ground so that the distance between consecutive stations shall not be less
primary accuracy precision. than 100 meters nor more than 1,000 meters whenever conditions may
Section 123- The main control starting from and closing to the BLLM No. allow.

23
Section 130 -Additional pairs of location monuments shall be established POSITION AND BASE MERIDIAN OF THE PROJECT
along the control of the project at an interval of from 5 to 6 kilometers to Section 135- The geographic position of BLLM No. 1 of the cadastral
be designated and numbered as BLLM No. 3 and BLLM No. 4; BLLM No. 5; survey shall be derived from the second and third order geodetic control
and BLLM No. 6; etc. and given corresponding equivalent main control stations as specified in Section 125. It shall be included in the main
station numbers without changing the marks thereon. control of the project.
Section 131 - All main control stations except the BLLMs shall be defined In the absence of second and third order geodetic control stations
by cylindrical concrete monuments fifteen centimeters in diameter by fifty at a distance of ten (10) kilometers from the project boundary, connection
centimeters in length (15 by 50 cm). These shall be reinforced preferably of primary precisions shall be made to any other point of reference
by barbed wire and set not more than twenty centimeters (20 cm) above accepted by the Lands Management Bureau.
the ground. The station center shall be defined by a cross on a galvanized
iron (G.I.) spike, set flush into the concrete monument. Section 136 - The central meridian of the zone shall be the base meridian
to which all azimuths of lines of the project shall be referred.
Section 132 - After the main control stations have been monumented,
preferably before starting the measurement of angles and distances, the
positions of the stations shall be determined by a preliminary survey using GRID AZIMUTH
the transit and tape or stadia. The preliminary survey shall define the
Section 137 - The azimuth used in the cadastral project shall be known
approximate project boundaries to be used in the generation of
as grid azimuth to distinguish it from astronomical azimuth which may be
information for the preparation of provisional progress map and
observed within the project.
preliminary control for the immediate commencement of sketching
operations. Reference points of the monuments shall be located during the Section 138 - The grid azimuth shall be derived from at least two
preliminary survey. established geodetic control lines within or near the project.

Section 133 - The measurement of distances for primary control shall be Section 139- When the grid azimuth for the cadastral project cannot be
made with calibrated steel tapes or electronic distance measuring (EDM) obtained by direct connection to established geodetic control lines, it shall
equipment. be determined by: (1) stellar observations for azimuth on BLLM Numbers
1 - 2 of the project independent of any previous determination; and (2) by
The EDM shall be tested and calibrated at the calibration base line before
the application of the convergency correction between the station
and after its use in the project as required in Section 20. It shall also be
occupied and the central meridian of the adopted zone. Astronomical
tested as often as necessary over a calibrated line in the project. Kinked
observations for azimuth shall be made on other pairs of location
or broken tapes, even if repaired, shall not be used in the measurement of
monuments of the cadastral project to check the carried grid azimuth of
primary and secondary controls.
the line.
Section 134- Distances of primary control lines that cannot be directly
Section 140 - When the main control of the project is connected to the
measured shall be indirectly determined by traverse triangulation or by
main control of an adjoining project, as required in Sections 154-160,
broken base Measurement.
astronomical observations for azimuth shall likewise be made on the two

24
extreme stations common to the two project controls. second sets.
Section 141 - Astronomical observations for azimuth on the lines of the b) Express this difference (D) in seconds and compute the probable
main control other than the line defined by BLEM Nos. 1-2 shall be used error (P.E.) from the formula:
only as a check on the carried grid azimuth of the line, except as provided Ꮲ. Ꭼ. = 0.33725 Ꭰ
in Section 139.
c) The result will be seconds of arc which shall not exceed five
Section 142 - Check on azimuth shall be from azimuth line to another
seconds for base meridian and primary, ten seconds for secondary
azimuth line. The azimuth line is when eight (8) series of astronomical
and fifteen seconds for tertiary controls.
observations are made as prescribed in Section 102. The astronomical
azimuth is reduced to grid azimuths. Angular errors shall be within d) Adopt the mean azimuth if the result is within the limit,
''
2.5 √P , where P is the number of stations between the azimuth lines.
Azimuth closure shall be distributed among the angles between the Section 147-The probable error of the mean azimuth from several series
azimuth lines. The linear error of closure is determined and if within of observations shall be determined only from a series whose probable
allowable limit, the latitude and departure errors shall be distributed errors are within the limit provided in the preceding section. The
accordingly. If this procedure is used, the angular loop closure and procedures in determining the probable error shall be as follows:
adjustment at interval of 20-25 stations must not be done.
a) Determine the arithmetical mean of the azimuths of the selected
Section 143 - The astronomical observations on the sun for azimuth shall series of observations.
be determined in accordance with Section 104. The arithmetical mean of
b) Determine the differences (v's) between the arithmetical mean
at least four acceptable series taken in the morning and four series taken
azimuth and the azimuth of each series of observations.
in the afternoon of the same or different days shall be used to determine
the astronomical azimuth of the line. c) Express these differences or residuals in seconds of arc and
determine the square the residuals.
Section 144- The astronomical observations for azimuth on the stars
shall be determined by at least four acceptable series taken on the east d) Add the squares of the difference (V°) or residuals and compute
stars and four series on the west stars. The arithmetical mean shall be the probable error from the formula:
used as the astronomical azimuth of the lime,
Section 145 - The probable error of the arithmetical mean of the
observations under Sections 143 and 144 shall not exceed five (5)
seconds of arc.
Probable Error=0.6745
√ ∑2
v
n(n−1)

Section 146 - The probable error of the mean azimuth from two sets
composing one series of observations shall be determined as follows: Where ∑2 = the sum of all the squares of the residuals
v
a) Determine the difference in azimuth between the first and
n = the number of series of observations

25
 CORRECTION FOR CONVERGENCY
Section 148- When the probable error of the astronomical azimuth Latitudes Convergency
observations is more than the allowable limit, the azimuths having 4° 2.26''
residuals greater than 10" from the mean shall be rejected. Additional
5° 2.83''
observations for azimuth in accordance with Sections 143 and 144 shall be
made until the allowable limit is obtained. 6° 3.40''

Section 149- When the main primary control is divided into traverse 7° 3.97''
loops, astronomical observations for azimuth similar to those taken at 8° 4.55''
location monuments as provided for in Section 139 shall be made at the 9° 5.12''
main station common to the loops.
10° 5.70''
Section 150- When the primary control consists of one traverse circuit
11° 6.29''
along the perimeter of the project, astronomical observations for azimuth
shall be made at every 20 to 25 stations to check the carried grid azimuth 12° 6.87''
of the lines in addition to the requirements of Sections 140 and 149. 13° 7.46‘'
Section 151 - The astronomical azimuths determined at the main control 14° 8.06''
lines shall be corrected for convergency of meridians in accordance with 15° 8.66''
Sections 152 or 153 and shall be within twenty seconds (20") of arc with
16° 9.27''
the carried grid azimuths of the lines.
17° 9.88''
18° 10.50''
Section 152 - The amount of convergency correction in seconds of arc to
19° 11.13''
be applied to the observed astronomical azimuth shall be computed using
Table III, Determination of Convergency and Scale Factor, Technical 20° 11.76''
Bulletin No. 26. If the latitudes and longitudes of the stations occupied are 21° 12.41''
known, the convergency correction may also be computed by means of 22° 13.06''
the formula for geodetic position computation.
Section 153 - The convergency corrections may also be determined by
The angular convergency is for one kilometer of departure east or
multiplying the number of kilometers of departure of the place of
west from the central meridian.
observation from the central meridian and the number of, seconds of
angular convergency corresponding to the following tables: The correction shall be added to the astronomical azimuth for
points west of the central meridian and subtracted from the astronomical
azimuth for points east of the central meridian.

26
 CONNECTION WITH ADJOINING PROJECTS X p =( Lcos ∆ ∝ sinα + Lsin ∆∝ cosα )∗( K )
Section 154- In case the main control of an adjoining cadastral project Y p=(−L sin ∆ ∝ sinα + Lcos ∆ ∝cosα )∗(K )
has been located or completed, connection therewith shall be made at the
extreme main control stations of their common lines. This connection shall L= length of line in LPCS
be made by measuring the horizontal angle and distance at each of the α = local azimuth
main control stations to which connection is made to the two adjacent
stations of the previous main control. ∆ ∝=¿ grid convergence
K = scale factor at the midpoint of the line

ADJOINING PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINE PLANE COORDINATE Xp = grid departure of the line
SYSTEM PRS-92 Yp = grid latitude of the line
Section 155 - If the adjoining project is in the Philippine Plane Coordinate
System (PPCS)/PRS-92, the main control of the project shall be conformed
or adjusted to the main control of the adjoining project. If, however, the Section 158 - The horizontal angles and distances of the adjoining
angular error and/or the error of the closure of the main control exceeds project shall be used to complete the main control of the project
the allowable limits, investigation shall be made and the results of which undergoing survey. If the angular error or the linear error of closure of the
shall be reported to the Director of Lands Management Bureau. main control exceeds the allowable limit, investigation shall be made the
results of which shall be reported to the Director of Lands Management
Bureau,
ADJOINING PROJECT IN THE LOCAL PLANE COORDINATE SYSTEM
Section 159- The difference between the grid azimuths of the common
control lines as carried from their respective base meridians when reduced
Section 156 - If the adjoining project is in the Local Plane Coordinate by the angle of convergency between these base meridians shall be less
System (LPCS), the distances and horizontal angles of the main control than thirty seconds of arc; otherwise, an investigation shall be made and
common to those projects undergoing survey shall be reduced to the grid reported to the Director of Lands Management Bureau.
system (PPCS/PRS 92). This shall be used in the main control of the Section 160 - If connection to the main control of an adjoining project is
project undergoing survey. The latitude and departure of the line defined no longer feasible, connection shall be made by including all recoverable
by the two junction stations with the main control or the adjoining project monuments of the adjoining project along or near their common
shall be transformed into the Philippine Plane Coordinate System/PRS 92. boundaries in the main control of the project.
Section 157 - The following formulas shall be used to transform the
latitudes and departures of lines in the LPCS to the PPCS:

27
 f) The value of the angle is computed by getting the
difference between the mean of the initial and closing
PRIMARY CONTROLS - MEASUREMENTS OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES
readings and the sixth reading and dividing this difference
by six. For angles more than 60° add to the quotient
Section 161 - The horizontal angle formed at each primary station by the multiple of 60° nearest to, but lower than, the first reading.
two primary lines meeting thereat and its explement shall be measured 2) Second Angle (explement)
clockwise by the method of repetition.
a) Proceed as in 1 (b) to 1 (e) but take backsights at the
Section 162 - The measurement of horizontal angles by the repetition forward station first and foresights to the rearward station.
method using a transit with a least reading of 30" or less shall be In closing the horizon, take backsights at the rearward
performed as follows: station and foresights at the forward station.
1) First angle b) If the horizon closure in this measurement is within the
a) Set and level the transit over the primary station where allowable 30", compute for the value of the angle as in 1
the angle is to be measured; (f).

b) Set vernier A to read 0°00'00"; record the readings at Section 163 - The sum of the 1st and 2nd angles shall not differ from
verniers A and B. With the telescope in the direct position, 360 by more than +/-10"; otherwise, make additional measurements,
backsight at the rearward station using the lower clamp and Section 164 - A simpler method is the direction method of observation
lower tangent screw. where the azimuth of primary lines shall be determined by observing two
c) Loosen upper clamp, rotate telescope in a clockwise positions with a one-second direction Theodolite. One position is as
direction, sight the forward station. Read and record the follows:
readings on verniers A and B. This is the first reading. a) With the telescope in direct position, bisect the signal on the
d) Loosen lower clamp and backsight at the rearward rearward station using the horizontal clamp and tangent screw.
station and proceed as in (c) for a total of six times except b) Set any initial reading approximately at zero degree and one
that the vernier is read only after the six sighting. minute (0°01'00"). Bisect again the signal on the rearward station.
e) Closing the horizon: Invert the telescope, loosen lower Record the micrometer reading.
clamp and backsight at forward station. Loosen upper clamp c) Release the horizontal clamp and turn the telescope in a
and then revolve instrument again in a clockwise direction clockwise direction to the forward station. Tighten the clamp and
then sight the rearward station. Repeat this process six bisect the signal accurately by means of the tangent screw. Record
times. The vernier reading should be 0°00'00" for the the micrometer reading.
horizon closure. If it differs from 0°00'00" by more than d) Release again the clamp, reverse the telescope, and sight again
30", reject the result and make another set of repetitions. the forward station by means of the clamp and its tangent screw.

28
 Record the micrometer reading. L = measured length
e) Release the clamp and turn the telescope to bisect the rearward t a = actual temperature of the tape
station. Record the micrometer reading.
ts = standard temperature of the tape
The difference between the initial reading and the closing reading
on the initial line shall not exceed 10 seconds of arc; otherwise, the K = coefficient of expansion of the tape material
observations shall be repeated. (.0000116°C for steel tape)

The second position is made by following the above procedure, but Section 167 - The sag correction for each tape measurement between
the initial reading shall be set at approximately ninety degrees two consecutive supports shall be computed using the following formula:
more than the first initial reading at (b).
The discrepancy between the mean readings of the 1st and 2nd w2 l 3 W 2 L
positions shall not be greater than five (5) seconds; otherwise, the C s= =
24 p2 24 P 2
observations shall be repeated.
The angle is determined from the list of directions by subtracting the where: Cs = sag correction (always negative) between
direction to the rearward station from the direction to the forward station. consecutive supports (span)
w = unit weight of tape

PRIMARY CONTROL - MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCES W = total weight of tape

Section 165 - The distances between primary stations which must be L = length between supports
inter-visible shall be measured twice with the use of steel tapes. The p = pull applied
observed data shall be entered in the prescribed field notes form together
with the corrections for temperature, sag, tension, slope or grade, and sea
level, including the name of observer, the tape numbers and weights of Section 168 - The pull correction for each tape measurement shall be
the tapes, etc. The first measurement shall be made with one tape in one computed using the following formula:
direction and the second measurement, with another tape in the opposite
direction.
P
Section 166 - The temperature correction for each tape measurement L( ¿ ¿ a−P s)
shall be computed using the following formula:
SE
Ct =L ( t a−t s ) K C p =¿
where: Ct = correction due to temperature (plus or minus) where: Cp = pull correction (plus or minus)

29
 L = measured length R = radius of curvature of the spheroid corresponding to
mean latitude of the line; for the Philippines
Pa = actual pull applied
R = 6,370,000 meters
Ps = standard pull
S = cross sectional area of the tape Section 171 - Elevations of points to be used in sea level correction shall
be determined in accordance with Section 100.
E = modolus of elasticity of tape material
Section 172 - Distances between monuments of primary lines may be
or
measured with standardized one hundred meter steel tapes, without
1 breaks or splices. The measurements shall be made over accurately
= coefficient of stretch
SE aligned tripods. For this purpose the tripods of transits, plane tables or
In order to eliminate error due to pull, the standard tension for the other instruments shall be used. When these are not available, similar
tape shall be used. devices constructed locally may be used.

Section 169 - The slope or grade correction for each tape measurement A board about 4 x 8 x 80 centimeters may be bolted through its center to
shall be computed using the formula: the tripod head. The bolt shall be left loose enough to permit movement of
the board in the horizontal plane so that the end graduation of the tape
h2 h4 will fall on the board. The bolt shall be tightened to give firm and steady
C g= +
2 s 8 s3 surface on which to mark the measurement. The point where the end
graduation falls shall be marked with an office pin stuck in the board.
where: Cg = slope or grade correction (always to subtracted)
When measuring the end point of the line, the tripod shall be set slightly
s = measured slope length corrected for temperature, sag beyond the monument and the board is set to swing until the plumb line
and tension held over the monument strikes an edge of the board. This point shall be
h = difference in elevation of the end points of each tape marked by a pin and then measurement shall be made.
measurement Section 173 - The tape shall be supported at every twenty-five meter
lc = l-Cg + corrected horizontal distance interval. The intermediate supports shall provide full and free support to
the tape and shall not exert any strain on the tape in any direction except
Section 170 - Sea level correction shall be determined using the formula:
to support it against the action of gravity.
2
Bh Bh Section 174 - In rough terrain where the use of tripods is impractical, the
C sl = +
R R2 measurement may be made by the use of two transits correctly aligned
where: C sl = seal level correction between the stations. The distance between the two transits shall be equal
B = actual measured length of line in meters corrected for to, or slightly less than the length of the tape used in the measurement.
temperature, sag, tension, slope The tape shall, as much as possible, be supported at every twenty-five
h = average elevation of the line meter interval and measurement shall be made between the horizontal

30
axes of the transits. Extreme care shall be used in reading the tape and Section 182 - After the corrections for temperature, sag, and pull have
the vertical angles. For each tape interval, vertical angles shall be read been applied to the measured inclined or slope distance, reduction of the
from both transits. inclined distance to the horizontal shall be made. The horizontal line is
then reduced to sea level distance.
Section 175 - In measuring primary distances, the thermometers shall
be attached to the tape. Section 183 –When the two measurements of a primary line have been
corrected for temperature, sag, pull and slope and reduced to the sea
Section 176 – In measurement of less than a full tape length, the tape
level the arithmetic mean of the measurements shall be adopted as the
shall be stretched the full length, supported at every twenty-five meter
length of the line provided the probable error of the arithmetic mean is
interval, standard tension applied and the distance measured in the same
1:40,000 or less of the adopted mean.
manner as for a full tape length
Section 184 - The probable error of the arithmetic mean of the two
Section 177 – In cases where tapes are used under conditions different
measurements shall be computed as follows:
from those under which they are standardized, corrections for
temperature, sag and tension, and slope shall be applied to the Probable Error = 0.33725 D
measurements, where : D represents the difference between the two measurements
Section 178 - When the correction for slope is being made, difference in of the line
elevations shall be determined for each tape length. The vertical angle The probable error divided by the arithmetic mean shall be one in forty
shall be measured to the nearest thirty seconds of arc in the case of thousand (1:40,000), or less.
transits and to the nearest second of arc in the case of theodolites. In
both cases, readings shall be taken in the direct and reversed positions. If
the vertical angle is taken to the nearest thirty seconds of arc, no Section 185 - When the probable error obtained of the two
measurement with slope greater than ten degrees shall be allowed. measurements as obtained in Section 184 is greater than the ratio of one
Section 179- The spring balance to be used in determining tension shall in forty thousand (1:40,000), additional measurements shall be made
be tested by weighing with a standard weight of not less than ten until the required precision is obtained.
kilograms in government offices having such standard weight. If an index Section 186 - In general, when more than two measurements of a
error is found, it shall be applied according to its sign to the tension primary line are made with equal care, none of the measurements shall be
indicated by the spring balance. discarded. The arithmetic mean of all the measurements shall be
Section 180 - The tape thermometers shall be frequently compared with computed and the probable error shall be determined to the nearest
a standard thermometer. If an index error is found, it shall be applied to millimeter in accordance with the general formula for probable error as
the temperature according to its sign. described in Section 147.

Section 181 - All corrections for temperature, sag, pull, slope, and sea Section 187 - The distance measurements of the primary line shall be
level shall be computed to the nearest millimeter. entered on the same consecutive pages of the primary distance book.
Reference shall be made to the page of the primary angle book where the

31
azimuth determination for the primary line is found. 189 to the back azimuth of the preceding or initial line. The sum is
the forward azimuth of the forward line. If the sum exceeds 360
Section 188 - Primary distances may also be measured with an Electronic
degrees, the forward azimuth is the sum minus 360 degrees.
Distance Measuring (EDM) equipment in accordance with Sections 16 to
20. Each primary line measured ten (10) times using an EDM instrument (2) At the second station, add 180 degrees to the forward azimuth
shall have a rejection limit of not greater than 0.005 meter from the of the preceding line to obtain its back azimuth. If the sum exceeds
mean. (156a; LOC 123) 360 degrees, the back azimuth of the line is the sum minus 360
degrees,
(3) To obtain the azimuth of the forward line on the second station,
PRIMARY CONTROL COMPUTATIONS
add the first angle determined at the station as in (1) above,
Section 189 - After the measurements of the horizontal angles, the
(4) Continue the procedure until the back azimuth of the initial line
values to be adjusted for the first and second angles shall be the mean of
is obtained.
the repetitions in each case plus (+) or minus (-) the horizon closure
correction. This shall be applied equally to each angle. The sum of the (5) The difference in the starting back azimuth and the closing
adjusted first and second angles shall be 360 degrees. back azimuth of the initial line is the angular error of closure.
Section 190 - The sum of the interior angles of the traverse polygon shall
be equal to one hundred and eighty degrees multiplied by the number of b. With the second angle
lines in the circuit less two. The angular error of the closure for a primary
traverse polygon shall be determined using the formula: (1) At the initial station, subtract the second angle mentioned in
Section 189 from the back azimuth of the preceding or initial line.
Ae = A-[180° (P-2)] The difference if positive is the forward azimuth of the forward line.
If the difference is negative, add 360 degrees. The positive sum is
the forward azimuth.
where : Ae = the angular error of polygon closure (2) To obtain the back azimuth at the second station repeat "a (2)"
A = the sum of all interior angles of the primary traverse (3) To obtain the forward azimuth at the second station repeat "b
polygon (1)."
P = the number of stations or angles or lines in the primary (4) Continue the procedure until the back azimuth of the initial line
traverse polygon is obtained,
Section 191 - Another method of determining the angular error of (5) Repeat "a (5)".
closure is as follows:
a. With the first angle
Section 192 - The maximum allowable angular error of closure for
(1) At the initial station, add the first angle mentioned in Section primary traverses shall be determined using the formula:

32
 '' 2
A p=2.5 √Ps L = the error in latitude squared
2
D = the error in departure squared

where: Ap = maximum allowable angular error for primary The linear error divided by the perimeter is the relative error.
traverses expressed in seconds of arc Section 199- The relative error for primary traverse shall not be greater
Ps = the number of stations or angles in the primary than one part in twenty thousand (1:20,000) of the perimeter.
traverses Section 200 - If the relative error of closure is greater than the limit
provided for in the preceding section, the field and office work shall be
verified to determine where the error lies. Re-observation shall be made
Section 193 - If the maximum allowable angular error of closure is until the error is within the prescribed limit of precision.
exceeded, the work shall be verified in the field and corrected accordingly.
Section 194 - The allowable angular error of closure of the traverse shall
be distributed uniformly among the interior angles or the azimuth of the Section 201 - Latitudes and departures shall be balanced as prescribed in
primary lines, as the case may be, to close the polygon. Section 203 and the coordinates of the traverse stations shall be
determined to the nearest millimeter. After the traverse has been closed
Section 195 - In case angle measurements are made under different and approved, no change shall subsequently be made in the bearings or
conditions, relative weights may be assigned to the measured angles for distances except after consultation with and advice in writing from the
determining corrections. The angular error of a loop traverse shall be Director of Lands Management Bureau or from the Regional Technical
determined and distributed only among the lines of the loop traverse. Director for Lands,
Section 196 - After the angles are corrected, the azimuths of primary Section 202 - When the primary traverse starts from and closes to
traverse lines shall be determined to the nearest one second of arc. The primary stations of another closed, coordinated primary traverse, the
corrected azimuths shall be recorded in the primary angle book. linear error of closure shall be determined as follows:
Section 197-After the corrected azimuths have been determined, the a) Add algebraically the latitudes and departures of all the primary
latitudes and departures of the traverse shall be computed to the nearest lines of the new traverse and the unadjusted latitudes and
millimeter. Grid azimuths to the nearest second of arc and grid distances departures of the primary lines of the previous traverse which are
to the nearest millimeter shall be used in the computation. common to the new traverse to get the errors in latitude and
Section 198 - The actual linear error of closure shall be determined from departure.
the formula: b) Determine the linear error of closure as prescribed in Section
Ec = √ L + D
2 2 198, The relative error shall be determined by dividing this linear
error by the perimeter of the entire circuit. The result shall not
where: Ec = the linear error of closure exceed one part in twenty thousand (1:20,000) of the perimeter,
as provided in Section 199.

33
If the relative error of closure is greater than the limit provided for in the latitudes and departures between junction stations, considering
preceding section, the field and office work shall be verified to determine BLLM No. 1 as a junction station.
where the error lies. Re-observation shall be made until the error is within
the prescribed limit of precision.
SECONDARY CONTROL - LOCATION OF SECONDARY STATIONS

Section 203 - The primary traverse loop shall then be balanced as Section 205 - Secondary traverses starting from and closing to primary
follows: stations shall be established at or near the barangay boundaries as far as
a) Determine the latitude and departure from the accepted local conditions may permit following a general direction of either:
coordinates of the two primary stations of the previous traverse a) North and south, along arcs of meridians, or
from which the new primary traverse started and closed.
b) East and west, along arcs or parallels
b) Add algebraically the latitudes and departures of the new
primary traverse.
c) The difference, if any, between the latitudes and departures Section 206 - The secondary traverse lines shall be established at
determined as prescribed in (a) and (b) shall be distributed intervals of approximately every one minute of arc in the portions of the
proportionally among the lines of the new primary traverse. project where the land is divided into small lots and at intervals not
exceeding three minutes of arc in those portions where the land is divided
Section 204- When the primary traverse control of a project consisting of into larger lots such as extensive haciendas, reservations and other similar
a circuit and several loops connected thereto, and the circuit has not been tracts.
finally coordinated, the entire system of primary circuit and loop traverses
shall be adjusted and coordinated as follows: Section 207 - When the terrain is rough, hilly or mountainous the
secondary traverse shall be located where it may be of maximum use
a) Distribute the angular error of closure among the angles of each provided it shall be available to control lot surveys within the area
traverse polygon. The distribution shall be made in such a way that represented by the cadastral maps. Secondary traverses shall also serve
each polygon shall close in accordance with the principle as the political boundary controls. The barangay corners may be located
enunciated in Section 194. by simple triangulation or short traverses. If there are several barangays
b) Compute the coordinates of the primary stations, always in the project area, the first set of secondary traverses shall be big enough
beginning from and closing to the BLLM No. 1 through different to cover two or more barangays. The angular and linear errors of these
routes. loops may be adjusted simultaneously by the method of least squares to
avoid propagation of errors up to the last lines. Additional secondary
c) The final coordinates of each junction station shall be the
traverses shall be established to cover the other barangays.
weighted mean of all the coordinates of the station as computed
from different routes. Section 208 - The secondary stations may be located along public
highways or railways and at or near the barangay boundaries. They shall
d) Coordinate other primary stations by distributing the error in

34
be defined by concrete monuments of not less than ten centimeters in Section 212 - Astronomical observations for azimuth shall be taken at
diameter and fifty centimeters in length centered by a small nail and every twenty-five to thirty-five stations in single loop of a secondary
numbered consecutively starting from one. The monuments shall be set to traverse and at the junction stations with the control traverse of an
not more than five centimeters above the ground. Secondary lines shall adjoining project. However, when the secondary control is divided into
not exceed five hundred meters in length. loops, astronomical observations shall also be taken at junction stations
between the loops.
The astronomical observations shall consist of at least two series of two
SECONDARY CONTROL - AZIMUTHS AND DISTANCES
sets each and the probable error shall not exceed ten second of arc as
Section 209- The azimuths of secondary traverse lines shall be provided in Section 146. The astronomical azimuths determined at the
determined by the clamped plate method. With a one- second Theodolite, secondary stations after correction for convergency shall conform with the
the azimuth of a secondary line may be determined by a single carried azimuth to within thirty seconds of arc.
observation of the angle between two secondary lines. In orienting the
Section 213 - The distances between secondary stations shall be
instrument on the primary stations, the vernier shall be set to read the
measured in the manner provided for primary controls in Sections 165 to
azimuths of the primary lines to the nearest fifteen or twenty seconds of
172, except that the measurements shall be made once instead of twice.
arc for transits and to the nearest one second of arc for theodolites.
Stadia distances may be read and recorded for each secondary line if
Section 210 -Azimuths shall be read from the instruments to the nearest measured with the tape to check possible omission of a tape length).
fifteen or twenty seconds of arc as the case may be for transits and one
Section 214 - The number of secondary control stations shall be
second of arc for theodolites. Magnetic bearings shall be read and
indicated on the monuments, in the field notes, computations and plans
recorded except when the instrument used is not provided with a
with the letter "S" prefixed to the station number. Azimuths and distances
magnetic.
shall be recorded on prescribed LMB forms.
Section 211 - The azimuth error of closure at the primary station where
the secondary traverse closes is the difference between the carried
azimuth and the azimuth of the primary line. This difference must not SECONDARY CONTROL COMPUTATIONS
exceed the amount as determined by the following formula:
Section 215 -The azimuth error of closure to the nearest fifteen seconds
of arc shall be distributed in units of fifteen seconds of arc as follows:
A s =10' ' √ S
a) Divide the total azimuth error of closure by fifteen (15). The quotient
where: As = maximum allowable azimuth error of closure for represents the number of fifteen second (15") units.
secondary traverses
b) Add one to the number of units determined in (a) and divide by this
S = the number of secondary stations in the traverse sum the number of secondary lines between which the azimuth error shall
be distributed.

35
c) The quotient represents the number of groups of stations which will be computations shall be made as the preceding section.
corrected by the same amount. Section 218 -The relative error of closure for secondary traverses shall
d) The group shall be corrected by amounts increasing so that the total not be greater than one part in ten thousand (1:10,000) of the perimeter.
error shall be eliminated. The linear error of closure shall be determined as prescribed in Section
198.
Section 219 - If the relative error of closure is greater than the limit
Example:
provided for in the preceding section, the field and office work shall be
In a traverse of fifteen lines with an azimuth error of closure of thirty verified to determine, re-observe and correct any possible error until the
(30") Seconds. error is within the prescribed limit of precision.
a) By (a), 30. 15 = 2(15") units
b) By (b) and (c), 15 divided by 3 = 5 stations per group TERTIARY CONTROL - LOCATION OF TERTIARY STATIONS
By (d), there will be three groups of five stations each Section 220- Tertiary traverses of cadastral surveys shall start from
primary or secondary stations except in cases provided in Section 119(c).

The correction shall be: Section 221 – As much as possible, the monuments defining corners of
tracts shall be occupied and used as tertiary stations. All other stations
First group 00"
shall preferably be defined by stakes, centered with tacks or small nails.
Second group 15"
Section 222 - Tertiary station numbers shall not be assigned to primary,
Third group 30" secondary or location monuments when such stations are occupied in
The above method shall be adopted only when the clamped plate method connection with tertiary traverses.
of traversing is used. Otherwise, the allowable azimuth / angular error of Section 223 - Tertiary stations shall be numbered consecutively from one
closure shall be distributed to close the traverse polygon as in the case of for each project or survey and indicated in the field notes, computations
the primary traverse as stipulated in Section 194, provided that the and plans with the letter "T" prefixed to the station number.
azimuth of the secondary line shall be reduced to the nearest fifteen
seconds of arc.
TERTIARY CONTROL - AZIMUTHS AND DISTANCES
Section 216 - After the distribution of the azimuth error of closure, the
latitudes and departures shall be computed to the nearest centimeter. The Section 224- The azimuths of tertiary traverse lines shall be determined
bearings and distances to be used in the computations shall be to the by the clamped plate method.
nearest fifteen seconds of arc and to the nearest millimeter, respectively. In the case of cadastral survey, the instrument shall be oriented on
Section 217- In the case of azimuths measured with one second primary or secondary traverse lines of the cadastral project to the nearest
Theodolite, the azimuth shall be recorded to the nearest second and the thirty seconds of arc. In the case of isolated land survey, the instrument

36
shall be oriented to the nearest thirty seconds of arc on established Section 229 - Tertiary controls of isolated land surveys shall start from
reference lines like location monuments or by astronomical observations points of reference, other control stations or marked corners of approved
for azimuth. surveys and may be circuit or loop controls. When the lot to be surveyed
is within one (1) kilometer from a point of reference, the tertiary control
Section 225 -All azimuths shall be read directly from the instrument to
shall start from and close to this point of reference.
the nearest one minute of arc except at the closing line where the azimuth
shall be read to the nearest thirty seconds of arc. Magnetic bearings shall Section 230 - The traverse lines in isolated land surveys shall follow
be read and recorded for each tertiary line. approximately the boundaries of the properties undergoing survey.
Retracing or returning through the same stations of the traverse to close it
Section 226- The maximum allowable azimuth error of closure at the
is not a correct practice and shall not be accepted for traverse closure.
primary or secondary stations in the case of cadastral survey or of other
tertiary stations in the case of isolated land survey, shall be determined Section 231 - When the tertiary control is independent of primary or
from the following formula: secondary control, as it is usually in isolated land surveys, the true
azimuth of at least one line shall be determined by astronomical
A t =30' ' √ T
observations.
where: At = maximum allowable azimuth error of closure for Section 232 - If the azimuth is derived from the tertiary control of
tertiary traverse another survey, or derived from location monuments and carried by long
T = the number of tertiary stations in the traverse circuit tie line traverse to the location of the property under survey, an
astronomical observation for azimuth must be made to check the carried
azimuth.
Section 227- The difference between the closing azimuth reading and the
Section 233 - An astronomical observation for azimuth shall be made at
actual azimuth of the line on which the tertiary traverse closes shall be the
intervals of not more than fifty stations in circuit and loop traverses. The
azimuth error of closure. This shall not exceed the maximum as
difference between the observed and carried azimuth in the system shall
determined in the preceding section otherwise the work shall be verified to
not exceed the maximum allowable error of closure as provided in Section
determine and correct in the field any possible error until the prescribed
226. Such error shall be distributed among the lines in the sections for
maximum limit is attained.
which the error has been determined.
Section 228 - The distances between tertiary stations shall be measured
Section 234 - When the traverse loops are located as links forming a
with standardized measuring devices to the nearest centimeter. In hilly or
chain, an astronomical observation for azimuth shall be required at
mountainous terrain, vertical angles or zenith distances shall be taken and
alternate loops, provided that astronomical observations shall be made on
slope distances reduced to the horizontal. Stadia distances shall be read
the first and last loops.
and reduced for each tertiary line when measured with a tape.
Section 235 - When the data recorded on plans of approved surveys are
used, the points occupied, the azimuth used, the class and Bureau of
TERTIARY CONTROL FOR ISOLATED SURVEYS Lands survey number and the name of the applicant of the previous

37
survey shall be stated in the field notes, Azimuth of lines not included in be as follows:
the closed traverse of the former survey shall not be used in the traverse (a) The position of the triangulation stations shall be selected so
of the new survey, that no angle may be less than thirty degrees.
Section 236 - The astronomical azimuth for tertiary controls in isolated (b) Whenever possible, a scheme of quadrilaterals shall be
land surveys shall be determined by a series of two sets of observations established and the angles between the diagonals and sides of the
taken as prescribed by Sections 103-105. The geographic position of the quadrilaterals shall be measured.
station occupied shall be determined in accordance with Sections 89-99.
(c) Other schemes may be used whenever it is not practical to
Section 237 - The probable error shall be determined as prescribed by completely use the quadrilaterals scheme.
Section 146 which shall not exceed 15 seconds of arc.
(d) Each angle of the triangles shall be measured either by the
repetition method or by the direction method as in the case of the
TERTARY CONTROL COMPUTATIONS measurement of the horizontal angles of primary controls described
in Sections 162 and 164.
Section 238 - The azimuth error of closure to the nearest one minute of
arc shall be distributed as in the case of secondary traverses described in (e) The length of the base lines shall be measured with the same
Section 215, except that one minute of arc shall be used as unit instead of degree of accuracy as that of the primary control lines described in
fifteen seconds of arc. Sections 165 to 188,
Section 239-After the distribution of the azimuth error of closure, the (f) At least two base lines shall be measured, one situated at the
latitudes and departures shall be computed to the nearest centimeter. The beginning and the other at the end of the triangulation scheme and
bearings and distances to be used in the computation shall be to the the triangulation control shall be adjusted between these base
nearest one minute of arc and the nearest centimeter, respectively. lines.
Section 240 - The linear error of closure shall be determined as
prescribed by Section 198. The relative error for tertiary control shall not Section 243 -Detailed special instructions shall be issued by the Director
be greater than one part in five thousand (1:5,000) of perimeter. of Lands Management Bureau, whenever necessary concerning the
Section 241 - If the relative error of closure is greater than the limit scheme of triangulation and methods of adjustments to be used.
provided for in the preceding section, the field and office work shall be Section 244- When the distance of a primary, secondary or tertiary
verified to detect and correct any possible error or re-observe suspected control line cannot be measured directly, it may be determined by
lines that are erroneously observed until the error is within the prescribed traverse-triangulation or by broken base measurement. The projected
limit of precision. length of the broken lines on the control line shall be adopted as the
TRIANGULATION CONTROL distance of the line.
Section 242 - When triangulation control is used for establishing points of Section 245 - The three angles of the triangle shall be measured as
control in the survey of cadastral projects, the general requirements shall follows:

