DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER

No. 98-12

SUBJECT: REVISED MANUAL OF LAND SURVEYING REGULATIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

The dynamic advancement of surveying science resulted in the new survey technologies and
practices. In view of this the “Manual for Land Surveys in the Philippines” issued on 1980 is hereby
revised and reissued under the new name “Revised Manual of Land Surveying Regulations in the
Philippines”. It is an integration of the land surveys rules and regulations of the Land Management and
Mines and Geo-sciences Bureaus, embracing DENR policy on integrated approach in surveying and
mapping:

REVISED MANUAL OF LAND SURVEYING REGULATIONS

PART I

PROVISIONS GOVERNING ALL CLASSES OF LAND SURVEYS

Chapter I – LAND SURVEYS AND GEODETIC ENGINEERS

CLASSIFICATIONS OF LAND SURVEYS

Section 1 – for the purpose of these regulations, the survey of lands used for agricultural, residential,
industrial, commercial, resettlements and other similar purposes shall be divided into three (3) groups.
These are:

(1) Isolated Land Surveys

(2) Cadastral Land Surveys
(3) Geodetic Surveys

Section 2 – isolated land surveys shall comprise all classes of surveys of isolated parcels of lands used
for residential, industrial, commercial, resettlements and other purpose. These surveys shall be classified
as follows:

(a) Public Land Surveys

All original surveys of lands of the public domain classified as alienable and 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 organization, undertaken for use in original land registration proceedings
pursuant to the provisions of Presidential 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 No.
3038; or similar acts which may hereafter enacted.

(d) Conversion Surveys

All surveys converting graphical cadastral lots into numerical cadastral lots, computed and
plotted in the system of the cadastral project.

(e) Other Land Surveys

All surveys made for the purpose of determining political boundaries, verifying for relocating
prior surveys, delimiting alienable and disposable areas, forestlands, parks and other
protected areas, ancestral claims watersheds, reservations, foreshore land; determining the
geographic coordinates, establishing location monuments and triangulation stations, locating
roads and streets, easements, and any other survey work not included in the preceding
classes.

Section 3 - Cadastral land surveys shall comprise all surveys of extensive areas consisting of several lots
for cadastral registration proceedings, agricultural development, or for any purpose, pursuant to the
provisions of Cadastral Act No. 3240, as amended; Act No. 3327, as amended; Sections 1850 to 1857 of
the Administrative Code (Act No. 21711, as amended); Commonwealth Act No. 141, as amended; or
other acts which may hereafter be enacted.

Section 4 – Geodetic surveys shall comprise all surveys of extensive areas 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 cadastral projects and other expansive isolated surveys.

The establishment of the national geodetic network shall be in accordance with the specification
of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department of the National Mapping and Resource Information
Authority (NAMRIA) which follows the international standards.

WHO MAY EXECUTE SURVEYS

Section 5 – Land surveys for registration and other surveys with prescribed precision of accuracy as
stated in this Manual, shall be made by geodetic engineers or junior geodetic engineers duly registered in
accordance with Republic Act No. 4374, as amended.

Section 6 – Geodetic engineers and junior geodetic engineers whoa re in the service of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) may undertake public land surveys, private land surveys,
government land surveys and other land surveys, subject to the administrative direction, control and
supervision of the Director of Lands Management Bureau through the Regional Technical Director for
lands Management Services.

Section 7 – Duly licensed geodetic engineers and junior geodetic engineers in private practice may
undertake private land surveys, subject to these rules and regulations. In the case of Junior Geodetic
Engineer, subject further to the limitation of three lots with an aggregate area of not exceeding one
hectare and other limitations prescribed by the Geodetic Engineering Board.

Section 8 – Duly licensed geodetic engineers and junior geodetic engineers in private practice may be
authorized to undertake surveys of isolated parcels of public and government lands, subject to the
administrative direction, control and supervision of the Lands Management Bureau through the DENR-
Lands Management Services.

Section 9 – Duly licensed geodetic engineers in private practice may be authorized to undertake cadastral
surveys, subject to existing laws and the administrative direction, control and supervision of the Lands
Management Bureau through the DENR-Lands Management Services.

BONDS FOR GEODETIC ENGINEERS

Section 10 – Geodetic engineer in private practice may be authorized to undertake survey of isolated
parcels of public lands under the administration of the Lands Management Bureau, upon issuance of
survey authority. The request for survey authority shall be accompanied by documents that will show the
actual occupation of the land by the claimant. Such documents may be a certification of the Barangay
Captain or the Municipal Mayor. Survey for homestead, lease or sale application is exempted from this
requirement.

In case the geodetic engineer, when so notified, does not make necessary field correction, he
may be required to deposit sufficient amount to defray the cost of field correction survey or if the survey is
rejected, a notation will be reflected in the records of the survey.

Section 11 – In the case of mineral land surveys, the geodetic engineer duly authorized execute the
same, shall file a bond to be determined by the Regional Executive Director and the Regional Director for
Mines and Geo-Sciences in the amount of not more than Twenty Thousand Pesos (20,000). Mineral land
survey includes the survey of mining claims, 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)

The bond shall guaranty the faithful and efficient execution of the survey. It shall also cover any
expenses that may be incurred by the DENR in the verification, correction, or field work. (Sec. 111r,
MLSR)

The bond shall be in form as stated in Section 14 of this Manual or a Torrens Title covering
unencumbered private lands provided the assessed value is not less than twice the amount of the
required bond and this encumbrance shall be recorded in the Register of Deeds concerned. The bond
shall continue to be in force until the surveys are approved or ordered cancelled or rejected by the
Regional Executive Director and/or the Regional Technical Director for Lands. (Sec. 109 & 110, MLSR;
DAO 72)

Section 12 – A geodetic engineer in private practice who has been authorized to undertake cadastral
project shall file a performance bond in the amount to be fixed by the Regional Executive Director. The
bond shall not be less than ten percent of the project cost.

Section 13 – The performance bond shall remain in accordance with the terms and conditions of the
contract for the cadastral project.

Section 14 – The performance bond shall be in any of the following forms:

a) A cash deposit with the National Treasurer.

b) A cash surety furnished by the Government Service Insurance System.
c) Bonds of the Republic of the Philippines.

CHAPTER II – SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS

 THEODOLITES, TRANSITS, ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASURING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT

Section 15 – Official surveys to be used in the issuance of land patents and leases, adjudication of titles
and other administrative or judicial proceedings shall be made with transits, theodolites, photogrammetric
instruments and other surveying and mapping instruments certified for use by the Director of Lands
Management Bureau or Regional Technical Director for Lands. If theodolites or transits are used, they
must be of the following specifications:

THEODOLITE

a) The telescope should have a magnifying power of not less than 30 diameters.
b) The horizontal circle should have a minimum inside diameter of 80 millimeters and provided
with microptic reading devices.
c) The horizontal and vertical circles should be full circles with least reading of twenty (20)
seconds of arc or less or its equivalent in the centesimal units. Angular units may be in the
sexagesimal or centesimal system.
d) The stadia constant should preferably be one hundred (100).

ENGINEERS TRANSIT

a) The telescope should have a magnifying power of not less than 20 diameters.
b) The telescope should possess center cross wires or hairs and preferably with solar squares.
c) The stadia constant should preferably be one hundred (100).
d) The minimum inside diameter of the horizontal circle should be 118 millimeters.
e) The horizontal and vertical circles should be full circles.
The horizontal circle should be provided with a magnetic compass with a least reading of one
degree or less.
f) The transit should be provided with a magnetic compass with a least reading of one degree
or less.
g) The plate levels should have a sensitivity of seventy-five seconds of arc (75”) or less per
2mm graduation.

ELECTRONIC DISTANCE MEASURING EQUIPMENT

Section 16 – Electronic Distance Measuring (EDM) equipment of any kind and model shall be tested for
zero (prism/instrument) constant, measuring scale frequency with the following specifications:

a) A measuring range of at least 300 meters when using one prism.

b) It should operate with an accuracy of +/-(5 mm + 5 ppm) probable error and within
temperature range of 15 to 40 degrees Celsius.
c) It should have a measuring range display read-out to the nearest millimeter.
d) It should be provided with meteorological correction factor for atmospheric conditions, earth
curvature, refraction, and reflector constant including cyclic errors.

Section 17 - The EDM instrument should be presented to the Lands Management Bureau for a full
calibration or check and if necessary, a separate cyclic test shall be carried out if any of the following is
present:

a) Upon receipt of new EDM.

b) After any repair which affects the component such as the light source, internal centering
and/or alignment, replacement of parts, etc.;
 c) When malfunction is suspected;
d) When the distances measured by the EDM may be or are to be challenged in a Court of Law.

Section 18 – A partial calibration over one of the established calibration base should be carried out before
its use in any project if the EDM instrument has not been used for some time. If any discrepancy is noted
then a full calibration may be necessary. The UP Calibration Base or the South Superhighway Baseline
and other established baseline may be used, 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 Baseline or the South Superhighway Baseline and other Regional
established baseline, small check base should be established in the project area by the project chief. Two
stations, approximately 300-400 meters apart, should be located and pegged with an intervening station
at a 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 the need for further checks. The field notes of this test shall
form part of the survey returns.

Section 20 – The EDM instrument shall be used at both ends of a line to measure a primary and
secondary control distances in the forward and reversed directions. It shall be calibrated over the
established baseline by the Lands Management Bureau before and after its use in a project control.

Same requirements and procedures from EDM shall also be applied to the total station
instrument.

STEEL, INVAR OR LOVAR, AND OTHER TAPES

Section 21 – The measurement of distances shall be made with invar, lovar or steel tapes graduated in
the metric system. The true length of these shall be determined by comparison with the standard and
tested at the calibration baseline. Other tapes such as Fiberglass, phosphor bronze or nylon-coated steel
tape may be used as accessories but must be limited 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.

Section 22 – Broken tapes which have been repaired (3) times or less may be used only in lot surveys of
tertiary precision. However, tests shall be made to determine the correction to be applied to the
measurements. If the correction to be applied is greater than one in ten thousandths (1:10,000) of the
tape length, the said tape shall not be used for survey of lands for registration or related purposes.

Section 23 – The temperature of thirty-two (32) degrees Celsius shall be adopted as the standard
temperature at which each tape shall be of the standard length with a tension of ten (10) kilograms when
supported horizontally throughout its entire length.

Section 24 – Only steel tapes which are of standard length at temperatures between twenty-seven (27)
degrees Celsius and thirty-seven (37) degrees Celsius; may be approved for use in primary, secondary,
and tertiary surveys.

Section 25 – All temperature measurements shall be in the Celsius system.

Section 26 – No correction for temperature shall be required for tapes of standard length at temperature
ranging from twenty-seven to thirty-seven degrees Celsius when used in tertiary surveys and in locating
corners from a traverse stations.

Section 27 – The coefficient of stretch, standard temperature and unit weight of tape shall be stated in the
certificates of examination and approval.

EXAMINATION, TEST, CERTIFICATION, AND RECORDS

Section 28 – The appropriate instrument shall be used in performing a survey. Such equipment must be
capable of achieving the standards of accuracy prescribed for each kind of survey as stated in Sections
54, 55 and 116.

Section 29 – To ensure accuracy of angular and linear measurements, surveying instruments used in the
survey of lands especially surveys for registration purposes shall be examined, calibrated, standardized,
and approved by the Lands Management Bureau.

Section 30 – Surveys made with instruments which have not been examined and approved shall not be
accepted for verification and approval.

Section 31 – The original certificate for each instrument approved for use in property surveys, stating its
technical data and condition at the time of examination shall be issued by the Lands Management
Bureau. Subsequent examination and certification, except for GPS receivers, Theodolites, EDMs and
other sophisticated instruments, may be done in the Lands Management Services. If subsequent
examination proves that the instrument is no longer fit for use in property surveys, the certificate shall be
canceled. 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 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.

Section 33 – Individuals, corporations, or associations engaged in the importation, purchase, sale, repair,
or adjustment, etc. of surveying instruments shall submit their instruments to the Lands Management
Bureau for examination, test, certification and record shall before the sale.

Section 34 – A certificate for the use of : (1) transits and theodolites shall be valid for a period of five (5)
years; and (2) tapes for two (2) years from the date of last examinations and certification. A new
certificate shall be issued after the physical re-examination of the instrument when the instrument is
found fit for use in property surveys. A certificate is deemed canceled upon its expiry date and Section 30
shall apply.

Section 35 – The fees that shall be charged for the examination, calibration, certification of each
instrument and the re-issuance of true copy of certificate thereof shall be as prescribed by DENR from
time to time.

OTHER INSTRUMENTS
Section 36 – Thermometers, barometers, chronometers and other instruments used in property surveys
shall be frequently tested and compared with established standards.

Section 37 – LMB shall test and calibrate GPS receivers at stations designated by NAMRIA. The results
shall from part of the survey returns for verification and approval.

CAHPTER III – POSITION OF SURVEYS

POINTS OF REFERENCE

Section 38 – Land surveys shall be fixed in position on the surface of the earth by monuments of
permanent nature and by azimuths and distances to “points of reference” of known geographic positions.
The geographic positions shall be in the Philippine Plane Coordinate System – Transverse Mercator/
Philippine Reference System 1992 (PPCS-TM/PRS-92). These points of reference shall be as follows:

a) Bureau of Lands Location Monuments (BLLM);

b) Political Boundary Monuments:
1) Provincial Boundary Monument (PBM) and City Boundary Monuments (CBM),
2) Municipal Boundary Monuments (MBM),
3) Barangay Boundary Monuments (BBM);
c) Triangulation stations established by the:
1) Bureau of Lands
2) Bureau of Coast and Geodetic Survey
3) United States Army Corps of Engineers
4) Other organizations, the work of which is of acknowledged standard
d) Primary stations of cadastral surveys;
e) Church towers, historical monuments and other prominent permanent structures of known
PRS 92 geographic or grid coordinates;
f) Stations established by Global Positioning Systems, Doppler, Hiran, and Loran, and other
similar stations of at least third order accuracy and in the PPCS-TM/PRS-92.

Section 39 – The Lands Management Bureau/Service shall establish at 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.

Section 40 – Additional Location monuments shall be established along 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, and so forth. However, the
pair of location monuments shall be established as near as possible to the center of the Barangay.

GEGOGRAPHIC POSITION

Section 41 – The complete geographic position of points of reference shall be expressed in latitude,
longitude and elevation.

Section 42 – The geographic position of points of reference shall be referred to the standard datum of the
Philippines and shall be classified into four categories, namely:

a) First Order
 b) Second Order
c) Third Order
d) Fourth Order

Section 43 – The geographic position of the control points shall be derived from the adopted coordinates
of previously established stations as referred to the standard datum by a network of triangulation,
trilateration, traverse, leveling, GPS, or by any other method of recognized standard.

Section 44 – The standard datum of the Philippines shall be defined by the geographic coordinates of the
triangulation station of the Coast and Geodetic Surveys, known as “Balanacan” which are:

Latitude = N 13 deg. 33 min. 41.000 sec.

Longitude = E 121 deg. 52 min. 03.000 sec.
Geoid/spheroid separation = 0.34 meters

The azimuth from triangulation station “Balanacan” to triangulation station “Baltazar” is 9° 12’
37.000” and the distance is 37,680.90 meters. The back azimuth is 189° 11’ 50.60”.

The description of the triangulation station, Balanacan, is as follows:

Balanacan (Marinduque Province, O. W. Ferguson, 1906, 1907). On the highest hill at the
northwest point of Marinduque Island. Salvaria Island in the entrance to Looc Bay bears N. 9° E., distance
3 kilometers, and the highest point to the western one of the two San Andres Islands bears S. 80° E.,
distance 3 kilometers. It is on the northwest end of the hill, 10 meters northwest of the highest point, and
is in a commanding 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 islands. Station mark is the center of a hole
1.5 centimeters in diameter and 6 centimeters deep, drilled at the center of a triangle 16 centimeters on a
side, cut on a hard rock. Reference mark is on a hard, white boulder of about one cubic meter in volume,
standing 80 centimeters above the ground and 90 centimeters higher than the station. The mark is a hole
1.5 centimeters in diameter and 8 centimeters deep, at the center of a cross cut on top of this stone. From
the station, the reference mark is in azimuth 326° 34’ and is distant 18.85 meters.