38
 (a) For primary controls, by the repetition method as prescribed in azimuths to visible church spires, peaks and other similar objects.
Section 162 or by the direction method as prescribed in Section Section 252 - The azimuth of the line defined by each pair of location
164 of primary angles. monuments shall be determined as required in Sections 102 to 109 for the
(b) For secondary controls, by the repetition method as prescribed establishment of the base meridian of a survey project.
in Section 162 but the repetition shall be four times instead of six Section 253 - The geographic position of BLLM No. 1 shall be determined
or the direction method as prescribed in Section 164. by a direct connection with a second or third order geodetic control
(c) For tertiary controls, by the repetition method as prescribed by station.
Section 162 but the repetition shall be two times instead of six. Section 254 - If there is an established triangulation point within ten
Section 246 - The base lines for primary, secondary or tertiary traverse kilometers of these monuments, connection shall be made therewith by at
-triangulation shall be measured as in the case of primary, secondary or least secondary control accuracy. If by secondary traverse, a closed circuit
tertiary traverse lines, respectively. or loop shall be run; and if by triangulation, the triangle or triangles must
be well conditioned. Angles shall be measured by direction or by repetition
method.
LOCATION MONUMENTS SURVEYS
Section 255 - The distance between each pair of location monuments
Section 247- Location monuments shall be established as required in shall be determined as required in Sections 165 to 188, inclusive, for
Sections 39, 40, 123, 130, and 543 in the poblacion/center of each primary traverse lines.
municipality/city and in other places thereof at an interval of about six (6)
Section 256 - The other location monuments established in each
kilometers.
municipality shall be connected by at least secondary control starting from
Section 248 - These monuments shall be made of concrete with and closing to the BLLM No. 1 of the adjoining municipalities.
specifications prescribed in Section 272(c).
Section 257 - The BLLM No. 1 of the municipality shall be connected by
Section 249 - The distance between each pair of location monuments, secondary control with the BLLM No. 1 of the adjoining municipalities.
such as 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and so on, shall not be less than one hundred
Section 258 - The description of each location monument in the field
meters, and whenever possible, it shall preferably be about three hundred
notes shall contain the data required in Section 251 and the location of the
meters.
monuments with respect to streets and specifications as prescribed in
Section 250- The location monuments shall be established whenever Section 272(c).
possible on the corners of the plazas such that there will be no danger of
The condition of the recovered location monuments (BLLMs, PBMs, MBMs)
the line between the monuments being obstructed by buildings or other
in the adjoining projects shall be described in the Location Monument
permanent objects,
Recovery Report form and a copy submitted to the Land Management
Section 251 - Each monument shall be referenced by bearings and Bureau. (DAO 61, S-1993)
distances to at least three permanent objects such as corners of
Section 259 - The field notes of the secondary control lines from one
substantial and permanent buildings, nearby edible fruit trees, etc. and by

39
municipality to another shall be kept in one field book and all secondary Section 266 - If culverts or bridges are not available, road monuments of
stations shall be numbered consecutively from one (1). natural objects, such as fixed boulders or stone ledges, at intervals of
approximately three kilometers from each other and from BLLMs,
Section 260 - The secondary controls connecting location monuments
preferably at the intersection of the provincial roads or at the intersection
shall be run along public highways unless more direct routes are possible.
of streams or railroads shall be located, marked and indicated in the field
book as prescribed in the preceding section.
Section 261 - The most prominent points of churches, schools, chapels, Section 267- Names of towns, barangays and geographical features shall
railroad stations, Sugar mills or other large buildings along the line of be determined by diligent inquiry from the best informed people in the
control shall be located and their descriptions written for future reference. locality. In case of dispute in geographical names a complete report shall
Section 262- The points where the control lines cross provincial and be submitted to the Lands Management Bureau.
municipal boundaries shall be carefully determined. When monuments are Section 268 - A location monument description book shall be prepared
found, such monuments shall be accurately located and fully described in for each project.
the field book and on the Location Monument Recovery Report form.
Provincial and municipal authorities shall be requested to furnish all
CHAPTER V - MONUMENTS OF SURVEYS
available data on provincial and municipal boundaries. Barangay
boundaries shall also be located and surveyed. NATURE OF MONUMENTS
Section 263 - Information on the general character of the area on both
sides of the road such as heavy woods, brush, cogon, swamps, nipa, rice, Section 269 - The position of reference points and corners of boundary
hemp, tobacco, corn, sugar, coconuts, homelots etc. shall be entered in lines of provinces, cities, municipalities, barangays, estates and other
the field book opposite the secondary stations. Likewise, the general tracts of land shall be defined and marked on the ground by monuments
characteristics of the area beyond shall also be described. The width of the of permanent nature, except when such corners lie near physiographic or
road and the location of its center line with reference to the control station natural features. The first and last corners situated near natural
shall be stated. boundaries shall be monumented.
Section 264 - Railroad lines shall be traversed in the same manner as Section 270 - The following objects shall be considered as monuments of
public roads. Telegraphic posts at every kilometer along the line, bridges permanent nature to be used in defining and marking lot corners:
and culverts shall be located. a) Standard concrete monuments.
Section 265 - All stone or concrete culverts or bridges crossed by the b) Concrete posts which are parts of the fence when not less than ten
control line shall be marked. This mark shall consist of a hole seven centimeters in diameter, or metal pipes not less than two centimeters in
millimeters in diameter and three centimeters deep, with the letter B.L. outside diameter.
These structures shall be sketched, showing the location of the point, and
described in the field book. c) Living edible fruit trees not less than fifteen centimeters in diameter or
trees belonging to the first group with diameter from fifteen to fifty

40
centimeters, above the ground.
d) Points on masonry or concrete walls. d)For corners of tracts of land, subject of the Property Registration
Decree (PD 1529), at least fifteen centimeters in diameter by fifty
e) Immovable or fixed hard rocks or boulders with exposed surface of
centimeters in length, if cylindrical in form, and fifteen by fifteen by
more than one meter in diameter,
fifty (15 x 15 x 50) centimeters, if parallelepiped in form, set not
f) Peg, being of a composition that will resist destruction by fire, natural less than thirty-five (35) centimeters in the ground. The top shall
corrosion or decay with nominal dimensions of 50 millimeters square in be centered by a galvanized iron spike or by a conical hole not
cross-section for at least 100 millimeters from the top and not less than exceeding two (2) centimeters in diameter and not less than one
400 millimeters in length. (1) centimeter in depth to define the corner to which
Section 271 – The following objects shall not be used to define corners: measurements shall be made and marked by the letters "P.S."
(Private Surveys) for surveys undertaken by geodetic engineers in
a) Adobe and other soft stones.
private practice and "G.S." for surveys undertaken by government
b) Clumps of bamboos, banana or abaca stalks, papaya trees and geodetic engineers.
other similar forms of plant.
e) In the case of the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) Surveys, the
с) Living trees less than fifteen centimeters in diameter, except corners of the prominent turns of the boundaries shall be defined
when such trees are used to define corners along natural by concrete monuments 15 x 15 x 50 cm marked on top "ISF" and
boundaries. the corner number below, and set 40 cm in the ground. The
Section 272 - The standard concrete monuments to define the intermediate points of the boundary may be "x" marks on
permanent position of points of survey shall be as follows: immovable or fixed hard rocks or boulders with exposed surfaces of
a) For provincial, city and municipal boundaries, thirty (30) more than one (1) meter in diameter or trees belonging to the first
centimeters square by one (1) meter long (30 x 30 x 100 cm.) group.
centered by a galvanized iron spike and level on top, set sixty (60) To define the corners, the same markings shall be made in the case
centimeters in the ground leaving a projection of forty (40) of forest delimitation surveys except that the monument shall be
centimeters above the ground. marked on top with "FZ" and the corner number below it and
b) For barangay boundaries, twenty (20) centimeters square by centered by a galvanized iron spike or a conical hole not exceeding
one meter long (20 x 20 x 100 cm.) centered by a galvanized iron two (2) cm. in diameter and not less than one (1) cm in depth. The
spike and level on top, set sixty (60) centimeters in the ground boundary monuments of forests shall be set not less than five
leaving a projection of forty (40) centimeters above the ground. hundred (500) meters apart. (Department Administration Order
No. 72, series 1990, and P.D. 705).
c) For Bureau of Lands Location Monuments, forty (40) centimeters
square by one (1) meter long (40 x 40 x 100 cm.) centered by a f) The delimitation survey of the A & D areas, or classified forest
galvanized iron spike and level on top, set eighty (80) centimeters areas, national parks and other protected areas, the boundary shall
in the ground leaving a projection of twenty (20) centimeters be marked with parallelepiped concrete markers 15 x 15 x 50 cm

41
and set 35 cm in the ground leaving a projection of 15 cm above in the preceding paragraph.
the ground and centered by galvanized iron spike. The corner i) The corners of the prominent turns of the boundary or
number is engraved on the top. The corners maybe also "X" marks reservations or ancestral claims shall be defined by concrete
on big immovable boulders with an exposed surface of one (1) m. monuments 15 x 15 x 50 cm. set 35 centimeters in the ground,
in diameter or living trees especially along the natural features marked on top by appropriate symbol and the corner number
which define the boundary such as the creeks, rivers, streams, etc. below it. The first and last corners situated along natural features
provided that the first and the last corners situated along the (rivers, creek, arroyo) shall be marked with monuments.
natural boundaries shall be marked by concrete monuments. (DAO Intermediate corners along the natural features may be "X" mark
72 s-1990) etched on large immovable boulders with exposed area of not less
g) The corners of mining claims shall be marked with than one meter in diameter or on living trees belonging to the first
parallelepiped concrete monuments 20 x 20 x 50 cm set 40 cm in group with diameters of at least fifteen centimeters.
the ground for the principal corners and cylindrical concrete Section 273 - Acceptable living trees when used to define corners shall
monuments of 15 cm in diameter x 50 cm long set 40 cm in the be blazed at about twenty (20) centimeters above the ground and when
ground for the other corners. possible, by cutting the bark on the side where the boundary line passes.
The corresponding corner and survey numbers used in the The blaze shall be at least ten centimeters. A cross shall be chiseled upon
computation of mining claim shall be etched on top of the the blaze and at the point of intersection of the cross, a galvanized iron
monument. The corners of the mining claim may also be cement spike shall be driven to indicate the corner to which measurement shall be
patch on immovable boulders, centered with a hole, spike, or nail made.
and marked with the corresponding corner number and survey
number as indicated in the declaration of location. The latitude and Section 274- When concrete posts, masonry, concrete walls, immovable
longitude of the principal corner shall also be indicated on the sides rocks or boulders are used, the corner shall be defined by a galvanized
of the concrete monuments when it coincides with the full one (1) iron spike driven into the structure to which measurement shall be made.
minute and or 1/2 minute latitude and longitude, respectively. (73 If for any reason it is not feasible to drive a galvanized iron spike into a
MLSR) structure, the corner shall be defined by a cross (x) mark chiseled upon
such structure.
When the mining claim undergoing survey adjoins submerged
lands, witness corner monuments along the boundary leading the Section 275 - When metal pipes having an outside diameter greater than
shoreline shall be set on the ground to witness the boundary-point- two (2) centimeters are used, such pipes shall be filled with concrete and
corner on the claim at the low tide level of the sea or lake. the corner shall be defined either by a galvanized iron spike or by a
Concrete monuments, galvanized iron spike, fixed rocks, boulders conical hole not exceeding two centimeters in diameter and not less than
or wooden post shall be set to define the corners of the claim along one centimeter in depth, or by a cross (x) mark chiseled on the concrete
the shoreline at the low tide level. top.

h) Similarly, boundaries of the foreshore lands shall be marked as Section 276 - When a cross (x) is used to define a corner, such mark

42
shall be chiseled to a depth of at least five (5) millimeters. Each arm of Section 282 – Standard concrete monuments shall be made of the
the cross shall be, whenever possible, not less than five (5) centimeters in following mixture:
length and the point of intersection of the arms shall define the corner to Cement - 1 part
which measurement shall be made.
Sand - 2 parts
Section 277 – When a corner is inaccessible, its position shall be defined
by two witness monuments each of which shall be placed as near as Gravel or broken stone - 4 parts
possible to the inaccessible corner. The witness monuments and the or such other proportions as may be necessary to insure the best results,
inaccessible corner shall be considered as corners of the tract surveyed. depending upon the quality of the cement and sand used. Sand and gravel
Section 278 - All witness monuments shall be identical in nature to must be clean, free from dust or mud or other organic matter.
corner monuments as prescribed in Section 270. Section 283 – Concrete monuments shall be marked on top with
Section 279- Wooden posts of narra, ipil, molave, yacal or any other engraved letters such as G.S., P.S., I.S.F., F.Z., or such other letters
durable hardwood of not less than fifteen centimeters in diameter forming designated according to their use.
part of a house, a fence or other permanent structure may be used as
corner markers when such posts are situated at the corner of a tract to be
surveyed. This corner shall be defined by a galvanized iron spike set at the CORNERS WHICH SHALL BE MONUMENTED
center of a cross to be marked thereon. Section 284 - Whenever conditions permit, all corners, except those
Section 280 - The galvanized iron spike used to indicate corners shall otherwise provided, shall be defined by monuments of the nature specified
preferably be at least one centimeter in diameter and eight centimeters in in Section 272.
length driven flush or level to the surface of the monuments or objects Section 285 - Other corners except the first and the last, situated near
used. natural boundaries, such as the high tide line of seashores, lakes, etc., the
banks of rivers, ravines, streams etc., and ditches which are one meter or
more in width used for irrigation or other purposes, may be defined by
MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE MONUMENTS large stones, rocks, boulders and trees of specification below the
Section 281- The political boundary and location monuments shall be requirement of Section 270, if monuments of permanent nature are not
constructed at the place where such monuments can be established available. In the absence of these objects, wooden stakes as specified in
permanently. The names of the political subdivisions shall be inscribed at Section 279 may be used to define such corners.
the corresponding sides of the political boundary monuments. The Section 286 - The first and last corners situated near natural boundaries
monument shall be in the form of a frustum of a quadrangular pyramid as shall be monumented whenever possible; otherwise, witness monuments
per design of the Land Management Bureau. As much as possible, sub- for these corners shall be placed in accordance with the requirements of
surface marks shall be established to define its permanency for future
Sections 277 and 278.
surveys.
Section 287 - Acceptable living trees, fixed rocks or boulders, or

43
galvanized metal pipes may be used to define the corners when the tract intervals depending upon the degree of curvature of such walls so as to
undergoing survey is an island or is surrounded by natural boundaries and form chords not less than one meter in length.
it is not practical to use standard concrete monuments, Section 293 - In the case of housing subdivision projects, the block
Section 288- Boundary lines of parcels shall be marked with concrete corners shall be marked with permanent concrete monuments in
monuments at intervals not to exceed five hundred (500) meters in accordance with Section 272 (d) and surveyed in accordance with Section
length. In forest delimitation surveys pursuant to P.D. 705, boundaries 560 to 571.
between forests and alienable and disposable land shall be clearly marked Section 294 - In cases which are not provided for in this Manual,
and maintained on the ground with infrastructure road, or concrete geodetic engineers may use and place monuments in the manner which in
monuments or with acceptable visible markers to ensure protection of the their opinion shall be best. Such cases shall be fully stated in their field
forests. However, in other surveys when such boundary lines pass through notes. In public land subdivision surveys within areas planted to trees,
mountains or hills or rolling country the intervals between consecutive geodetic engineers shall use only concrete monuments or living edible fruit
monuments should be inter-visible. trees or trees belonging to the first group as corners.
The corners at prominent turns of the boundaries inside classified Section 295 -To insure uniformity in the description of corners, the
forestlands shall be defined by monuments of permanent nature described following outline is suggested:
in Section 272 and the other corners thereof may be defined by
monuments as specified in Section 270. a) Concrete monument 15 centimeters in diameter by 50 centimeters set
35 centimeters in the ground leaving a projection of fifteen(15)
Section 289 -Corners which are common to two or more adjoining centimeters above the ground marked P.S., G.S., I.S.F., F. Z., on top.
properties shall be defined by monuments of the nature specified in
Section 270. b) Standard PS Cylindrical concrete monument 15 x 50 centimeters set 40
centimeters in the ground, (marked P.S., G.S., I.S.F., or F.Z., on top.
Section 290 - When the boundary line follows the direction of irregular
rice land dikes, monuments shall be placed at the corners situated within c) Fixed rock or boulder with exposed surface of more than 1 meter
an average interval of not to exceed twenty-five meters measured directly diameter marked with a cross (x) centered with galvanized iron spike.
from monument to monument. The intermediate points may be marked by d) A ________ tree _________ centimeters in diameter with a galvanized
wooden post, stakes or any kind of stones, iron spike _______ centimeters above the ground.
Section 291 - In isolated surveys, corners of previous survey which were e) A _______ post ________ by _______ centimeters with a galvanized
not monumented at the time of survey and which are common to the iron spike _______ centimeters above the ground.
property undergoing survey shall be monumented. In relocating the
f) Galvanized iron spike in cross marked on _______ fence or wall.
position of the corner to be monumented, the data of the previous survey
shall be used. g) Stake or Peg.

Section 292 - Curvilinear walls of stones, concrete, etc. defining In general, the description of corners shall be as brief as possible, definite
boundaries of properties shall be marked by galvanized iron spikes set at and devoid of ambiguity.

44
 indicated as a separate parcel, but monuments shall be placed only upon
the right-of-way lines. If the public highway is unimproved and the District
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND RAILWAYS
Engineer or his authorized agent fails to establish the center line of the
Section 296 - The Department of Public Works and Highways shall be right-of-way, the geodetic engineer shall locate the boundary of the land
consulted on the widths and center lines of existing public highways or as pointed out by the survey applicant, stating the fact in the field notes
roads or those to be constructed. and Geodetic Engineer's Certificate.
Section 297 – The Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Barangay shall Section 303 - When the boundary adjoins private roads, the owner of
be consulted on the minimum widths of municipal and barangay roads. such roads shall be notified of the survey. Monuments shall be placed
Section 298 - The Local Government Planning and Development Office along the common boundary of the property undergoing survey and the
shall be consulted on the minimum widths of roadways within residential private road. The width of the road and the name of the owner shall be
subdivisions. indicated in the field notes, plans and certificate of survey.

Section 299- The railway company shall be consulted on the railroad Section 304 - When the property undergoing survey adjoins a railroad
right-of-way. right-of-way, the railroad company shall be notified and requested to show
the extent of the right-of-way. Monuments shall be established at the
Section 300- Right-of-way of highways or railways shall be monumented
points of intersection between the right-of-way lines and the boundaries of
as follows:
the property and along the tangent or curve of the right-of-way, as
a) The points of curvature (P.C.) and points of tangency (P.T.) shall be provided by Section 300.
marked with monuments provided in Section 272.
b) The points along the curve need not be monumented unless expressly
CHAPTER VI - PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES
desired by the owners or claimants. The position of points along the curve
shall be determined by computation using the standard metric curve of
twenty meter chord. Section 305 - For the purpose of this Manual, the following are defined:

Section 301 - Owners or claimants of land adjoining a public highway or a) An arroyo shall be any narrow natural bed or channel through which the
street shall be advised of the minimum right-of-way measured from lot water flows continuously or intermittently throughout the year.
line to lot line for that particular street or highway as provided in Sections b) An estero shall be any bed or channel through which stagnant, dirty or
296 to 298. salt water flows under the influence of the tides.
Legitimate efforts shall be exerted to inform survey applicants of the c) A creek is a stream of water longer than a brook that empties into the
importance of accepting the right-of-way lines as the boundary of their river.
properties.
d) A river shall be any wide natural bed or channel through which water
Section 302 - When the claimant insists upon his right to a portion of the flows continuously or intermittently throughout the year.
proposed right-of-way, the area claimed by him shall be surveyed and
e) A lake shall be a considerable inland body of standing water, also an

45
expanded part of a river. twenty meters wide facing lakes are areas needed for forest purposes and
are inalienable; and that even if titled, steps shall be taken, if public
f) A pond is a body of water naturally or artificially confined and usually
interest so requires, to have said title cancelled or amended.
smaller than a lake.
Section 310 - Conformably, the extent of surveys near rivers and
g) A pool is a small body of standing or stagnant water.
streams shall be as follows:
h) A seacoast is a shore or border of the land adjacent to the sea or
a) For lands classified in accordance with R.A. 1273, the boundary lines of
ocean.
surveys shall extend to a line forty (40) meters from the bank on each
ARROYOS, ESTEROS AND RIVERS side of rivers or streams with channels of at least five (5) meters wide.
Section 306 - The classification of streams as arroyos, esteros, creek or b) For lands classified pursuant to P. D. 705, the boundary line of survey
rivers is at times difficult as such streams gradually merge into one or the shall extend to a line twenty (20) meters from the edge of normal high
other. In cases of doubt, the local designation or name of the stream shall waterline of rivers and streams with channels of not less than five (5)
determine its classification and shall be clearly indicated in the field notes meters wide; twenty (20) meters from the terrestrial limit of a lake being
and on the plan of the survey. the line reached by its highest ordinary depth,
Section 307 - The natural bed or channel of arroyos, esteros, creeks or These strips of land of forty (40) and twenty (20) meters along the edge
rivers shall be the ground within the banks covered by water during the of the high waterline of river and streams with channels of at least five (5)
highest floods which do not cause inundation. meters wide are retained as permanent forest for river and stream bank
Section 308 - Navigable esteros or rivers shall be those which contain protection. They shall be excluded from the survey, otherwise said survey
sufficient water to allow rafts, boats, cascos, etc., to float thereon and shall not be accepted.
engage in transportation or other activities. с) Side shots to points on the bank of stream to show that these strips of
Section 309 -RA 1273 Amending Section 90 of Act 141 which took effect land are excluded from the survey shall be indicated in the field notes and
in June 14, 1955 provides that a strip of forty (40) meters wide starting computation sheets and plotted on the plan. These points shall be
from the banks on each side of any river or stream shall be demarcated connected in red dotted lines to the traverse stations from which they
and preserved as permanent timberland; that even after patent or lease were observed,
contract has been issued no clearing can be done thereon or the same d) A strip of fifteen (15) meters in width on each side of the centerlines of
cannot be utilized for farming purposes but shall be planted to trees of trails and roads which are reserved for right-of-way and timber outlet
economic value. should be set on the ground, and indicated in the field notes and on the
Section 16(7) and 16(8) of PD 705 dated 19 May 1975 provides that plan.
twenty (20) meters strips of land along edge of the normal high waterline e) The corresponding land classification maps shall be consulted by the
of rivers and streams with channels of at least five meters wide; and strips Geodetic Engineer for information on the width of bank protection to be
of mangrove or swamplands at least twenty- meters wide along shorelines excluded from the survey, the strip preserved for road right-of-way and
facing oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water; and strips of land at least timber outlet.

46
Section 311 –In addition to the twenty or forty meters stream bank Section 316 - The ownership or name of claimant of the natural bed or
protection, streams having natural beds or channels five (5) meters or basin of lakes, ponds or pools beyond the boundary lines shall be indicated
more in width shall be excluded from the boundaries of the property in the survey.
undergoing survey. Likewise, streams less than five (5) meters in width Section 317 -The natural bed or basin of lakes, ponds or pools jš the
through which water flows continuously shall be excluded from the survey. ground covered by the water when at their greatest ordinary depth.
Section 312 - Strips of lands at least twenty (20) meters wide, along Section 318 - Private claims located along the shores of Laguna de Bay
shorelines facing oceans, lakes, and other bodies of waters which are or other similar lakes, the waters of which advance or recede with changes
needed for forest purposes, shall likewise be excluded from the survey in of the season, shall be surveyed up to the boundary line twenty (20)
accordance with Section 16 of P.D. 705 (Forestry Reform Code). meters from the high water mark at the time of greatest depth of water.
Section 313 - The field notes and plans of the tract undergoing survey The shore line at the time of survey and the high-water mark at the time
which adjoins or near irrigation ditches, creeks, arroyos, esteros, rivers, of the greatest depth of water shall be located and indicated in the field
etc. shall indicate the following: notes and on the plan of the survey.
a) The widths of the body of water. Section 319 - The municipal authorities and the LLDA in the case of
Laguna de Bay shall be requested to indicate the shore line of adjoining
b) Whether it is navigable or not.
shallow lakes and marshes used mainly as municipal fishponds.
c) Whether right or left bank, with the observer facing downstream.
d) The direction of the flow of water by an arrow.
SEACOAST
e) The distance in meters from the bank of the river or creek to the lot
Section 320 - The boundary line of lands bordering the sea or its arms
line.
shall be the shoreline which is the line reached by the highest equinoctial
Section 314- Private claims, temporary or permanent structure or other tide.
works which prevent the free use of the easement mentioned in Section
Section 321 - When the tide line is not be distinguishable, the boundary
322 shall be definitely located on the ground and indicated in the field
line shall extend to the limit reached by the sea water during ordinary
notes and on the survey plans.
tempest or storms.
Section 322 - Private claims, permanent structures or other artificial
LAKES, PONDS, AND POOLS works which extend seaward beyond the shore line or which will interfere
Section 315 - The boundaries of properties bordering lakes, ponds or with the easement or salvage or coast police zone shall be accurately
pools, whether navigable or non-navigable, shall be located and surveyed. located and indicated in the field notes and plans of the survey.
The bodies of water which are entirely included in the property or estates EASEMENTS, SALVAGE ZONES AND BANK PROTECTION
shall be approximately sketched and the area and name shall be indicated
Section 323 - For the purpose of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing
on the plan of the survey.
and salvage, the banks of esteros, arroyos, creeks and rivers throughout

47
their entire lengths, situated in urban areas, agricultural areas, and a) Logarithms
forested areas shall be subject to the three meter, twenty-meter, and b) Natural functions and mechanical calculators
forty-meter easement of public use, respectively. The shorelines of seas
and lakes, throughout their entire lengths are subject to twenty-meter c) Scientific calculators
easement pursuant to P.D. 705. d) Programmable calculators
Section 324- Lands bordering the seas, gulfs, bays, or ports are subject e) Microcomputers
to easements of salvage zone of twenty meters measured landward from
Computations done with (a), (b), (c), (d) shall be duplicated in accordance
the interior limit of the shoreline and an easement of coast police of six
with Section 333. When calculators are used, the brand and model shall
meters wide from the shoreline within the salvage zone. The easement of
be entered in the computation form.
coast police is the obligation to leave a right of way six meters wide within
the salvage zone. Section 328 - When the computations are to be done on a micro-
computer, the LMB prescribed format or a pre-approved format design
Section 325 - In surveying lands which border esteros, rivers, navigable
submitted by the geodetic engineer shall be used. Computations shall be
lakes, the sea or its arms, the geodetic engineer shall locate on the
on 2- ply, 70 gsm or substance 20 plain bond computer tabulating stock
ground and indicate in the field notes and plans of the survey the
form of the prescribed size. The name, brand and model of the
easements for public use as defined in the preceding Sections 323 and
microcomputer shall be indicated on the form. Preferably, the program on
324 except when they are within the strip of forty meters for bank
a diskette shall be submitted with the survey returns.
protection which is excluded from the survey as provided for in Sections
309 to 312. Section 329 - Hard pencils of good quality of the "2-H" degree of
hardness shall be used in all computations so that the figures will
In subdividing decreed or titled properties, these easement and river bank
withstand considerable handling without being blurred or erased.
protections shall be surveyed as separate lot and is inalienable.
Section 330 - The blanks on the headings of computation forms for the
class of survey, name and address of applicant, location of land (barangay,
CHAPTER VII - SURVEY COMPUTATIONS municipality, city, and province), reference page to field notes, station
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS occupied, etc. shall be properly filled in.

Section 326 - All computations from the field data of astronomical Section 331 - All figures shall be written in a clear and legible
observations, survey controls, lot surveys, transformation etc. shall be handwriting and computation sheets shall be kept clean, Illegible figures
made on forms prescribed by the Lands Management Bureau using and crumpled or soiled computation sheets shall not be accepted.
standard mathematical formulas in surveying books and within the limits Section 332 - The following rule of approximation shall be used in all
of accuracy prescribed in this Manual or as may be issued hereafter. cases of logarithms, distances or numbers required in computation,
Section 327– All survey computations shall be done on LMB prescribed whether the final number is in the unit's, tenth's, hundredth's,
forms for: thousandth's or any other decimal place. Rounding off values are as
follows:

48
 a) Digit to be rounded off is less than 5. When the digit to be L.M.B. Forms.
rounded off is less than 5, leave the preceding digit unchanged. Section 337- In the case of traverse controls, if the algebraic sum of the
Thus 2.1234 becomes 2.123 when rounded to the nearest north and south latitudes and/or the east and west departures is not zero
thousandth, 2.12 to the nearest hundredth, and 2.1 to the nearest and if the linear error of closure is within the allowable limit as prescribed
tenth. for controls computations the traverse shall be balanced as follows:
b) Digit to be rounded off is equal to 5. When the digit to be (a) For latitudes:
dropped is 5, the preceding digit is unaltered, if it is even and
increased by 1 if it is odd. Thus 20,485 becomes 20.48 and 20.475 The correction to be applied to the latitude is to the latitude of the line as
becomes 20.48. the total error in latitudes (or algebraic sum of N and S latitudes) is to the
absolute sum of all the latitudes,
c) Digit to be rounded off is greater than 5. When the digit to be
dropped is greater than 5, add 1 to the preceding digit. Thus, (b) For departures:
35.6874 becomes 35.69. Also, 35.6754 becomes 35.68. The correction to be applied to the departure is to the departure of the
line as the total error in departures (or algebraic sum of E and W
departures) is to the absolute sum of all the departures,
Section 333 - All computations shall be duplicated, except when provided
otherwise, the original and duplicate computations shall be made Each correction shall be applied to increase or decrease the latitude or
independently by different computers. The final checking of the original departure so as to finally eliminate the errors after balancing.
and duplicate computations shall be made by comparing them. When the Section 338 - Other methods of adjustments may be used such as the
same person has to perform the computations, he shall use different Transit rule, compass rule, the Crandall Method, or least squares method.
formulas or methods to check the results obtained. In certain cases, the traverse may be balanced arbitrarily in accordance
Section 334 - A pencil check shall be placed at the foot of each column to with the recommendation of the geodetic engineer.
indicate that the data in that column have been checked by comparison of Section 339 - The errors in latitudes and departures, the perimeter,
the original and duplicate computations. linear and relative errors of closure shall be computed and indicated at the
Section 335- The persons who perform the various computations and end of each traverse computations and on the spaces provided therefor.
checking shall sign their full names and dates of computation or checking Section 340 - In isolated land surveys, the traverse shall be computed
in the respective blanks provided for in the computation forms. and closed and the relative error of closure shall be determined before
leaving the place of survey.

LOT DATA COMPUTATIONS

SURVEY CONTROLS COMPUTATIONS
Section 341 - Lot data computations shall be made on the prescribed
Section 336 - All controls computations shall be made on authorized DENR format. (See Annex B)

49
Section 342 - The computation for astronomical azimuth, traverse, lot with Sections 189 to 205.
data and area shall be made in the L.M.B. forms designed for (a) Section 346 – The computation sheets shall be kept properly arranged to
logarithmic method, (b) natural functions and mechanical calculators, (c) facilitate reference whenever needed and shall show the steps taken in the
scientific calculators, (d) programmable pocket calculators, and (e) solution of the problem. In a control consisting of traverse and
microcomputers. triangulation caution should be taken to ensure that the triangulation
Section 343 - At least one direct tie line to corner one of each lot from a control is adjusted independently of the traverse.
reference location monument shall be computed at the beginning of the Section 347 - The computations for geodetic positions, least square
computations. In cadastral or public land subdivision surveys, all tie lines adjustment of triangulation control and all other similar computations shall
shall be computed from the nearest Location Monument. be carefully verified. In the form for intersection computation, the formula
(either the sine or tangent formula) that will give the best result shall be
used,
COMPUTATIONS OF TRIANGULATIONS, INTERSECTION AND
OTHERS Section 348 - When the scheme of quadrilaterals is adopted to control a
project, the quadrilateral adjustment outlined in authorized LMB forms
Section 344 - All traverse triangulations and intersections shall be
shall be used. All computations shall be performed on this form to insure
sketched and computed on authorized L.M.B. forms.
uniformity of procedures and to facilitate the verification.