Section 45 – The mean sea level obtained from the tidal observation of the Coast and Geodetic Survey
Department/NAMRIA shall be used as vertical datum of bench marks. The elevation of these bench
marks shall be used in leveling other points or bench marks.

Section 46 – In topographic or any other surveys where elevations are necessary, the said elevations
shall be referred either to an assumed or a local mean sea level, when there are no established bench
marks.

PHILIPPINE REFERENCE SYSTEM OF 1992

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 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 PPCS of 1965. A transition period up to the year
2000 is allowed in order to integrate existing surveys into the system after which the PRS-92 shall be
recognized as the sole reference.
 Section 48 – The PRS-92 is based from the Luzon Datum with origin at station Balanacan in Marinduque,
Luzon Datum is 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 geographic coordinates are geocentered, earth fixed coordinate system
defined by the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite ephemerides.

The geocentric cartesian coordinates must be transformed to cartesian coordinates on the Luzon
Datum with the following parameters:

Translation : ∆X = 127.62195 meters

∆Y = 67.24478 meters
∆Z = 47.04305 meters

Rotation : Rot X = -3.06762 secs

Rot Y = +4.90291 secs
Rot Z = +1.57790 secs

Scale Parameter = 1.06002

PRS-92 Spheroid – Clark Spheroid of 1866

The signs are reversed when transforming from Luzon Datum to world Geodetic System of 1984
(WGS-84). The general transformation formula that relates the two sets of coordinates is as follows:

 X 2   X   1 R z  R y  X 1 
    6
  
 2  
Y  Y   (1  Sc * 10 )  R z 1 R x  Y1 
 Z   Z   R  R 1  Z 
 2    y x  1 

where: X2, Y2, Z2 are the transformed cartesian coordinates

∆X, ∆Y, ∆Z are the shifts for the change in origin
Rx, Ry, Rz are the rotations of each axis
Sc is the scale change in parts per million
X1, Y1, Z1 are the coordinates to be transformed

Section 51 – Observation Requirements for GPS Surveys shall be as follows:

Order 1 2 3 4
Min. observation period in minutes 60 30 15 15
Independent occupation per station
At least three (% of total stations)(b) 20% 10% - -
At least two (% of total stations)(b) 50% 30% 30% -
Common satellites observed simultaneously
Min. number 4 3* 3* 3*
Min. period in minutes 30 15 15 15
Min. number of quadrants with satellite observations observations 3 3 3 2
GDOP value to be achieved during an observing period (c) 5 6 7 10
Max. period between meteorological observations in minutes (d) (d) 60 optional optional optional
Min. crystal frequency standard warm-up period hours (e) (e) (e) (e)
Min. elevation of satellite in degrees 10 5 5 5

*Provided a precise ellipsoid height is known for each station and/or an atomic frequency standard id
used to constrain the solution.

Those in parenthesis mean:

a) Independent occupations per station may be back to back, but the antenna must be re-setup
for each occupation. Antenna heights are to be changed by at least 0.5 m. The full specified
minimum observation period must be observed with each occupation.

st
b) For 1 ORDER Network;
(I) 20% of stations are to be occupied at least three times;
(II) 50% of stations are to be occupied at least twice.

c) Geometric Dilution of Precision (GDOP) is an indicator of the geometrical strength of a four or

more satellite constellation as it applies to instantaneous point position fixing. The lower the
number, the better the geometry for achieving an accurate point position.

Caution should be used in applying this parameter as an absolute acceptance/rejection

criterion. This is particular in relative GPS positioning where longer observation periods
largely remove common biases.

Rapidly changing GDOP during a recording session assists in the determination of

ambiguities. Therefore it is desirable to incorporate at least one such period in an observing
session.

Ideal constellations, in addition to exhibiting rapidly changing GDOP is less than or equal to
those values detailed in the above Table.

d) Observations of temperature and relative humidity should be collected at or near the location
of the phase center of the antenna. Observations of 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 2%. Barometric readings at the station site should be recorded to the nearest
millibar and corrected for any significant difference in height between the antenna phase
center and location of the barometer. The meteorological instruments should be brought and
compared against a standard at least once a month. The logs should include the name of
manufacturer, model, and serial numbers of instruments used.

e) The amount of warm-up time required is instrument dependent. It is very important to follow
the manufacturers’ specification.
 f) Elevations may be reduced if suitable models for tropospheric refraction are used in the data
reduction.

Section 52 – For land surveys the Relative Positioning Technique is advisable to be used. With this
technique, positions can be determined with respect to another point, taking one point as the origin of a
local coordinate system. Relative positioning may be Static or Kinematic. Static refers to the positioning
of stationary objects while kinematics is the positioning of a moving object.

Section 53 – In the establishment of geodetic networks, connections must always be made to a network
that is higher in accuracy than to one to be established.

Section 54 – To integrate all surveys to the PRS-92, all subsequent interconnections must be surveyed at
the following geometric relative positioning accuracy standards:

Positional Accuracy

st
1 Order - 10 parts per million - 1/100,000 - 1 cm per km
nd
2 Order - 20 parts per million - 1/50,000 - 2 cm per km
rd
3 Order - 50 parts per million - 1/20,000 - 5 cm per km
th
4 Order - 100 parts per million - 1/10,000 - 10 cm per km

Vertical Accuracy

nd
2 Order – 8.4 mm times square root of the distance
rd
3 Order – 12.0 mm times square root of the distance

Section 55 – The accuracy of the following surveys or connection surveys to PRS-92 shall be in
accordance with the orders in the preceding section.

st nd rd
a) Densification of the 1 Order PRS-92 National Network shall be in 2 and 3 Order
accuracy.

rd
b) Project controls of cadastral projects shall be at least in 3 Order accuracy.

rd
c) Political boundary surveys shall be at least in 3 Order accuracy.

d) Delimitation surveys of Integrated Social Forestry Projects; mineral land surveys; relocation
or delimitation of national parks and other protected areas, reservations, classified forests
th
including buffer zones; delimitation of ancestral claims shall be in 4 Order accuracy.

th
e) Ground control surveys for topographic and hydrographic activities shall be in 4 Order
accuracy.

Section 56 – New GPS Stations in PRS-92 may be established by government agencies and accredited
geodetic engineering professionals with capabilities in GPS surveying; provided their receivers are duly
registered with NAMRIA or LMB.
Section 57 – The GPS Station in PRS-92 shall be monumented with subsurface marking and reference
st nd rd
point numbering of the 1 , 2 and 3 Order accuracy. It shall follow those established by CGSD/NAMRIA
in setting up the PRS-92. CGSD/NAMRIA should be consulted as to what number shall be used.

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, through the Lands Management Bureau, whatever system they adopt to CGSD/NAMRIA for
completion of the central data bank.

Section 58 – Geodetic Engineers in the government and private sectors who established GPS Station
which form part of the national geodetic network, shall submit to CGSD/NAMRIA the GPS Survey
Pre/Post 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;

c. Reduction techniques and computer programs for adjustment;

d. Network design;

e. Results of a minimally constrained least squares network adjustment computed on the

ellipsoid associated with the datum on which the observations were acquired;

f. Number of existing horizontal control points to be occupied;

g. Time per occupation as a function of satellite geometry;

h. Number of occupation per site;

i. Number of repeated baselines;

j. Cut off elevation;

k. Antenna set-up specifications;

l. Number of receivers; and

m. Ephemeris source and age.

GPS receivers that will be used in land surveys, survey controls and establishment of Political
boundary shall be submitted to the LMB for certification based on the aforementioned requirements.

Section 59 – The connection survey returns of the reference points monumented in Section 38 using
conventional instruments such as Theodolite, EDM and/or total stations shall be submitted to Lands
Management Services for verification and approval before its integration to PRS-92. A copy of these
approved data shall be sent to the Lands Management Bureau and CGSD/NAMRIA for incorporation into
the National Geodetic Data Bank.
PHILIPPINE PLANE COORDINATES SYSTEM AND THE PHILIPPINE REFERENCE SYSTEM OF 1992

Section 60 – Philippine Plane Coordinate System (PPCS), also known as Philippine Transverse Mercator
Grid (PTM), are transformed Cartesian coordinates on the Luzon Datum from geographic coordinates
determined through astronomical observations. PPCS-TM was adopted in 1965 as the reference system
in the Philippines. Prior to the adoption of PRS-92, the geographic coordinates of the points of references
enumerated in Section 38 are transformed into the Philippine Transverse Mercator Grid System. The
transformed coordinates are simply referred to as PPCS-TM Grid. The geocentered geographic
coordinates of a reference point defined by the Global Positioning System (GPS) Satellite ephemerides
which are referred to WGS-84 Satellite Datum are transformed to geocentered cartesian coordinates.
This is then transformed to cartesian coordinates on the Luzon Datum (PRS-92) using the transformation
formula and parameters in Section 50 before its transformation to geographical PRS-92 coordinates. The
transformed cartesian coordinates on the PRS-92 Luzon Datum is referred to in the survey returns as
PPCS-TM/PRS-92.

Section 61 – The characteristic of the Philippine Plane Coordinate System are:

1. Spheroid : Clarke’s Spheroid of 1866

2. Projection : Transverse Mercator, in zones of two degrees net width

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

4. Scale Factor at the Central Meridian : 0.99995

5. Zonification :

Zone No. Central Meridian Extent of Zone

I 117° 116° 00’ to 118° 30’
II 119° 117° 30’ to 120° 30’
III 121° 119° 30’ to 122° 30’
IV 123° 121° 30’ to 124° 30’
V 125° 123° 30’ to 127° 00’

Section 62 – The geographic coordinates of PRS-92 can be converted to PPCS-TM/PRS-92 Grid

Coordinates and vice versa using the following formulas:

From Geographic to Grid

2 4
N = (I) + (II) p + (III) p

3 5
E = (IV) p + (V) p + (VI) p + 500,000

P = 0.0001 (Δλ”)

From Grid to Geographic

 2 4
Φ = Ф’ – (VII) q + (VIII) q

3 5
λ = (IX) q – (X) q + (XI) q + λCM

q = 0.000001 (E – 500,000)

Section 63 - In converting the PRS-92 geographic coordinates to PPCS-TM/PRS-92 grid coordinates and
vice versa, the transformations formulas in Section 62 and the procedures as contained in DNR/Bureau of
Lands (now DENR/LMB) Technical Bulletin Number 26 (Philippine Transverse Mercator 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 surveys shall be prepared using the PPCS-TM/PRS-92. This shall
be submitted to the Lands Management Services for verification and approval.

Section 65 – The assignment of provinces into the map projection zones of the PPCS-TM/PRS-92 shall
be as follows:

a. Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR)

1) Abra Zone No. III
2) Benguet -do-
3) Ifugao -do-
4) Mountain Province (Bontoc) -do-
5) Kalinga -do-
6) Apayao -do-
b. National Capital Region (NCR)
6)
1) Metro Manila Zone No. III
c. Region No. I Northwestern Luzon
1) Ilocos Norte Zone No. III
2) Ilocos Sur -do-
3) La Union -do-
4) Pangasinan -do-
d. Region No. II Northeastern Luzon
1) Batanes Zone No. III
2) Cagayan -do-
3) Isabela -do-
a. Municipalities West of 122° E. Longitude -do-
b. Municipalities East of 122° E. Longitude Zone IV
4) Nueva Viscaya Zone III
5) Quirino -do-
e. Region No. III Central Luzon
1) Batan Zone No. III
2) Bulacan -do-
3) Nueva Ecija -do-
4) Pampanga -do-
 5) Tarlac -do-
6) Zambales -do-
f. Region No. IV Southern Tagalog
1) Aurora Zone No. III
2) Batangas -do-
3) Cavite -do-
4) Laguna -do-
5) Marinduque -do-
6) Occidental Mindoro -do-
7) Oriental Mindoro -do-
8) Palawan Zone I (a)
* Central Meridian 118° 30’ E
9) Quezon
a. Municipalities East of 122° E. Longitude Zone No. IV
b. Municipalities West of 122° E. Longitude Zone No. III
c. Polillo Islands -do-
10) Rizal -do-
11)Romblon Zone No. IV
g. Region No. V Bicol
1) Albay Zone No. IV
2) Camarines Norte -do-
3) Camarines Sur -do-
4) Catanduanes -do-
5) Masbate -do-
6) Sorsogon -do-
h. Region No. VI Western Visayas
1) Aklan Zone No. IV
2) Antique -do-
3) Capiz -do-
4) Iloilo -do-
5) Negros Occidental -do-
6) Guimaras -do-
i. Region No. VII Central Visayas
1) Bohol Zone No. V
2) Cebu Zone No. IV
a. Camotes Island Zone No. V
3) Negros Oriental Zone No. IV
4) Siquijor -do-
j. Region No. VIII Eastern Visayas
1) Eastern Samar Zone No. V
2) Leyte -do-
3) Northern Samar -do-
4) Samar (Western Samar) -do-
5) Southern Leyte -do-
 6) Biliran -do-
k. Region No. IX Western Mindanao
1) Basilan Zone No. IV
2) Zamboanga del Sur -do-
3) Zamboanga del Norte -do-
l. Region No. X Northern Mindanao
1) Bukidnon Zone No. V
2) Camiguin -do-
3) Misamis Occidental Zone No. IV
4) Misamis Oriental Zone No. V
m. Region No. XI Southern Mindanao
1) Davao del Norte Zone No. V
2) Davao del Sur -do-
3) Davao Oriental -do-
4) South Cotabato -do-
5) Sarangani -do-
n. Region No. XII Central Mindanao
1) Lanao del Norte Zone No. V
2) North Cotabato -do-
3) Sultan Kudarat -do-
o. Region No. XIII
1) Agusan del Norte Zone No. V
2) Agusan del Sur -do-
3) Surigao del Norte -do-
4) Surigao del Sur -do-
p. Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)
1) Lanao del Sur Zone No. V
2) Maguindanao -do-
3) Tawi-tawi Zone No. III*
4) Sulu Zone No. III
(* Zones are revised)

Section 66 – The transformation of geographic to gird coordinates and vice-versa, the determination of
the convergence between the local and central meridians, and the determination of the scale factor at any
station, shall be referred to DNR/BL (now DENR/LMB) Technical Bulletin Number 26.

Section 67 – The Coast and Geodetic Surveys Department of NAMRIA and the Lands Management
Bureau shall publish the Philippine Reference System of 1992 (PRS-92), geographic and grid coordinates
and descriptions of the established points of reference in the cities and municipalities of the Philippines.

Section 68 – In all land surveys, the position of BLLM No. 1 of each municipality or city as referred to the
national datum shall have its corresponding coordinates in the Philippine Reference System of 1992
(PRS-92). All other location monuments, triangulation stations, etc., situated within the jurisdiction of the
municipality or city shall have their coordinates in the PRS-92.
Section 69 – In the case of islands, which form part of the municipality, the location monument which is
most centrally and conveniently located in the island shall be referred to the Central Meridian of the
province.

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

Section 70 – Astronomical observation for time, latitude, longitude and azimuth shall be made whenever
necessary to determine the following:

a) The error in the time shown by watches or chronometers.

b) The latitude and longitude of points of reference which have not been connected to other
points of known geographic coordinates.

c) The azimuth of lines of survey.

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 prescribed in this Manual. However, the azimuth between
BLLM Nos. 1 to 2 shall be obtained through stellar observations if there is no direct connection made to
established geodetic control lines.