Section 345 - In triangulation control computation the following

CHAPTER VIII - MAPS AND PLANS OF SURVEYS
procedure shall be followed:
STANDARD BASE MAPS
a) Prepare the abstracts of directions from the field notes,
Section 349 - Maps and plans of all land surveys in the Philippines shall
b) Prepare the lists of directions from the abstract of directions.
be plotted on appropriate standard base maps projected upon spheroidal
c) Determine the observed angles from the lists of directions and transfer quadrangles of Clarke's spheroid of 1866.
the data to the triangle computation form for the computations of the
Section 350 - The standard base maps of the Philippines shall be
sides of the triangles using the plane angles.
classified into cadastral maps, barangay boundary and index maps,
d) Adjust the triangle closure error either by the method of simple triangle municipal boundary and index maps, municipal, provincial, and regional
adjustment or quadrilateral adjustment as required. base maps.
e) Derive the grid or true azimuths as the case may be for all the lines of
the triangulation control.
CADASTRAL MAPS
f) Transfer the data of triangle sides and the azimuths derived in (e) on
Section 351- The cadastral maps shall comprise areas within spheroidal
the control/traverse computation sheets.
quadrangle of one minute of arc in latitude and one minute of arc in
g) Compute, adjust and coordinate the triangulation control in accordance

50
longitude and shall be drawn in the Philippine Plane Coordinates System NW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 1
(PPCS)-PRS 92 to the standard scale of 1:4000 on drafting material of NE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 2
stable base of uniform size of approximately 54 x 54 centimeters.
Sectional cadastral maps shall be drawn on larger scales on the same SE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 3
material and of the same size as the standard cadastral maps to show SW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 4
tracts of land which otherwise will appear too small on the standard scale
of 1:4000.
Sectional cadastral maps in the scale of 1:1000 may be prepared to
The sectional cadastral maps shall be in the scale of 1:2,000; 1:1,000;
indicate NW, NE, SE and SW quadrant sections of the sectional cadastral
1:500; 1:250 and shall comprise areas within spheroidal quadrangles of
maps of scale 1:2000 and shall be numbered, respectively, as follows:
thirty seconds, fifteen seconds, seven and one half seconds or three and
three-fourths seconds of arc, respectively. NW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54'E sec. 1-A
NE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54'E sec. 1-B
SYSTEM OF NUMBERING OF CADASTRAL MAPS SE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54'E sec. 1-C
Section 352 - The extreme west and east meridians and the extreme SW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54'E sec. 1-D
south and north parallels of cadastral map in the scale of 1:4000 shall be
full minute meridians and parallels, respectively.
Sectional cadastral maps in the scale 1:500 may be prepared to indicate
NW, NE, SE and SW quadrant sections of the sectional cadastral map of
Section 353 - The latitude and longitude of the point of intersection of scale 1:1000 and shall be numbered, respectively, as follows:
the extreme west meridian and extreme south parallel of each spheroidal
quadrangle shall be used to designate the corresponding map number of
the quadrangle. If the latitude and longitude of the point of intersection of NW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 1-A-NW
the extreme west meridian and extreme south parallel of the map are 14 NE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 1-A-NE
deg. 49 min. N and 120 deg. 54 min. E, respectively, the map shall be
SE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 1-A-SE
numbered as follows:
SW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec. 1-A-SW

CM 14°49'N - 120°54' E

Sectional cadastral maps in the scale of 1:250 may be prepared to

Sectional cadastral maps in the scale of 1:2000 may be prepared to
indicate the NW, NE, SE and SW sections of the sectional cadastral map of
indicate the NW, NE, SE and SW section of the standard cadastral maps
scale 1:500 and shall be numbered, respectively, as follows:
and shall be numbered, respectively as follows:

51
 NW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec.1-A-NW-1 Section 356 - Barangay Boundary and Index Maps (BBIM) and Municipal
Boundary and Index Maps (MBIM) shall be prepared and drawn in the grid
NE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec.1-A-NW-2
system on drafting material of stable base and of uniform size of 54 x 54
SE Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec.1-A-NW-3 centimeters, using a scale based on the maximum differences in northings
SW Quadrant CM 14°49' N - 120°54' E sec.1-A-NW-4 or in eastings, whichever is bigger, tabulated as follows:

Other sectional cadastral maps on larger scale may be likewise prepared. Scale to be Used
The general rule in numbering sectional cadastral map is as follows: 0 to 2400 1: 8000
2400 to 3600 1:12000
The first sectional cadastral map number shall be assigned to the 3600 to 4800 1:16000
top-left (NW) quadrant; the second, to the top-right (NE) 4800 to 6000 1:20000
quadrant; the third, to the bottom-right (SE) quadrant and the
6000 to 9000 1:30000
last, to the bottom-left (SW) quadrant.
9000 to 12000 1:40000

Section 354- Contiguous cadastral maps (CCM), consisting of four or 12000 to 18000 1:60000
sixteen sheets, shall be drawn on a single sheet of the same material and 18000 to 24000 1:80000
size as the standard cadastral map in the scale of 1:8,000 or 1:16,000, 24000 to 30000 1:100000
respectively, to show parcels which would be too big on the standard scale
30000 to 36000 1:120000
of 1:4,000. The cadastral map number of the extreme southwestern
cadastral map shall be used to designate the contiguous cadastral map 36000 to 45000 1:150000
number. If the extreme southwestern cadastral map number is CM14°24' 45000 to 60000 1:200000
N-120°36'E, the contiguous cadastral map number is CCM14°24'N - 60000 to 75000 1:250000
120°36'E, scale 1:8,000 or CCM14°24'N - 120°36'E, scale 1:16,000.
75000 to 90000 1: 300000
Section 355 - The map numbers of adjacent cadastral maps, whether
standard, sectional or contiguous, shall be indicated on the left side of the
quadrangle below the lower marginal line of each cadastral map.
MUNICIPAL BASE MAPS

BARANGAY BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS AND MUNICIPAL Section 357 – Municipal base maps shall be prepared and kept up-to-
BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS date for each city, municipality or municipal districts. They shall comprise
areas within spheroidal quadrangle of 15 minutes of arc in latitude and 10

52
minutes of arc in longitude. This shall be drawn in the Philippine Plane 104 x 104 centimeters.
Coordinate System/PRS 92 to a standard scale of 1:60,000 on drafting Section 362 - All relevant information derived from approved survey
materials of stable base and of uniform size of approximately 54 x 54 projects shall be plotted in the Regional base map/s of each region.
centimeters. Boundaries of provinces and of the region as well as other relevant
information that may be available from other sources shall also be plotted
thereon.
Section 358 - All information derived from approved surveys shall be
plotted on the municipal base map/s of each municipality, Boundaries of
Barangays and other municipalities/municipal district and cities as well as PROJECTION MAPS
other relevant information that may be available from other sources shall
be plotted thereon. Section 363 - Provisional cadastral maps, also known as projection
maps, shall comprise areas within spheroidal quadrangles of one minute of
arc in latitude and one minute of arc in longitude and shall be prepared in
PROVINCIAL BASE MAPS a scale of 1:4000 by using the length of minutes and seconds of arc of
parallel and meridian passing through the BLLM No. 1 of the municipality
Section 359 - Provincial Base Map’s shall be prepared and kept up-to-
or locality which is established as the point of reference for all surveys
date for each province. They shall comprise areas within spheroidal
therein.
quadrangles of one degree and thirty minutes of arc in latitude and one
degree of arc in longitude. This shall be drawn in the Philippine Plane Section 364 - The extreme west and east meridians and the extreme
Coordinate System/PRS 92 to a standard scale of 1:400,000 on drafting south and north parallels of each standard projection map shall be full
materials of stable base and of uniform size of approximately 54 x 54 minute of arc.
centimeters. Section 365 - The latitude and longitude of the point of intersection of
Section 360 - All information derived from approved survey projects shall the extreme west meridian and the extreme south parallel of each
be plotted in the provincial base map/s of each province. Boundaries of spheroidal quadrangle shall be used to designate the corresponding
municipalities and of the province as well as other relevant information number of the projection map. If the latitude is 13°51'N and the longitude
that may be available from other sources shall also be plotted thereon. is 120°51'E corresponding to the said point of intersection, the projection
map shall be numbered as follows:
PM 13°51'N - 120°51'E
REGIONAL BASE MAPS
Section 361- Regional Base Map's shall be prepared and kept up-to-date
for each region. They shall comprise areas within spheroidal quadrangles Section 366- All isolated land surveys shall be plotted in pencil on the
of six degrees in latitude and four degrees in longitude. This shall be projection maps prior to its approval by the Regional Technical Director of
drawn in the Traverse Mercator projection to a standard scale of 1:800, Land. In the case of cadastrally surveyed municipalities, the cadastral
000 on drafting material of stable base and of uniform size approximately maps shall be used as the projection maps.

53
Section 367- When a municipality is surveyed as a cadastral project, its Phil. Mineral 60x75 1:25000 -do-
projection maps shall be used as reference in the preparation of the cm.
Rights Master
cadastral maps.
Maps
Section 368 - For map control purposes, the map assignments per
agency and the scales and sizes at which the maps are to be produced are c. Forestry Integrated 54x54 1:4000 -do-
as listed: (DAO 72 series of 1990) Social cm.
Service except standard
Forestry size
Maps
Agency Maps/Plans Maps Size Scale Remarks
Forest 54x54 1:1000 -do-
a. Lands Cadastral 54x54 1:4000 Presently being License Maps cm. and its
Services Maps cm. adopted derivatives
1:2000 Sectoral map d. NAMRIA Land Variable 1:25000 Presently being
being adopted adopted
Classification
1:1000 -do- (previously on
1:500 -do- scale 1:20000)

1:250 -do- e. Parks & 1. National Variable 1:50000 Presently adopted

Wildlife
Barangay 54x54 1:4000 being adopted Park
Service
Municipal cm. 2.Marine Park -do- -do- -do-
and its
Index Maps derivatives Map
3.Marine -do- -do- -do-
(BBIM,
Reserve Map
MBIM)
4.Game -do- -do- -do-
Isolated 42x54 1:100 and For titling
Refuge and
Survey cm. its Bird
Plan Sanctuary
derivatives
Map
b. Mines Geologic Map 75x55 1:50000 Presently being
5. Municipal/ 21x33 1:500 -do-
cm.
Service adopted Boundary cm.
Mineral Land 54x54 1:25000 -do- Tree Park
cm.
Survey Map

54
 longitude line from the bottom border line towards the top; while
the geographic longitude shall be indicated opposite the easting on
MAPS AND PLANS FOR REGISTRATION PROCEEDINGS
the other side of longitude line.

Section 369 - The cadastral maps on which the results of cadastral

surveys are drawn shall be reproduced for cadastral registration purposes. Section 373 - The scale to be used in plotting surveys shall depend on
the difference in the northings of the extreme north and south corners or
Section 370 - All plans of isolated surveys which shall be used for
in the eastings of the extreme east and west corners of the lots,
administrative or judicial registration purposes shall be drawn on DENR-
whichever is bigger, as follows:
LMB prescribed format. If, however, the plans were prepared using a
computerized method, the Geodetic Engineer must secure authority from Scale to be Maximum Difference in Coordinates
LMB. Used
1 100 0 to 30 meters
COORDINATE LINES AND SCALES FOR ISOLATED SURVEYS 1 200 30 to 60 meters
1 300 60 to 90 meters
Section 371 - Vertical and horizontal center lines of plane coordinates 1 400 90 to 120 meters
divisible by five shall be accurately drawn on the original plan and inked in 1 500 120 to 150 meters
red.
1 600 150 to 180 meters
Section 372 - The latitude and longitude lines of corner 1 of a lot or any
1 800 180 to 240 meters
corner 1 of a group of adjoining lots shall be drawn in fine black ink on the
original survey plan in the following manner: 1 1000 240 to 300 meters
1 2000 300 to 600 meters
1 3000 600 to 900 meters
(a) The latitude line shall be drawn horizontally from left to the right
marginal lines through corner one. The corresponding northings 1 4000 900 to 1200 meters
based on BLLM No. 1 shall be written above and along the latitude 1 5000 1200 to 1500 meters
line from the left hand border line of the plan towards the right; 1 6000 1500 to 1800 meters
while the geographic latitude shall be indicated below the northing.
1 8000 1800 to 2400 meters
1 10000 2400 to 3000 meters
(b) The longitude line shall be drawn vertically from the top to the
bottom marginal lines through corner 1. The easting based on
BLLM No. 1 shall be written on the left side of and along the The lot shall be centered and plotted on the plan so that its extreme

55
corners shall not be less than four centimeters from each marginal line of adjoining properties. Permanent walls along boundaries shall be drawn
when using any of the scale provided above. by conventional symbols.
Section 374- When the maximum coordinate difference exceeds three b) The line from the lot corner to the control stations from which side
thousand meters, the plan shall be drawn on scales which are exact shots were taken, by dotted red ink lines.
multiples of 1:4,000, such as 1:12,000, 1:16,000, etc. If any of these c) The relative position of adjoining surveyed properties, indicating by
scales would make the length of the property lines generally less than dotted lines the boundaries between them and the names of all adjoining
one-half centimeter, the survey shall be plotted on more than one sheet owners and all important improvements, roads, and streams, etc.,
using an appropriate scale. including the width, in black ink.
d) The corners indicated by small circles two millimeters in diameter
In plotting one whole big parcel on more than one sheet, the parcel shall drawn in black ink and their respective descriptions noted.
be divided into convenient portions, each to be centered and plotted on
the sheet in accordance with Section 373 noting thereon the numbers of e) The boundary lines with corresponding bearings and distances in black
the adjoining sheets. ink.

Section 375 - When a parcel is divided into many small lots, which, if f) Tie line of corner 1 from reference control point in thin black line with
plotted using any one of the largest possible scales mentioned in Section bearing and distance.
373 would result in diminutive geometrical figures, the subdivision plan g) Horizontal (latitude) and vertical (longitude) lines passing through
shall be prepared on two or more sheets on a uniform scale with each of corner 1 in thin black line and the geographic and cartesian (grid)
its portions centered on the sheet in accordance with Section 374. The coordinates in PPCS-TM/PRS 92 indicated in black ink.
numbers of the sheets on which the other portions of the subdivisions are Bearings and distances of the survey shall be tabulated on the plan when
plotted, shall be properly indicated on the plan. these are too numerous to be drawn or shown clearly along or near the
Section 376 - One plan for each parcel, tract or lot in isolated land boundary lines. When there are more than fifty lots on the plans, lot
surveys shall be prepared to a scale in accordance with Section 373. descriptions thereof shall be prepared on LMB authorized forms.

Section 377 - Long narrow tracts such as highways, railways, canals, etc. In the case of subdivision or consolidation subdivision surveys, the
may be plotted by dividing the tract into sections and plotting the sections boundary data of the lot being subdivided, or of the lots being
on two or more plans. consolidated - subdivided shall be tabulated in black ink in a boxed portion
at the upper-left corner.
For uniformity in the preparation of isolated survey plans, only
DETAILS TO BE SHOWN ON PLANS OF ISOLATED LAND SURVEYS information that cannot be inscribed on the plan shall be indicated on the
Section 378 - The plans shall be clearly and neatly drawn in drawing ink space provided for "Notes" at the bottom left corner. These are:
and shall show the following: 1. Description of corners as:
a) The boundaries of the property in full black ink lines heavier than those a) All corners marked "P.S." are cylindrical concrete monuments 15

56
 x 50 centimeters. scheme.
b) All corners not otherwise described are stakes (or pegs, or Section 379 - In all lots of isolated land surveys with areas of one
hectare or more, the approximate boundary of the area under cultivation
"X" on boulders, or concrete nail on wall or tree).
and the nature of its vegetation such as rice, pastures, woods, etc. with a
2. Adverse claims as: brief description of the topographic features such as plain, rolling, hilly or
a) Lot 2 is claimed by Edgar Barraca mountainous shall be indicated in light black dotted lines.

b) Lot 3 is a portion of Psu-10001 as surveyed for Ivy Reyes. For lots less than one hectare in area, a general classification, such as,
"residential lot", "home lot", "rice land", "sugar cane land", "commercial
3. Relation with any cadastral or public land subdivision survey project or
lot" shall be indicated on said plans. For a group of lots shown on one plan
reservation (if survey is near a known reservation), as:
in diminutive geometrical figures, a notation on the plan regarding the
a) This survey is outside Cad 69, Pagsanjan Cadastre. topographic features and/or general classification for each lot is sufficient
b) This is outside the non-Christian reservation. in both cases,

c) This is outside Fort Bonifacio reservation. Irrespective of the area, permanent structures such as buildings with
concrete foundation, stone walls, etc., shall be indicated by dotted black
4. If lot is a portion of undecreed cadastral lot, the cadastral lot number
lines on the plans and maps.
pertaining to said portion, as:
Lot 7 = Lot 5000, Cad-69
5. Classification of lot as: Section 380 - Plans of isolated land surveys shall be titled thus:

a) For survey inside classified/unclassified forest: ORIGINAL SURVEY __________ Surveyed: ________ Approved: _______
Cad/Pls/Gss _________________________________________________
This survey is within classified/unclassified forest and therefore shall not
Lot No. ___________________ Patent No. ________ Date: __________
be the basis for registration or titling purposes.
Decree No. ________________ Date: ____________ LRC Rec. No. ____
b) For original survey: OCT No. __________________ Dated ____________ Issued to _______
This survey is inside the alienable and disposable area, Block TCT No. __________________ Dated ____________ Issued to _______
1, Project No. 25, Land Classification Map No. 329 for the Province of
Laguna.
PLAN OF LAND
The Survey was approved based on the investigation report submitted by AS SURVEYED FOR
Deputy Public Land Investigator (name) dated ______.
(Name of Claimant)
c.) For complex subdivision SITUATED IN THE
This subdivision survey is in conformity with the approved subdivision RURBAN CODE __________________

57
BARANGAY OF __________________
MUN/CITY OF __________________
PROVINCE OF __________________
ISLAND OF __________________
Containing an area of ______________ Sq.M.
PPCS-TM/PRS 92 ZONE NO:
BEARINGS :
SCALE:
(GRAPHICAL SCALE)
I hereby certify that this is a correct plan of the survey made by me
personally, or under my direct supervision in conformity with the Republic of the Philippines
provisions of applicable laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Lands Management
rules and regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural Services
Resources.
Regional Office ___
I further certify that this plan accurately indicates the boundaries of _____________________
the property as indicated to me on the ground by the survey claimant or
(Location of Office)
his authorized representative and that I assume full responsibility for the
technical correctness of the survey and the accuracy of monument setting.
Date of Survey: The survey plotted herein is found to be technically correct, as per
submitted survey returns of the Geodetic Engineer and therefore
Geodetic Engineer recommended for approval.
Reg. Cert. No. ____ Date _____
Lic. No. _________ Date _____ CHIEF, REGIONAL SURVEYS DIVISION

APPROVED: ______________________

(This approved plan, however, shall not be construed as title to the

land)
REGIONAL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

58
 FOR LANDS respectively.
____________________ Section 382 - In general, the lot numbers, corner numbers, corner
(Date Submitted) descriptions, notes, titles, etc. shall be drawn parallel to the horizontal
axis of the plan.

DATE RETURNED REASON RECEIVED BY: Section 383 - Geodetic Engineers and Junior Geodetic Engineers shall
submit their original plans properly prepared, the masthead filled up,
signed and sealed.
TRACING OF PLANS

Printed Name and Signature Date Section 384 - A copy on reproducible stable material of the original
approved plan shall be prepared by the geodetic engineer concerned for
approval of the Regional Technical Director for Lands. In lieu thereof,
Position verified by: __________________________________________ copy/copies of the approved plans as reproduced by any photochemical
Plotted on PM _________ N ____________E _________by ___________ processes, such as cloth reproducible, micro-film enlargements,
polyethylene diazo film white prints, blue prints, etc. may be prepared at
Field Notes checked by: ______________________________________
the request of the geodetic engineer but the same shall be duly
Computation checked by: _____________________________________ authenticated by the Regional Technical Director for Lands.
Astronomical/Traverse/Lot Data ________________________________
Plotted/Inked by: ____________________________________________ SURVEY SYMBOLS
Traced by: _________________________________________________ Section 385 - The survey symbols to designate various kinds of surveys
Checked & verified by: ________________________________________ shall be those listed in Appendix I.
Section 386 - The survey symbols used for public land surveys provided
for in the preceding section shall also be used for public land surveys
The lettering to be used on all plans shall be simple, uniform, mechanical
made by the geodetic engineers in private practice. In such cases, the
and not ornamental lettering. (322 as amended by LAO 4-14)
letter D shall be suffixed to the corresponding survey symbols for the
Section 381 - When the meridian of the survey coincides with the vertical purpose of identification as follows:
axis of the plan, all bearings and distances shall be drawn along the
Example: Homestead Application No. (XI-1)
boundary lines and parallel thereto. If the line runs S. W. or N. E., the data
shall be written to the north-east; if N. W. or S. E., the data shall be a) If executed by a geodetic engineer in the Bureau of Lands, the survey
written to the south-east; and if due north and due south or due east and number and symbol will be H-(XI-1) 2425,
due west, the data shall be written to the north, south and east, b) If executed by a geodetic engineer in private practice, the survey

59
number and symbol will be H-(XI-1) 2425-D. 13. Names of adjoining owners
Section 387 - The application numbers and not the entry number shall be 14. Meridian used and if applicable, the zone of the grid system
used to designate the corresponding survey numbers of all public land 15. Dates of survey and approval
surveys not otherwise numbered.
B. For Photo-Cadastral Mapping
Section 388 - For the current instruction on the survey symbols and
numbers, Lands Management Bureau Circulars or Bulletins shall be 1. Lot number
consulted. 2, Lands Management Bureau case and cadastral project number
3. Name of applicant
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF SURVEYS 4. Location of land
Section 389 - The technical descriptions of each lot of a survey to 5. Legal authority
describe and identify a piece of land for administrative and ordinary or
6. Name of geodetic engineer
cadastral land registration proceedings shall contain the following
information: 7. Sketch plan of the cadastral lot drawn to scale showing adjoining
lot numbers, their claimant, and physical features.
A. For Numerical Cadastre and Isolated Surveys.
8. Description of each point of boundary as marked on the ground
1. Bureau of Lands Survey Number
9. Approximate area in square meters
2. Lot number
10. Names of adjoining owners
3. Name of claimants
11. Meridian used and if applicable, the zone of the grid system
4. Location of land
12. Date of monumenting
5. Legal authority
13. Date of Photography and by whom
6. Name of geodetic engineer
14. Description of camera used
7. Description of each corner as marked on the ground
15. Date of approval
8. Coordinates of Corner 1 (Northing and Easting)
Section 390 - The technical descriptions of surveys may be prepared by
9. Description of point of reference
geodetic engineers from the data of the approved plans or maps or they
10. Bearing and distance from point of reference to point 1 of shall be computer-generated by the Lands Management Services of DENR,
boundary
Section 391 - Technical description prepared by geodetic engineer in
11. Bearings and distances of boundary lines in consecutive order private practice shall be submitted to the Land Management Services of
12. Area in square meters more or less the concerned Region for approval.

60
Section 392 - The survey claimant shall be furnished by the geodetic c) the Regional Technical Director for Lands (RTD/Lands) in the case of
engineer concerned with at least three(3) copies of the technical public land subdivision, group settlements, and cadastral surveys up to
descriptions, the approved reproducible copy of the plan or reproductions 1,500 hectares;
thereof duly authenticated by the Regional Technical Director for Lands, d) Regional Director of Mines and Geo-Sciences (RD/Mines) in the case of
and copies of Geodetic Engineers Certificate. surveys for mineral claims and quarry permits;
Section 393 - The technical descriptions of survey may be prepared by e) Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENR Officer)
the Land Management Services of the DENR Regional Office concerned for isolated surveys and subdivision of cadastral and PLS lots covered by
upon payment of the prescribed fees, provided that the technical public land applications (DAO 38).
descriptions of all housing subdivisions and cadastral surveys for titling
shall be computer-generated under the Lot Survey Documentation System Section 395 - Geodetic Engineers and Junior Geodetic Engineers in
(LSDS). private practice shall undertake public land surveys only upon receipt of
authority and order for survey issued by the DENR Officials stated in the
preceding section.
Section 396 - Geodetic engineers shall undertake surveys of private land
claims upon request of the owner/claimants thereof. In this case, the
owner or claimant shall be required to execute and submit an affidavit
PART II
stating his muniments of title to the land or the basis on which private
PROVISIONS GOVERNING ISOLATED LAND SURVEYS ownership is claimed and the particulars thereof. An authenticated copy of
the title shall be submitted with the survey returns. In the case of the
original survey of private land claims, affidavit(s) of two (2) disinterested
CHAPTER IX - GENERAL PROCEDURE
persons residing in the barangay where the land is located attesting to his
AUTHORITY AND ORDER TO EXECUTE SURVEYS claim shall be submitted to form part of the survey returns.
Section 394 - The Geodetic Engineers of the Department of Environment Section 397 - No survey of any kind shall be undertaken within the
and Natural Resources shall undertake isolated and other surveys upon classified or unclassified public forest except with an authority/permit
receipt of the order issued by DENR officials, as follows: issued by the Regional Executive Director. Returns of original surveys of
a) the Secretary in the case of Land Classification or Delimitation surveys private claims within such area shall not be accepted for verification and
and delimitation surveys of areas proposed for reservations and other approval without such authority/permit. Survey executed within this area
surveys not otherwise mentioned in (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section; shall not be used as a basis for registration or titling purposes.

b) the Regional Executive Director (RED) in the case of Integrated Social Section 398- Upon receipt of an authority and order for survey from the
Forestry (ISF) projects; and public land subdivision and cadastral surveys officials stated in Section 394 or of a request from private land owner or
above 1,500 hectares, relocation/delimitation of proclaimed reservations, claimant, the geodetic engineer shall proceed to undertake the survey in
and political boundary surveys and settlement of boundary disputes; accordance with the general provisions of PART I and the specific

61
provisions of PART II of this Manual which are applicable to the class of the case of properties claimed or owned by the city or municipality which
survey authorized and ordered to be undertaken. are included in or adjoin the tract to be surveyed.
Section 405 - The city or municipal engineer shall be notified when the
tract to be surveyed includes or adjoins any proposed or actual city or
INVESTIGATION OF ADJOINING CLAIMS
municipal streets. He shall be requested to indicate the position of center
Section 399 – Before commencing the survey, a reconnaissance and lines and desired width of the proposed or actual streets.
sketch of the tract to be surveyed shall be made. The names and
Section 406 - The district highway engineer shall be notified when the
addresses of all persons claiming ownership of a part of the entire tract to
tract to be surveyed adjoins existing public highways, such as national or
be surveyed and of adjoining lands shall be obtained.
provincial roads and shall be requested to indicate the widths and center
Section 400- Inquiry shall be made to ascertain whether or not adjoining lines of the roads as established or desired by the Department of Public
properties have been granted patent or decreed. If the adjoining Works and Highways.
properties have been decreed or titled, the holder of the plans and/or
Section 407 - The owners/claimants of private roads shall be notified to
certificate of title shall be requested to show the said papers for the
indicate the common boundaries of the private road and the tract to be
purpose of determining the relative positions of the former surveys with
surveyed.
the tract to be surveyed.
Section 408 - The railroad company and its local agent shall be notified
Section 401 - Geodetic engineers shall, by legitimate means, try to
to indicate the railroad right-of-way boundaries which are common to the
convince the applicant and the adjoining owners to reduce the number of
tract to be surveyed.
corners of their boundary lines, simplify the boundaries, reduce the field
and office work and minimize the cost of survey. Section 409 - When the tract to be surveyed is near an arroyo, estero,
river, or any stream five meters or less in width, or an irrigation ditch, the
claimant or claimants of the land on the opposite bank of said arroyo,
WHO SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF THE SURVEY estero, river, stream or irrigation ditch shall be notified of the survey. The
names of the parties, thus notified, and the authorized representative of
Section 402 - The owners, tenants, actual occupants, adverse claimants, the Department of Public Works and Highways shall be indicated in the
barangay officials and in general, anyone possessing or claiming interest proper place on the plans and/or in the geodetic engineer's certificate.
on lands adjoining or included in a tract of land to be surveyed shall be Section 410 - If the nearby arroyo, estero, river or any stream is more
duly notified of the survey. than five meters in width and it appears after a diligent inquiry that it is
Section 403 - The provincial treasurer and the Provincial Environment not claimed by any individual or that it is supposed to be of public
and Natural Resources Officer shall be notified in the case of properties ownership, the names of the owners or claimants on the opposite bank of
claimed or owned by the provincial or the national government which are the arroyo, estero, river or stream need not be indicated on the plans.
included in or adjoin the tract to be surveyed. Section 411 - When the boundary of the tract to be surveyed extends to
Section 404 - The city or municipal mayor or treasurer shall be notified in the arroyo less than 5 meters wide, the claimants, if any, of the parcel on

62
the other bank of said arroyo shall be notified of the survey and their attraction is noted, it shall be stated in the field notes with an explanation
names shall be indicated in the proper place on the authorized L.M.B. of its possible cause. In the Philippines, the maximum local variation
plans as prescribed in Section 378 and on the geodetic engineer's exceeds three (3) degrees.
certificate. Section 418 - The stadia distance and compass bearing shall be used to
Section 412 - When the tract to be surveyed adjoins a ditch, an irrigation check the tape distance and azimuth.
canal or any other man-made channel, the claimant of said man-made Section 419 - Corners may be located by traverse, triangulation in the
channel shall be indicated on the plan and geodetic engineer's certificate. manner prescribed in Sections 244 to 245 when such corners cannot be
Section 413 - The adjoining owners or claimants shall be notified by located by side shots. The angle at the corner need not be measured.
messenger or by mail, preferably registered, sufficiently in advance of the Section 420 - Corners may also be located in tertiary surveys as follows:
time of survey to enable them to appear on the ground at the specified
time. The notification shall state the date or dates of survey and the time a) From traverse stations by:
when the party notified shall be present. Prescribed L.M.B. forms shall be (1) Perpendicular offsets from fixed points on traverse lines.
used for notification purposes.
(2) Two distances, preferably from two successive stations, with sketch in
the field notes to identify the point.
LOT SURVEYS b) From established corners of previous surveys by:
Section 414- In isolated surveys, the methods prescribed in Sections (1) Fixed distances from at least two unaltered established corners or
119(c), 220 to 237 for tertiary control shall be used except when markers especially in subdivision of urban lots into two or more lots. The
otherwise specified in the authority and order for survey or when special data obtained should appear in the field notes.
instructions are issued upon recommendation of the Director of Lands
Section 421 - Control stations shall be placed as close as possible to
Management Bureau.
corners that cannot be occupied. For residential and agricultural lots, side
Section 415 - Corners which are not occupied and used as stations of the shots shall not exceed fifty (50) and one hundred (100) meters,
tertiary traverse shall be located by side shots consisting of the azimuths respectively.
and distances from the stations which shall be part of a circuit or loop
If any of the above lengths in side shots are exceeded, the computed
traverse.
position of the corner shall be checked within five (5), ten (10), and
Section 416 - The azimuths of side shots shall be read from the twenty (20) centimeters for residential, agricultural and marshy lands,
instrument to the nearest one minute of arc and the distances shall be respectively, by another side shot from another station.
measured to the nearest centimeter.
These limitations, however, shall not apply to EDM equipment for which
Section 417 - The azimuths when reduced to true bearings shall not special instructions shall be issued by the Director of Lands.
differ from the magnetic bearings by an amount greater than the known
Section 422 - All important bends along the banks of streams adjoining
local variation except in cases when local attraction exists. When local
the tract to be surveyed shall be located.

63
Section 423 - When there are several tracts to be surveyed for the Reference Point be submitted together with the survey returps to
survey applicant, each tract shall be assigned a lot number which shall be justify the use of another tie point which is near the project.
consecutive from one even if there are several sheets of the plan. (c) For original surveys and resurveys tied or connected to
approved/decreed/patented surveys as reference other than the
The corners of each tract shall be numbered consecutively from one in a
established point of references, the tie point of the reference
clockwise direction. However, no single lot or tract shall be in more than
survey, provided that the reference survey has been verified to be
one city or municipality or barangay.
correctly located, shall be used as the tie point of the original
survey or resurvey.
TIE LINES (d) Reference points shall be within but not beyond two (2) kilometers
from the designated corner 1 of the tract in order to minimize
Section 424 - linear error of closure. Cadastral lots shall be tied to the nearest
(a) Tracts to be surveyed shall be tied by a closed circuit traverse to BLLM or other boundary monuments of the cadastral project. In all
points of reference as provided in Section 38, if these points are cases, in executing closed circuit traverse, no traverse line shall
still intact on the ground. However, corner markers of the survey exceed 500 meters.
itself, if it is a previously approved/decreed/patented survey, may Section 425 - In residential areas, data to show the position of the tract
be used as reference, provided a common point pursuant to with respect to the block and the names and widths of the streets
Section 432 can be established from at least three (3) available adjoining the block shall be gathered.
corner markers which could be relied upon as to their permanency
and stability. In case no corner markers of a previously approved/
decreed/patented survey can be found on the ground, at least COMMON NATURAL BOUNDARIES
three (3) corner markers of nearby approved/decreed/patented Section 426 - When the common boundary between the tracts to be
survey may be used as reference provided a common point can be surveyed and previous survey is an arroyo, estero, river or any stream,
established pursuant to Section 441. and the strip shall be excluded as stated in Sections 310 to 312 the actual
(b) The tie point of the previously approved/decreed/patented survey, position of said body of water shall be surveyed and compared with the
in case the same shall be the subject of a subsequent subdivision, former position as determined from the previous survey.
consolidation-subdivision or amendment, shall be used as the tie Section 427- When the banks of the arroyo, estero, river or any stream
point of the resulting lots. In no case shall the resulting lots be tied as located in the earlier and later surveys of unregistered land differ
to a different tie point except when the tie point of the previously considerably in position, causing the existence of small lots formed by
approved survey has been obliterated, destroyed, or moved, that intersecting banks, the boundaries of the property undergoing survey
the resulting lots of the subsequent survey shall be tied to nearby along the bank shall be made approximately parallel to those of the earlier
reference points as enumerated in Section 38; Provided, that the survey if the area of any of the small lots does not exceed ten square
new tie point and the old tie point are in the same system; meters in the case of surveys situated in residential sections of cities, one
provided further that the required Report on the Recovery of hundred square meters in the case of surveys situated in residential

64
sections of municipalities and one thousand square meters in the case of relation to existing surveys to an accuracy appropriate to the
surveys of agricultural or other lands situated in other parts of circumstances. The survey shall be adequately connected to permanent
municipalities or cities. The provisions) of Section 310 to 314 and Section reference points existing in close proximity to the survey.
315 to 319 shall be observed.
Section 428 - If the areas in conflict are greater than those allowed in RELATIVE POSITION OF SURVEYS
the preceding section, such areas shall be considered as contested lots
and computations and plans thereof shall be prepared, except when the Section 433 - The relative position between adjoining or nearby
applicant waives his rights thereto in writing. In which case the boundaries previously approved isolated land surveys and the survey in progress shall
along the bank of the survey in progress may be made approximately be determined by a closed circuit traverse. It shall be checked for azimuth
parallel to those of the previous survey or the bank of the river observing through solar observation from a point of reference as defined in Section
the exclusion of the strip for bank protection as required by law. 38 and connecting at least three well defined and permanently
monumented corners of the previous surveys.
Section 429 - The adjustment of boundaries of tracts separated by
arroyo, estero, river or any stream shall be made by making their Section 434 - In case less than three monumented corners are located,
boundaries along the bank approximately parallel to each other, leaving a the owner or claimant of the land previously surveyed shall be requested
clear space as required by law for bank protection. to indicate the position of three or more corners, which, together with the
tie point and the monumented corner or corners found in place, shall be
located by a closed circuit or traverse loop.
ADVERSE CLAIMS Section 435- The corners of a previous survey to which connection is
Section 430 - All adverse claims which lie entirely or partly within a tract made shall be carefully identified on the ground and described in the field
undergoing survey shall be carefully sketched and indicated in the field notes.
notes and plan of the survey as separate lots when the adverse claimants Section 436 - The traverse connecting the corners of the survey in
do not desire a survey of the claims to be made. progress with the previous surveys shall be computed and plotted to
Legitimate efforts shall be exerted to convince the adverse claimants to determine and show the relative position of the earlier and later surveys.
have their claims surveyed. Section 437 - When the previous survey and the survey in progress do
Section 431 – When the adverse claims have been previously surveyed not overlap nor adjoin each other, the boundaries of the survey in
or are undergoing survey, such adverse claims shall be considered progress shall be surveyed as indicated by the applicant thereof.
separate lots and computations and plans thereof shall be prepared Section 438 - Disclosure of discrepancies. A Geodetic Engineer shall
accordingly. disclose any doubt or discrepancy associated with a survey, include in the
Section 432 - Connection of surveys. All surveys shall be adequately survey records sufficient information to assess its accuracy and give clear
connected to existing surveys, or the position of the survey shall be descriptions of the located survey marks.
determined by a method that will enable the survey to be shown in Section 439 - A check survey may be made upon instruction of the

65
Regional Executive Director to ensure that a survey has been performed in
accordance with these regulations and to the standards of accuracy Section 442 - When monuments of previous surveys appear to have
prescribed by this Manual. been moved, such monuments shall be located and the fact recorded in
the field notes. Such monuments, if well and firmly fixed in the ground,
Section 440 – Where two or more geodetic engineers, are unable to
may be used as witness to the true corners.
agree that a survey has been performed to the standards of accuracy
prescribed in this Manual, any geodetic engineer concerned may report Section 443 -When the position of a corner of an earlier survey and its
the matter to the Lands Management Services and request that an position as determined in a later survey differ by ten centimeters or less in
investigation be made. residential areas and thirty centimeters or less in agricultural areas, the
position as determined in the earlier survey shall be 3¢cepted and adopted
If the matter is to be investigated, all geodetic engineers concerned shall
as the position of such corner in the later survey.
be informed of the results of the investigation; if necessary, the Regional
Technical Director for Lands shall issue directives to the Geodetic Engineer Section 444 - When the discrepancy in position exceeds the limits set
as to what is required to be done so that the survey in question will be forth in the preceding section, the geodetic engineer shall make such
brought to the standards of accuracy prescribed by these regulations. verification as may be necessary to check the data of the survey in
question. A complete report on the discrepancies and the results of
COMMON POINT
verification shall be made and submitted to the Director of Lands
Section 441 - When the previous survey and the survey in progress Management Bureau, through the Regional Technical Director for Lands for
overlap or adjoin each other, a common point shall be selected from decision.
among the corners which have been located. The selection of the corner
Section 445 -If the recovered corner of the previous survey is not
which shall be adopted as a common point shall depend on the following:
identical to its description in the plan, investigation shall be conducted by
(a) The permanency of the monumented corner as found in the place on the geodetic engineer to ascertain the cause thereof and the result of the
the ground. investigation shall be reported to the Regional Technical Director for
(b) The degree of precision between the computed positions of the Lands/Director of Lands Management Bureau. -
monumented corners as found in place on the ground determined from
the data of the previous surveys and of the survey in progress.
OVERLAPPING OR ADJOINING UNTITLED SURVEYS
(c) In general, a living tree, a boulder or any other object of permanent
Section 446- When a tract undergoing survey adjoins a surveyed
nature used as corner in the previous survey which is identified beyond
property not yet patented or decreed, the common boundary line between
doubt in the course of the survey in progress and which is not likely to
the earlier and later surveys need not be resurveyed entirely if the
have been removed from its original place shall be selected as a common
applicant of the tract undergoing survey accepts the corners of the
point in preference to concrete stone or other monuments which may, with
previous survey as common to his property.
comparative ease, be removed from their original location and placed
elsewhere. Section 447- When the applicant of the tract undergoing survey and the
owners or claimants of the adjoining properties agree to a common

66
boundary line different from the boundaries as demarcated in the previous technical descriptions or those with technical descriptions based on
survey, an affidavit to that effect shall be required of each of the parties magnetic surveys, special instructions shall be secured from the Regional
agreeing to the new common boundary lines which shall be monumented Technical Director for Lands.
and the costs thereof shall be paid by the interested parties. The plan of
the property previously surveyed shall be amended accordingly.
ISOLATED LAND SURVEYS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS
Section 448- When the applicant of the property undergoing survey does
not accept the corners of the previous survey as common to his property, Section 453 - Surveys of tracts situated within cadastral projects in
boundary lines shall be monumented and surveyed on the ground as progress may be made by geodetic engineer in accordance with the
pointed to by the applicant and the area in conflict shall be indicated as provisions of this manual.
separate lot on the plan of the later survey. The conflict shall also be Section 454 - The survey of cadastral project shall be considered as in
indicated on the plan of the earlier or previous survey, by the Lands progress from the date the survey is ordered by the Regional Executive
Management Director/or Regional Technical Director for Lands until final approval of the
Services. survey returns.

OVERLAPPING OR ADJOINING TITLED LANDS Within sixty days from the date of such order, geodetic engineers shall
submit to the project chief executing the cadastral survey a list of his
Section 449 - The bearings and distances of the boundary lines of survey/s in progress within the project.
patented, leased or decreed properties common to the tract undergoing Section 455 - After thirty days from the date of order for survey of
survey shall be accepted and adopted as the boundary lines of the survey. cadastral project, by geodetic engineers other than those executing the
Section 450 - Any area in conflict with patented, leased or decreed cadastral survey of tracts situated within a cadastral project shall not be
properties shall be excluded from the tract undergoing survey. made except when the isolated land surveys began prior to the date of the
order for the survey of the cadastral project.
Section 451 - The discrepancies between the measurement of the later
survey and those of the earlier patented, leased or decreed property shall Section 456- The field notes, computations and sketches or plans of
be noted and entered in the field notes of the later survey. Should the surveys of tracts situated within a cadastral project shall be submitted to
discrepancies be sufficiently large to warrant the supposition that the the Land Management Services for verification through the Chief of the
survey of the patented, leased or decreed property was erroneous, an cadastral project within four months from the date of inauguration of the
investigation shall be made and the results must be reported to the project. Surveys submitted after the lapse of four months shall be
Regional Technical Director for Lands for appropriate action? If there is no accompanied with a satisfactory explanation to the Regional Technical
overlapping or discrepancy between the later and the earlier surveys, a Director for Lands who may accept or reject the survey for verification and
certification to that effect shall be made on the prescribed field notes approval.
cover. Section 457 - When information is desired as to whether or not a
Section 452 - In cases of properties covered by titles containing no particular tract is included within a cadastral project, a written request

67
shall be made by the geodetic engineer to the Regional Technical Director Section 463 - Geodetic engineers shall record the starting and closing
for Lands stating the names of the claimant or owner and the approximate azimuths or reference azimuths in the field notes. Descriptions of the
location and area of the tract. points or monuments from which the azimuths are derived shall be
entered on the right hand page,
Section 458 - Geodetic engineers may undertake surveys within decreed
or titled parcels inside cadastral projects free from the limitations of Section 464 - Descriptions of stations and corner marks, character of
Sections 454 to 456. A copy of the approved survey plan shall, however, vegetation or cultivation, topographical condition of the land, the name,
be furnished to the cadastral project chief. width and the direction of flow of all arroyos, esteros or rivers, the strip
along arroyos, estero, river for bank protection and the names and widths
of all highways that border or cross the property undergoing survey and
FIELD NOTES other facts shall be indicated in the field notes. Old monuments which may
Section 459 -Field notes and field notes cover shall be written on be found shall likewise be described fully in the field notes referring to the
authorized LMB forms and sworn to before a notary public, in case of number of survey, if known, and the name of the applicant thereof.
surveys executed by geodetic engineers in private practice and before an Sketches shall be made on the right hand page.
official authorized to subscribe oath in the case of DENR geodetic Section 465 - When the field notes of any survey occupy more than one
engineers. The name of the geodetic engineer and the date of survey page, the pages shall be properly numbered and the signature of the
must be entered on the upper and lower left hand of each page of the field geodetic engineer, date of survey, names of manufacturer and numbers of
notes. The name of the manufacturer and serial number of the instrument the instrument and tape shall be entered on each page of the field notes
and tape used in the survey as well as the number of certificate of test as required in Section 458. If the field notes contain data for more than
must appear on the upper right hand page of the said field notes. The full one parcel, for the same applicant, full information for each parcel shall be
name and address of the geodetic engineer, the full name and address of given as required in the preceding section.
the applicant, location of the land and date of survey shall be entered on
Section 466 - Field notes containing erasures of field data shall not be
the field notes cover. The geodetic engineer shall sign his name at the
accepted. If erroneous data have been entered and corrections are
space provided thereat.
necessary, the data shall be crossed out with a pencil line so that the
Section 460 - The field notes shall be clear, legible and easy to information shall still be legible and the correct data written above it with
understand. Notes that cannot be understood shall not be accepted. the initial of the geodetic engineer and date of correction,
Proper names shall be written in full.
Section 467 -The original field notes for each survey shall be combined in
Section 461 - All survey notes shall be recorded in the field by the one field book. The returns of surveys for different claimants that are
geodetic engineer or his authorized assistant performing the transit work surveyed in one traverse or in one system of traverses shall be submitted
or by a recorder under his personal direction and responsibility. simultaneously for verification and approval.
Section 462 - Original field notes shall be written clearly in hard pencil or Section 468 - When the data for any survey depends on original field
in permanent waterproof ink. notes already forwarded to the Lands Management Services, the geodetic

68
engineer shall make proper reference in the field book of the survey where Section 474 - The signature of the geodetic engineer shall conform with
the required data may be found stating the survey number, the name of the name appearing in his certificate as geodetic engineer. No other
the claimant, and so on. signature or name shall be acknowledged as valid on plans, computations
and field notes.
Section 469 - Each survey mentioned in Section 466 shall have its own
geodetic engineer certificate and field notes cover.
Section 470 - When new corners are established in accordance with the TRANSMITTAL OF ISOLATED SURVEYS
provisions of Section 420 (b), the corner numbers, lot number and survey Section 475 - Geodetic engineers shall submit the following:
number of the old corners used as reference points must be entered in the
space provided for under sketches in the field notes, together with a. Letter of transmittal/ check list on prescribed form; Quality
appropriate sketches showing the relative position of the corners and the Assurance document.
b. Survey plan: tracing cloth or diazo film showing contour lines in the
directions of the measured distances.
case of mineral land survey.

c. The survey order or survey authority provided for in Sections 394 -

COMPUTATIONS AND PLANS
395; 477, 480, 484, 489, 493, etc.
Section 471 - Computations and plans of isolated land surveys shall be d. The original field notes completely filled in, paged and dry sealed,
made in accordance with the general provisions of Chapter VII and VIII of and field notes cover duly notarized.
this Manual and the specific provisions for each class of survey prescribed e. The original and duplicate of the complete traverse, topographic
in the following chapters. surveys (for mineral land surveys) reference and lot data
computations duly signed by the computer and Geodetic Engineer;
conversion into PPCS-TM/PRS-92.
GEODETIC ENGINEER'S CERTIFICATE f. Certified geographic position and grid coordinates of the tie point
Section 472 - A geodetic engineer's certificate sworn to before a notary issued by the agency concerned.
public shall be prepared and submitted for each survey made for the same g. The original and duplicate of the complete astronomical observation
claimant whether such survey contains only one parcel or several parcels. computations related to the survey.
h. The original plan complete in every detail, signed and sealed by the
Geodetic engineer's certificate submitted by DENR geodetic engineers
geodetic engineer and with conformity of the land owner in the
shall be sworn to before officials authorized to administer said oath.
case of simple subdivision of the private property.
Section 473 - Each geodetic engineer's certificate shall include only the i. Sketch plan of the survey on tracing paper in the scale of the
parcels located within the same municipalities or city. In the case of projection map showing therein the geographic position of corner 1
parcels located in different provinces, municipalities or cities claimed by of the lowest numbered lot.
the same party, separate survey number shall be assigned and a separate j. The geodetic engineer's certificate on authorized L.M.B. form as
geodetic engineer's certificate shall be prepared for each parcel or group required in Sections 471 to 473 inclusive.
of parcels. k. In case of the DENR geodetic engineer, an endorsement of the

69
 Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer concerned
mentioning, among others, the corresponding public land Section 476 - Geodetic engineers who submit advance surveys within
application number. cadastral projects as stated in Section 454 to 456 shall submit the papers
l. The affidavit required in Section 396.
required in isolated land surveys.
m. Survey notification letter on prescribed form.
n. In case of surveys of titled properties, the owners duplicate copy of Section 477 - Upon completion of the field work the computations and
the certificate of title, or a true copy thereof certified by the preparation of sketches or plans shall be made with least possible delay
Register of Deeds concerned or a copy thereof verified by the Chief and the survey returns shall be submitted to the Land Management
of the Records Section of the DENR Regional Office concerned. Services. Alleged non-payment of survey fees by the survey claimant shall
o. In case the survey includes previously approved surveys, the not be accepted as reason for the delay in the submittal.
certification of the Land Registration Authority as to the status of
the said surveys whether applied or not for registration or for
titling. CHAPTER X - PUBLIC LAND SURVEY'S
p. In case of mineral land surveys, in addition to (a) to (h), (j), (m),
HOMESTEAD
the following are required to be submitted:
Section 478 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
1) Notarized description and field survey report on mining claim/s
concerned as stated in Section 394 for the survey of a homestead, the
in quintuplicate signed and sealed by the Geodetic Engineer;
geodetic engineer, unless otherwise provided in the said authority, shall
2) Plans of consolidated claim showing other surveyed claims and proceed to make the survey, complying strictly with the following
traverse stations. requirements:
3) Certification by the applicant/representative that he had a) The boundary lines shall form, as much as possible, right angles when
witnessed the setting of monuments of the corners and/or location adjoining unclaimed, unoccupied public lands. When adjoining natural
posts of the mining claim/s being surveyed. features such as seas, lakes, rivers, etc. or previously approved surveys,
4) Certification of the Barangay Captain or his duly authorized the boundary lines shall be marked on the ground following the provisions
representative that the survey was conducted in their area by the of Sections 310 to 314. The forty or twenty meter stream and bank
Geodetic Engineer. protection shall be excluded from the survey and no patent or title shall be
issued on the same.
5) Certification by the Administrator of NAMRIA whether or not
corresponding boundary plan of mining claim/s is/are within b) Notation and sketches shall be made in the field notes on the general
government reservation. nature of the land, whether plain, hilly, or mountainous, etc., the
vegetation, natural features, improvements made by the applicants, if any,
6) Sketch plan of private properties prepared by the Geodetic and such other facts which in the opinion of the geodetic engineer should
Engineer concerned together with the corresponding machine copy
be known to the DENR officials concerned.
of the title of the land as registered by the Register of Deeds of the
province or city. (MLSR) Section 479 - A homestead shall be surveyed as a single continuous lot

70
situated entirely on one bank of adjoining arroyos, creeks, rivers or any Section 487 - Whenever possible, the length of one of the sides of
stream of five meters or more in width. It shall not be divided into two or rectangular lease tracts laid out on the ground shall not exceed five
more lots by such natural features. This, however, is without prejudice to hundred meters as stated in Section 287.
existing regulations on rivers, streams, etc. bank protection. Section 488 - The area applied for lease shall be surveyed as stated in
Section 477.
Section 480– Homestead surveys shall be made prior to the filing of
homestead application in the CENRO. The cost of the survey shall be Section 489 - The cost of the survey shall be borne by the applicant.
borne by the applicant. FREE PATENT
SALES Section 490 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
Section 481 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 393 for a free patent survey, the geodetic engineer shall
stated in Section 394 for the survey of a tract applied for sale by an proceed to ascertain the following:
applicant, the geodetic engineer, unless otherwise provided in the said (a) The substantial correctness of the statements made by the
authority, shall proceed to make the survey, complying strictly with the applicant in his application, copy of which shall be sent to the
requirements in Section 477. geodetic engineer together with the order of surveys.
Section 482 - Surveys shall be made prior to the filing of the sales (b) The date of first occupation and cultivation and whether such
application in the CENRO. occupation and cultivation have been continuous since that date.
Section 483 - Whenever practicable, the length of one of the sides of The information may be obtained from the applicant and witnesses
rectangular tracts laid out on the ground shall not exceed five hundred in separate interviews.
meters, in the case of individual sales application subject, however, to the (c) The area under cultivation, area cleared for cultivation and area
provisions of Sections 288 and 310 to 314. remaining to be cleared or which cannot be used for agricultural
Section 484 - The area applied for sales shall be surveyed as stated in purposes.
Section 477. The cost of the survey shall be borne by the applicant. (d) The improvements made by the applicant on or near the tract
LEASES applied for such as trails, roads, irrigations, ditches, houses, etc.
Section 485 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials (e) The nature and merit of adverse claim, if any.
stated in Section 394, the survey of a tract applied for lease by an (f) The use of land other than for agricultural purposes, such as for
applicant, the geodetic engineer, unless otherwise provided in the said grazing, fish breeding, salt panning, etc. and any other facts which
authority, shall proceed to make the survey, complying strictly with the in the opinion of the geodetic engineer should be known to the
requirements as stated in Section 476.
Lands Management Services.
Section 486 -Surveys shall be made prior to the filing of the lease
application in the CENRO. Section 491 - The surveys shall be made in strict compliance of the
requirements as stated in Section 476.

71
Section 492 - Surveys with previous authority as required in Section 488 deemed by said entities to be conducive to the public interest, the area
shall be made prior to the filing of the free patent application in the may be of such size so as to maximize land utilization.
CENRO. Section 496 - The survey and subdivision of reclaimed lands shall be
Section 493 - The cost of the surveys shall be borne by the applicant. made by DENR geodetic engineers. However, geodetic engineers in private
practice may undertake survey and subdivision of reclaimed lands upon
RECLAIMED LANDS
issuance of authority by the RED or RTD. The survey of a parcel of
Section 494 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the Regional reclaimed land shall be at the expense of the applicant.
Executive Director or Regional Technical Director for Lands for the survey
Section 497 - Reclaimed land surveys with previous authority as required
of lands which have been reclaimed from the seas, lakes, rivers, etc. by
in Section 493 shall be made prior to the filing of the lease application in
dredging, filling or any other means, the geodetic engineer shall proceed
the Land Management Bureau/Services,
to:
FORESHORE LANDS
(a) Secure the conformity of the Public Estate Authority pursuant to P. D.
Nos. 1084 and 1085. Section 498 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
stated in Section 394, for the survey of foreshore lands for lease
(b) Monument the corners and survey the boundaries of the area
purposes, the geodetic engineer shall proceed to:
reclaimed.
(a) Monument the landward boundary which, in this case, shall be twenty
(c) Subdivide the area surveyed in accordance with the scheme of
(20) meters from the high tide line along the shore. The monuments shall
subdivision which shall be included in the authority and order for survey
be connected by means of closed circuit or loop tertiary traverse.
issued by the Regional Executive Director or Regional Technical Director
for Lands. (b) Locate the improvements made on the area applied for such as
wharves, canals, jetties, etc.
(d) Monument all the corners of the subdivision lots.
(c) Locate the streets, structures, etc., if any, which are adjacent to the
Section 495 -The plan of subdivision shall, in general, provide for:
tract.
(a) Monuments including sub-surface reference points defining the center
(d) Access road to the sea shall always be provided.
of streets or the street lines to facilitate the re-establishment of street
lines when disturbed by building operation, Section 498 - The direction of the boundaries of the tracts from the
monuments marking the ends of the boundary along the high tide line
(b) The lot shall be of such areas as may be deemed best suited for
towards the sea, lake, etc. shall be determined by taking into
residential, commercial or other purposes provided that the scheme of
consideration the improvements of the applicant.
subdivisions be approved by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board
or the Local Planning and Development Board concerned. The area shall not exceed forty eight hectares or as may be prescribed by
the Secretary of the DENR.
(c) In case of lots granted, donated or transferred to a province, city,
municipality or branch or subdivision of the government for the purpose Section 499 - The land granted, donated or transferred to a province,

72
city, municipality or branch of the government shall be the area that is unless the DENR Secretary directs otherwise.
actually needed for the purpose for which it will be used.
Section 500 - The cost of the survey of foreshore lands for lease OTHER LANDS AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL OR
purposes shall be borne by the applicant. INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES
Section 501 - Foreshore land surveys with previous authority as required
in Section 497 may be made at any time prior to the filing of the lease Section 508 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
application in the Land Management Services unless the DENR directs as stated in Section 394 for the survey of lands for residential,
otherwise. commercial, industrial or other productive non-agricultural purposes, as
MARSHY LANDS classified in Section 58(d) of Commonwealth Act No. 141, the geodetic
engineer shall proceed to monument and survey the boundaries of the
Section 502 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
area applied for in accordance with the information furnished by the
stated in Section 394 for the survey of marshy lands, the geodetic
applicant.
engineer shall proceed to monument and survey the boundaries of the
area applied for in accordance with the information furnished by the lease Section 509 - The area applied for shall not exceed forty eight hectares.
applicant. However, in the case of productive lands granted, donated or transferred
to a province, city, municipality or branch of the government, shall be the
Section 503 – As much as or if possible, natural objects in place, such as
area that is actually needed for the purpose for which it will be used.
trees, immovable rocks or boulders, etc. shall be used as corners of the
tract. Section 510 - The cost of the survey shall be borne by the public land
applicant.
Section 504 - The area of a marshy land tract applied for shall not
exceed forty eight hectares or as may be prescribed by the DENR Section 511 - Surveys with previous authority as required by Section 508
Secretary. In the case of marshy land granted, donated or transferred to a may be made at any time prior to the filing of the lease application in the
province, city, municipality or a branch of the government, shall be the Land Management Services.
area that is actually needed for the purpose for which it will be used.
Section 505 - Strip of at least twenty (20) meters wide of swamplands or PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES
mangroves along the shoreline facing oceans, lakes, and other bodies of
water shall be excluded from the survey as required by P.D. 705. Section 512 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
stated in Section 394, for the survey of lands applied for by a province,
Section 506 - The cost of the survey of marshy lands shall be borne by city, municipality, or other branch of the government for the establishment
the applicant. of public schools or other educational institutions, the geodetic engineer
Section 507 - Marshy land surveys with previous authority as required by shall proceed with the survey following these requirements:
Section 502 may be made at any time prior to the filing of the lease (a) The boundaries as described in the application for survey shall
application in the Lands Management Bureau/Land Management Services be surveyed and monumented. However, if possible, the boundary

73
 lines shall form right angles when adjoining unclaimed, unoccupied SITES FOR PUBLIC CHARITABLE OR OTHER SIMILAR
public lands. When adjoining natural features such as seas, lakes, INSTITUTIONS
rivers, etc. or previous surveys, the boundary of the previous Section 519 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR official
surveys, shall be adopted as common to the public school sites stated in Section 394 for survey of the public domain applied by a
surveys, provided, the twenty meter strip for bank protection of province, city, municipality, or other branch or subdivision of the
rivers and creeks is excluded from the survey. government for charitable, philanthropic, specific, or other similar
(b) The area shall not be less than 5,000 square meter in well- institutions, or for other similar purposes, the geodetic engineer shall
drained location that conforms with the requirements prescribed by proceed with the survey as prescribed in Sections 512 to 515.
public school authorities. Section 520 -The survey of the sites for charitable purposes shall be
Section 513 - All applications for public school sites filed by provinces, executed at the expense of the applicant.
cities and municipalities must be approved by the Department of SITES FOR PRIVATE CHARITABLE OR OTHER SIMILAR
Education, Culture and Sports before the conduct of the survey. INSTITUTIONS
Section 514 - The cost of surveys of public school sites shall be borne by Section 521 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR official
the applicant. stated in Section 394 for the survey of public lands applied by a private
Section 515 - Public school site surveys with previous authority as individual or organization for charitable, philanthropic, scientific or other
required by Section 510 may be made at any time prior to the filing of the similar institutions or for other similar purposes, the geodetic engineer
application for donation, sales, lease, exchange, or any other forms of shall proceed with the survey as prescribed in Section 512.
concession. Section 522 - The provisions of Sections 512 to 515 shall also be applied
PRIVATE SCHOOL SITES to the survey of sites for private charitable or other similar institutions.
Section 516 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials TOWNSITE BOUNDARY AND SUBDIVISION
stated in Section 394 for the survey of the lands of the public domain Section 523 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the Regional
applied for by private individuals or organizations for the establishment of Executive Director or Regional Technical Director for Lands as stated in
private schools or other educational institution, the geodetic engineer shall Section 394 for the survey of a townsite, the geodetic engineer shall
proceed to make the survey as prescribed in Section 512. proceed to:
Section 517 - The cost of survey of private school sites shall be borne by (a) Monument the corners and survey the boundaries of the area to be
the applicant. reserved.
Section 518 - Private school site surveys with previous authority as (b) Locate the approximate position of roads, trails, important natural
required in Section 516 may be made at any time prior to the filing of the features, etc. within the area to be reserved.
application for lease or sale.
Section 524 - After completion of the boundary survey, a sketch plan, on
a scale of one in four thousand (1:4,000) or any multiple thereof, shall be

74
prepared and immediately forwarded to the Regional Technical Director for Section 531 - When completed, the topographic map and the scheme or
Lands together with recommendations as may be deemed desirable. subdivision, together with a report and recommendation, shall be
forwarded immediately to the Regional Technical Director for Lands.
The sketch plan shall accurately show the boundary lines, traverses and
the position of the features located as required in the preceding section. Section 532 - The geodetic engineer shall be furnished with a copy of the
scheme of subdivision as approved by the Regional Technical Director for
Section 525 - A brief report shall be submitted with the sketch plan
Lands in coordination with the local development council.
stating the location with respect to rivers, harbors, mountains or other
natural features, approximate number of people living within the Section 533 - Whenever circumstances may warrant, residential sites
boundaries and the extent of land claimed by them, available sources of may be established in the project at intervals of about 10 kilometers from
water supply, amount and purity, possible system of sewerage disposal each other or from existing towns, barangays or residential sites.
and how such disposal may affect other towns or communities. Section 534 - The survey of town sites shall be made by DENR geodetic
This report shall be made from personal observation and not from the engineers. In case it is deemed necessary to assign the survey to geodetic
information furnished by interested parties. engineers in private practice, an invitation to bid for the survey shall be
published once a week, for three consecutive weeks, in two or more
Section 526 - A topographic survey of the area to be reserved shall be
newspaper in general circulation to give all geodetic engineers an
made after the boundary survey. Unless otherwise required in the
opportunity to present their bids. The requirements of Sections 10 to 14,
authority and order for survey, the contours shall be located at two meter
shall apply.
interval and plotted on a scale of one in two thousand (1:2000).
GROUP SETTLEMENTS
Section 527 - All private land claims within the area to be reserved shall
be surveyed and plotted on the topographic map. Section 535 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
stated in Section 394 for survey of lands to be used for group settlement
Section 528 - The topographic survey map shall contain all the details,
purposes, the geodetic engineer shall proceed to monument the corners
structures and other information which may be of value in preparing the
and survey the area to be reserved.
scheme of subdivision.
Section 536 - After the survey of the boundary, the geodetic engineer
Section 529 - The scheme of subdivision shall be prepared on an overlay
shall prepare the scheme of subdivision under the supervision of the CENR
of the topographic survey map which shall conform with the approved land
Officer and submit the same for approval of the concerned Regional
use map and zoning ordinance of the locality.
Technical Director.
Section 530 - The scheme of subdivision shall designate certain lots for
Section 537 - The geodetic engineer shall survey the group settlement in
commercial and industrial uses, for open spaces and public uses and the
accordance with the approved scheme of subdivision.
remainder, as residential lots. The lots owned by private individuals as
evidenced by titles, or as possessed or claimed by them as private Section 538 - The cost of the survey of the group settlement shall be
property shall be identified and indicated thereon. The lots whether public borne by the entities concerned.
or private, shall be numbered using a general plan or system.

75
 DELIMITATION AND SUBDIVISION OF PUBLIC LANDS control.
Section 539 - Extensive areas of public land classified as alienable and Section 544 - The pair of location monuments most centrally located
disposable shall be delimited and subdivided for disposition, excluding shall be numbered as BLLM Nos. 1 and 2 and the remaining pairs shall be
therefrom the following: numbered consecutively from 3 and 4 and so on for the entire project.
(a) Lands reserved for public or quasi-public purposes. Section 545 - After the establishment of the location monuments, the
entire area shall be subdivided into lots taking into account the actual
b) Lands appropriated by the Government.
occupation and the purpose for which such lots shall be disposed of to the
(c) Land which have been acquired and become private property. applicants. Roads of at least ten meters wide shall be provided, taking into
(d) Lands on which private rights, authorized and recognized by consideration the topography of the land and in such a way that each lot
Commonwealth Act No. 141 or any other law may be claimed. shall adjoin a road. A right of way of sixty meters in width shall be
surveyed for any established or proposed national or provincial road
Section 540 - Upon receipt of authority and order for survey issued by
passing through the project. The District Highway Engineer shall be
the DENR officials stated in Section 394, the geodetic engineer shall make
consulted as to the location of the center lines of the roads. A strip of land
a general investigation of the area to be delimited to ascertain the
three meters wide in urban areas, twenty meters wide in agricultural areas
existence, if any, of lands to be excluded as mentioned in the preceding
and forty meters wide in forest areas along the banks of any stream five
section and to acquire knowledge of the general topography of the area to
meters or more in width shall be preserved for bank protection and
be delimited and Subdivided.
excluded from the survey. This strip of land shall be demarcated in
Section 541 - The authority and order for survey shall describe the areas accordance with Sections 310 to 313, inclusive. The bank and the traverse
to be Surveyed and specific instructions as to the size of lots, the area to stations from which the side shots were taken shall be plotted on the plan,
be reserved and such other requirements which may be deemed
Section 546 -If possible, the boundary lines shall form right angles when
necessary in each particular project.
adjoining unclaimed, unoccupied public lands. When adjoining previous
Section 542 - If the land to be excluded as specified in Section 539 shall surveys, the boundary of the adjoining previous surveys shall be adopted
be included in the survey as required in the authority and order for survey, as common to the subdivision lot.
the survey shall be made in accordance with the requirements of Part III-
Section 547 - Before proceeding with the final survey, a tentative scheme
Provisions Governing Cadastral Land Surveys - as long as they are
of subdivision plotted on tracing paper shall first be taken up with the
applicable and consistent.
District Engineer/s, the Planning and Development Coordinator of the LGU
Section 543 – When the area to be delimited is practically all public land and the local representative of the Philippine Ports Authority, in case the
on which the applicant may not acquire perfect titles until the land to be subdivided abuts the sea, to ascertain whether any of the lots
requirements of law for the issuance of patent shall have been complied inside the subdivision is needed for present or future public
with, pairs of location monuments shall be established at intervals of improvements, or that its grant under Commonwealth Act 141 may unduly
about six kilometers from each other and located by at least a secondary affect any development plan for a town, barangay, port, etc. or obstruct
control. The location monuments shall be made stations of the survey navigation or any water route. The scheme shall conform with the land

76
use plan and zoning ordinance of the locality. shall proceed to make private land surveys.
Section 548 - In case some of the lots are needed for future public Section 554 - Geodetic engineers must certify in their field notes cover
improvements, the purpose for which these lots will be reserved shall be whether or not the parcels of land surveyed by them adjoin and/or cover
indicated in the tentative scheme of subdivision and the lots involved shall any previously approved surveys or decreed properties.
not be disposed of. After securing the approval of the District Engineer/s, Section 555 - Geodetic engineers shall comply, at their own expense,
the chief executive officer of the LGU, and the representative of the with requests from the Land Registration Authority for any amendments or
Philippine Ports Authority, if required, the tentative scheme of subdivision corrections that may be needed on their surveys.
shall be submitted to the Regional Technical Director of Lands for
approval. The result of the conference with the District Engineer's, the Section 556 - The quality of control to be used in private land surveys
Planning and Development Officer of the LGU, and the representative of shall be as prescribed in Section 121.
the Philippine Ports Authority shall be included in the preliminary Section 557 - The survey of numerous parcels comprising areas of one
investigation report to be made for each lot. thousand or more hectares shall be undertaken in accordance with the
Section 549 - The corners of public land subdivision lots shall be marked requirements of Part III - Provision Governing Cadastral Land Surveys.
by standard concrete monuments to be numbered consecutively from 1 to Section 558 - In the consolidation and/or subdivision lots of decreed
999 preceded by a letter in alphabetical order starting from A. Thus: A-1, properties, the geodetic engineer shall execute a certificate on the field
A-999, B-1, B-999, etc. notes cover as follows:
Section 550 - The survey of public land subdivision may be assigned to
geodetic engineers in private practice.
I hereby certify that the herein consolidation/subdivision of Lot No. ___
SUBDIVISION OF PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN APPROVED Survey No. _________ was executed by me with the full knowledge and
CADASTRAL SURVEY consent of the owner(s) who signed on the survey plan his/her/their
conformity.
Section 551 - Upon receipt of authority and order for survey issued by
the DENR officials as stated in Section 394, the geodetic engineer shall ______________________ _________________________
proceed to make the subdivision of cadastral lots in accordance with the (Name(s) of Owner(s)) (Certificate of Title No.)
instructions contained therein.
Section 552 - No public land within a cadastral case which is the subject
_________________________
of cadastral registration shall be amended or subdivided except as ordered
by the Court. Signature of Geodetic Engineer

CHAPTER XI - PRIVATE LAND SURVEYS In case of simple or complex residential subdivision, the following
certification shall be stated by the geodetic engineer concerned:
ORIGINAL, SUBDIVISION AND/OR CONSOLIDATION SURVEYS
Section 553 - Upon agreement with the owner(s), the geodetic engineer

77
I hereby certify that the herein consolidation/subdivision of (Lot No. whole property to be developed into housing subdivision. All boundary
_______, Survey No. _______) was undertaken by me with the full corners shall be relocated strictly using the data of the previous survey.
knowledge and consent of the owner or developer. Adjoining property owners shall be notified of the survey and must witness
the re-setting of new corner monuments.

The land owner's conformity on the plan shall apply only to simple
Section 562 - The block boundary corners shall be marked with
subdivision.
permanent concrete monuments in accordance with Section 272 (d) of
Section 559 - A separate Geodetic Engineer's Certificate in triplicate on this Manual, and the distance between block corners shall preferably be
prescribed LMB form shall accompany each original survey submitted for 250 meters. However, if the block length exceeds 250 meters, it should
verification and approval. In the case of consolidation and/or subdivision not be more than 400 meters in length and shall be provided by a 3 meter
surveys the oath shall be accomplished on the prescribed field notes cover alley at midlength.
only.
Section 563 - Additional reference points with sub-surface markings shall
HOUSING SUBDIVISION SURVEY
be established within the project/subdivision to facilitate the location of
the lots for the benefits of the lot buyers. These reference points shall be
Section 560 - Survey returns of housing subdivision surveys of decreed plotted on the survey plan and their cartesian coordinates shall be part of
or titled properties submitted to the Land Management Services for the survey records. Subdivision lots forming part of the open space or
verification and approval shall be in accordance with the pertinent subdivision road shall not be the subject of subsequent subdivision
provisions of Part II of this Manual and of the implementing rules and Surveys, otherwise Section 567 shall be observed. These lots should be
regulations governing simple and/or complex subdivisions under clearly indicated on the plan.
Presidential Decree 957 (Subdivision and Condominium Buyer's Protective Section 564 - The individual lot corners may be temporarily marked with
Decree). stakes to be replaced with permanent concrete monuments upon
Complex subdivision projects for housing development governed by P.D. completion of land filling or grading on the project site. The description of
957, Batas Pambansa (BP) 220, and other related laws shall be the lot corner markers shall be recorded in the field notes and stated on
accompanied with a scheme of subdivision or Site Development Plan duly the plan. (LAO 4-14)
approved by the Local Government Planning and Development Office, or Section 565 - The following documents shall be submitted to the Land
by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB). Management Services for verification and approval, with the survey
A complex subdivision is defined for the purpose of this Manual as a returns stated in Section 474:
subdivision of a registered land wherein 30% of the land area are a. Certified True Copy of Title;
allocated for street, passageway, or open spaces is delineated on the plan.
b. Final Subdivision Plan consisting of the Site Development Plan,
Section 561 - Licensed geodetic engineers who are commissioned by the Subdivision Scheme approved by the Local Government Planning and
owner developers of a housing project shall relocate the boundary of the Development Office or by the HLURB;

78
c. Copy of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC); • the aggregate area as per original approved surveys;
d. Conversion Clearance (from Agricultural to Residential), if applicable. • correctness of the survey plan, conformity of the subdivision with
the Final Subdivision Plan approved by offices authorized by law.
Section 566 - The subdivision plan shall be prepared in accordance with
Sections 370 to 385 and carried out in accordance with Sections 553 to The accuracy of the preparation of the survey returns and plan, the
564 of this Manual. correctness of the metes and bounds of the subdivision lots and areas,
and other input data shall be the responsibility of the geodetic engineer.
Section 567 - No owner or developer shall change or alter the roads,
open spaces, infrastructure, facilities for public use and/or other form of
subdivision developments as contained in the approved subdivision plan. Section 570 - The housing subdivision project shall be subjected to the
Likewise, no amendment survey or subdivision of a lot or lots in the Lot Surveys Documentation System (LSDS) to check the correctness of
approved subdivision plan shall be accepted for verification and approval the lot data, and shall be encrypted under the Computerized Title
without the permission of the Local Government Planning and Generation (CTGEN) established and installed for the purpose in the Lands
Development Office or the HLURB and written conformity and consent of Management Bureau/Land Management Services (LMB/LMS) and in the
the duly organized homeowners association, or in the absence of the Land Registration Authority/Register of Deeds (LRA/ROD) by the Housing
latter, by the majority of the lot buyers in the subdivision. and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).
Section 568 - In the subdivision and pursuant to the provisions of RA Section 571 - A plan describing the boundaries of land may be made
1273 and PD 705, the three (3) meter easement or the twenty meter without the performance of a survey in the field particularly the case of
bank protection along the banks of creeks, arroyos, esteros, or rivers subdividing a lot by connecting two old corners provided that the old
which are included in the title, shall be surveyed as a single lot and shall corners are intact on the ground; the boundaries of the land are defined
form part of the open space for park and recreational areas and shall be conspicuously by walls, shrubs and other markers, and where the
planted to trees or shall become tree park except when permanent information and particulars to be shown on the plan are sufficient to
improvement such as subdivision perimeter road which cannot be planted satisfy the requirements in this Manual. The survey plan bearing the
to trees as required in Section 2 of P.D, No. 953. conformity of the landowner may be submitted for verification and
Section 569 – The verification of the socialized housing subdivision shall approval with the notarized field notes cover.
be focused on the supporting documents, such as:
• the authenticity of the Torrens Title; SUNDRY PROVISIONS
• the existence of the original survey as the basis of the original Section 572 - The survey returns shall be submitted to the Regional Land
certificate of title; Management Services together with the prescribed letter of transmittal or
• the conformance of the boundary data of the lots with the similar form,
original approved surveys or antecedent surveys; Full information on the preparation and disposition of white prints, etc.
• the correctness of the traverse and control points; shall be provided on the upper half of the form. The lower half of the form

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 shall be filled out in the Land Management Services and returned to the BULACAN:
geodetic engineer as his receipt. 281.8099
1. Binagbag Angat, Bulacan
926.4915
Section 573 - After the approval of the survey, the sepia copy of the 2. Dampol Plaridel, Bulacan
929.9936
survey plan and the original and duplicate of the geodetic engineer 3. Guiguinto Guiguinto, Bulacan
5207.8943
certificate shall be released to the concerned geodetic engineer or to the 4. Lolomboy Bocaue,Marilao,San Jose del
Mont & Sta. Maria,Bulacan
survey claimant. The original plan and other records of the survey shall be
5. Malinta Polo, Bulacan
retained for file in the Land Management Services. No certified true copy 3514.8021
6. Matamo Malolos, Bulacan
of the plan for the purpose of registration shall be issued except to the 11.7290
7. San Marcos Calumpit, Bulacan
87.3289
survey claimant or his heirs provided that an affidavit stating the 8. Sta. Maria de Pandi Angat,Bigaa,Bocaue,Bustos,
10153.4477
whereabouts of the approved tracing cloth plan shall be submitted with Sta. Maria & Pandi,Bulacan
the request for another copy. CAVITE:
Imus, Bacoor, Kawit & 17166.3660
The city, municipal or provincial assessors shall be furnished with the 1. Imus
Dasmariñas Cavite
copies of the approved plan in accordance with the provisions of R. A. No. Naic & Indang, Cavite 7270.5635
2. Naic Tanza, Cavite General Trias & 9558.6963
7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991.
3. Sta. Cruz de Malabon Rosario Cavite 11128.4573
4. San Francisco de
CHAPTER XII - GOVERNMENT LAND SURVEYS Malabon
FRIAR LAND ESTATES CEBU:
1. Banilad Cebu City 1873.8061
2. Talisay Minglanilla Talisay & Minglanilla, Cebu 8154.9058
Section 574 - Surveys affecting the Friar Land Estates shall be executed ISABELA:
by geodetic engineers upon authority and order from the Director of Lands
1. Isabela Aurora, Antater, San Mateo, 19506.9267
or his duly authorized representative.
Cabatuan, Isabela
Section 575 - The Friar Land Estate are situated and known as follows: LAGUNA:
1. Binan Binan, Laguna 3563.7339
Names of Estates and Location Areas in 2. Calamba Calamba, Laguna 13364.9758
3. Sta. Rosa Sta. Rosa, Laguna 5413.3436
Provinces Hectares
OCCIDENTAL MINDORO:
BATAAN:
1. San Jose San Jose, Occ. Mindoro 22484.8150
1. Orion Orion, Bataan 935.4741
RIZAL:
1. Muntinglupa Muntinglupa, Rizal 2816.9507
2. Piedad Caloocan City 3812.5498
3. Tala Caloocan City 6991.4314

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 TOTAL 23 Estates 154976.4930 boundaries of the land in question as originally laid out and occupied. In
case the boundaries as given in the information from the Land
Management Services do not conform with the testimony of the occupants
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT LANDS or adjoining owners, diligent search for old boundary marks and evidence
Section 576 - The National Government Lands are the following: in support thereof shall be made,
(a) Lands forfeited for non-payment of taxes. Section 581 - The survey shall indicate the boundary lines as claimed by
the occupant or adjoining owners, and as deduced from the evidence
(b) Lands adjudicated to the government through foreclosure proceedings.
given by the Land Management Services or the information obtained from
(c) Lands acquired by the national government through forfeiture of bonds disinterested persons.
in criminal cases or as a result of execution of judgment in civil actions.
Section 582 - The survey shall also indicate the accurate location of the
(d) Lands acquired through expropriation proceedings, donations, foundation of all buildings or ruins found on the tract.
purchase or exchange when no longer devoted public uses.
Section 583 – In case there are buildings of strong materials on the land,
(e) Lands where old structures formerly used as fortifications and known measurement thereof shall be taken. The front and side elevations and
as "cotas", "baluartes", etc. are built or situated. floor plans shall be sketched, indicating thereon the materials used in the
(f) All other private properties of the national government acquired or held construction.
in whatever form when not needed for public purposes. Section 584 - The names and addresses of persons giving information
Section 577 - The survey of national government lands shall be made by and the gist of evidence shall be taken. Likewise, the names and
geodetic engineers upon receipt of authority and order from the Regional addresses of all adjoining owners or claimants and occupants of the land
Executive Director and/or the Regional Technical Director for Lands. shall be obtained.