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 error and refraction shall be applied to observed altitudes of
the star.

Section 73 – The altitude of the sun’s center shall be determined by observing its lower or upper limb and
correcting the vertical angle 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 square which shall be taken first with the
telescope direct, then twice with the telescope reversed and finally with the telescope direct.

Section 74 - In solar observations and computations of declination of the sun, the standard time (120°
EMT) shall be determined by:

a) Observing for the local apparent time, converting it into mean time and finally reducing to
standard time.

b) Comparing watch time with the official standard time signals.

Section 75 – When making solar observation the following shall be observed:

a) The index error of the vertical circle shall be determined by direct and reversed sighting at a
fixed point. The average of at least ten direct and ten reversed readings on as many points of
different elevations shall be used for determining the index error. The observed angles shall
be corrected by the amount of the index error. The value of the index correction shall be
entered with the data for each solar observation.

b) Observations shall be taken when the altitude is not less than twenty degrees.
Section 76 – If the direct and reversed readings of the vertical angles to a point, corrected for index error,
differ by more than thirty seconds of arc, the instrument shall be tested and adjusted accordingly.

TIME

Section 77 – For the purpose of determining the hour angle of the sun’s 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.

Section 78 – Observations on celestial bodies shall be made when the observed body is on the prime
vertical. If this is not possible, observations can be made along the meridian but this should be limited.

Section 79 – Any of the following methods for determining the time shall be followed:

a) Time by transit of a sun;

b) Time by transit of a star;

c) Time by an altitude of the sun at any hour angle;

d) Time by an altitude of a star at any hour angle;

e) Time by equal altitudes of a star.

Section 80 – The official or standard time to be used in astronomical observation shall be the mean time
corresponding to the one hundred twentieth degree (120°) meridian east of Greenwich.

Section 81 – Geodetic engineers shall use accurate watches or chronometers for astronomical
observations.

Section 82 – The accuracy of the times kept by a watch or chronometer shall be verified by comparison
with standard chronometers or by observations for local mean time. This is to determine the correction to
be applied to the time indicated by the watch or chronometer.

Section 83 – Local mean time shall be determined by altitude observations on the sun or stars at the
moment of meridian passage or at any hour angle.

Section 84 – When local mean time is determined by altitude of the sun before or after meridian passage
the procedure outlined in Section 104 for determining azimuth shall be followed.

Section 85 – Any formula for determining the hour angle may be used, but the following tangent formula
shall be adopted from altitude observation for time:

1
Tangent T  cos S sec( S  P) sin( S  H ) csc( S  L)
2
Where: S = ½ (P+H+L)

T = Hour angle of the observed celestial body

H = Observed altitude of the celestial body, corrected for refraction in

case of stars and parallax and refraction in the case of the sun.

L = Latitude of the place of observation

 P = North polar distance of the celestial body

Separate computation shall be made for each set of observation with the telescope in the direct
and the reversed positions as provided in Section 103 and 104.

Section 86 – The time obtained by observation on the sun is local apparent time which shall be
transformed into local mean time. Equation of time is equal to apparent time minus local mean time.

Section 87 – The time obtained by observations on the star is local sidereal time which shall be
transformed into local mean time.

Section 88 – At least two complete sets of observations shall be made. The average shall be transformed
into local mean time. The data obtained for determining time may be used also for determining the
azimuth of line.

LATITUDE

Section 89 – Observation for latitude shall be made whenever the latitude of the station occupied is not
known from previous observations or from connection to a point of reference of known latitude.

Section 90 – Of the various methods for determining latitude, the following may be used with the transit or
Theodolite:

(a) By a circumpolar star at culmination

(b) By meridian altitude of a southern star

(c) By circum-meridian altitudes

(d) By altitude of Polaris at any hour angle

(e) By altitude of Sun at noon

Section 91 – The highest recorded altitude of the sun when corrected for refraction, index error, semi-
diameter and parallax may be accepted and used for determining the latitude.

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 the reversed positions. Half of the series shall be made before
the time of the meridian passage and the other half after the time of meridian passage.

Section 93 – When more accurate results are desired, the latitude shall be determined by observations of
Polaris at culmination. The average of the reduced altitudes shall be accepted and used for determining
latitude.

Section 94 – When a latitude is determined by Polaris or any circumpolar star at any hour angle, these
procedures shall be followed:

(a) Set and level the instrument over the point.

(b) By means of the upper motion take several altitude observations on Polaris in the direct and
reversed positions.

(c) Take note of the time at each pointing of the star.

 (d) Apply index correction to the observed altitude when necessary and then take the mean of
the altitudes and the mean of the times ant treat the results as a single observation.

(e) Compute the hour angle of the star.

(f) Compute the latitude (f) using the formula:

2 2
Lat = h – p cos t + ½ p sin t tan h sin 1”

where: h = corrected mean observed altitude

t = hour angle of Polaris or any circumpolar star (difference between sidereal

time and the star’s right ascension)

p = polar distance in seconds of Polaris or any circumpolar star.

Section 95- in all land surveys, the latitude shall be determined by a control connection with points of
reference of known geographic positions.

Section 96 – Latitude determination by observations on the star or the sun at meridian passage shall be
made using the following formula:

For the star’s and the sun’s center south of Zenith but north of the equator:

L=Z+D

and for those south of the zenith and south of the equator:

L=Z–D

In those north of the Zenith and north of the equator:

L=D–Z

where: L = Latitude of observer

Z = Zenith distance of celestial body

D = Declination

Section 97 – The latitude used in the computations for azimuth shall be derived from the latitude as
determined by the position computation.

Section 98 – If the above method is not feasible, the latitude shall be determined by astronomical
observations.

LONGITUDE

Section 99 – Longitude shall be determined by means of control starting from reference points of known
geographic position. Other methods for determining longitude shall be used as follows:

(a) Longitude by transportation of a timepiece.

(b) Longitude by transit of the moon.

 (c) Longitude by the time signals.

(d) Laplace observation method.

ELEVATION

Section 100 – Elevations may be determined by lines of levels starting form bench marks of known
elevations, by trigonometric leveling, spirit leveling or by means of the barometer.

AZIMUTH

Section 101 – The azimuths of all lines of survey lines shall be reckoned from the south as the zero
direction following clockwise of the quadrants. This shall be carried from the astronomical azimuth of one
or more lines of the survey.

Section 102 – The astronomical azimuth of a line shall be determined by observations on the sun or stars.
It shall consist of at least one to eight series of observations as required using an instrument tested
beforehand.

Section 103 – Each series shall consist of two sets of observations. One set shall consist of the mean of
observed readings with the telescope in the direct and reversed positions.

Section 104 – In solar observations for azimuths using the vertical and horizontal cross wires, the cross
wires shall be made tangent to the left and lower, right and upper, right and lower, or the left and upper
limbs of the sun, as the case maybe. The procedures to be followed are:

(1) Set up the instrument over the station and level the instrument.

(2) Set the vernier plate or micrometer reading to 00°00’00” and sight the rearward station, the
azimuth of which is to be determined using the lower motion and lower tangent screw.

(3) Screw the colored prismatic glass to the eyepiece and using the upper motion and upper
tangent screw turn the telescope toward the sun.

(4) Observe the sun in accordance with the following tangent positions and record the time, the
vertical angle or zenith distance and horizontal angle for each sighting as shown by the
following example:

(1) Telescope direct (5) Telescope reverse

(2) Telescope direct (6) Telescope reverse
(3) Telescope reverse (7) Telescope direct
(4) Telescope reverse (8) Telescope direct

(5) After the eight sightings, turn the telescope to the rearward station using the upper motion
then read and record the horizontal angle. The time interval between successive sightings shall in
no case exceed two minutes. The eight sightings constitute one series of observation and shall
be completed within twenty minutes otherwise the results shall be voided and another series shall
be made.