Section 578 - Geodetic engineer hired by applicants of national Section 585 - An investigation shall be made to ascertain other facts as
government lands shall inform the Regional Executive Director of the may be desired and full report thereon shall be submitted together with
proposed survey, stating the name of the applicant, location of the land the survey returns.
applied for, and such data which may facilitate action by the Land Section 586 - The plans shall be drawn at a scale that will show all
Management Services. essential details. The location of all buildings shall be approximately
Section 579 - The authority and order for survey to be issued to the plotted and numbered. In no case shall the plan exceed the size of a
geodetic engineers shall be accompanied by necessary data, sketches, and cadastral map sheet as prescribed in Section 351.
instructions for making the survey. Section 587 - All notes, information and plans given to the geodetic
Section 580 – The geodetic engineer shall bring with him to the field his engineer by the Lands Management Bureau/Services or acquired during
notes, information or plans given by the Regional Technical Director for the investigation shall be submitted immediately, together with the survey
Lands. From such information and the evidence of the occupants, returns and required report, upon the completion of the work.
adjoining claimants and government officials, he shall try to relocate the

81
Section 588 - The survey of private lands to be purchased, expropriated shall be borne by the concerned city or municipal government.
or acquired in any other manner by the national government or local Section 597 - All land surveys for local governments which are not
government units shall be made in accordance with the requirements of organized as cities or municipalities shall be surveyed as in the case of the
Chapter XI, regular city or municipal government.
PROVINCIAI, GOVERNMENT LANDS CONVERSION SURVEYS
Section 589 - The survey for registration proceedings or other purposes Section 598 – Surveys for the conversion of graphical cadastral lots to
of lands belonging to or claimed as private property by provincial numerical cadastral lots shall be made in accordance with the special
government or of private lands acquired by said government through instructions to be issued by the Regional Technical Director for Lands.
purchase, grant, donation or in any other manner from individuals,
partnerships, associations, corporation or any other forms of organization CHAPTER XIII - OTHER LAND SURVEYS
shall be conducted by geodetic engineers. PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES
Section 590 - The survey of areas for school sites acquired from Section 599- The boundaries of provinces and sub-provinces shall be
individuals, partnership, associations, corporations or any other form of surveyed in accordance with the specific instructions which shall
organization shall be as in accordance with the regulations of the accompany the authority and order for survey issued by the Regional
Department of Education, Culture and Sports. Executive Director.
Section 591 - The survey of the provincial government lands referred to Section 600 - The authorities of the provinces separated by the
in Section 590 shall be undertaken in accordance with the applicable boundaries to be surveyed and of the respective adjoining municipalities
provisions of Chapter XI. shall be consulted and requested to indicate on the ground the common
Section 592 - The survey of lands of the public domain to be acquired by boundaries. The boundaries as defined by law or executive order creating
the provincial government from the national government shall be made by the province shall be located on the ground.
geodetic engineers. Section 601 -All corners accepted as common by the authorities of the
Section 593 - The costs of surveys of provincial government land shall be adjoining provinces and respective municipalities shall be defined by
borne by the concerned provincial government. monuments specified in Section 272(a).

Section 594 – Surveys of lands for sub-provincial governments shall be Section 602 - In the case of disputed boundaries, the corners shall be
made following the same methods for provincial government lands temporarily defined by hard wood post or monuments.
surveys. Section 603 - The lots included within the disputed area shall be located
CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LANDS using transit, tape, theodolite, and/or EDM. The lot owners thereof shall
be requested to provide information as to the municipalities in which their
Section 595 - The provisions of Sections 590 to 592 of this Manual shall lots have been declared for taxation purposes.
be applicable to the survey of city or municipal government lands.
Section 604 – A sketch plan of the disputed area shall be prepared
Section 596 - The cost of the city or municipal government land surveys

82
containing the following information: Section 610 - All corners accepted as common by the authorities of the
adjoining municipalities shall be defined by monuments as specified in
(a) Each lot and corresponding lot number.
Section 272(a).
(b) Name and address of each lot owner or claimant.
Section 611 - In the case of disputed municipal boundaries, the
(c) Municipality in which each lot has been declared for taxation purposes. procedure outlined in Sections 602 to 607 shall be followed.
Care shall be taken to determine whether or not disputed areas are
Section 612 - In cadastral projects the lots within the disputed area shall
declared in two or more municipalities.
be surveyed and the area shall be made as a cadastral case,
(d) The boundaries as claimed by each province.
Section 613 - When the areas in dispute are claimed by municipalities
Section 605 - The claims of one province shall be indicated by heavy situated in different provinces, the provincial authorities concerned shall
dotted lines and of the other province by heavy dash lines. A heavy full be requested to settle the dispute.
line shall mark the division between municipalities as indicated by tax
Section 614 - If the dispute is not settled by proper authorities, the
declarations, Lot lines shall be indicated by ordinary full lines. All
matter shall be reported to the Regional Executive Director and the
topographical information such as rivers, mountains, etc. that will assist
Director of Lands Management Bureau.
the authorities in their decision shall be shown.
Section 615 - After the final decision of proper authorities, the adopted
Section 606 - The local authorities shall be given opportunities to arrive
municipal boundaries shall be monumented with standard municipal
at an agreement in accordance with the Local Government Code, R.A.
boundary monuments as specified in Section 272 (a) and the monuments
7160 before a report on the dispute is forwarded to the Regional Executive
temporarily marking the disputed boundaries shall be removed.
Director and the Director of Lands Management Bureau.
Section 607 - After the final decision of proper authorities, the adopted
provincial or sub-provincial boundaries shall be monumented with BARANGAY BOUNDARIES
standard provincial boundary monuments and the temporary markers Section 616 - The survey of barangay boundaries shall be made after
referred to in Section 602 shall be removed. consultation with the barangay and municipal authorities concerned who
Section 608 - The cost of the survey of disputed boundaries between shall be requested to indicate the barangay boundaries.
provinces shall be home by the concerned provinces. Section 617 -All corners accepted as common by the authorities of the
adjoining barangays shall be defined by monuments as specified in
MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES Section 272(b).
Section 609 - The authorities of the municipalities separated by the Section 618- In the case of disputed barangay boundaries, the procedure
boundary to be surveyed shall be consulted and requested to indicate on outlined in Section 602 to 607 shall be followed.
the ground the common boundaries. The boundaries as defined by law or
Section 619 - In case the dispute is not settled by proper authorities, the
executive order creating the municipality shall, as much as possible, be matter shall be reported to the Regional Executive Director and the
located on the ground.

83
Director of Lands Management Bureau. erroneous shall be required to make a thorough examination of the
premises and to report his findings under oath. In case he finds his survey
Section 620 - After the final decision of proper authorities, the adopted
in error, he shall report in detail all discrepancies between the new survey
barangay boundaries shall be monumented with standard barangay
and the original survey and submit an explanation as to the cause thereof.
boundary monuments and the monuments temporarily marking the
If on the contrary, he finds his survey correct, a joint survey with the
disputed boundaries shall be removed.
geodetic engineer who reported the error shall be ordered to settle the
VERIFICATION SURVEYS differences in findings.
Section 621 - Whenever any approved survey is reported to be Section 624 - All survey work undertaken to check boundary lines and
erroneous, or when titled lands are reported to overlap or where position of corners and to obtain common points, etc., of surveys
occupancy is reported to encroach in another property, a verification previously approved by the Director of Lands/Regional Technical Director
survey shall be made only by a Geodetic Engineer in accordance with the for Lands shall be designated as verification surveys (Vs.). The number of
order of the Regional Executive Director or Regional Technical Director for the survey to be verified shall be given in the order for survey.
Lands. The field verification shall, among others,
Section 625 - The provisions of Sections 621 to 624 shall apply to
a) ascertain the position and descriptions of the existing survey verification surveys of isolated surveys and cadastral lots.
monuments or marker, buildings, fences, walls, and other permanent
AMENDMENT SURVEYS
improvements, which are used to provide evidence of original boundaries;
Section 626 - An amendment survey shall be made for the purpose of
b) give primary consideration to original survey marks, except where
changing the boundary lines by increasing or reducing the number of
other evidence, including original measurements, position of
corners of previously survey or consolidating and/or subdividing the area
improvements, or statements by occupants, suggests that the original
without including any new area or any area already included in other
markers were incorrectly placed or have been disturbed;
surveys previously approved by the Director of Lands/Regional Technical
c) ascertain the positions of buildings, fences, walls or other permanent Director for Lands,
improvements adversely affected by the determination of the boundaries;
Section 627 - The amendment survey for the consolidation and/or
d) inform the parties concerned of the effect of the determination of the subdivision into various lots, for registration proceedings of the area of an
boundaries and secure a statement from the parties that they have been original survey, may be made following the same methods prescribed for
informed of these findings. original surveys.
Section 622 - When gross errors or discrepancies in adjoining surveys Section 628 - A full explanation in writing of the reason for requesting
are discovered, an explicit statement of the lines found to be erroneous the amendment shall be submitted, giving the authority therefor, either as
and other discrepancies shall be recorded in the field notes. It shall be the desired by the owner or as directed by the court.
responsibility of the Geodetic Engineer to disclose any doubt or
Section 629 - If the person requesting the amendment is not the owner
discrepancy associated with the survey.
or claimant of the land, he shall be required to submit satisfactory proof
Section 623 - The geodetic engineer whose survey is reported to be that the owner or claimant thereof desires the amendment.

84
Section 630 - If amendment is desired to conform to adjoining previous or decreed properties and those of the later survey of an adjoining land
surveys, the numbers of said surveys or the Land Registration Authority shall be carefully investigated and reported to the Regional Technical
(LRA) survey numbers shall be stated. Certified copies or survey plans Director for Lands.
approved by the LRA shall be submitted with the survey returns. Section 637 - The subdivision plan or plans of leased, patented or
Section 631 - Amendment/subdivision of cadastral lots pending judicial decreed properties shall show the entire boundary of the original lot or
registration shall be made only upon order of the Court if the case has lots and each subdivision shall be treated as a separate parcel. Original
been filed for compulsory registration; otherwise, the survey shall be lots not subdivided shall not be shown on the plan, or if shown at all, it
made upon authority and order issued by the Regional Executive Director. shall be in fine dotted lines. Subdivision lots shall be numbered by
repeating the old number followed by the letter of the alphabet: Provided,
Section 632 - Returns of amendment surveys submitted to the Land
that if the subdivision is made in blocks, the blocks and the lots in each
Management Services for verification and approval shall include, among
block shall be numbered consecutively from 1. A subdivision plan shall
others, the tracing plan, order of the court, sketch plan showing the
contain the subdivision of one lot only and to be assigned as distinct
stations occupied, the control survey and the original field notes.
subdivision survey number.
SEGREGATION SURVEYS
Section 638 - All improvements, especially those described in the title or
Section 633 - Segregation surveys are surveys for the purpose of patent, shall be plotted on the plan of each lot of the subdivision. In the
segregating twenty (20) per cent or less of the area of previously absence of such improvements, the words "No Improvement" shall be
surveyed large tract of public land. noted correspondingly on the plan
Section 634 - Segregation surveys shall be made in accordance with Section 639 - Lot descriptions shall be prepared on the prescribed Lot
applicable provisions of Sections 394 to 452. The remaining area of the Descriptions form in case they cannot be shown on the plan.
mother lot shall be reflected in the footnote of the plan.
Section 640 - Surveys made under Sections 621 to 639 shall be carefully
LEASED, PATENTED AND DECREED LAND SURVEYS investigated. The convergency of meridians of the different surveys shall
Section 635 - The subdivision survey of leased, patented, or decreed be considered.
properties shall be made using the bearings, distances and areas in the REINSTATEMENT/RELOCATION SURVEYS
original survey approved by the Director of Lands or Regional Director of
Section 641 - Lot corners of a previously surveyed land, patented,
the Land Management Service and/or in the antecedent subdivision survey
decreed and titled shall be reinstated or relocated only by a qualified and
approved by the Land Registration Authority (LRA), Lands Management
experienced Geodetic Engineer who is knowledgeable of the laws on
Bureau (formerly Bureau of Lands) or Lands Management Services, or that
property, land registration, public lands and natural resources and who
appearing in the lease or title. In case of discrepancy the data in the
shall be able to explain his survey to the satisfaction of the approving
approved survey shall prevail. The discrepancy shall be reported for
officials and to the courts in case land conflicts are finally submitted for
reference in administrative or judicial correction of the title.
judicial settlement.
Section 636 - Discrepancies between the survey data of leased, patented

85
Section 642 -The relocation of corners or re-establishment of boundary Section 645 - The relocation of corners, re-establishment of boundary
lines shall be made using the bearings, distances, and area stated in the lines, etc. of magnetic surveys, upon which valid land titles have been
survey approved by the Director of Lands Management Bureau or the based, shall be the subject of special instructions to be issued in each
Region Technical Director for Lands or written in the lease or Torrens Title. case,
Section 643 - The geodetic engineer as required in verification surveys,
shall: RESURVEYS
(a) Ascertain the positions and descriptions of the existing survey Section 646 - A reserve is a survey made of a previously surveyed tract
monuments, buildings, fences, walls, and other permanent improvements, of land for the purpose of voiding the original approved but undecreed
which are used to provide evidence of original boundaries; survey due to failure to include all the areas claimed by the applicant.
(b) Give primary consideration to original survey marks, except where Section 647 - Survey returns of a resurvey shall be accepted for
other evidence, including original measurements, position of verification and approval only upon surrender for cancellation of the
improvements, or statement of occupants suggests that the original marks approved plan, technical descriptions and geodetic engineer's certificate of
were incorrectly placed or have been disturbed; the original survey. An affidavit of loss and a satisfactory proof that the
(c) When it is positively established that a boundary survey mark has not plan is not the subject of any public land application or registration
been placed as originally intended, re-set the mark after having recorded proceedings shall be submitted in lieu of the approved plan.
the position of the mark that is to be re-set; Section 648 - It shall also be applied to the survey of a tract of land,
d) Ascertain the positions of buildings, fences, walls and other permanent decreed or titled, whose technical descriptions are not inscribed in the title
improvements adversely affected by the determination of the boundaries or are no longer available in the Lands Management Bureau or the Land
and indicate the same on the plan; Registration Authority. The corners as indicated by the landowner and the
adjoining landowners shall be surveyed. The survey shall conform to
(e) Inform any owner affected by the determination of the boundaries
adjoining decreed or titled properties.
and obtain a statement from the owner that he has been informed;
Section 649 - The new survey returns shall be accompanied by a detailed
(f) Record any encroachment caused by the differences between the explanation why the resurvey was necessary.
positions of boundaries as determined in reinstatements relocation survey
Section 650 - In cases of previously decreed magnetic surveys or of
and the original or earlier surveys.
surveys whose technical descriptions cannot be reconstructed, the
Section 644 - The data used in monumenting or relocating corners of geodetic engineer shall make a complete resurvey of the property as
approved surveys shall be submitted to the Land Management Services for pointed out by the applicant and described in the certificate of title, trying
verification and approval. New corner marks set on the ground shall be to relocate as many old corners as possible of the previous survey. The
accurately described in the field notes and indicated on the original plans survey returns shall include the plan, geodetic engineer's certificate and a
on file in the Land Management Services. report of findings.

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 TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS
Section 651 - The topographic survey of cadastral projects, irrigation Section 658 - In all other surveys, detailed reports shall be submitted, in
projects, estates, mineral land claims, etc. shall be made in accordance addition to the field notes, sketches and plans, stating in full the methods
with special instructions to be issued for the purpose. of work, difficulties and local conditions encountered and other pertinent
information.
The primary and secondary control stations, and political boundary
monuments shall be used to control the topographic survey of cadastral
projects. LAND CLASSIFICATION AND DELIMITATION SURVEY
Section 652 - The elevation of the BLLM No. 1 of the municipality or Section 659 - Upon receipt of the authority and order from the DENR
cadastral project may be determined approximately by altimeter in case Secretary, the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), in coordination with the
the elevation cannot be obtained by more accurate methods. National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), shall
Section 653 - The elevation of all primary and secondary control stations determine and prescribe the criteria, guidelines and methods for the
and of the political boundary monuments shall be determined by leveling proper classification and survey of the public forest delimiting the
starting from and closing at the BLLM No. 1 of the municipality or project. alienable and disposable areas from the forest reserves when Congress
shall have determined by law the specific limits of the public domain.
Section 654 – The topographic survey shall be made with transit and
stadia or by plane table or by photogrammetry or any comparable Section 660 - Sub-classification categories. The land uses for which sub-
method. classification shall be carried out within the inalienable lands of the public
domain classified as forestlands, mineral lands, and national parks under
Section 655 - Topographic survey shall be made in accordance with the
Article XII, Section 3 of the New Constitution and as defined by the New
procedures described in standard surveying textbooks and the
Constitution, P.D. 704, P.D. 705, R.A. No. 7586 (NIPAS Act), LOI 1262 and
specifications for the survey.
other applicable laws shall be as follows:
1. for forestlands: agricultural, industrial or commercial,
SPECIAL SURVEYS residential, resettlement, ancestral lands, grazing, protection,
Section 656 - Surveys for geographic and scientific investigations, production, agro-forest, fish farm;
experiments and all other surveys not otherwise mentioned in this Manual 2. for national parks: natural park, strict nature reserve, natural
shall be made in accordance with special instructions which may be issued monument, wildlife sanctuary, protected landscapes and seascapes,
for the purpose. This shall be designated as "Special Work Order" (SWO) resource reserve, natural biotic areas; and
which cannot be a subject of titling and must be clearly stated on the
3. other categories established by law, conventions or international
plan.
agreements which the Philippine Government is a signatory.
Section 657 - Hydrographic surveys of canals, esteros, rivers, lakes,
Section 661 - Classification and sub-classification shall be done by
bays, and other bodies of water, shall be the subject of special instructions
NAMRIA, in coordination with FMB, through the Regional Land Evaluation
which shall be issued by the CGSD/NAMRIA for each case.

87
Parties (LEPs). This can be done by interpretation and analysis of the most corner 1, and cartesian coordinates of the other corners, description and
recent aerial photos, satellite data as well as legal references of the markings of the corner monument or markers.
subject area, supplemented by data/information gathered from the field. Section 665 - If the land, as classified and delimited, falls within the
Section 662 - Exact boundaries of the permanent or forest reserves and territorial jurisdiction of two or more municipalities, the portion falling in
public forest shall be laid out and monumented on the ground at not more each municipality shall be designated as separate parcels (Parcel A, B, C,
than 500 meters between monuments and constructed in accordance with etc.), respectively, and the corresponding areas are determined.
Section 272(e). Wooden post 30 x 30 x 200 centimeters, buried 50 Section 666 - After the approval of the map by the DENR Secretary,
centimeters into the ground, with chiseled markings in accordance with copies shall be given to the Regional Office, CENRO, PENRO, the Forest
Land Classification marking system may be used to mark intermediate Management Bureau, the Lands Management Bureau, and the Lands
corners established conspicuously at every 100 meters. Markers shall also Management Services.
be established at the perimeter of the buffer zone at every fifty (50)
meters intervals in addition to the permanent markers or concrete Section 667 - The NAMRIA shall be the repository of Land Classification
monuments (PD 705, DAO 13, S-1992). records which include fieldnotes, computations, and land classification
maps and other related documents.
Section 663 - The positions in the PPCS-TM/PRS 92 of the boundary
monuments or markers shall be established by NAMRIA using GPS
receivers and/or conventional surveying methods. This delimitation survey BUFFER ZONES WITHIN FORESTLANDS
shall be plotted on a Land Classification (LC) Map at the scale of 1:50,000
Section 668 - Buffer Zone: Definition - As used herein, a buffer zone
using the standard topographic map as the base map. If this scale is not
refers to a strip of land with natural or established vegetation which
practical, other scales as may be determined by NAMRIA, may be used.
provides an added layer of protection to the natural forests including
The layout and other information to be indicated on the map shall be mangrove forest.
determined by NAMRIA. However, the international cartographic symbols
Buffer zones shall be located and established in the following area (DAO
for the features such as roads, bridges, railroads, etc., shall be used.
13, S-1992):
Witness marker and other vital information that may serve as guide in
a) Twenty-meter strips of land along the edge of normal high waterline on
future relocation of boundary markers shall be described in the field notes.
rivers and streams with channels of at least five (5) meters wide or even
Section 664 - The Land Classification Map shall be prepared by NAMRIA less than five (5) meters if the water is continuously flowing:
and checked for its technical accuracy. The Land Classification Map
b) Strips of land at least fifty (50) meters in width fronting the sea, ocean
together with the corresponding draft DENR Administrative Order, shall be
or other bodies of water and 20 meters on both sides of river
submitted through the FMB and proper channels for approval of the DENR
channels/banks maintained and developed to enhance the protective
Secretary.
capability of mangrove against strong currents, winds and high waves;
The Land Classification Map shall indicate, among others, the corner
c) In storm-prone areas, mangrove forest strips 100 meters wide inward
number, geographic and cartesian coordinates in PPCS-TM/PRS 92 of
along shoreline fronting the seas, oceans and other bodies of water and

88
50 meters strip river bank protection; Section 672 - The CENRO, PENRO, Forest Management Services, Forest
Management Bureau, Lands Management Bureau, and CGSD/NAMRIA
d) Twenty-meter strips of land outside the boundaries and immediately
shall be furnished with copies of buffer zone maps and approved
adjacent to designated protected areas;
administrative order. The Land Management Services (LMS) shall be the
e) Twenty-meter strips of forest land adjoining ISF projects; repository of the map and survey records. The LMS shall project the buffer
f) Twenty-meter strips of land along the boundaries of reforestation zones in its Property Surveys Control Maps. Established buffer zones shall
projects adjacent to private/alienable or disposable lands; and not be the subject of application for lease or permit or any other form of
alienation (DAO 13, S- 1992).
g) A buffer zone of about 100 meters of residual forest shall be
established immediately surrounding the old growth forest stands.
However, when the old growth forest stand is adjacent to natural ground DELIMITATION OF RESERVATIONS, PARKS AND OTHER
features such as waterways (rivers, streams, creeks), gullies, or ridges PROTECTED AREAS
tops, these shall be used as boundaries. (DAO 13, S-1992).
Section 673 - Upon receipt of the authority and order issued by the
Section 669 - The CENROs and PENROs shall identify, with the aid of the DENR officials as stated in Section 394 for the survey of lands reserved or
latest Forest Resources Condition Maps, aerial photographs and/or proclaimed as National Parks and other Protected Areas, etc., NAMRIA
technical references, potential areas as buffer zones. Areas identified shall shall proceed to monument the corners, with the assistance of the
be demarcated on the ground by markers at every fifty (50) meter Regional Land Evaluation Party and the Forester assigned to the project,
intervals at the perimeter of the buffer zones. These shall be indicated on based on the technical descriptions contained in the proclamation. The
a buffer zone map at the scale of 1:50,000 with the standard topographic consecutive boundary corners shall be inter-visible and not to exceed 500
myops as the base maps and in PPCS-TM/PRS-92. meters from each other. The positions of the corners shall be determined
Section 670 - Once the boundaries of these buffer zones are identified using, preferably, GPS receivers and the metes and bounds shall be
and marked on the ground, the perimeter survey may be done through computed.
compass survey method or using Forestry transit and tape. However, it Section 674 - The political boundary of local government units as
should be tied to a nearby GPS station in the PPCS-TM/PRS-92 for established by law or executive order shall be located in the area. If the
positional location. If there is no PRS-92 nearby, the assistance of area falls within the territorial jurisdictions of two or more municipalities
CGSD/NAMRIA shall be sought to establish the position of the buffer zone as established by law, the portion falling in each municipality shall be
in the PPCS-TM/PRS-92. The compass survey shall be checked for its designated as Parcel A, B, C, etc., respectively. Then the corresponding
accuracy and polygon closure but need not be approved. area of these parcels are determined. The survey should also be based on
Section 671 - The CENRO concerned shall prepare an Administrative the evaluation report, inventory and sketching of the said area by the
Order establishing the area as a buffer zone which shall be submitted to Regional Land Evaluation Party and personnel of the Protected Areas and
the DENR Secretary through proper channels, together with the map and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB). (D.a.l., DAO 72-1, S. 1990; C.2, DAO 47, S.
development plan of the area, for approval. 1990).

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Section 675- If the delimitation survey is done by authorized private Sections 675 and 676, a copy thereof together with the numerical data of
geodetic engineers capable of undertaking GPS surveys, the observed GPS the metes and bounds, descriptions and geographic location of the corners
data shall be submitted to the CGSD/NAMRIA for processing, adjustment shall be given to the Lands Management Bureau, Forest Management
and determination of the geographic and cartesian coordinates in PPCS- Bureau, the CENROs, and PENROs concerned. Copies of the GPS survey
TM/PRS-92. Thereafter, the geodetic engineer shall submit the isolated plan approved by CGSD/NAMRIA shall be furnished to the Regional Lands
survey returns as stated in Section 474 to the Lands Management Management Services for plotting in its Survey Control Map, and the
Services for verification and approval of the plan. Forest and Lands Management Bureaus, the CENROs and PENROs
concerned.
Section 676 - If the delimitation survey is done by the geodetic engineer
using conventional surveying method and instruments, the complete DELIMITATION SURVEY OF FOREST RESERVES
survey returns as stated in Section 474 shall be submitted to the Lands Section 682 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials
Management Services for verification and approval. as stated in Section 394 for the survey of areas declared as permanent
Section 677 - If the proclaimed area is in conflict with previously forest reserves, NAMRIA, with the assistance of a Forestry Officer assigned
approved surveys or decreed properties, the survey in that particular to the project, shall proceed to monument the corners and the boundaries
portion shall be made to conform with the technical descriptions of the based on the sketch map prepared by the Land Evaluation Parties and on
approved survey. (C.2, DAO 47, S. 1990). the technical information and references sourced and/or gathered from
the following:
Section 678 - The survey shall be computed; the metes and bounds
determined and plotted on a suitable map size, preferably 100 centimeters a. Technical data contained in the proclamation.
by 120 centimeters, at a scale of 1:50,000. b. Photo maps or enlarged rectified aerial photographs;
Section 679 - Previously approved surveys inside the area shall be c. Latest available maps and references derived from satellite images;
reflected in the plan by light full lines indicating there in the survey
numbers. The unsurvey claims shall be sketched and reflected on the plan d. Base information supplied by the CENRO, PENRO and DENR
in dotted lines. The actual land uses and permanent improvements in Regional Office;
these private claims shall be indicated on the plan. (C.5, DAO 47, S.
e. Cadastral maps, latest LC Maps, and other sources of data and
1990).
information relevant for the purpose,
Section 683 - Permanent or forest reserves shall mean the mass of land
Section 680 - All corners of the boundary shall be marked conspicuously of the public domain which have been the subject of the present system of
in the ground with concrete monuments 15 x 15 x 50 centimeters in classification and determined to be needed for forest purposes.
accordance with Section 272(f),
Section 684 - Sections 414 to 424 shall be followed in the perimeter
survey of areas delimited as forest reserves, if done using conventional
Section 681 - After the plan has been approved in accordance with survey method and equipment. If the survey is done using GPS receivers
to establish the positions of the corners, NAMRIA shall determine the

90
survey design and execute the GPS Survey. If done by authorized private Section 689 - When the forest reserves transcends two or more
geodetic engineer using GPS receivers, Section 675 shall be followed. municipalities, the portion within the boundary of each local government
unit shall be plotted on the map and designated as separate Parcels A, B,
Section 685 - All corners of the boundary shall be monumented in
Cy etc., respectively. The corresponding areas are determined.
accordance with Section 272(f). Marking of corners may also be done
following the procedures under Sections 659 to 667, Land Classification
and Delimitation Survey,
Section 686 - All boundaries between permanent forest reserves and INTEGRATED SOCIAL FORESTRY SURVEY
alienable and disposable lands shall be clearly marked and maintained on
the ground. The corners shall be marked with concrete monuments at Section 690 - Upon receipt of authority or order from the Regional
interval of one hundred (100) meters but not to exceed 500 meters. Executive Director for the perimeter survey of ISF areas, the designated
Infrastructure or roads which will serve as buffer zone shall not exceed geodetic engineer, with the assistance of the Forestry Officer assigned by
two (2) meters in width, exclusive of shoulders and drainage ditches. In the RED to the project, shall proceed to monument all corners or corners
cases wherein the permanent forest boundary is adjacent to natural of the prominent turns of the boundaries based on the sketches prepared
ground features such as waterways (river, streams, and creeks), gullies, by the Land Evaluation Parties. However, the distance between two
or ridge tops, these shall be used as buffer zone. Otherwise, buffer zones succeeding monuments shall not exceed 500 meters and their
shall be established in accordance with Sections 688 to 672 (Buffer Zones construction shall be in accordance with Section 272(e). (B.3, DAO 72 S.
within forest lands). 1990; Sec. 17, PD 705, S. 1975)

Section 687 - The survey shall be computed and plotted in accordance The perimeter survey of ISF projects shall be done in accordance with
with Sections 326 to 335, 341 to 343, and 371 to 386. The survey symbol these rules and regulations and with an accuracy of fourth order as
shall be Frb (Forest Reserve Boundary). The complete survey returns shall prescribed in Section 55.
be submitted to the Lands Management Services for verification and Section 691 - The survey shall be tied to a point of known geographic
approval. However, survey using GPS receivers shall be submitted to positions in the PPCS-TM/PRS 92 by a closed traverse of tertiary precision
CGSD/NAMRIA for verification and approval as stated in Section 675. or a system of triangulation/trilateration using Theodolite and EDM or Total
Section 688 - Maps of classified forest reserves shall be prepared at a Station Systems. Actual observations using GPS Receivers may be made
uniform scale of 1:50,000, using standard topographic maps as base maps on the monumented corners and on inter-visible monumented corners for
or as may be determined by CGSD/NAMRIA. The maps shall indicate the azimuth orientation, (B.4, DAO 72 S. 1990)
PPCS-TM/PRS 92 grid lines. The PPCS-TM (1965) grids may be indicated Section 692 - In the case of on-going cadastral projects, the perimeter
by tick marks. The Forest Management Bureau, Lands Management survey of ISF areas shall be surveyed concurrently with the lot boundary
Bureau, the PENRO and CENRO concerned, and the Lands Management surveys in A and D areas. The ISF areas inside forestland or public forest
Services in the case of the GPS Surveys processed by NAMRIA shall be shall be depicted on a Social Forestry Map (SFM) and the parcels, if
furnished with copies of the map and boundary data. noncontiguous, shall be indicated as separate Parcels A, B, C, etc.,
respectively.(72 DAO 72 Amd.)

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 The lots within the alienable and disposable areas shall be assigned aspects but shall be called Forestry Cadastral Map (FCM) instead of CM.
cardinal numbers (lot 1, 2, etc.) and prepared on a cadastral map (CM). For ISF surveys independent of cadastral survey, the map shall be called
Section 693 - A strip of at least twenty (20) meters along the boundary Social Forestry Map (SFM). The perimeter survey of the ISF parcels shall
line of ISF areas and within the forest land shall be delineated as buffer be plotted on these maps and numbered consecutively from ISF-Parcel A,
zone between the ISF areas and forestlands. These should be marked "X" ISF-Parcel B, etc. for areas outside a cadastral survey and ISFC-Parcel A,
on immovable or fixed hard rocks or boulders with exposed surfaces of ISFC- Parcel B, etc. in cadastrally surveyed areas. No single parcel should
more than one meter in diameter or trees belonging to the first group or fall in two or more Cadastral projects or municipalities. (B.7.2, DAO 72, S.
indigenous or living edible fruit trees. In any case, the distance between 1990)
the two succeeding marks should not exceed five hundred (500) meters, Section 698 - The plan and other survey returns shall be submitted to
No improvements shall be introduced within the zone except for dirt roads the DENR Land Management Services for verification and certification. The
connecting the ISF areas and the outside areas. plan shall be marked "NOT FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES" in order that
Section 694 - The parcellary sketching of the individual ISF awards this cannot be used for titling by the awardee.
within the ISF areas shall be done by Administration through tachimetry Section 699 - A comprehensive report together with the survey returns
methods or by compass survey. These parcellary sketches of the individual shall be submitted stating the location of the ISF areas with respect to the
award to each ISF beneficiary shall be approved by the CENRO or PENRO. bodies of water, natural features such as mountains, existing virgin
Section 695 - The position of roads, trails, existing structures, important forests, nearest communities, man-made features such as dams and
natural features, etc., within the ISF areas and in the public forest shall be highways, and the approximate population of persons living in the area.
approximately located by transit and stadia or by other approximate These data shall be based on the personal observation of the survey party
method. and not of the occupants.
Section 696 - After the completion of perimeter survey of the ISF area
and parcellary sketching of the farm lots cultivated by upland farmers in CHAPTER XIV - MINERAL LAND SURVEYS
cadastrally surveyed municipalities, a sketch plan shall be prepared on
authorized LMB Forms. The survey symbol shall be "SFCM - Region Code Section 700 - Mineral land surveys are surveys of mining claims, quarry
Number - survey number". In municipalities that are not yet cadastrally applications, sand and gravel applications, and other mineral lands except
surveyed, the survey symbol shall be "SFM-Region Code Number - survey coal and petroleum, executed for lease, permit, license or for other
number". The sketch plan in both cases shall show the boundary lines, purposes pursuant to the provision of the mining laws of the Republic of
traverses, monuments and the position of the features mentioned in the the Philippines.(MLSRR).
preceding section. (B.7.1, DAO 72, S. 1990, amd)
Section 697 - In the case of the on-going cadastral survey, an overlay of LODE PATENT AND LEASE SURVEYS
the cadastral map segregating the forestland and public forest shall be
Section 701 - Mining claims located and registered before November 15,
prepared. This overlay shall be prepared similar to the cadastral map in all
1935 may be surveyed for lease purposes at the option of the applicant,

92
provided that in the case of the former, there must have been spent not intermediate corners of the mining claim and/shall bear numbers with the
less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for labor and improvements for suffixes a, b, c, etc.
the development of each claim. Mining claims located and registered on or In case of fractional lode claims, at least one of the boundary lines shall be
after November 15, 1935 shall be surveyed for lease purposes any time as near as possible parallel to the location line. (MLSRR)
within four (4) years from the date of the registration thereof, or
thereafter provided that a lease application has been filed during the said Section 707 - After the survey, the original plan of the claim shall be
period. (MLSRR) prepared complete with all the details. The title of the plan shall show the
following: name of the claim; kind of minerals contained therein; purpose
Section 702 - Claims located and registered under Act No. 137 which of the survey; name of the owner or holder of the claim; location, area in
were existing and in force since January 1, 1942, and whose owners hectares; date of registration of the original declaration of location; date
thereof filed lease applications on or before October 28, 1950 in of registration of deed of assignment; date of registration of amended
accordance with the provisions of Sec. 1 (b) of Rep. Act No. 81, as declaration of location, if there are any; dates of issuance of the survey
amended by Act No. 215, may also be surveyed for lease purposes. order and submission of survey returns; lease application number and
(MLSRR) date filed; and survey number. (MLSRR)
Section 703 - The position of corners, location posts Nos. 1 and 2, and of Section 708 - The reference point of the claim, as indicated on the
the discovery post, shall be verified on the ground and compared with the declaration of location or the tie point of the group of claims to which the
description and sketch given in the declaration of locations. All corners and claim under survey is a part, should be connected with the survey and
location posts shall be marked in accordance with Section 73 (g). (MLSR) indicated on the field notes, computations and on the working sheet plan,
Section 704 - The distance between location posts Nos. 1 and 2 shall not if possible,
exceed three hundred (300) meters. When the distance exceeds 300 Any discrepancy found on the ground relative to the reference point shall
meters, location post No. 2 shall be moved to a position on the location be stated on the descriptive report and shown on the working sheet plan
line at a distance of distance 300 meters from location post No. 1. When that accompanies the survey returns. (MLSRR)
the distance between location posts No. 1 and 2 is less than three hundred
(300) meters, location post No. 2 shall not be moved from its place and Section 709 -National, provincial, and municipal roads, passing through a
the positions of these posts shall govern the position of the claim.(MLSRR) lode or placer claim under patent or lease shall be surveyed and
their/actual positions shall be shown on the plan. (MLSRR)
Section 705 - All boundary lines shall be run when possible. If it is
impossible to run the boundary, closed traverse lines and/or
triangulation/trilateration system may be run for control and the corners INVESTIGATION OF DEVELOPMENT WORK AND IMPROVEMENTS
shall be set by side shots from the stations of said control. Section 710 - The improvements upon each mining claim shall be
Section 706 - When a corner is inaccessible, its position shall be defined numbered consecutively. The dimensions and character value of each
by two witness corners which shall be placed along the boundary lines and improvement shall be specified in the descriptive field report which shall
as near as possible to the inaccessible point. These shall be considered as be prepared and made a part of the survey returns. (MLSRR)

93
 same; and
GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR PATENT: PERMIT/LICENSE AND LEASE iv. The date of the submission of the survey returns thereof
SURVEYS through the Regional Technical Director for Mines.
Section 711 - All mineral land surveys shall be executed by licensed and (4) Affidavit of the deputized geodetic engineer concerned, stating that he
duly bonded deputized Geodetic Engineers or by the DENR Geodetic can execute the survey of the claims and submit the returns thereof to the
Engineers only upon receipt of an order of survey from the DENR officials Regional Technical Director for Lands through the Regional Director for
as stated in Section 394 (d). (MLSRR) Mines and Geo-Sciences within one (1) year after receipt of survey order.
Failure to submit the survey returns within said period is sufficient cause
for cancellation of the geodetic engineer's bond and/or cancellation of the
Section 712 - Before a survey order is issued, the applicant should file survey order, No extension of period within which to submit the survey
within the prescribed period, an application for order of survey in the returns shall be allowed unless for reasons of force majeure, admitting
Mines and Geo-Sciences Regional Office on the proper form prescribed for payment by the applicant of not less than 20% but not more than 50% of
the purpose. The application shall be accompanied by the following: the agreed professional fee advanced in consideration of such
(1) Two (2) sets of carbon copies of the original declaration of location or representation: Provided, that this provision on payment of the
two (2) certified copies of the same declaration of location issued by the professional fee shall not apply if the deputized geodetic engineer is an
Mines Regional Recorder. employee of the applicant and/or company interested in the survey. No
mineral land survey returns shall be accepted by the Land Management
(2) Pertinent documents such as deed of assignment and power-of-
Services without the endorsement of the Regional Director for Mines and
attorney duly registered with the Mines Regional Recorder, and in the case
Geo-Sciences.
of partnership or corporation, a copy of the articles of partnership or
incorporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange (5) A surety bond in the amount currently set by existing regulations per
Commission. application for order of survey for the approval of the Regional Executive
Director. This bond shall be forfeited for failure to execute the survey
(3) A notarized survey service contract executed by and between the
and/or comply with the obligations as required by existing rules and
applicant and the deputized geodetic engineer, except when the deputized
regulations. However, for survey of mining claims to be executed by the
geodetic engineer is employed by the claimant and/or company interested
geodetic engineers of DENR, the aforesaid requirements as enumerated in
in the survey provided that proof of employment of the deputized geodetic
items 3, 4, and 5 shall not be required. The corresponding survey fees as
engineer is submitted. Such service contract shall stipulate, among others,
required shall be deposited with the DENR Regional Office at the time the
the following:
application for order of survey is filed. (MLSRR)
i. The name of the contracting parties;
Section 713 - Before executing a mineral land survey, the deputized
ii. The names of the mining claims or identification of areas sought geodetic engineer or the DENR geodetic engineer shall require the
to be surveyed; applicant or his authorized representative to show the reference point,
iii. The consideration or contract price and mode of payment of the location posts and corners of the claim particularly for those claims

94
registered under Commonwealth Act 137. The survey shall not be surveyed as much as possible. (MLSRR)
executed until after the claim is properly identified Section 718 - The numbering of the corners shall be in the clockwise
Section 714 - In case the area shown to the Geodetic Engineer is other direction. If additional corners are necessary between the corners
than the area described in the declaration of location, the applicant should described in the declaration of location, these should be considered as
be advised to file a declaration of location for a new mining claim. After intermediate corners with the suffixes a, b, c, etc. (MLSRR)
the registration of the new mining claim, a carbon copy or a certified copy Section 719 - The corners of the mining claims shall be marked with the
of the new declaration of location shall be forwarded to the Regional corresponding corner and survey number used in the computations. For
Executive Director concerned with a request for the amendment of the claims registered under U.S. Congress of July 1, 1902 or under CA 137, if
survey order. (MLSR) the numbering of the corners on the declaration of location is
Section 715 - Before starting the survey, the geodetic engineer shall counterclockwise, the mark on the monuments should either be in
notify the DENR Regional Office concerned, the people in the region accordance with: the preceding statement or with the corresponding
through the Mayor of the municipality or the Chairman of the barangay corner numbers on the declaration of location with the name of the
where the claim/application is located, of the date of the executive of the mineral claim. In the latter case, the deputized geodetic engineer should
survey. The notice shall contain, among others, pertinent information, an submit necessary explanation which should be form part of the report. For
advice to any interested person to present his opposition to the geodetic claims/applications registered/filed under P.D. 463, corners of mining
engineer and show the corners of his mining claim/application, if there is claims/applications shall be defined by monuments placed at intervals of
any. (MLSR) not more than four hundred (400) meters. When the boundary lines of the
claim pass across mountains or rolling terrain, the intermediate
Section 716 - In mineral land surveys, all computations, plans, and maps
monuments between corners shall be established on ridges, and whenever
to be submitted to the Lands Management Services through the Mines and
possible, consecutive monuments shall be inter-visible. (MLSRR Amd)
Geo-Sciences for verification and approval shall be prepared in the
Philippine Plane Coordinate System-Transverse Mercator/Philippine Section 720 –The corners of the mining claim shall be concrete
Reference System 1992, using surveying instruments duly tested and monuments or cement patch on boulder, centered with a hole, spike, pipe
certified in accordance with Sections 15 - 37 of this Manual. or nail and marked with the corresponding corner number and survey
number as indicated in the declaration of location and in the order of
Section 717 - Tie line survey shall either be a closed traverse or a system
survey. (MLSRR)
of the triangulation/trilateration from a point of known geographic
positions in the PRS 92. The relative position between the claim Section 721 - When the mining claim undergoing survey adjoins
undergoing survey and other surveyed claims within one hundred fifty submerged land, a witness corner monument along the boundary leading
(150) meters of the survey in progress, shall be determined by a closed to the shoreline shall be set on the ground to witness the boundary or
traverse to at least two (2) existing well defined and permanently marked point or corner of the claim at the low tide level of the sea or lake.
corners of the former and later surveys and should not exceed thirty (30) Concrete monuments, galvanized iron pipes, fixed rocks, boulders or
centimeters in the northings or eastings. Conflicts of mining locations stakes and other monuments shall be set to define the corners of the
should also be indicated on the plan and their corners or posts should be claim along the shoreline at low tide level. (MLSRR)

95
Section 722 - When the survey covers mining claims or leases with Section 728 - The previously approved surface surveys and other
previously approved survey plans, an actual survey and verification of the occupancies shall be plotted in dashes on the mineral land survey plans by
existence of the corners of the old survey should be undertaken. The the Regional Surveys Division. The Regional Surveys Division shall also
actual surface occupants and improvements should be verified and plot the mineral land surveys on the cadastral map or Property Surveys
indicated on the plan. Any missing corner should be relocated and Index Мар.
monumented. The field notes and computations should be submitted Section 729- The applicant for survey of permit or lease of mineral lands,
together with the survey returns. (MLSRR) shall furnish the Deputized Geodetic Engineer all maps showing the
Section 723 -Mineral reserves, which have been proclaimed closed to location of the survey and underground workings which shall be submitted
mining location and other reservations established prior to the registration as part of the survey returns and for use of the Mines and Geo-Sciences.
of the mining claim shall be excluded from the surveys for lease, permit or (MLSRR)
license, (MLSRR) Section 730 - The survey returns should be submitted within one year
Section 724– Boundaries of claims under survey should be indicated as from the date of receipt of the survey order. These shall include the
public lands or private lands with the name of the owners, surveyed documents stated in Section 466.
mineral claims with corresponding survey numbers, roads, and/or natural In addition, the following shall also be submitted:
boundaries. (MLSRR)
a) Elevation and topographic survey computations
Section 725 - When a scheme of triangulation or trilateration is used for
establishing points of control, the position of stations should be selected b) Descriptions and field investigation report on the mining claim in
so that well-conditioned triangle are used. By well- conditioned triangle it quintuplicate signed by the Geodetic Engineer and duly notarized.
means that no angle thereof shall be less than twenty (20) degrees.
c) A consolidated plan at a scale of 1:4,000 showing the relative positions
(MLSRR)
of the surveyed mining claim(s) and other claims with existing rights at
Section 726 - Amendment surveys shall be executed only when ordered time of the survey.
by the Regional Executive Director. This order shall contain specifically the
d) Other documents pertinent to the survey of mining claim.
conditions and objects sought in the required amendment. (MLSRR)
e) Original copy of the survey order.
Section 727- All field notes, computations, reports of the survey and
plans of all mineral land surveys shall be submitted to the CENRO for The survey returns without the field notes, computations, plans and the
plotting in the CENRO index Map of Surveys. These shall then be above stated documents shall not be accepted.
forwarded to the Regional Director for Mines and Geo-Sciences. Except for reasons of force majeure, failure to submit the survey returns
The Regional Director for Mines and Geo-Sciences shall retain the other within one year from receipt of survey order is sufficient cause for
documents related to the mining application and forward the survey cancellation of the surveyor's surety bond and/or cancellation of the
returns to the Regional Technical Director for Land Management Services survey order pursuant to Section 32 of P. D. No. 463. (MLSRR)
for verification and approval. (DAO 72, S- 1990; DAO 35, S-1993)

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 TOPOGRAPHIC AND UNDERGROUND ELEVATION SURVEYS PREPARATION OF MINERAL LAND SURVEY PLANS
Section 731 - Survey of the surface and underground workings of Section 736- Plans of mining claims shall be drawn on the isolated survey
mineral lands shall be made to ascertain whether or not said workings form designed for mineral land surveys using the Philippine Reference
have been extended beyond the mines/quarry boundaries of the claim or System of 1992 (PPCS-TM/PRS 92).
application defined by imaginary vertical claims passing along the surface Section 737 - The plan shall be clearly and neatly drawn in drawing ink
boundaries. prepared in accordance with Sections 371 to 374. The following shall be
Section 732 - Topographic surveys as well as underground elevation shown on the plan:
surveys shall be done following the procedures and computations found in a) The boundaries of the claim shall be shown in full black ink heavier
surveying textbooks. than those of adjoining surveys. Stone or other permanent walls along
Section 733 - The following contour intervals shall be adopted to suit the boundaries shall also be shown,
topographical conditions of the area undergoing survey, b) All bearings and distances in black ink,
c) Contour lines in brown ink.
Difference of Maximum & Minimum Elevations Contour Intervals d) Rivers, creeks and waterlines in blue with their respective widths.
99 meters or less 5 meters e) Surveyed private claims and public lands, mining claims, surface
100 meters and above 10 meters ownerships inside the mining claim being surveyed shall be indicated by
dotted lines and the boundaries between them in broken black lines,
Widths of roads, trails, streams shall/be indicated,
Section 734 - In surveying claim which adjoins previously approved
mining surveys, the topography of the former should conform with the f) Latitude and longitude of corner 1 of plans for lode, placer, sand and
topography of the latter at common boundary and the contours should gravel; latitude and longitude of all corners of mining and quarry
match with each other. In case they differ, the differences should be application claims, registered under P.D. 463.
carefully investigated and the error of the new survey shall be corrected. g) The improvements and their descriptions and their extent. (MLSRR)
However, if the error is within the approved survey, no correction shall be
made, instead a report shall be submitted together with the survey Section 738 - Bearings and distances shall be tabulated on the plan when
returns. Necessary corrections may be ordered by the Director of Mines they are too numerous to be shown clearly along or near the boundary
and Geo-Sciences according to the nature of the work and the amount of lines,
error found. (MLSRR) Section 739 - All plans shall show a statement certifying whether or not
Section 735 - The field notes, computations and plans of topographic and a protest was raised during the survey. The format and text of the plan
underground elevation surveys shall be submitted as part of the survey shall be as prescribed by the DENR.
returns. (MLSRR) Section 740 - The approved original plan shall be returned to the
Regional Director for Mines and Geo- Sciences. Copies shall be retained by

97
the Regional Surveys Division for official file. The CENRO and PENRO or province to undertake the cadastral survey thereof shall first obtain a
concerned shall be furnished with the copies of the approved original plan. written authority or permission from the Regional Technical Director for
Lands or the Regional Executive Director,
Section 741 - Symbols to be used for mineral land surveys are found in
the appendix. Section 745 - The technical men, field and office methods, the equipment
and supplies to be used by the said geodetic engineers in the survey of
cadastral projects shall be subject to pre-approval and strict supervision
and inspection by the authorized representatives of the Land Management
Services and the CENRO. The representative shall see to it that the
requirements of this manual and of the terms and condition of the
assignment and/or contract are fully complied with.
Section 746 – Representatives of the Land Management Bureau/Services
shall check and verify the accuracy and completeness of the work on each
assigned projects to ensure that reasonable diligence and care are
exercised in the survey. A final inspection shall be made by the CENRO
and LMS before the transmittal of the survey records to the Land
P A R T III Management Services.
PROVISIONS GOVERNING CADASTRAL LAND SURVEYS Section 747- For information and record purposes, the personnel
CHAPTER XV - FIELDWORK ON CADASTRAL PROJECTS employed by the geodetic engineer shall be reported to the Regional
Executive Director, copy furnished the Director of Lands Management
GENERAL STATEMENT
Bureau as soon as said employee was employed in any assigned project.
The personnel includes the geodetic engineer's aides, cartographers,
Section 742 - Cadastral surveys of municipalities or portions thereof and surveymen, linemen, tapemen, computers, and other persons he or she
of other extensive areas as classified in Section 3, authorized by the may employ. No substitution of technical personnel or reduction of
President of the Philippines, shall be made by geodetic engineers upon personnel and equipment per Cadastral Survey Management Plan shall be
orders of the Regional Technical Director for Lands or Regional Executive made without prior approval of the RED.
Director pursuant to Section 394. Section 748 -The unit of survey shall be the city or municipality or
Section 743 –Cadastral surveys may be assigned by the Regional portion thereof or area designated in the authority and order for survey.
Executive Director to geodetic engineers in private practice whenever such Cadastral survey project number shall be secured from the Land
assignment, is necessary for the prompt adjudication of titles. Management Bureau. The boundary survey shall follow the limit as defined
in the law, or the executive order creating the local government unit.
Section 744 - Geodetic engineers who wants to enter into any contract or
negotiation with the land owners and local authorities of any municipality

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 PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS preliminary survey in accordance with Section 132.
DATA OF THE SURVEY (c) Start the manufacture of standard concrete corner monuments,
Section 749 - The following shall be secured by the geodetic engineer (d) Prepare the progress and project control map from the preliminary
from the Lands Management Services, whenever available, in connection survey and sketch thereon the boundary of the project, locating areas in
with the order for the survey: dispute between municipalities, provinces, etc. See Sections 915 to 920,
(a) Copies of projection maps on a scale of 1:4000 and/or enlargements (e) Take astronomical observations for azimuth as required to establish
thereof covering the entire area of the project; the base meridian. Start the measurement of the azimuths and distances
of the main and subsidiary controls.
(b) Prints or tracings of approved plans and copy of computations of all
previous surveys within the project; (f) Submit the main and subsidiary controls for verification and approval.
(c) Progress map of each adjoining cadastral project, in progress and (g) Prepare the sketch sheets noting thereon the previous surveys and
completed; start sketching of lots claimed. Start monumenting of the property corners
and of political boundaries.
(d) Approved horizontal angles, distances and other data on main control
stations of adjoining projects; (h) Post the "30-day notices”. Notify owners or claimants to appear on the
ground, verify and approve boundaries as monumented.
(e) Approved data on provincial and municipal boundary monuments and
lot corners along the boundaries of adjoining projects; and (i) Start survey of lots and other details after approval of main and
subsidiary controls.
(f) List of approved surveys, surveys filed for registration and their status
such as decreed, pending, dismissed, etc. (j) Plot on the cadastral maps the corners as located from control stations,
connecting the corners in accordance with the sketch of the survey,
Section 750 - The cost of preparing the data described in the preceding
Transform previously approved surveys to PPCS/Grid-PRS 92 system.
section shall be charged to the project in the case of surveys by DENR
geodetic engineers and to geodetic engineers in private practice in the (k) Number the lot corners in the cadastral maps according to the field
case of surveys assigned to them. notes.

SCHEME OF WORK (l) Prepare lot data computations.

(m) At the expiration of the 30-day notice, make a tracing of the cadastral
Section 751 - The following scheme of work on a cadastral survey project maps and verify same in the field, correcting all errors found. Post copies
is suggested: of the cadastral maps in the Barangay Hall.

(a) Post and distribute notices of survey in English, Spanish, and (n) Make a final check to verify discrepancies. The work shall be scheduled
in such a way that the work in localities of difficult access will be
Filipino languages and in the local dialect.
performed during favorable weather.
(b) Locate the main control lines, monument its stations and run the
(o) Complete and ink the cadastral maps.

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(p) Prepare the barangay/case boundary of index maps and complete the 1. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1851 of the Administrative Code
progress map. (Act No. 2711 as amended), notice is hereby given to all persons claiming
interest therein and to the general public that on the _______ 19 ___ in
(q) Prepare the municipal/project boundary and index map.
the municipality of _____________, province of ______________ a
(r) Prepare the complete survey returns of the project. cadastral survey of all lands situated within the boundaries of the said
All phases of work may be done simultaneously in different parts of the municipality will be commenced by the _______________.
project. 2. In accordance with Section 1853 of the said Code, the geodetic
engineers and other employees of the ______________________ shall
NOTIFICATION OF SURVEY
have full authority of law to enter upon the above mentioned lands for the
Section 752 - Copies of the general notice of the survey in Filipino, purpose of making the survey and placing monuments thereon; and it is
English and Spanish languages and in the local dialect, stating the area the duty of all persons claiming said lands or interest therein to fully
involved and the date of beginning, shall be distributed and posted in inform the said geodetic engineers and other employees concerning the
conspicuous places in the barangay being surveyed and the municipal boundaries of their respective land claims.
building of the municipality in which the lands or any portion thereof are
3. Any person who shall willfully refuse to give such information or shall in
located. Copies of the notice shall also be sent to the barangay, municipal
any manner interfere with the survey and placing of the monuments, or
and provincial authorities.
shall alter the location of the same, or shall deface, destroy or remove the
The general notice of survey in English is as follows: said monuments, or remove notice of survey posted upon the lands shall
be liable to prosecution under the provision of Section 2753 of the
Administrative Code, as amended by Act no. 3077.
Republic of the Philippines
4.Practicing geodetic engineers are hereby requested to submit to the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Land management Services, within sixty (60) days from____________ 19
Land Management Services, Region ____ _______, a list of the isolated surveys being made within the
aforementioned cadastral project and another list of contracts for isolated
surveys entered into in good faith by them prior to
CADASTRAL SURVEY PROJECT
__________________ . Isolated surveys not listed as herein required will
NO. _________ SUBJECT: Cadastral Project No. _____ not be accepted for verification and approval.
Cadastral Survey of the 5. Upon the completion of this cadastral survey, a petition for the
Municipality of ___________________ settlement and adjudication of the titles to the lands included in the said
survey in favor of all persons entitled thereto under the law will be filed by
Province of ______________________ the Regional Technical Director for Lands in the Regional Trial Court
of______________.
6. The full cooperation of all land owners and others interested in the

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welfare of the community is desired and requested. This cooperation may
be expressed in the form of facilities given to the geodetic engineers CONTROL OF THE PROJECT
engaged in the work by furnishing all desired information concerning
property boundaries, cutting lines, helping in transporting and planting
monuments and by providing such other means as may be found Section 754 - The provisions of Sections 117 to 228, 238 to 241 and 242
appropriate and feasible in each case. to 246, shall govern the establishment of primary, secondary and tertiary
controls of cadastral projects.

_________________________
POLITICAL BOUNDARIES
Regional Executive Director

Section 755 - Political boundaries in the cadastral projects as defined in

the Laws or Executive Orders creating the municipalities shall be located,
monumented and surveyed. These political boundaries are:
Section 753 – The following certificate shall be attached to one copy of
the notice in each language and local dialect: (a) Provincial or city boundaries
(b) Municipal boundaries
“I hereby certify that on this date _____________ , 19 ______.in (c) Barangay boundaries
accordance with the provisions of Section 1, Act 2259, as amended, I Section 756 - The requirements of Sections 559 to 620 on the
posted a copy of the attached notice of survey at the following described establishment of political boundaries shall be also applicable to cadastral
points _______________: and on the principal building in the Barangay of projects.
__________________, Municipality of _______________ , Province of
_______________.” Section 757 – The political boundary as defined by the law or executive
order creating the political unit shall be established on the ground. The
position of political boundary shall be determined by primary or secondary
________________________________ control.
Chief, _______________Cadastre Section 758 - Political boundary monuments shall be established at the
prominent turns or angles of the boundaries and where they cross roads
Cad= ___________________________
or large streams. Where these boundary lines follow roads, streams or
This signed certificate with one copy of the notice in each language other natural features, a monument shall be placed near their junction
and local dialect shall be returned promptly to the Land Management points. Intermediate points along said road or natural boundary need not
Services upon completion of the posting. be monumented but marked with other acceptable markers.
Section 759 - Municipal and barangay boundary monuments shall be

101
established along straight municipal and barangay boundaries at intervals municipalities shall be determined and indicated on the sketch sheets
at nor more than one kilometer except when the boundary passes through accordingly. The information shall be drawn on the sketch sheets in black
forest lands. ink to facilitate reproduction.
Section 760 - Barangay, municipal and city boundary monuments shall Section 766 - In case the boundary dispute is not settled before the
be numbered consecutively from one (1) for each municipality/city. The completion of the field work of the cadastral project, the disputed area
numbers of the barangay, municipal, city and provincial boundary with all the lots contained therein shall be surveyed and treated as
monuments shall be inscribed or chiseled under the name of the separate cadastral case.
respective barangay, municipality, city or province. Section 767 - In case of boundary disputes, the procedure outlined in
Section 761 - In case a municipal boundary monument is common to two Sections 602 to 607, 611 to 615, 618 to 620 of this Manual and Section
or more municipalities, the monument number for each municipality shall 118 of RA 7160 shall be followed.
be chiseled or inscribed on the respective faces of the monument fronting
the corresponding municipality.
NOTIFICATION TO LOT CLAIMANTS
Section 762 - The corner of the municipal boundary already defined by a
provincial boundary monument shall be given its equivalent municipal Section 768 - The following notice shall be prepared in the local dialect,
boundary monument number without altering the inscription on the for posting and general distribution, by the sketching party at the time the
monument and shall be indicated in the sketches, field notes and maps. work of defining and sketching of lot boundaries is commenced in each
barangay.
Section 763 - The corner of the barangay boundary already defined by a
provincial or a municipal boundary monument shall be assigned its
equivalent barangay boundary monument number without altering the PUBLIC NOTICE
inscriptions on the monument and indicated in the sketches, field notes
and maps.
_____________, _________
Section 764-In the case of boundary dispute, the disputed area shall be
drawn on the sketch sheets and a report shall be forwarded to the TO ALL PROPERTY CLAIMANTS IN THE __________________________
Regional Executive Director, copy furnished the Lands Management
Of _______________, Municipality of ______________, Province of
Bureau, thę barangay, municipal or city and provincial authorities
_________________, Philippines.
concerned.
Section 765 - The report required in the preceding section shall include a
tracing of the disputed area as indicated on the sketch and shall show the You are hereby advised that the President of the Philippines has
general claims of each municipality or province. The municipality in which ordered the survey and registration of all lands in the ______________ of
each of the affected lots are declared for taxation shall be indicated on the _____________ Municipality of ______________ Province of
sketch sheet by its initial letters. Contested areas declared in two or more ___________ and that the Regional Executive Director has given due

102
notice of the date on which such survey shall begin, all in accordance with and barangay buildings at the time that the general delivery and posting is
the provisions of Section 1 of Act No. 2259, entitled " The Cadastral Act made in each barangay. One copy in the local dialect and in Filipino,
"as amended by section 1850 of the Revised Administrative Code, Act English, and Spanish shall be transmitted to the Land Management
2711. You are therefore notified in accordance with section 2 of said act as Services with following certificate attached thereto:
amended by section 1852 of the Revised Administrative Code, Act 2711,
that the undersigned will begin the survey of the lands in the vicinity of
the barangay of _______________ on____________19 I certify that on this date ____________ ,19____ in accordance
_____________________ with the provisions of section 2 of Act 2259, as amended, I have caused
copies of the foregoing notice in the local dialect to be distributed to the
You are further notified in accordance with Section 4 of said Act as local claimants of lands located in the barangay of ____________,
amended by section 1854 of the Revised Administrative Code, Act 2711, municipality of ___________ , Province of ______________ and have
that: "It shall be the duty of every person claiming interest in the lands to caused copies of said notice to be posted in prominent and public places in
be surveyed, or in any parcel thereof, to communicate to the geodetic the district and copies of said notice in the English, Spanish, and Filipino
engineer in charge upon his request therefor all information possessed by languages and the local dialect were also posted in the municipal and
such person concerning the boundary lines of any lands to which he claims barangay buildings of said municipality.
title or in which he claims any interest."
Section 4 of said Act, as amended by section 9 of Act 3077 further
provides that: "Any person who shall interfere with the making of the __________________________________
survey undertaken by the Bureau of Lands, or shall interfere with the Chief, ____________Cadastral Survey Party
placing of any monument in connection with any such survey, or shall
Cad - _______________
deface, destroy, or remove any monument so placed, or shall alter the
location of any such monument, or shall destroy or remove any notice of LOT SKETCHES
survey posted on the land pursuant to law, shall be punished by a fine of
not more than P= 100.00 or by imprisonment for not more than thirty
Section 770 - Sketch sheets on any mapping paper shall be prepared in
days or both."
the same standard size as the cadastral maps in the scale of 1:4000.
__________________________________
Section 771 – Sketch sheets on a scale larger than 1:4000 may be
Chief, Cadastral Survey Party No. ______ prepared for sections of the project in which the lots are too small to be
shown in the standard scale.

Section 769 – Copies of this notice shall be posted in prominent and Section 772 – All previously approved surveys shall be drawn in pencil
public places and each claimant shall be furnished with a copy of the and all new monuments and control stations shall be inked on the sketch
notice in the local dialect. A copy thereof with translation in Filipino, sheets.
English, and Spanish languages shall also be posted on the main municipal Section 773 - Each sketch sheet shall be given the corresponding

103
cadastral map number or sectional cadastral map number. ditches as the case maybe on the sketch sheets. The direction of flow of
the water shall be indicated by an arrow.
Section 774 - Sketching parties shall secure the services of guides who
are familiar with lot boundaries and the claimants after consultation with Section 781 - Foreshore lands shall be sketched as a separate cadastral
officials of the local government unit (LGU). lot and clearly indicated on the sketches and fieldnotes as foreshore lands.
The corners that fall into the sea shall not be monumented but shall be
Section 775 - Lot corners, roads, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, pools,
indicated on the sketches by appropriate survey symbols.
irrigation canals or ditches, political boundaries, railroads, etc., shall be
plotted on the sketch sheets and their local name indicated. Section 782 - Portions of lots which fall within the right-of-way of roads
as determined by the District Engineer shall be sketched and numbered as
Section 776 - Lot corner marks and boundaries such as stone walls,
separate lots when claimed as private property. Such claims, however,
trees, stakes or monuments shall be indicated on the sketch.
should be discouraged.
Section 777 - Sketches shall be made in the field using plane table and
Section 783 - Sketches must be prepared with care especially with
alidade, stadia rod or on aerial photographs. Where competent sketchmen
regard to lots and spelling of all proper names. The name of the
are available, sketches may be made by the free hand method. The
municipality, cadastral survey number, scale and sketch sheet number
boundaries along borders of the adjoining sheets shall be carefully
shall be shown in ink on the lower right hand border. The sketches shall be
compared and checked in order to avoid omitting or duplicating side shots
dated and signed by the sketchmen.
during the lot survey. All data secured shall be indicated by using the
conventional symbols and signs as prescribed for cadastral maps. The Section 784 - As soon as sketching is finished and before final lot
corners sketched shall be marked temporarily by stakes until verified and numbers are assigned to each lot, the project shall be divided into
monumented in the presence of claimants. Trees shall be marked on the cadastral cases which shall be co-extensive with the barangay. Lots shall
side opposite the lot in which they are claimed. be numbered consecutively in each cadastral case/barangay.
Section 778 -The lots shall be formed such that no single lot shall fall in
more than one barangay SKETCHING OF PREVIOUSLY SURVEYED OR PATENTED, LEASED
Section 779 - The name of the claimant of each lot shall be written on AND DECREED PROPERTIES
the sketch sheet. In case lots or portions of lots are claimed by two or
more persons, the areas in dispute shall be sketched as separate lot and
the names of all claimants shall be noted therein. Section 785 - Sketchmen shall carry to the field the tracings of patented,
leased, decreed and previously approved surveys. All corner markers shall
Section 780 - Streams five meters or more in width, streams less than be located and definitely identified as the original monuments.
five meters in width through which water flows continuously and irrigation
ditches or canals shall be excluded from the lot. The property lines shall Section 786 - All previous surveys contained in one sketch sheet shall be
extend only to the banks thereof excluding the mandatory bank protection drawn in a sheet of tracing paper. The sketchmen shall compare the plan
and easement as stated in Section 310 to 312. These waterways shall be of the previous survey with the actual boundaries of the land as found on
indicated by their local names as rivers, esteros, arroyos, creeks, canals or the ground. Diligent search shall be made for old monuments.