(6) The allowable horizontal angle of closure shall be within +/- 30 seconds of arc and must be
distributed equally among the horizontal angle readings.
 (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 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) (8-4) (9) (7-2)

(2) (5-1) (6) (8-5) (10) (6-3)
(3) (8-1) (7) (3-2) (11) (7-3)
(4) (5-4) (8) (6-2) (12) (7-6)

(b) To find the variation in vertical angle divide the difference in vertical angle readings by the
corresponding the corresponding difference in time. Combinations are from the upper-
side of the telescope horizontal cross-hair or any two readings from the lower-side of the
horizontal cross-hair.

(Vn  Vm)
V var 
(Tn  Tm)

(1) (3-1) (5) (7-3) (9) (8-2)

(2) (5-1) (6) (7-5) (10) (6-4)
(3) (7-1) (7) (4-2) (11) (8-4)
(4) (5-3) (8) (6-2) (12) (8-6)

In both cases, the results should not differ from the mean variation by more than two
seconds of arc per seconds of time. Other combinations using the mean of a direct and
reverse positions shall be used to determine the variation.

Additional safeguard against mistakes in observations shall be determined by nothing

that the average apparent angular diameter of the sun is about thirty two minutes of arc in
the vertical and thirty-two 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 crosswires. The accuracy of the observations shall be tested by comparing the rate of
motion of the stars in the horizontal and vertical angles.

Section 106 – For observations on circumpolar stars for azimuth at elongation, the following formulas for
determining the hour angle and azimuth of a star shall be used:

cos t = tan L cot D

 sin Z = sin P sec L

where: t = hour angle of star at western elongation

and t = 24 – t at eastern elongation

L = latitude of place

D = declination of star

P = north polar distance of star

Z = angle of star reckoned from the north

The time shall be determined from the following formulas:

S = αs + ts
h
S = (αsun + 12 ) + T

Where: S = sidereal time

αs = right ascension of star

T = local civil time

ts = hour angle of star

αsun = right ascension of sun (n)

Section 107 – The procedure for observing stars for azimuth at elongation shall be as follows:

1) Find the sidereal time of elongation:

a) Compute the hour angle (t) of the star at elongation (cos t = tan L cot D)

b) Add the hour angle for western or eastern elongation to the right ascension of the star
to get sidereal time.

2) Find the local civil time at the instant.

h
a) Determine the (αsun + 12 ) corrected for longitude

b) Subtract the result of (a) from the sidereal time determined in step (1). The result is
sidereal interval which shall be converted to local civil time by the application of
correction from sidereal into mean solar time.

c) The result shall be corrected for longitude difference to reduce to 120° E time.

3) Set the instrument over the station in position at least thirty minutes before the time of
elongation.

4) Set the micrometer (vernier) reading to approximately 00°00’00” and sight the azimuth mark.
 5) About five minutes before elongation bisect the star with the cross wires and follow it as it
moves toward elongation using the tangent screw.

6) At elongation, read and record the horizontal angle and time.

7) Reverse the telescope. Bisect the star again and read and record horizontal angle and time.

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

In both formulas:

A = angle between the celestial body and the south

H = observed altitude of the celestial body corrected for refraction in case of stars and for
parallax and refraction in the case of the sun

L = latitude of the place of observation

P = north polar distance of the observed celestial body

S = ½ (P+H+L)

P is (90-D) when the declination is north and (90+D) when the declination is south.

In the morning the azimuth of sun is 360° minus A and in the afternoon, the azimuth of
sun is A. If the station mark is to the left of the sun, the horizontal angle is to be
subtracted from the azimuth of the observed celestial body; if to the right is to be added.

CHAPTER IV – GEODETIC AND PROJECT CONTROL SURVEY

CLASSES OF CONTROL SURVEYS

Section 110 – There shall be two classes of control surveys namely, geodetic and project control surveys.

Section 111 – The basis of classification of geodetic and project control surveys shall in general be the
accuracy with which the length and azimuth of a line of the triangulation, traverse of trilateration is
determined.

GEODETIC CONTROL SURVEYS

Section 112 – Geodetic control surveys shall consists of triangulation, traverse, trilateration, and any
combination thereof, which together with leveling and other astronomic observations shall determine the
accurate geographic positions of points on the earth’s surface taking into account the curvature of the
earth. It also includes the determination of the positions of points and through satellite survey of
photogrammetric aerial triangulation.

Section 113 – Geodetic control surveys shall be made in accordance with the general instruction
contained in the special publications of the Coast and Geodetic Survey Department/NAMRIA for first
order, second order and third order control work.

PROJECT CONTROL SURVEYS

Section 114 – Project control surveys shall consists of traverse, 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 lands, group settlement, barangay
areas, municipalities or group of municipalities.

Section 115 – There shall be three classes of project control surveys, namely, primary, secondary and
tertiary control controls.

Section 116 – The following classification and standards of accuracy in project control establishment shall
be adopted.

CLASSIFICATION AND STANDARDS OF ACCURACY OF PROJECT CONTROLS FOR LAND SURVEY

SPECIFICATION TRAVERSE
Spacing of stations PRIMARY SECONDARY TERTIARY
Between 100 to 1,000 100 m. to 500 m. As required
m
*Angular error of closure not
to exceed 2.5” P 10” S 30” T
No. of observations:
Positions with 1 second 2 1 As required
Theodolite
Sets with 20 or 30 second 6 D/R for interior and 4 D/R for interior Clamped plate
transit exterior angles angle for circuit and
loop traverse clamped
**Linear error of closure not
to exceed 0.0001 Pp 0.0002 Ps 0.0005 Pt
Azimuth reading 1.0 second 10 to 15 seconds 30 seconds to 1 min.
Instrument least reading 1 second theodolite; 1 second theodolite; 1 minute transit
20” to 30” transit 20” to 30” transit
Astronomic observations:
No. of series night and day 8 or 4, am and pm 4 or 2, am or pm
Probable error of
astronomical observations 5” 10” 15”
not to exceed
Azimuth checks not to 20” 30” As required
exceed
 No. of stations between
azimuth checks not to 25 35 50
exceed
*** Distance Measurement Nearest mm. with Cs, Nearest mm. with Cs, Nearest cm.
Ct, Cp, measured Ct, Cp, measured measured once
twice twice
Probable error or distance
measurement not to exceed 1:40, 000 As required As required
Relative error after azimuth 1:20, 000 1:10, 000 1:5, 000
adjustment
*P, S, T is the number of stations
**Pp, Ps, Pt is the perimeter of the control
***Cs, Ct, Cp, Cg, Csl, is correction due to sag, temperature, pull, grade and sea level

SPECIFICATION TRIANGULATION
Spacing of stations not to 1-3 km 1 km Consistent with good
exceed sighting
Angular observations
positions with 1 second 2 2 As required
theodolite
Sets with 20-30 seconds 6 D/R for interior and 4 D/R for interior and 2 D/R
transit exterior angles exterior angles
Triangle closure not to
exceed base measurement 5” 10” 30”
Probable error not to exceed 1: 40,000 As required As required
Check on base not to 1: 20,000 1: 10,000 1: 5,000
exceed

Section 117 – Project controls shall be classified as follows:

a.) Primary Control:

The azimuth shall be determined to the nearest one second of arc and the distances shall be
measured twice to the nearest millimeter taking into account the temperature, sag, pull, grade
and sea level corrections.

b.) Secondary Control:

The azimuth shall be determined to the nearest fifteen seconds of an arc or less and the
distances shall be measured once to the nearest millimeter, taking into account the temperature,
sag, pull, grade and sea level corrections.

c.) Tertiary Control:

The azimuth shall be determined to the nearest one minute of arc or less and the distances shall
be measured once to the nearest centimeter, taking into account the temperature, pull, sea level
 and sag corrections if the weight of the tape per meter does not exceed fifteen thousandths
(0.015) kilogram.

Section 118 – The main control shall be the primary, secondary, or tertiary control, as the case may be,
from and to which all other controls established in the survey of an area shall begin or close.

Section 119 – When the main control is fixed by:

a. Primary control, the details of the survey may be located by the primary control or by secondary
and tertiary controls connected thereto.

b. Secondary control, the details of the survey may be located by the secondary control or by
tertiary control connected thereto.

c. Tertiary control, the details of the survey may be located by the main control or by other tertiary
controls connected thereto.