104
Section 787 - In case of minor difference between the plan of the that the Court will require them to establish their monument of title to
previous survey and the actual boundaries thereof, the latter maybe such dispute area.
accepted provided the adjoining owners agree thereto and the adjoining SKETCH AND SURVEY RECORD CARD
lots are not yet decreed/titled. In case it is evident that areas claimed are
clearly outside the boundaries as registered and not the result of errors of Section 791 – Sketching parties shall carry to the field sketch and survey
measurement in the original survey, such areas shall be sketched, record cards. One card for each lot shall be prepared by the sketch party
surveyed and numbered as separate lots. and filled out with the information as required thereon. The spelling of the
claimant's name, his age and community tax certificate number shall be
Section 788 - Claims inside patented or decreed properties shall be carefully verified by the sketchman.
disregarded unless supported by an order from the Regional Trial Court for
each specific claim. Section 792 - A provisional number shall be assigned by the sketchman
to each lot and indicated on the sketch and survey record card. It will be
In case of leased untitled properties, the adverse claim must be supported convenient to assign for the use of one sketchman number 1 to 1,000; to
by written authority from the Regional Technical Director for Lands or an another, number 1001 to 2000; and so on.
order from the Regional Trial Court for each specific claim before it is
considered. Section 793 – The date the lot was sketched, the name of the
sketchman, the date of appearance of applicant or agent, etc. must be
Section 789 – The corners of patented, leased, or decreed properties, or entered on the sketch card by the sketchman at the time of sketching. The
of previous surveys common to two or more adjoining lots shall be applicant or his agent shall be required to sign the certificate relative to
monumented in case the corners were not monumented in the previous sketching on the back of the card, crossing out the word "survey" in the
survey or in case the monuments were not found in place. However, this certificate.
requirement shall not apply to adjoining approved cadastral projects or to
corners of previous surveys that were not required to be monumented. Section 794 - Information pertaining to public, government or mineral
Corners common to only one adjoining lot maybe monumented if the land applications and previous surveys shall be noted in red ink.
owner pays for the cost of relocating and monumenting the said corners. Section 795 - As the sketching progresses, the municipal engineer shall
Portions of patented, leased, or decreed or previous surveys which form be requested to indicate the centerlines and widths of all streets and roads
part of river, estero, arroyo, creek and the mandatory stream bank other than provincial roads. The corner at the points of intersection of the
protection as stated in Sections 310 to 312 shall be sketched, and later road and lot boundary lines shall be monumented.
surveyed, as separate lots and indicated as such in the cadastral maps. Section 796 - The District Engineer shall be notified before provincial
roads are monumented. Plans of railroad right-of-way or data on the width
thereof may be secured from the railroad company.
CONFLICTING CLAIMS
Section 797 - Curves of right-of-way of railways and highways shall be
Section 790 -In case of disputed ownership, the sketching party shall try
laid out and monumented as required in Section 300 (a). For other curves
to bring the claimants to an agreement in the field in order to reduce the of short radii such as those of streets, circular plazas, etc., the laying out
number of such conflicting claims. The adverse claimants shall be advised

105
and monumenting shall depend upon the plans of layout, if any, of the tree, thirty centimeters in diameter," etc.
local authorities. Section 805 - Standard concrete monuments shall be manufactured
Section 798 - These sketch and survey record cards shall, after under the direction of the geodetic engineer in charge of the cadastral
completion, be placed in the alphabetical file. project following the provisions of Sections 272(d) and 282.
Section 799 - These cards shall be duplicated and the duplicate card shall Section 806 - Standard concrete monuments defining and marking the
be placed in the numerical file. The geodetic engineer shall carry the boundaries of cadastral lots shall be numbered consecutively from 1 to
duplicate cards for completion during the lot survey. 999 preceded by a letter in alphabetical order starting from A: thus A-1,
A-999; B-999; etc.
Section 800 - Both cards shall contain the class of land, whether urban
or rural; home lots; agricultural; nature of cultivation such as riceland, Section 807 -The requirements of Sections 269 to 304 shall govern the
copra, vegetables, etc. the nature of claim, whether titled/patented or momumenting of lots within cadastral projects.
public land; and the prevailing land use in accordance with Lands
Management Bureau prescribed classification scheme.
THE FINAL SURVEY
Section 801 - The claimants of parcels adjoining the project boundaries
shall be notified of the survey and shall be requested to sign the sketch NOTIFICATION OF LOT CLAIMANTS PRIOR TO THE FINAL SURVEY
and survey record cards for their adjoining parcels during the sketching Section 808 - After the lots had been sketched and monumented and
and survey. The adjoining parcels shall be assigned adjoining lot numbers before final lot surveys are inaugurated in a barangay, each lot claimant
as prescribed in Section 923. shall be notified by survey notification card to appear at the premises on
Section 802 - A set of index cards to be known as "A" lot cards shall be the stated date of interview for the purpose of verifying the boundaries of
prepared for adjoining parcels (A-lots) described in the preceding section his property as sketched and monumented. The notification card
indicating thereon the A-lot number, the names and addresses of the containing the name of the claimant, the lot number, the location of lot by
claimant and his agent and the survey number, if any, of the A-lot. barangay and the sketch sheet number shall be delivered, preferably, by
members of the party or by mail.
MONUMENTING OF LOTS
Section 809- A sketch of the lot showing the adjoining lot numbers and
their claimants and the concrete monument numbers shall be drawn in ink
Section 803 - All lot claimants shall be informed of the importance of on the survey notification card. The lot owner/claimant shall be advised
monumenting as a far reaching single feature of the cadastral project. The that no answer shall be verified during the court hearings for any lot
value and usefulness of the surveys depend upon the permanency of the without the corresponding survey notification card unless sufficient reason
work. is given for its absence. He shall likewise be advised that in case of any
transfer of ownership the card must be transferred as an integral part of
Section 804 - Concrete monuments shall be indicated upon the sketch by
the document of transfer.
a circle; stakes by the points of intersection of the boundaries. Other
markers shall be designated by names and dimensions such as "mango Section 810 - If claimants are notified by mail they shall be given at least

106
fifteen days advance notice. The sketches must be available for their wherefore, it shall be understood that there are no further claims or
examination on the dates stated in the notification. Checks shall be made pending protests
to avoid mistakes in names and boundaries. The geodetic engineer or his
representative shall accompany the claimant to his land and show the
monumented boundaries. The claimant shall be encouraged to indicate his ________________________________
claim/s. Controversies shall be settled if possible at this stage. The Chief of Party _____________ Cadastre
claimant or his representative shall be requested to sign the duplicate
Cad- _____________
sketch and survey record card for the lot surveyed.
Section 811 - Before the survey notification card is served to the
claimant, the date and manner of notification shall be entered on the
corresponding sketch and survey record card for the lot in question. Section 814 - Upon completion of the cadastral survey, one copy of the
Section 812 -In case a lot number is changed after the claimant has notice in each language and in the local dialect shall be forwarded with the
received his survey notification card, he shall be advised and a new card survey returns to the Land Management Services accompanied by the
indicating the new lot number shall be issued in exchange for the old one. following certificate:
"I hereby certify that copies of the attached notices were posted in
conspicuous places in the barangay of ________________ on
Section 813 - After the claimants or his authorized representatives have
______________, 19 ______ and on the municipal building of
appeared and approved the lots as monumented, the following notices in
________________.
English, Spanish, Filipino and local dialect shall be posted in conspicuous
places throughout the locality and on the municipal building. The notice
shall be referred to as the "30-day notice." _________________________________
Chief of Party,____________ Cadastre
Cad - ________________
PUBLIC NOTICE
All persons claiming land within the barangay of __________________ LOT SURVEYS
municipality of ___________________, who have not filed claim to such
Section 815 - Upon approval of the main and subsidiary controls and the
parcels of lands in connection with the cadastral survey, are hereby
completion of lot sketching, monumenting and notification to claimants as
notified to do so at the office of the cadastral survey party within 30 days
required in Sections 768 to 813, the survey of the individual lots therein
from the date hereof and to give notice or enter such protests as the case
shall be made by conventional ground survey or photogrammetric
may require to protect their rights as claimants, or to protest against any
methods of at least tertiary precision.
action of the geodetic engineer or survey made by him, in default

107
Section 816 - If tertiary traverses are used to locate the lot corners, they preceding section.
shall be run as required in Sections 220 to 228. Section 825 - The markings of corners on the ground, i.e., by
Section 817- Tertiary stations for each cadastral project shall be numbered monuments (old and new), trees, stakes, etc. must be carefully verified
consecutively from one. The numbers 1-1000 may be assigned to one and entered in the field book. The number, if any, and the size of the
geodetic engineer for his use; the numbers 1001 to 2000, to a second; monument must be entered in the field book and indicated on the map. If
the numbers 2001 to 3000, to a third; and so forth. The unused numbers all monuments used are of standard size, a notation to that effect shall be
need not be accounted for. made on the first page of each field book giving the dimensions thereof.
Old monuments or marks found in place shall be concisely described
Section 818 - The sketches shall be carried into the field by the transit
indicating clearly and definitely the point to which the measurement was
party for the purpose of identifying lots and lot corners. A careful check of
made.
all information thereon must be made.
Section 826 - In case an entry in the field notes is cancelled a notation
Section 819 - The adjoining sketches shall be compared before the
shall be made to indicate where the new data will be found. Field notes
survey is made and duplicate corners checked off. Corners outside the
must be clear and distinct and full details must be recorded.
margin of both sketches shall be included in only one sketch, by a
semicircle in ink, to avoid missing corners and duplication of work. Lot Section 827 – The date, name of geodetic engineer and number of the
surveys shall be confined to the interior limits of each sketch which shall corresponding tape book shall be noted at the top of the first and last
be absolutely complete. pages of the field notes for each day's work.
Section 820 - A sketchman shall accompany the lot survey party for the Section 828 - The tapeman shall record taping notes on authorized
purpose of assisting in the prompt location of lot corners. L.M.B. form. Before leaving the station from which the distances were
measured he shall furnished the geodetic engineer with the measured
Section 821 - Whenever possible, corners shall be located by using them
distances for entry in the field notes.
as stations of tertiary controls.
Section 829 - The geodetic engineer shall take with him to the field the
Section 822 - The provisions of Sections 409 to 420 shall be followed,
numerical sketch and survey record card. He shall verify with the lot
whenever applicable, in locating corners of lots.
claimant the data entered on the card. After completion of the survey, the
Section 823 -The side shot need not be assigned a final lot corner name of the geodetic engineer, the name of the claimant or his agent who
number at a time it is recorded. In lieu thereof, a provisional system of appeared, the date of appearance and the date of survey shall be noted
numbers may be assigned to side shots and entered on the sketch, the on the card. The signature of claimant or his duly authorized agent must
chain book and the extreme left margin of the field book. The provisional be affixed on the certificate at the back of the card.
series/shall be consecutive from one for each day’s work.
Section 830 - After the lots are surveyed and plotted on the cadastral
Section 824 - The sketchman shall indicate the tertiary control on the maps, a tracing or white prints of each cadastral map shall be made. This
sketch sheet. Side shots shall be indicated by radial lines from control shall be used for verification of lot boundaries and corner marking and
stations to corners, numbering shots consecutively as provided for in the posting in the barangay hall where the land is located. Land owners shall

108
be given thirty (30) days from the date of posting to report any error or the plan. If the approved tracing cloth plan is lost, he shall be required to
mistake noted on the white prints or tracings. Any error found in the map submit an affidavit to that effect and certification of the Land Registration
shall be corrected accordingly. Whenever possible, the distance of the lot Authority or the Clerk of Court of the province that the land covered by
lines shall be measured directly. the said survey plan has not been the subject of registration proceedings.
Section 837 –In case the land previously surveyed has not be titled and
SURVEY AND REPORT ON PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SURVEYS the claimant wants If the claimant voluntarily excludes portion or portions
of the previous survey, the excluded area shall be numbered as separate
cadastral lot. In the case of titled or leased properties, the land owner
Section 831 - The geodetic engineer undertaking the cadastral project
shall be made to execute an affidavit relative to the excluded area. ,”
shall secure the data of all previously approved surveys in the cadastral
project and of adjoining properties from the Land Management Services, Section 838 - Titled and leased properties without technical descriptions;
the Land Registration Authority, the Registry of Deeds of the province or with technical descriptions but do not form closed polygons; and with
city, the landowners who may have the approved tracing cloth plan, the technical descriptions from magnetic surveys shall be resurveyed. The
geodetic engineers and surveying companies. These surveys, including resurvey shall relocate the corners and boundaries of the property at the
their subdivisions, shall be indicated in the cadastral survey records. same places where they were originally surveyed on the basis of the data
and the best evidence available.
Section 832 - Tracings or sketches and lot data computations of these
surveys shall be made. Section 839 - Claims inside previously approved surveys not yet titled
shall be made as separate lots. Claims inside titled or leased properties
Section 833 – The landowner/claimant or his authorized representative
shall be disregarded unless supported by an order from the Regional Trial
shall be requested to indicate on the ground the corners and boundaries of
Court or by written authority from the Regional Technical Director for
the surveyed property claimed by him.
Lands, for each claim in accordance with Section 788.
Section 834 - If the boundaries of the property as pointed by the
Section 840 - in case it has been established that there is a definite
owner/claimant or his authorized representative conform with the
overlapping between previously approved surveys, the following
boundaries as described in the survey or differ slightly therefrom, the
procedures shall be followed:
previously approved survey shall be accepted in accordance with Section
787 and adjusted accordingly in the cadastral survey. a. When the overlap is between surveys not yet titled or leased, the area
in conflict shall be made as separate cadastral lot;
Section 835 - If the boundaries differ substantially and the owner or
claimant is actually claiming additional land, the additional area shall be b. When the overlap is between titled or leased properties, the area in
made as a separate cadastral lot in accordance with Section 787. conflict shall also be made as a separate cadastral lot; and
Section 836 - to combine the surveyed area and the additional c. When the overlap is between a titled or leased property and a property
unsurveyed area in one cadastral lot, he shall be required to surrender the not yet leased or titled, the latter shall be amended to exclude therefrom
approved tracing cloth plan of the survey together with an affidavit the portion in conflict, except when there is a court order or an order from
requesting the Regional Technical Director for Lands for the cancellation of the Regional Executive Director in case of the leased property, directing

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the showing of the conflicted area as a separate cadastral lot. indicated in red ink on the lot data computation of the cadastral lot or lots.
Section 841 - Roads and streams included within previously approved Section 846 - This report shall be in the following form:
surveys shall be located and assigned separate cadastral lot numbers, REPORT ON PREVIOUS SURVEYS
Section 842 -In case the owner or claimant of a property covered by a B.L. SURVEY................. L.R.C., NO, _____________________
previously approved survey within a cadastral project desires changes or
subdivision, he shall secure the authority from the Regional Technical Lots......................... Surveyed for ____________________
Director for Lands for each changes. Lots............................. Claimed by _____________________
Section 843 - Common points with previously patented, leased or Corners ...................... recovered. Additional land claimed along
decreed surveys situated within cadastral projects shall be located. The lines ..................... or land excluded along lines....................... and all
area given in the lease, patent or title shall be accepted as final. The other corners practically relocated. Tie line checked.
bearings should be reduced to cadastral bearings either from actual shots
on the ground or by applying correction for convergency. Three or more
monumented corners of the previously approved surveys shall be located _______________________________
for use in comparing and reducing the system of coordinates of old survey Chief of Party, ____________Cadastre
to the cadastral Survey. After reducing the old survey coordinates, the old
Section 847- The report on adjoining cadastre shall be made as follows :
survey as reduced shall be adopted in all computations. The provisions of
( 712)
Section 789 shall be complied with.
REPORT ON ADJOINING CADASTRE
Section 844 - The tie line of the old survey shall be reduced to the grid
system and checked on the cadastral map. However, this tie line need not Cad- ____________________________, Case _____________________
fix the location of corner one of the survey unless it cannot be otherwise Corner Nos. _________________________________________________
identified. Existing monuments, marks occupation or agreement of the recovered, Corner Nos. data found erroneous and subdivision made to
owner and adjoining claimants shall be given preference in determining include portion of Lot No. ____________of Case No. ____________in Cad
the location of this point and other points of the boundary. An old survey ___________________etc.
shall be considered adjusted in the cadastral survey if its corners and
boundaries are located in the cadastral system at the same places where
Section 848 - The adjustment/transformation of the boundaries of
they were originally surveyed.
adjoining cadastre shall be made in accordance with instructions to be
Section 845 - A report in duplicate on previous survey shall be submitted issued by the Director of Lands Management Bureau and/or the RTD for
with the returns of the cadastral survey. The report shall be accompanied Lands,
by tracing plans showing the relation between the previous survey and the
Section 849 - Each report shall be signed by the Chief of the cadastral
corresponding cadastral lot or lots. Discrepancies found in previously
project. The duplicate computations and report must be clear and
approved surveys of undecreed lots shall be mentioned in the report and
complete. This shall be given to the geodetic engineer assigned to assist

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the Court at the hearing of the cadastral case. appropriate public land applications. In any case, the land shall be
surveyed,
Section 850 - Computations of previous surveys located within a
cadastral project which were furnished to the survey party must be Section 858 - Claimants/occupants of lands of the public domain which
preserved without erasures, corrections or other notations thereon and are classified as alienable and disposable may obtain advance plans of
must be returned to the Land Management Services together with the cadastral lots upon payment of cadastral cost and related fees for use in
returns of the cadastral survey. voluntary judicial registration. Advance plan shall be issued only after
approval of the cadastral survey or the particular case where the lot is
Section 851 - Prints or tracings of previously approved surveys shall be
located. The name of the original cadastral lot or survey claimant shall be
marked in red ink to indicate changes in the boundaries thereof as agreed
maintained in the advance plan and it must faithfully reflect the cadastral
upon by the owners/claimants.
records. No advance plan shall be issued for one or more lots of the many
PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS lots of an original isolated survey as all the lots shall be the subject of one
Section 852 - All public land claims within a cadastral project shall be registration case.
surveyed subject to the limitations as prescribed in Chapter X, Part II of Section 859 - Upon completion of each cadastral project, a report,
this Manual, for each class of claim, such as homestead, lease, sale, etc., including a list of lots applied for under the provisions of the Public Land
as the case may be. Act in numerical order, the names and addresses of the applicants and the
Foreshore lands, whether covered or not by appropriate public applications kinds of numbers of their applications shall be submitted to the Regional
shall be sketched, monumented, and surveyed #s separate cadastral lots. Technical Director for Lands. Another report on the lots claimed as private
property within the public land area, giving the names of the claimants,
Section 853 - Public land claims for which final inspection has been made
the nature of their claims, and the improvements made by them shall be
and approved shall be monumented and surveyed.
submitted. All relevant information tending to prove that the land is of the
Section 854 - Information relative to illegal or unauthorized occupation public domain and the names and addresses of witnesses who can testify
or claim on public land shall be gathered. to this effect must be gathered and submitted to the Regional Technical
Section 855 - Chiefs of cadastral projects must make special Director for Lands.
reconnaissance work to determine the extent of public lands within their Section 860 - Private claims inside unclassified areas also called public
projects. forest shall not be surveyed except with written authority from the
Section 856 - In case private claims extend beyond the limit of Regional Executive Director,
cultivation and occupation, investigation shall be made to determine the Section 861 - In case a lot claimant agrees to file an appropriate public
nature of the claims. Report thereon shall be submitted to the Regional land application, he shall be furnished the necessary blank form which
Technical Director for Lands. A brief of the report shall be noted on the may be obtained from the Community Environment and Natural Resources
back of the sketch and survey record card for the corresponding lot. Office (CENRO) and assisted in accomplishing the same. The application
Section 857 - Claimants/occupants of lands of the public domain shall show the cadastral lot number applied for and the nature of the
classified as alienable and disposable shall be advised to file the application shall be noted on the sketch and survey record card of the lot.

111
Section 862 - If the claimant is disqualified to file an application because A list of "Claims of Doubtful Validity" shall also be prepared showing parcel
of restrictions imposed by the law or regulation, but insists on his claim of numbers and names of the claimants. This list shall be signed by the chief
private ownership, the boundaries as claimed shall be sketched, of survey party and submitted together with the survey returns.
monumented and surveyed if covered with a written authority as provided Section 866 - A numerical list on foreshore land sketched, monumented
in Section 860. The geodetic engineer shall indicate on the sketch plan the and surveyed as required in Section 852 indicating the areas, application
nature of the vegetation such as virgin forest, second growth timber, numbers and cadastral map numbers shall be prepared in triplicate and
cogon etc., and the location and nature of cultivation on any portion submitted together with the survey returns for the cadastral case.
thereof. The information shall be placed on the cadastral map and on the
supplementary index cards as provided for in the following section. Upon completion of the sketching of the occupied lands within the
cadastre, a report on public lands suitable for agriculture that may be
Section 863 - A supplementary index card shall be prepared and the applied for in the near future and on public lands which are very
required information shall be secured from the claimants and entered mountainous or otherwise not adopted for agricultural purposes shall be
thereon. submitted to Regional Technical Director for Lands.
Section 864 - The following form for a supplementary card is suggested: Section 867 - A graphical representation of these areas shall be made on
REPORT OF OCCUPATION OF PUBLIC LANDS the progress map similar to those map illustrating the area sketched and
surveyed.
Survey No.________________________, ________________
Section 868 - Public lands within cadastral projects may be subdivided
Province Lot No. ___________ Claimant _________________
for distribution to interested applicants in accordance with special
Area cultivated to _________Has., Forest ____________ Has., Second instructions, provided, the applicants are qualified under the Public Land
growth __________Has,, Cogon ___________Has. Occupied since Act.
____________Cultivated since____________Has. Claims Title by
Section 869 - The subdivision shall be made to form rectangular lots and
______________Muniments of Title____________
shall have as few corners as possible. All corners shall be monumented.
Remarks:
Section 870 - Public lands not desired to be subdivided shall be sketched,
_________________________________ monumented and surveyed as a single cadastral lot.
Chief of Party, ______________ Cadastre
Cad- _____________________ GOVERNMENT LANDS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS
Other pertinent information may be included in the report. Section 871 -All government lands included within cadastral projects
Section 865 - The names and addresses of the adjoining owners and shall be sketched, monumented and surveyed and assigned cadastral lot
their testimonies on the occupation and cultivation shall be written on the numbers.
reverse side of the card. The card shall be submitted to the Land Section 872 - Information on national, provincial or municipal
Management Services. government lands within a cadastral project shall be secured from the

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officials concern big lot. For this purpose, the Pls or Gss boundary data shall be
transformed into the system of the cadastre.
Section 873 - A list of national, provincial and municipal government
lands within the project shall be prepared and submitted together with the Section 878 - Unless otherwise required in the survey order, such as in
survey returns of the project. This list shall be arranged in numerical order the transformation into the PPCS-TM/PRS 92, the individual lots of the
of cadastral lot numbers assigned to government land, indicating the public land subdivision or of the Gss shall not be plotted on the cadastral
name of the owner or claimants such as "National Government" or map.
"Provincial Government" or "Municipal Government".

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES
MINERAL LANDS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS Section 879 - The provisions of Chapter VI on Physiographic Features,
Section 874 - All patented mineral lands within a cadastral project shall shall be strictly followed in cadastral surveys.
be surveyed as regular lots of the project in accordance with the plan of
each survey as approved. All other mineral land surveys shall be projected
by their tie lines or by coordinates and indicated on the cadastral maps by ADVANCE SURVEYS
dotted line. Section 880 - Advance survey of a lot pertains to the preparation of the
Section 875 - A list of cadastral lots equivalent to patented mineral land isolated survey returns of cadastral lots that are not yet verified and
surveys and another list of other mineral land surveys within the project approved or its field survey, if not yet surveyed; provided the project
shall be prepared in numerical order and submitted together with the controls have been approved. Chiefs of cadastral survey parties must
survey returns of the project. These lists shall indicate the mineral land discourage requests for advance surveys of parcels located within the
survey numbers and the owners or claimants thereof. project unless the need of the claimant for such survey is sufficiently
urgent and the applicant is willing to bear the expenses, in which case, the
following procedure shall be adopted.
PUBLIC LAND SUBDIVISION AND GROUP SETTLEMENT SURVEYS The survey of the property in question shall be made after the primary
WITHIN THE CADASTRAL PROJECT and secondary controls of the project have been completed, verified and
Section 876 - The main control of the cadastral project shall traverse approved. Said property and all contiguous properties shall be plotted on
public land subdivision (PIs) or group settlement surveys (Gss) within the the cadastral maps. Tracings shall be made from the cadastral maps
cadastral project. Recoverable BLLMs, boundary monuments (MBMs and showing adjoining owners, markings of all corners and the tie lines.
BBMs) shall be made part of the cadastral main control. When there are Geodetic engineer's certificate shall be prepared from the sketch and
no recovered BLLMs or boundary monuments in the Pls or Gss, main survey record card and signed by the chief of project. Lot data
control points shall be established in these areas and BLLMs are computations, in duplicate, shall be prepared and checked.
established in accordance with Sections 117 and 122. Section 881 - Advance surveys shall be made only after a written
Section 877 - The Pls or Gss shall be plotted on the cadastral map as one authority has been granted by the Regional Executive Director upon

113
recommendation of the Regional Technical Director for Lands. controls shall be made in accordance with the provisions of Sections 189
to 204, 215 to 219, 238 to 241, 326 to 340, 344 to 348. Only approved
Section 882 - The cost of the advance survey computed in accordance
survey controls computations shall be used for lot data computations.
with the authorized charges for isolated land surveys shall be deposited
with the DENR Regional Cashier before each survey is made.
Section 883 - The project chief shall indicate the class and survey CADASTRAL LOT NUMBERS
number assigned to the advance survey on the cadastral maps, lot data Section 889 - The lots situated within each city, municipality or
computation sheets, sketch and survey record card. settlement shall be numbered consecutively from one, preferably in a
Section 884 - Each contested area of parcel shall be made a separate lot. clockwise direction for each project.
Section 885 - In case of cadastral projects assigned to and undertaken Section 890 – When the cadastral project comprises only a portion of a
by geodetic engineers in private practice, advance surveys may be city or municipality, the numbering shall begin consecutively from one to
authorized subject to the terms and conditions agreed upon by the the last number for the project.
interested parties and the geodetic engineers. However, if the project is Section 891 - When the cadastral survey of the remaining unsurveyed
covered by a contract with the DENR, the cost of the advance survey shall portions of the city or municipality is made, the cadastral lot number shall
be paid to the DENR Regional Office. The requirement of Section 739 shall begin from the number next to the highest lot number of the previously
be strictly complied. The survey returns shall be submitted to the Land surveyed portions.
Management Services for verification and approval.
Section 892 - When portions of a completed project are transferred by
Section 886 - In case the survey returns of the cadastral case of the law to the jurisdiction of an adjoining city or municipality, the numbers
project are already submitted for verification and approval, in compliance assigned to the lots comprised within the transferred portion shall not be
with the requirements of Sections 740 and 741, the advance survey shall used in the other remaining portion of the cadastral survey of the city or
be prepared and submitted based on the certified extra copies of the municipality.
submitted survey.
Section 893 - In the case of coal leases, coal revocable permits or
petroleum leases, lot numbers shall be assigned only when the tract is not
CHAPTER XVI - CADASTRAL COMPUTATIONS AND MAPS within any public or private land claims.
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS
Section 887 - All computations of azimuths, time, latitude, etc. shall be LOT DATA COMPUTATIONS
made in accordance with the provisions of Sections 77 to 109 and 326 to Section 894 - The chief of the cadastral survey party or his Geodetic
335. engineers shall prepare lot data computations in two copies on the
POINTS OF CONTROL prescribed Lands Management Bureau forms as stated in Section 341.
Corners of each lot shall be numbered consecutively from one in a
Section 888 - The computations of primary, secondary and tertiary
clockwise direction. The description and coordinates of the tie point shall

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be indicated thereon. Section 899 - The nearest provincial, municipal, or barangay boundary
monument; BLLM or BLBM, or Global Positioning System-PRS 92 station,
Section 895 - When one or more small lots are entirely inside a big lot
shall be used as the tie point to corner one of each lot. No tie line should
and the boundaries of the former do not coincide with the boundaries of
exceed one thousand (1,000) meters in length.
the latter, the corners of the big lot shall be numbered in such a way that
in computing the area of the big lot the areas of the small lots shall The kind of reference point used, its number, and grid coordinates shall be
automatically be excluded. The big lot may, however, by divided into placed in the proper column of the lot data computation sheet or lot
smaller lots so that no lot will be inside another lot. description sheet. The bearings and distances of the tie lines shall be
computed and doubly checked.
Section 896 - In the preparation of lot data sheets for cadastral surveys,
when previously executed surveys are accepted and cadastral lots are Section 900 - Lot data computation sheets shall be plainly marked with
made equivalent thereto, the corners of the cadastral lot which are their respective lot numbers and bound in consecutive order in books of
equivalent to the corners of the previous survey shall be referred to the not moro than 100 lots
previous survey, giving the corner and survey number. Corners of lots of a Section 901 - The computed grid coordinates of each lot corner shall be
lower cadastral number that are common or equivalent to the corners of checked against its plat on the cadastral maps to verify the accuracy of
surveys mentioned herein shall be referred to the cadastral lot and not to computations, plotting and numbering of lot corners.
the previously executed survey. The survey number of the previous
survey, shall in all cases, be noted in red ink on the lot data computation Section 902 – All intersections of property lines with the boundaries of
sheet. the project and with titled or leased properties shall be computed,
coordinated and monumented.
Section 897 - In all cases, except as stated earlier, lots having higher
cadastral lot numbers shall be referred to those lots having lower cadastral Section 903 - If the areas of lots covered by public land applications are
lot numbers bearing the original data when equivalent corners are given within the prescribed maximum, the exact areas thereon shall be
on the lot data sheet. computed.

Section 898 - To save time in copying data of previously approved Section 904 - Any excess area may either be included in the adjoining lot
surveys and transforming their coordinates to the system of the cadastral provided the maximum area for such lot is not exceeded or be considered
survey, the method outlined below may be followed: as a separate lot available for disposition. In the latter case, the portions
to be excluded shall be those which have not been improved or those
Example: which have the least improvement.
If corners 1 and 2, Lot 927 are equivalent to corners 3 and 4 of Lot 3, Il- Section 905 - A brief description of the corner marks such as "Tree",
1224, corners 1 and 2 of the former shall be referred directly and made "P.S.", "Stone", "Rock", etc. and the concrete monument number
equivalent to corners 3 and 4 of the latter. Assuming that line 1 to 2 of Lot corresponding to each corner shall be indicated at the proper column of
927 is common to line 2 to 1 Lot 923, corners 2 and 1 of the latter shall the lot data computation sheet.
be made equivalent to corners 1 and 2 of the former, instead of corners 3
and 4 of Lot 3, Il-1224. Section 906 - A case or barangay boundary computation in duplicate

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shall be prepared for each cadastral case as required in Section 784. PROJECT CONTROL MAP OF
Section 907 - A project or municipal boundary computation in duplicate CAD ___________
shall be prepared from all the barangay boundary computations of the Municipality of _____________________________________
project.
Province of __________________________________________
MAPS
Island of __________________________________________
PROJECT CONTROL MAP
Scale 1:________________________________________
Section 908 - The project control map of the cadastral project shall be (Graphical Scale)
prepared on a reproducible material of stable base such as drafting film
0.003 inch with polyester or mylar base. This map shall be submitted to PPCS-PTM/PRS 92 Zone No.
the Lands Management Bureau together with the approved survey control Surveyed : From _______________________to _____________
returns
_____________________________
Section 909 - The project control map shall be prepared at any
Project Chief
appropriate scale that will allow the plotting of the entire
municipality/project on a 54 x 54 centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x
50 centimeters. This shall show/contain the following: POLITICAL BOUNDARY CONTROL MAP
(a) BCGS and BL triangulation stations; GPS-PRS 92 stations
(b) Primary control stations Section 911 - The political boundary control map of the cadastral project
(c) Secondary control stations shall be prepared on a reproducible material of stable base as stated in
Section 908 approved for official use by the Lands Management Bureau.
(d) BL Location Monuments
This map shall be submitted to the Land Management Services together
(e) Astronomical observation stations with the approved political boundary control computations. A copy of this
(f) Other recoverable points of reference in the project map shall be forwarded to the Lands Management Bureau.

(g) Grid lines and plane coordinates; scale Section 912 - The political boundary control map shall be prepared at
any appropriate scale that will allow the plotting of the entire
(h) Graticule lines and tick marks and geographic coordinates municipality/project on 54 x 54 centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x 50
(i) Adjoining political subdivisions and survey projects centimeters. This shall show/contain the following information:
Section 910 - The project control map shall be titled as follows: (a) BCGS and BL triangulation stations, GPS-PRS 92 stations
(b) Primary control stations
(c) Secondary control stations

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(d) BL Location Monuments of the survey. The progress map for the cadastral survey of a portion of
the municipality shall have a location plan drawn to an appropriate scale.
(e) Other recoverable points of reference in the project
It shall indicated the approximate distance of the project from the
(f) Grid lines and plane coordinates poblacion of the municipality or center of the city and shall show the
(g) Graticule lines and geographic coordinates; scale nearest place or point accessible to transportation.

(h) Political subdivisions (Barangay) of the project and monuments Section 916 - The progress map shall be prepared at a scale that will
permit the plotting of the entire municipality or project on 104 x 104
(i) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads, and railroad lines
centimeters, with marginal lines of 100 x 100 centimeters, and shall show
(j) Forest lands and marshy lands the following:
(k) Large tracts of lands such as haciendas and reservations, parks and (a) BCGS and BL triangulation stations
other protected areas
(b) Primary control stations
(l) Bounded project area and aggregate areas of numbered cadastral lots.
(c) Secondary control stations
Section 913 - The political boundary control map shall be titled in the
(d) BL Location Monuments
same manner as prescribed in Section 910 except that instead of Project
Control Map Political Boundary Control Map shall be used. All other (e) Astronomical observation stations /*
information remain the same. (f) Other recoverable points of reference in the project
Section 914 - When the political boundary control survey returns (g) Grid lines and plane coordinates, scale
together with the project control survey returns are to be submitted to the
(h) Graticule lines and geographic coordinates
Land Management Services, for verification and approval, the political
subdivisions and corresponding monument numbers may be projected on (i) Political subdivisions of the project and monuments
the project control map. This shall be titled as Project and Political (j) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads, and railroad lines
Boundary Control Map. All the other information as prescribed in Sections
909 and 912 shall likewise be shown. Otherwise, a separate political (k) Forest lands and marshy lands
boundary control map as prescribed in Section 912 shall be prepared. (I) Large tracts as haciendas and reservations
(m) Adjoining political subdivisions and survey projects
PROGRESS MAP (n) Other pertinent information
Section 915 - The progress map based on the control survey of the Section 917 - The progress map shall contain a table showing the totals
project shall be made on reproducible material of stable base approved for for each class of work accomplished for each month.
use by the Land Management Bureau. A white print copy of the progress
Section 918 - The monthly progress of sketching, monumenting and lot
map shall be submitted once every three months to the Land Management
surveys shall be shown separately on the progress map by miniature
Services together with the periodic report for information on the progress

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sketches. (a) When the cadastral lot is equivalent to a previously approved survey,
both the cadastral number and the number of the previously approved
Section 919 - The progress map shall be titled in a manner similar to
survey shall be shown.
that prescribed in Section 910 except that instead of Project Control Map
the title Progress Map shall be used. (b) If the previous survey has been subdivided, the plat of the
corresponding subdivision lots shall bear the cadastral numbers and words
Section 920 - The progress map shall be prepared in accordance with the
"Portion of Lot Survey No. L.R.C., Case No. . . .”
prescribed form and layout.
(c) When the accepted boundaries of the cadastral lot cause rejection of
CADASTRAL MAPS
the former survey of untitled property, the cadastral plat of such lot bear
Section 921 - Cadastral lots and other details of the cadastral survey the notation.
shall be plotted on cadastral maps on reproducible materials of stable
"Resurveyed, Lot, Survey No. "
base approved for use by the Lands Management Bureau on 54 x 54
centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x 50 centimeters prepared in (d) The Land Registration Case (L.R.C.) number shall be noted on the plat
accordance with the Philippine Plane Coordinate System-Transverse for all lots previously registered or for which application for registration
Mercator/Philippine Reference System 1992. has been made when the numbers of the case can be positively
determined.
Section 922 - The names of claimants, the numbers of the concrete
monument and the description of lot corners shall be indicated on the Section 925 -The local names of natural features such as mountains and
cadastral map except when space limitation does not permit it. The all bodies of water, rivers, esteros, arroyos, shall be ascertained, the
respective lot numbers shall, in every case, be indicated thereon as nearly spelling verified and their names indicated on the progress and cadastral
as possible in consecutive and regular order. maps. The names of barangays shall be indicated within their respective
boundaries.
Section 923 - Cadastral maps shall show the names of all claimants
adjoining the project boundaries as well as the lines between the adjoining Section 926 - Control stations shall be plotted by coordinates and side
claims which shall be drawn in dash line. Adjoining unsurveyed parcels shots therefrom, by protractor and scale or by drafting machine, if
shall be assigned consecutive numbers beginning from 1 in a clockwise available.
direction. These numbers shall be preceded by the letter "A", as A-1, A-2, Section 927 - When two adjoining cadastral projects are in progress at
etc. Adjoining approved surveys shall be indicated by the lot and the same time, the cadastral maps showing their common boundaries
corresponding survey number and name of claimant. shall be plotted first. Each survey party shall trace the data plotted on the
Section 924 - When a cadastral lot covers an area previously patented, cadastral maps of the other survey party. These tracings shall be
leased or surveyed, the relationship of the lot to the previous survey shall submitted together with the survey returns of the cadastral project.
be indicated on the cadastral map as follows:

LOT AND CASE/BARANGAY BOUNDARY DESCRIPTIONS

Section 928 - Lot and Case/Barangay Boundary Descriptions in

118
prescribed LMB form shall be prepared for all lots and case/boundary of m) Bearings and distances of the boundary lines except when too
each cadastral case after final verification of the corresponding lot data numerous to be tabulated on the map.
and case/barangay boundary computations. n) Description of each corner as marked on the ground.
CASE/BARANGAY BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS o) Adjoining properties, surveys and names of claimants or owners of
Section 929 - For each cadastral case formed in Section 784, a adjoining properties.
case/barangay boundary and index map shall be prepared from the p) Adjoining political subdivisions.
case/barangay boundary computation as required in Section 906 and from
the pertinent cadastral, sectional cadastral and contiguous cadastral maps. q) Grid lines and plane coordinates.
This shall be drawn at a convenient scale om drafting film or other stable r) Graticule lines and geographic coordinates.
transparent material approved for use by Land Management Bureau in the
s) Cadastral map sheet number, sectional and contiguous cadastral map
same size as cadastral map of 54 x 54 centimeters with marginal lines of
numbers
50 x 50 centimeters.
t) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads, and railroad lines.
Section 930 - The case/barangay boundary and index map shall show
the following: u) Political boundaries and monuments.

a) Lands Management Bureau survey number. v) Location monuments and geodetic control station

b) Cadastral case number. w) Residential sites and settlements.

c) Location of the land. x) Large tracts such as haciendas, forest lands, marshy lands and
reservations, protected areas, ancestral claims.
d) Aggregate area and number of parcels in the alienable and disposable
and the forest lands of the case; case boundary are y) Pertinent notes.

e) Scale (numerical and graphical). The bearing and distance of the tie line of the case/barangay boundary
shall originate from BLLM No. 1 of the project to corner 1 of the
f) Date of survey.
case/barangay.
g) Legal authority.
Section 931 - The corners of the case/barangay boundary shall be
h) Name and signature of the project chief; Professional GE License No. indicated by circles one (1) millimeter in diameter except corners defined
i) Date of approval. by political boundary monuments. Appropriate survey symbols shall be
used.
j) Names and signatures of recommending and approving Land
Management Services Officials. Section 932 – The technical descriptions of the case or barangay
boundary shall be prepared and submitted after the approval by the
k) PPCS-PTM/PRS 92 zone number and point of origin Regional Technical Director for Lands of the cadastral maps and the case
l) Tie point and tie line or barangay boundary and index map.