Section 120 – A traverse which closes to the point of its origin shall be known as a circuit traverse. A
traverse starting from a station and closing 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 same or of any
other traverse shall be known either as a loose tie line or connection traverse.

Section 121 – The quality of control to be used for isolated land surveys shall be as follows:

AREA TO BE CONTROLLED QUALITY OF CONTROL

Less than 1,500 hectares Tertiary control

1,500 to 15,000 hectares Secondary control

Over 15,000 hectares Primary control

In isolated parcels of land having an area of less than 1,500 hectares to be subdivided into fifty or
more lots, at least one pair of location monuments shall be established. The location monument shall be
connected by a control of secondary precision from previously established reference point provided that
mo lots shall have a distance of more than one (1) kilometer from the nearest point of reference.

Section 122 – The main control for cadastral projects shall be established by traverse, triangulation,
trilateration, or combination thereto with primary accuracy precision.

Section 123 – The main control starting from and closing to the BLLM No. 1 of the project shall be
established to control all subsidiary controls within the project.

Section 124 – When no location monuments have been previously established, a pair of BLLMs, to be
numbered 1 and 2 shall be established at the most suitable place and as near as possible to the center of
the municipality or the project.

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 fairly level area near the boundary and include at least three
second or third order geodetic control stations.
Section 126 – In case mountain peaks or hills define the boundary of the municipality of project, the
primary control shall be located at the base of 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 and to produce a more
reliable control. Traverse lines may be longer than 1,000 meters as prescribed in Section 129 as
systematic errors on angle and distance measurements will be smaller.

Section 127 – Whenever the main control includes established geodetic control stations as specified in
Section 125, the main control shall be divided into loops, each loop starting from one geodetic control
station and closing on another geodetic control station.

Section 128 – Main control stations shall be numbered consecutively from one for each project. This shall
be inscribed on the monuments in a clockwise order and shall be indicated in the field notes,
computations and maps as P1, P2, P3, P4, and so on. The BLLM No. 1 of the project shall be the first
main control station to be known as P1 of the main control; the BLLM No. 2 shall be made as the second
or last main control station, without changing the marks thereon.

Section 129 – The primary traverse station shall be established on the ground so that the distance
between consecutive stations shall not be less than 100 meters nor more than 1,000 meters whenever
conditions may allow.

Section 130 – Additional pairs of location monuments shall be established along the control of the project
at an interval of from 5 to 6 kilometers to be designated and numbered as BLLM No. 3 and BLLM No. 4;
BLLM No. 5; and BLLM No. 6; etc. and given corresponding equivalent main control station numbers
without changing the marks thereon.

Section 131 – All main control stations except the BLLMs shall be defined by cylindrical concrete
monuments fifteen centimeters in diameter by fifty centimeters in length (15 by 50 cm). These shall be
reinforced preferably by barbed wire and set not more than twenty centimeters (20 cm) above 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 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 the transit and tape or stadia. The primary survey shall define the approximate project
boundaries to be used in the generation of information for the preparation of provisional progress map
and preliminary control for the immediate commencement of sketching operations. Reference points of
the monuments shall be located during the preliminary survey.

Section 133 – The measurement of distances for primary control shall be made with calibrated steel tapes
or electronic distance measuring (EDM) equipment.

The EDM shall be tested and calibrated at the calibration base line before and after its use in the
project as required in Section 20. It shall also be tested as often as necessary over a calibrated line in the
project. Kinked or broken tapes, even if repaired, shall not be used in the measurement of primary and
secondary controls.

Section 134 – Distances of primary control lines that cannot be directly measured shall be indirectly
determined by traverse triangulation or by broken base measurement.

POSITION AND BASE MERIDIAN OF THE PROJECT

Section 135 – The geographic position of BLLM No. 1 of the cadastral survey shall be derived from the
second and third order geodetic control stations as specified in Section 125. It shall be included n the
main control of the project.

In the absence of second and third order geodetic control stations at a distance of ten (10)
kilometers from the project boundary, connection of primary precisions shall be made to any other point of
reference accepted by the Lands Management Bureau.

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.

GRID AZIMUTH

Section 137 – The azimuth used in the cadastral project shall be known as grid azimuth to distinguish it
from astronomical azimuth which may be observed within the project.

Section 138 – The grid azimuth shall be derived from at least two established geodetic control lines within
or near the project.

Section 139 – When the grid azimuth for the cadastral project cannot be obtained by direct connection to
established geodetic control lines, it shall be determined by : (1) stellar observations for azimuth on BLLM
Nos. 1 – 2 of the project independent of any previous determination; and (2) by the application of the
convergency correction between the station occupied and the central meridian of the adopted zone.
Astronomical observations for azimuth shall be made on other on other pairs of location monuments of
the cadastral project to check the carried grid azimuth of the line.

Section 140 – When the main control of the project is connected to the main control of an adjoining
project, as required in Sections 154 – 160, astronomical observations for azimuth shall likewise be made
on the two extreme stations common to the two project controls.

Section 141 – Astronomical observations for azimuth on the lines of the main control other than the line
defined by BLLM Nos. 1 – 2 shall be used only as a check on the carried grid azimuth of the line, except
as provided in Section 139.

Section 142 – Check on azimuth shall be from azimuth line to another azimuth line. The azimuth line is
when eight (8) series of astronomical observations are made as prescribed in Section 102. The
astronomical azimuth is reduced to grid azimuths. Angular errors shall be within 2.5” P , where P is the
number of stations between the azimuth lines. Azimuth closure shall be distributed among the angles
between the azimuth lines. The linear error of closure is determined and if within the allowable limit, the
latitude and departure errors shall be distributed accordingly. If this procedure is used, the angular loop
closure and adjustment at interval of 20 – 25 stations must not be done.

Section 143 – The astronomical observations on the sun for azimuth shall be determined in accordance
with Section 104. The arithmetical mean of at least four acceptable series taken in the morning and four
series taken in the afternoon of the same or different days shall be used to determine the astronomical
azimuth of the line.
Section 144 – The astronomical observations for azimuth on the stars shall be determined by at least four
acceptable series taken on the east stars and four series on the west stars. The arithmetical mean shall
be used as the astronomical azimuth of the line.

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.

Section 146 – The probable error of the mean azimuth from two sets composing one series of
observations shall be determined as follows:

a) Determine the difference in azimuth between the first and second sets.

b) Express this difference (D) in seconds and compute the probable error (P.E.) from the
formula:
P.E. = 0.33725 D

c) The result will be seconds of arc which shall not exceed five seconds for base meridian and
primary, ten seconds for secondary and fifteen seconds for tertiary controls.

d) Adopt the mean azimuth if the result is within the limit.

Section 147 – The probable error of the mean azimuth from several series of observations shall be
determined only from series whose probable errors are within the limit provided in the preceding section.
The procedures in determining the probable error shall be as follows:

a) Determine the arithmetical mean of the azimuths of the selected series of observations.

b) Determine the difference (v’s) between the arithmetical mean azimuth and the azimuth of each
series of observations.

c) Express these difference or residuals in seconds or arc and determine the square of the
residuals.

2
d) Add the squares of the difference (v ) or residuals and compute the probable error from the
formula:

v 2
Probable Error = 0.6745
n(n  1)

2
Where: Σv = the sum of all squares of the residuals

n = the number of series of observations

Section 148 – When the probable error of the astronomical observations is more than the allowable limit,
the azimuths having residuals greater than 10” from the mean shall be rejected. Additional observations
for azimuth in accordance with Sections 143 and 144 shall be made until the allowable limit is obtained.
Section 149 – When the main primary control is divided into traverse loops, astronomical observations for
azimuth similar to those taken at location monuments as provided for in Section 139 shall be made at the
main station common to the loops.

Section 150 – When the primary control consists of one traverse circuit 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 of the lines in addition to the requirements of Section 140 to 149.

Section 151 – The astronomical azimuths determined at the main control lines shall be corrected for
convergency of meridians in accordance with Sections 152 or 153 and shall be within twenty seconds
(20”) of arc with the carried grid azimuths of the lines.