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 m) Description of each corner and the tie point.
PROJECT/MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS n) Adjoining surveys and political subdivisions.
Section 933 - After the completion of all the case/boundary and index o) Case number and name of barangay.
maps of the project, a project or municipal boundary and index map shall p) Grid lines and plane coordinates,
be prepared. This shall be based on the data of the regular progress map,
the case/boundary and index map, and the project or municipal boundary q) Graticule lines and geographic coordinates.
computation required in Section 907. This shall be drawn at a convenient r) Mountain ranges and peaks.
scale on a stable material in the same size of cadastral map 54 x 54
s) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads and rail roads.
centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x 50 centimeters.
t) Political boundary lines and monuments and numbers.
Section 934 - The project/municipal boundary and index map shall serve
as an index of case/barangay boundary index maps. It shall define the u) Location monuments and geographic control stations.
boundary of the project/municipality and shall show the following: v) Residential sites and settlements.
a) Lands Management Bureau survey number. w) Large tracts such as hacienda, forest lands, marshy lands and
b) Location of the project. reservations, ancestral claims, protected areas

c) Aggregate area and number of parcels in the alienable and disposable x) Pertinent notes
and the forest lands in the project/ municipality; case boundary area The bearing and distance of the tie line shall be determined from BLLM No.
d) Scale (numerical and graphical). 1 to corner 1 of the project/municipality. The boundary lines of the
project/municipality shall be included in the lot descriptions of the last
e) Date of survey
case/barangay if the same cannot be tabulated on the map.
f) Legal authority.
Section 935 - Corners of the project municipal boundary shall be
g) Name and signatures of the Chief of Party; Professional GE License indicated by circles one (1) millimeter in diameter except corners defined
number by political boundary monuments. Appropriate survey symbols shall be
h) Date of approval of the project survey. used.

i) Names and signatures of the recommending and approving officials. Section 936 - In all of the foregoing maps mentioned in Section 908 to
934 prescribed survey symbols shall be used. The correct numbers of all
j) PPCS-PTM/PRS 92 zone number and point of origin. points of reference shall be properly indicated.
k) Tie point and tie line.
l) Bearings and distances of the boundary lines except when too numerous
to be tabulated on the map.

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 COMPUTATION BOOKS
CHAPTER XVII - PROJECT RECORDS AND REPORTS Section 939 - All computations shall be grouped into two sets of books.
One set shall consist of all original and the other set shall consist of all
FIELD BOOKS
duplicate computations. Each set shall consist of the following books:
Section 937 - The following groups of field notes shall contain all the
(a) Main and subsidiary control computation books of
records of the different phases of the survey work. These field notes shall
be grouped as follows: 1. Astronomical observations
(a) Astronomical observation books. 2. Primary controls
(b) Primary angle book/s. 3. Secondary controls
(c) Primary distance books. 4. Location monuments
(d) Secondary azimuth book/s. (b) Political boundary controls
(e) Secondary distance book/s. (c) Tertiary control computation books
(f) Reference book for primary stations, location monuments and political (d) Intersection and other reference computation books
boundary monuments. (e) Lot data computation books
(g) Certification of geographic positions of GPS/PRS92 stations used in the (f) Old survey computation books - one copy
survey.
Each book shall be bound in hard cloth book cover made on prescribed
(h) Lot survey books. cardboard material for shelf filing. It shall be properly labelled, indicating
Section 938 - Field notes shall be bound in hard field book cover made original or duplicate as the case may be, the book number, survey
on prescribed cardboard material for records preservation and shelf filing. number, and name of project, and project chief/contractor.
The number and name of the survey and the number of the field book
shall be indicated on the cover. The pages of each book shall be numbered
consecutively from one to not more than 150 pages which shall be written MONUMENT DESCRIPTION BOOK
on the upper right hand corner of the right face of the fieldnotes. The date Section 940 – Monument description book shall be prepared on the
when the data were observed and recorded, the names of the observer prescribed L.M.B. form. It shall describe all recovered triangulation
and recorder shall be entered on each page of the field book and all other stations, BLLM's, primary control stations and political boundary
blanks shall be filled up accordingly. The field notes cover mentioned in monuments and all recovered points of reference as prescribed in Section
Section 459 shall be completely accomplished and notarized and included 38. Each class of monuments shall be entered separately in their
as the preface of each field book. numerical order.

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Section 941 - Each monument shall be fully described, indicating the CHAPTER I - THE PROJECT PROFILE
markings, dimensions, general location (municipality and barangay) and (a) Geographical location - Name of locality, important natural features
the surrounding features such as rivers, roads, hills, houses, streets, etc. such as rivers, lakes, mountains, etc. with their local names.
The coordinates as determined in the cadastral survey, the cadastral map
on which each monument falls and the grid azimuths and distances to the (b) Demography - Approximate number of inhabitants, statistics on births
nearest reference monuments or other objects and control stations shall and deaths, natives and foreigners, local dialects, religions, schools, etc.
be indicated. Each kind of point of reference shall be grouped together (c) Local history - Important historical events, places, monuments, etc.
and arranged in increasing numerical order.
(d) Government - Organization of local government, names of local
Section 942 - The page and field book number where the azimuths and officials.
distances are entered to determine the location of the monument shall be
(e) Commerce and industry - Industrial and commercial enterprises
indicated on the form. All data shall be entered in black drawing ink and
checked and initialed by the chief of project. CHAPTER II- INAUGURATION OF SURVEY
(a) Authority and order of survey, dialogues with local and other national
officials, establishment of field office, general mobilization of personnel,
GEODETIC ENGINEER CERTIFICATE
equipment and other resources, posting of notices, formal inauguration
Section 943 – A geodetic engineer's certificate, prepared on LMB ceremonies showing the attendance and participation of local officials and
prescribed form, each bearing original signatures shall be prepared for the public.
each case/barangay, signed by the chief of party, dry sealed, and duly
CHAPTER III — THE SURVEY
notarized and submitted as part of the survey returns. The certificate shall
contain the names of claimants of adjoining parcels (A- lots) listed in (a) Describe local conditions, difficulties, etc., encountered in establishing
numerical order of said adjoining parcels. The manner and date of base meridian, primary and secondary controls and sketching,
notification relative to contested lots shall be noted in the certificate. monumenting and lot surveys, etc.

FINAL REPORT ON THE PROJECT (b)Describe methods of work which had been devised to meet local
conditions. Influenced final results in surveying operations, etc.
Section 944 - A final report shall be prepared in the manner of a
technical report writing after the completion of each cadastral project. The (c)Analyze results of the work, describe conditions which mayy have
final report shall be in three hardbound copies made on standard size influenced final results in surveying operations, etc.
bond paper and double spaced. Two copies shall be for the LMB Library (d)Describe in general matters regarding political boundary questions,
and the third copy for the LMS. conflicts, etc.
Section 945 - The final report on the project shall include the following: CHAPTER IV- LAND QUESTIONS
(a) Describe conditions of land ownership; tenural structure, impact of
land reform.

122
(b) Describe the situation with regards to public, government and mineral (d) Tertiary controls
lands, general or special problems or questions affecting administration or 2. SURVEY CARDS
the land resources.
(a) Names of barangay or districts and cadastral map numbers versus
CHAPTER V - PARTY ADMINISTRATION data in the cadastral maps.
(a) Organization/staffing (b) Original versus duplicate sketch and survey record cards.
(b) List of all officials and employees engaged in the work including (c) Data on cards versus data on lot data computations.
tapeman, sketchman and surveymen,
3. DRAFTING
(c) Methods of work, field and office.
(a) Connections of corners of lots in accordance with the results obtained
(d) Equipment, supplies and appropriations. from the verification required in Section 830
(e) Summary of statistics of the survey such as the number of barangays, (b) Lot corners on cadastral maps as plotted by coordinates versus by
total number of lots, aggregate area, number of lots and area in each drafting machine or by scale and protractor
case/barangay and others listed in item (d) of Section 930; inclusive dates
of survey; personnel turnover (c) Previous surveys versus cadastral lots

(f) Project cost data

(g) Project management plan and other matters which may be deemed TRANSMITTAL OF SURVEY RECORDS
worthy of mention Section 947 - The survey returns of the main and subsidiary controls
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION consisting of the project control/map, field books, computation books, and
other miscellaneous records shall be submitted ahead to the Regional
Section 946 -Before transmitting the survey records to the Regional Technical Director for Lands for verification and approval.
Technical Director for Lands, the verification required in Section 839 must
be performed.
The following shall also be checked: After the completion of the cadastral survey, the following survey records
1. COMPUTATIONS shall be carefully packed, labelled and submitted to the Regional Technical
Director for Lands:
Original versus duplicate
1. FIELD NOTES AND COMPUTATIONS
(a) Astronomical observations
(a) All the field books as grouped in Section 937.
(b) Lot data preparation for new lots and adjusted computations for
previously approved surveys (b) All the computation books mentioned in Section 939,

(c) Tie lines and grid coordinates of tie points (c) Duplicate computations of all previous surveys.
2. MAPS

123
(a) Progress map (k) Project cost book (as for administration projects)
(b) Cadastral maps (I) Final report on the project in triplicate with hard book cover
(c) Political Boundary Control Map (m) Boundary descriptions of lots, case/barangay and project/
municipality
(d) Case/barangay boundary and index map
(n) Technical descriptions of the case/barangay boundary in quadruplicate
(e) Project/municipal boundary and index map
(o) Two (2) sets of alphabetical and numerical list of claimants in
(f) Set of prints of cadastral maps used to verify the work as required in
quadruplicate
Section 830
Section 948 - Cadastral survey returns shall be forwarded to the Land
(g) Tracing or prints of previous surveys
Management Services of the concerned DENR-Regional Office. If the
3. SURVEY CARDS delivery is by freight, two shipments must be made. The shipment must
(a) Numerical and alphabetical set of sketch and survey record cards be under two different bills of lading, on different dates and must be
properly insured.
(b) One set of “A "lot cards, required in Section 802.
Section 949 -The first shipment shall contain the field notes, maps,
4. REPORTS, LISTS AND OTHER PAPERS
original computations, reports and one set of sketch and survey record
(a) Certification of public notices cards. The second shipment shall contain the sketches, duplicate
(b) Sheets of "30-day" notice in duplicate computations and remaining papers or records of the project. Personal
submittal is encouraged for security.
(c) Reports in duplicate on all previous surveys
(d) Reports in triplicate on all public, government and mineral land
applications and corresponding cadastral lot numbers COMPLETION OF CADASTRAL SKETCHING AND GRAPHICAL
CADASTRE
(e) Geodetic engineer's certificate in quadruplicate required in Section 943
Section 950 - Cadastral sketching and graphical cadastral projects may
(f) List in duplicate of previous surveys equal to cadastral lots, accepted
be converted into, or completed as, numerical cadastral projects by
and amended
performing the remaining phases of each cadastral operation.
(g) List in triplicate of unclaimed lots within the project and of doubtful
Section 951 - The completion/conversion survey shall be undertaken
claims to be opposed by the National Government during registration
upon issuance of a survey order by the Regional Executive
(h) List in triplicate of all public, government and mineral land claims Director/Regional Technical Director for Lands. The original cadastral
within the project survey number assigned to the cadastral sketching or graphical cadastre
(i) List in triplicate of foreshore lands shall be retained minus the letters "P", "M" or "S", as the case may be.

(j) Monument description book mentioned in Section 940 to 942 Section 952 - In the conversion of cadastral sketching and cadastral or

124
photo cadastral mapping projects to numerical cadastral surveys, specific (d) The report of the Land Registration Authority concerning the status of
instructions shall be issued by the Regional Executive Director. The phases all lots included in the registration cases if filed in the Regional Trial Court.
of work to be done such as monumenting of lot corners, lot survey, (e) Prints and tracings showing discrepancies between the previous
ground coordinates determination from rectified photographs/photomaps, surveys and the cadastral survey. These prints and tracings are those
as the case may be, adjustment of previously approved surveys, mentioned in Section 845.
computations and preparation of required maps, etc., shall be specified.
The required project records and corresponding survey returns shall be (f) List and copy of reports on public, government and mineral land lots
submitted to the Regional Technical Director for Lands for verification and situated within each cadastral project case.
approval. (g) Prints or tracings of plans of all patented, sold, leased or decreed
properties situated within each cadastral project during or after the
completion of the cadastral survey.
CHAPTER XVIII - CADASTRAL COURT HEARINGS
(հ) Cards of lot claimants, arranged alphabetically for each cadastral
WHO SHALLATTEND THE COURT HEARINGS
project case. -
(i) Lot descriptions showing the numerical list of lot claimants.
Section 953 - Geodetic engineers shall be assigned by the Regional
(j) Other papers and records which may be necessary in each case.
Executive Director to attend court hearings for the adjudication of titles to
lands within cadastral projects, Section 956 - A statement of all amendments and changes made in the
cadastral maps before the date of hearing shall be furnished the geodetic
Section 954-Geodetic engineers in private practice may attend court
engineer who shall call the attention of the Court thereto.
hearings on behalf of their clients, subject to, and governed by, the
provisions of this chapter. They shall submit their work to the Regional
Executive Director through the DENR geodetic engineers assigned to LOCATION OF OFFICE
attend the hearings.
Section 957 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court
DATA TO BE FURNISHED hearings shall request the Clerk of Court to provide him with
Section 955 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend cadastral court accommodations in the building where the hearings are to be held.
hearings shall be furnished by the Lands Management Services with the Section 958 - When the Judge sets the hearing of cadastral cases in a
following papers: city or municipality other than the place where the court is permanently
(a) Two sets of numerical and alphabetical list of claimants for each stationed, the geodetic engineer shall request for a reasonably spacious
room to be used as office, preferably within the building where the court
Case
will hold its session from the concerned City or Municipal Mayor.
(b) Two sets of prints of plans/maps.
Section 959 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court hearing
(c) Two sets of list of areas of all lots in each case. shall transfer his office to the municipality where the hearing will take

125
place at least thirty days prior to the date set for the hearing of the that said lots may be claimed as property of the national government. A
cadastral case. copy of the report shall be forwarded to the Regional Technical Director for
Lands for record purposes.
Section 960 - The geodetic engineer shall coordinate with the City or
Municipal Mayor on all matters requiring mutual action relative to the Section 965 - The lot number, the names of the claimants and the
hearings. He shall request that all the claimants in the barangay within adjoining owners in each answer shall be carefully verified and checked
each cadastral project case be notified to appear at the office of the against the prints and the list of claimants.
geodetic engineer and to file their answers with the Clerk of Court. Section 966 - The tax declaration number given in the answer shall be
Prescribed forms may be obtained from the Clerk of Court. checked against the list of tax delinquents to see whether or not the land
GENERAL PROCEDURE OF WORK has been forfeited for non-payment of taxes. The geodetic engineer shall
examine the monument of title. If the claim is based on purchase, he shall
Section 961 - Immediately upon receipt of the records mentioned in
also examine the basis/claim of ownership of the vendor.
Section 955, the geodetic engineer shall indicate, on one set of prints in
red ink, the name or names of the claimant or claimants of each lot Section 967 - Discrepancies between the answers and the maps and the
corresponding to the numerical list of claimants for facility in checking the list of claimants shall be carefully investigated and verified. In case it is
answers filed by each claimant. necessary to amend or correct the answers, the interested parties shall be
requested to make the necessary correction. The geodetic engineer or his
Section 962 - The marked prints, together with the lists and
authorized assistant shall verify and approve all answers before they are
computations furnished by the geodetic engineer, shall be used for
filed with the Clerk of Court. Notation shall be made in red ink on all
checking the answers filed by the claimants.
answers for lots contested by the government.
Section 963 - The print copies on which the names of claimants are not
Section 968 - All changes in the names of the claimants as given in the
indicated shall be made available to the claimants, agents or attorneys by
answers after verification is made shall be entered in the cadastral lists.
posting these in conspicuous places, for information and identification of
the numbers and location of lots being claimed. The geodetic engineer or Section 969 - When two or more claimants filed an answer for the same
his assistants shall keep these prints for future use in connection with lot, the names of those not shown in the cadastral lists shall be entered
contested claims. therein and reported to the court.
Section 964 - Before the date of the hearing of each cadastral case, the Section 970 – The geodetic engineer shall ascertain the nature of each
geodetic engineer shall confer with the provincial, city and municipal lot. A list of all lots claimed as public, mineral or government lands shall
treasurer concerned to get information regarding the parcels that have be given to the lawyer representing the government and the Regional
been forfeited for non-payment of taxes. These parcels must be identified Technical Director for Lands. This list shall contain all available information
on the cadastral maps and reported to. A list of the location of the lands, regarding the nature or basis of the claim of the government.
the names of claimants, the tax declaration numbers and the cadastral lot Section 971 - The geodetic engineer shall advise the claimants to
numbers shall be prepared. The fiscal or the attorney representing the prepare their answers based on the data obtained from the ground or
government shall be furnished with a copy of the list with the information from actual facts existing at the time of the filing of the answers.

126
 Section 978 - No cadastral lot pending registration shall be amended or
subdivided by the geodetic engineer without written order from the court.
Section 979 - When an order of the court for the subdivision of a
MEMORANDUM OF HEARINGS AND REPORTS
cadastral lot is received, the geodetic engineer shall ascertain whether or
Section 972 - The "Memorandum of Hearings and Operations" shall be not part of the lot to be subdivided is included in previously patented or
prepared in duplicate by filling out the different columns as the court decreed lots.
hearings progresses. The most salient incidents that have taken place
Section 980 - When the Court orders the segregation of previously
during the hearing of a cadastral lot and the status of the lot as reported
patented or decreed tracts from a cadastral lot, the cost of the subdivision
by the geodetic engineer to the lawyer representing the government or to
shall be charged to the corresponding cadastral case.
the court shall be entered on the column headed "Memoranda".
Section 981 - When the lot to be subdivided is patented or decreed, the
Section 973 - The date of the hearing of any cadastral lot and all the
cost of subdivision shall be borne by the applicants who shall be requested
orders of the court for corrections, subdivisions or investigations on any
to make a deposit with the court before any work is undertaken.
lot shall be recorded on the corresponding column of the prescribed form.
Section 982 - if the deposit is not sufficient to cover the cost of the
Section 974 - A monthly report showing the progress of the court
subdivision, additional deposit shall be made by the claimants.
hearings shall be submitted on the prescribed form. This shall be prepared
in black drafting ink to facilitate printing. Section 983 - In case the claimants fail to deposit the required additional
amount, the court shall be informed that the subdivision work has not
Section 975 - When there are two or more cadastral cases in a
been completed, stating the reasons thereon. The expenses already
municipality, the total in columns 7 to 11 for that municipality shall be
incurred shall not be refunded to the claimants.
shown.
Section 984 - In case the lot to be subdivided is not patented or decreed,
Section 976 - The information in columns 1,2,3,4 and 5 shall be obtained
it shall be ascertained if the subdivision survey is necessary and if the
from the maps furnished by the geodetic engineer. Information in columns
reason is due to the negligence or fault of the interested parties. If the
6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 16 shall be obtained from the memoranda
work to be done is requested for the sole benefit and convenience of
required in Section 972, the copies of the claims filed by the Director of
negligent claimants requesting the subdivision, the cost of subdivision
Lands Management Bureau and from the records of the PENRO.
shall be charged against said claimants.
Information in columns 4 and 13 shall be obtained from the clerk of court.
Section 985 - The subdivision shall be made in accordance with the
SUBDIVISION OF CADASTRAL LOTS
agreement of the interested parties who shall be required to make the
Section 977 - When the hearings so require, or for any reason the judge necessary deposit to defray the cost of the survey.
so desires, the geodetic engineer or at least one of his authorized
Section 986 - When a lot is claimed by two or more persons and the
assistants shall be present at the court sessions. He shall, in addition to
court finds it necessary to subdivide the said lot into portions to be
his other duties, receive from the court or from the clerk thereof, all order
adjudicated to the claimants who have not been at fault, the cost thereof
for subdivisions or investigations of cadastral lots under hearing.

127
shall be charged against the proper cadastral case. work will allow, shall be occupied as stations.
Section 987 - The claimants shall be advised that no technical Section 993 - Astronomical observations for azimuth may be used but
descriptions or tracing plan will be furnished to them unless the the azimuth shall be corrected for the convergency of meridians between
proportionate post of the cadastral survey is paid. the central meridian of the zone and the place of observation to reduce
the astronomical azimuths to grid azimuths.
Section 988 - When a subdivision or correction is necessary as a result of
incorrect survey by the party who executed the cadastral survey through Section 994 - In consolidation and/or subdivision surveys of cadastral
no fault of the claimants, the cost thereof shall be charged against the lots, no geodetic engineer certificate shall be submitted with the survey
cadastral project case. returns.
Section 989 - Consolidations and/or subdivisions which are necessary for ORDER OF THE COURT
public interest or requested for the direct benefit of a municipality, Section 995 - Upon receipt of the cadastral records, the geodetic
province, city, or the national government, or ordered by the court, shall engineer assigned to attend the court hearings shall prepare the lists of lot
also be made and the cost thereof shall be charged against cadastral case. reported by the Administrator of the Land Registration Authority and those
Section 990 - In the event that the claimants required to defray the cost amended by the cadastral survey in three groups as follows:
of the consolidation and/or subdivision surveys ordered by the court fail to (a) Cadastral lots that are subdivision of patented, leased or decreed
make the necessary deposit, the geodetic engineer shall report the matter parcels of lands,
in writing to the court with the recommendation that the case be
dismissed or the claimants be ordered to make the deposit. (b) Cadastral lots that differ slightly from the old survey,

Section 991 - ln the subdivisions of cadastral lots, subdivision corners (c) Cadastral lots that are portions of patented, leased or decreed parcels
along the original cadastral lot boundary lines shall be located as pointed subdivided by cases barangay boundaries.
out and agreed upon by the interested parties. The geodetic engineer shall Section 996 - Cadastral lots that include portions of registered and
submit a written report to the court attaching copy of the approved unregistered land shall be divided in accordance with the order of the
subdivision survey of the lot. court.
Section 992 - The grid azimuth of these subdivision surveys shall be Section 997 - The tracing referred to in Section 845 shall be consulted to
derived from the lot corner monuments in place on the ground. In cases see to it that points of the previous surveys that have been recovered are
where two monuments are not inter-visible, a circuit traverse, of which identical to the corresponding points in the cadastral survey.
three or more monuments shall be occupied as traverse stations, may be
Section 998 - Beds of streams included in previous surveys shall be
run using an assumed azimuth. The traverse shall be computed and the
made separate lot or lots for the purpose of providing bases of action for
azimuths and distances between the monuments shall be determined and
the adjudication of such tracts to the national government.
compared with a similar determination between the same monuments
from the cadastral data to determine the correction to be applied to the Section 999 - In areas where the value of the land is comparatively high,
assumed azimuth. In general, monuments as far as the condition of the as in the poblacion or highly developed barangays, any linear error

128
exceeding 10 centimeters in the position of the corner between the were made.
previously patented, leased or decreed survey and the cadastral survey, Section 1006 - At the termination of the cadastral hearings a final report
shall be carefully investigated on the ground. This is to ascertain whether of all the changes made in the lots of the cadastral case shall be submitted
or not a subdivision, correction or amendment of the cadastral lot must be to the Court.
undertaken.
Section 1007 - The form of final report shall be as follows:
Section 1000 - All orders of the Court, including the assignment of lot
numbers to the subdivision lots, shall be strictly followed. The final IN THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF ____________________________
subdivision lot numbers shall be assigned by the regional office concerned CADASTRAL CASE NO. _______________________________________
to be confirmed later by the Court. L.R.C. RECORD NO. ___________ CADASTRE NO. ________________
Section 1001- If in the course of the subdivision survey, it is found that THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, applicant.
additional amendment is necessary, the matter shall be immediately
reported to the Court. The survey returns shall not be transmitted to the
FINAL REPORT
Regional Technical Director for Lands without the written order of the
Court for the new survey. The survey shall be made in a manner that the TO THE HONORABLE COURT:
technical description of the adjoining lots will not be affected. The undersigned geodetic engineer has the honor to submit the following
Section 1002 - If an amendment of the survey of the adjoining lot is changes made in the lots of the above numbered cadastral case as
necessary, the interested parties shall request the Court for the said ordered by the court, viz:
amendment. In case decision on the adjoining lots had already been CAD CHANGES RESULTING NAME OF REMARKS
rendered, the Court shall be requested to modify the decision accordingly. LOT MADE LOT CLAIMANTS
REPORTS AND OTHER PAPERS NUMBERS
NOS.
Section 1003 - All reports to be submitted to the Court shall be made in 17 Subdivisio 17-A Bienvenido
triplicate, two copies to be given to the Court and the third, together with n Cruz
the other papers of the cadastral case, shall be retained by the geodetic 17-B Ariel Reyes
engineer to be transmitted to the Land Management Services upon the
205 -do- 205-A Shirley Nejal Decreed in LRC
termination of the court hearings.
No.1456
Section 1004 - All reports on subdivisions or amendments of cadastral
205-B Ivy Reyes Under Cadastral Act
lots shall be accompanied by sketches of the lots subdivided or amended.
306 -do- 306-A Warlito Quirimit Decreed in LRC
Section 1005 - The survey returns of the subdivisions or amendments of No.4432
cadastral lots shall consist of a copy of the order or the decision of the
505 -do- 505-A Arnel Padua Decreed in LRC
court, field notes, computations, sketch plans of the lots subdivided and a
No.2023
copy of the report of the geodetic engineer to the court after the surveys

129
505-B Ramon Decreed in LRC 804 -do- 804-B Public Land Under Cadastral Act
Mendoza No.2334

130
 804-C Marlea Muñez MISC E L L A N EOUS
Manila, Philippines, November 24, 1994. CHAPTER XIX - LEGISLATION AND REGULATION
Privadi J.G. Dalire LAWS
Geodetic Engineer Section 1012 - The laws and decrees involving land questions, surveys
Assigned to attend the Court and geodetic engineers are the following:

Section 1008 - Upon completion of the necessary survey work on (a) The Cadastral Act No. 2259 as amended.
cadastral lots, the following records shall be immediately forwarded to the (b) Act No. 3240 as amended.
Regional Technical Director for Lands:
(c) Act No. 3327 as amended.
(a) Field notes, sketches and computations of the subdivisions or
(d) Revised Administrative Code, Act No. 2711, as amended.
amendments.
(e) The Public Land Act, C.A. No. 141, as amended.
(b) A copy of the court order for subdivision, amendment or investigation
with the corresponding reports and sketches. (f) The geodetic engineering Law, R.A. No. 4374, as amended by P.D. 202
and P.D. 335,
(c) A copy of the final report to the court as required in the preceding
section. (g)The Agricultural Land Reform Code, R.A. No. 3384 as amended.

Section 1009 - After the termination of court hearings on a cadastral (h) Mineral Resources Development Decree of 1974, P.D. 463,
case, one set of "Memorandum of Hearings and Operation" duly (i) The Forestry Reform Code, P.D. 705.
accomplished and the report of the Land Registration Authority shall be
(j) The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree, P.D. 957.
forwarded to the Lands Management Bureau. Duplicates shall be retained
in the Regional Lands Management Services. (k) Urban Land Reform Decree, P.D. 1517.

Section 1010 - All records not mentioned in the preceding section shall (i) The Philippine Water Code, P.D. 1067.
be retained as permanent records of the concerned Provincial Environment (m) The Property Registration Decree, P.D. 1529.
and Natural Resources Office (PENRO).
(n) The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, R.A. 6657.
(o) The Local Government Code; R.A. 7160
COST OF COURT HEARINGS
(p) Batas Pambansa Bilang 220
Section 1011 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court
(q) R.A. 1273, P.D. 953
hearings shall keep a record of costs as required by regulations.

PART IV

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 REPEAL OF REGULATIONS d. ensure that with a survey method or equipment which he employs in
performing a survey he can demonstrate that such method or equipment
Section 1013 - The Manual for Land Surveys in the Philippines issued
is capable of achieving the purpose of the survey and the appropriate
under Lands Administrative No. 4 series of 1980 as it is hereby revised
standards of accuracy: Provided that when such method or equipment
and all previous Manual of Instructions, Circular Letters, Office Circulars,
involves a departure from or variation of any directive issued by the
and other regulations, numbered or unnumbered, inconsistent with this
DENR, he shall submit a report and shall include in the records of the
revised Manual of Land Surveying Regulations in the Philippines are
survey full information so as to state clearly the method or equipment
hereby repealed.
used;
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GEODETIC ENGINEERS
e) ensure that the rules and regulations issued by the Professional
AND JUNIOR GEODETIC ENGINEERS Regulations Board of Geodetic Engineering governing the practice of Junior
Section 1014 - A Geodetic Engineer or Junior Geodetic Engineer engaged Geodetic Engineers are strictly observed; and
in survey work shall; f) ensure that the Code of Ethics for Geodetic Engineers and Junior
a) ensure that the survey is performed in accordance with provisions of Geodetic Engineers have been faithfully observed.
laws, these Regulations, and to the standards or accuracy prescribed;
Section 1015 - Geodetic Engineers who have been Chief of Survey Party
b) ensure that any part of a survey not performed by the Geodetic from commencement to the completion of a large survey project requiring
Engineer personally is performed by Junior Geodetic Engineer for whose at least secondary precision or fourth order accuracy, or licensed geodetic
work the Geodetic Engineer accepts responsibility; engineer who had worked as assistant in such a project from
c) ensure that: the survey is carried out under the immediate personal commencement to completion as per records of the Lands Management
supervision of a Geodetic Engineer who shall attend in the field to provide Bureau or Land Management Services, or geodetic engineers of the DENR
the necessary supervision in carrying out of the Survey in accordance with who have held positions equivalent to chief of party, may execute
these Regulations and any relevant directives issued by the DENR; that cadastral survey subject to the authority or order which may be issued by
only qualified and highly trained assistant shall be allowed to handle the the Regional Executive Director (RED) or the Regional Technical Director
instruments under his supervision and for whose work the Geodetic for Lands (RTD/Lands) in accordance with Section 394.
Engineer accepts responsibility; Section 1016 - Only licensed Geodetic Engineer shall execute
relocation/reinstatement of the boundaries of decreed and/or titled lands
as well as the verification of property boundaries subject of litigation;
Provided, that if the survey is not performed personally by the Geodetic
Engineer but by a licensed Junior Geodetic Engineer under his direct
supervision, the former must accept responsibility of the work and he shall
sign the records of the survey and the plan.

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 VIOLATIONS OF REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES of not less than four (4) years, in addition to the confiscation of the
implements used in the violation of Section 73, PD 705, including the
Section 1017 - (a) Violations
cancellation of his professional license, if any.
(1) Violations of any provisions of this Manual by the Geodetic Engineer,
(3) Any public officer or employee who knowingly surveys, classifies, or
Junior Geodetic Engineer, and survey contractors shall be sufficient ground
recommends the release of forest lands as alienable and disposable lands
for the Regional Technical Director for Lands to deny the acceptance for
contrary to law, shall, after administrative proceedings, de dismissed from
verification and/ or approval of any survey made by him. In case he is in
the service with prejudice to re-employment, and upon conviction, suffer
the service of the DENR, he shall further be subject to administrative
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year and a fine pursuant to Section
action which the RTD/Lands, the Regional Executive Director and/or the
74, PD 705. The survey, classification and release of forestlands shall be
Director of Lands Management Bureau may deem justifiable under the
null and void,
circumstances.
(4) Administrative sanctions such as blacklisting or denial of the
(2) In case of approved surveys executed by Geodetic Engineer or Junior
acceptance of surveys may be imposed on the Geodetic Engineer or Junior
Geodetic Engineer in private practice, the matter shall also be referred to
Geodetic Engineer who violates the provisions of this Manual. A list of
the fiscal and/or the Board of Geodetic Engineering for whatever
Geodetic Engineers or Junior Geodetic Engineers who violate the Manual
disciplinary action the fiscal and/or the Board may find necessary to take
will be periodically provided by the Lands Management Service to the
in the case in relation to the Code of Ethics of Geodetic Engineers, the
Lands Management Bureau and other concerned agencies.
provisions of the Geodetic Engineering law, RA 4374, as amended, and to
the provisions of other laws, without prejudice to the cancellation of the SUPPLEMENTARY AND MANDATORY REGULATIONS
survey; Provided, that any official or employee of the DENR found abetting Section 1018 - Whenever additional or supplementary regulations or
or knowingly helping directly or indirectly in the approval of any survey in amendments to this Manual is necessary, the same shall be issued in the
violation of the provisions of this Manual shall be subject to disciplinary form of administrative orders.
action which the Secretary may find necessary. The cost of field and office
verifications of erroneous surveys shall be charged against the Geodetic Section 1019 - Survey regulations and specifications governing national
Engineer or Junior Geodetic Engineer concerned, geodetic network controls, hydrographic and other kinds of surveys not
covered by this Manual shall be provided in a separate Manual.
(b) Penalties for surveys conducted by unauthorized persons.
Section 1020- The Lands Management Bureau as the policy-making arm
(1) Penalties shall be those prescribed by laws, by the Board of Geodetic of the DENR in the effective and efficient management, surveys,
Engineering, and those prescribed or may be prescribed later by the disposition of public A & D lands, government-owned lands and other
DENR, lands not falling under the jurisdiction of other government agencies, in
(2) Any person who shall, without permit to survey from the Secretary of coordination with the other agencies performing surveys, shall continue to
the Regional Executive Director, enter any forest lands, whether covered study these instructions, develop and recommend new standards and
by a license agreement, lease, license, or permit, or not, and conduct or operating procedures consistent with the advancement of surveying
undertake a survey for whatever purpose shall be liable to Imprisonment science and technology,

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 EFFECTIVITY OF MANUAL
Section 1021 -This Manual of land Surveying Regulations shall take effect VICTOR. O. RAMOS
fifteen (15) days after publication in the Official Gazette. Secretary

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