Section 152 - The amount of convergency correction in seconds of arc to be applied to the observed
astronomical azimuth shall be computed using Table III, Determination of Convergency and Scale Factor,
Technical Bulletin No. 26. If the latitudes and longitudes of the stations occupied are known, the
convergency correction may also be computed by means of the formula for geodetic position
computation.

Section 153 – The convergency corrections may also be determined by multiplying the number of
kilometers of departure of the place of observation from the central meridian and the number of seconds
of angular convergency corresponding to the following tables:

CORRECTION FOR CONVERGENCY

Latitudes Convergency
4° 2.26”
5° 2.83”
6° 3.40”
7° 3.97”
8° 4.55”
9° 5.12”
10° 5.70”
11° 6.29”
12° 6.87”
13° 7.46”
14° 8.06”
15° 8.66”
16° 9.27”
17° 9.88”
18° 10.50”
19° 11.13”
20° 11.76”
21° 12.41”
22° 13.06”

The angular convergency is for one kilometer of departure east or west from the central meridian.
 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.

CONNECTION WITH ADJOINING PROJECTS

Section 154 – In case the main control of an adjoining cadastral project has been located or completed,
connection therewith shall be made at the extreme main control stations of their common lines. This
connection shall be made by measuring the horizontal angle and distance to the two adjacent stations of
the previous main control.

ADJOINING PROJECT IN THE PHILIPPINE PLANE COORDINATE SYSTEM PRS-92

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 angular error and/or the error of the closure of the main control exceed the allowable limits,
investigation shall be made and the results of which shall be reported to the Director of Lands
management Bureau.

ADJOINING PROJECT IN THE LOCAL PLANE COORDINATE SYSTEM

Section 156 – If the adjoining project is in the Local Plane Coordinate System (LPCS), the distances and
horizontal angles of the main control common to those projects undergoing survey shall be reduced to the
grid system (PPCS/PRS-92). This shall be used in the main control of the project undergoing survey. The
latitude and departure of the line defined by the two junction stations with the main control or the adjoining
project shall be transformed into the Philippine Plane Coordinate System/PRS-92.

Section 157 – The following formulas shall be used to transform the latitudes and departures of lines in
the LPCS to the PPCS:

Xp = (L cos ∆α sin α + L sin ∆α cos α) * (K)

Yp = (-L sin α sin ∆α + L cos α cos ∆α) * (K)

L = length of line in LPCS

α = local azimuth

∆α = grid convergence

K = scale factor at the midpoint of the line

Xp = grid departure of the line

Yp = grid latitude of the line

Section 158 – The horizontal angles and distances of the adjoining project shall be used to complete the
main control of the project undergoing survey. If the angular error or the linear error of closure of the main
control exceeds the allowable limit, investigations shall be made the results of which shall be reported to
the Director of Lands Management Bureau.
Section 159 – The difference between the grid azimuths of the common control lines as carried fro their
respective base meridians when reduced by the angle of convergency between these base meridians
shall be less than thirty seconds of arc; otherwise, an investigation shall be made and reported to the
Director of Lands Management Bureau.

Section 160 – If connection to the main control of an adjoining project is no longer feasible, connection
shall be made by including all recoverable monuments of the adjoining project along or near their
common boundaries in the main control of the project.

PRIMARY CONTROLS – MEASUREMENT OF HORIZONTAL ANGLES

Section 161 – The horizontal angle formed at each primary station by the two primary lines meeting
thereat and its explement shall be measured clockwise by the method of repetition.

Section 162 – The measurement of horizontal angles by the repetition method using a transit with a least
reading of 30” or less shall be performed as follows:

1) First angle

a) Set and level the transit over the primary station where the angle is to be measured;

b) Set vernier A to read 0°00’00”; record the readings at verniers A and B. With the
telescope in the direct position, backsight at the rearward station using the lower
clamp and lower tangent screw.

c) Loosen upper clamp, rotate telescope in a clockwise direction, sight the forward
station. Read and record the readings on verniers A and B. This is the first reading.

d) Loosen lower clamp and backsight at the rearward station and proceed as in (c) for a
total of six times except that the vernier is read only after the six sighting.

e) Closing the horizon: Invert the telescope, loosen lower clamp and backsight at forward
station. Loosen upper clamp and then revolve instrument again in a clockwise
direction then sight the rearward station. Repeat this procedure six times. The vernier
reading should be 0°00’00” for the horizon closure. If it differs from 0°00’00” by more
than 30”, reject the result and make another set of repetitions.

f) The value of the angle is computed by getting the difference between the mean of the
initial and closing readings and the sixth reading and dividing this difference by six.
For angles more than 60° add to the quotient multiple of 60° nearest to, but lower
than, the first reading.

2) Second Angle (explement)

a) Proceed as in 1 (b) to 1 (e) but take backsights at the forward station first and
foresights to the rearward station. In closing the horizon, take backsights at the
rearward station and foresights at the forward station.

b) If the horizon closure in this measurement is within the allowable 30”, compute for the
value of the angle as in 1 (f).
 st nd
Section 163 – The sum of the 1 and 2 angles shall not differ from 360 by more than +/-10”; otherwise,
make additional measurements.

Section 164 – A simpler method is the direction method of observation where the azimuth of primary lines
shall be determined by observing two positions with a one-second direction Theodolite. One position is as
follows:

a) With the telescope in direct position, bisect the signal on the rearward station using the
horizontal clamp and tangent screw.

b) Set any initial reading approximately at zero degree and one minute (0°01’00”). Bisect again
the signal on the rearward station. Record the micrometer reading.

c) Release the horizontal clamp and turn the telescope in a clockwise direction to the forward
station. Tighten the clamp and bisect the signal accurately by means of the tangent screw.
Record the micrometer reading.

d) Release again the clamp, reverse the telescope, and sight again the forward station by
means of the clamp and its tangent screw. Record the micrometer reading.

e) Release the clamp and turn the telescope to bisect the rearward station. Record the
micrometer reading.

The difference between the initial reading and the closing reading on the initial line shall not
exceed 10 seconds of arc; otherwise, the observations shall be repeated.

The second position is made by following the above procedure, but the initial reading shall be set
approximately ninety degrees more than the first initial reading at (b).
st nd
The discrepancy between the mean readings of the 1 and 2 positions shall not be greater than
five (5) seconds; otherwise, the observations shall be repeated.

The angle is determined from the list of directions by subtracting the direction to the rearward
station from the direction to the forward station.

PRIMARY CONTROL – MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCES

Section 165 – The distances between primary stations which must be inter-visible shall be measured
twice with the use of steel tapes. The 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 the tapes, etc. The first measurement shall be made
with one tape in one direction and the second measurement, with another tape in the opposite direction.

Section 166 – The temperature correction for each tape measurement shall be computed using the
following formula:

Ct = L (ta - ts) K

Where: Ct = correction due to temperature (plus or minus)

L = measured length

ta = actual temperature of the tape

 ts = standard temperature of the tape

K = coefficient of expansion of the tape material (.0000116°C for steel tape)

Section 167 – The sag correction for each tape measurement between two consecutive supports shall be
computed using the following formula:

w2l 3 W 2L
Cs = =
24 p 2 24 p 2

Where: Cs = Sag correction (always negative) between two consecutive supports (span)

w = unit weight of tape

W = total weight of tape

l = length between supports

p = pull applied

Section 168 – The pull correction for each tape measurement shall be computed using the following
formula:

L( Pa  Ps
Cp =
SE
Where: Cp = pull correction (plus or minus)

L = measured length

Pa = actual pull applied

Ps = standard pull

S = cross sectional area of the tape

E = modulus of elasticity of tape material

Or

1
= coefficient of stretch
SE
In order to eliminate error due to pull, the standard tension for the tape shall be used.

Section 169 – The slope or grade correction for each tape measurement shall be computed using the
formula:

h2 h4
Cg =  ;
2 s 8s 3
 Where: Cg = slope or grade correction (always to subtracted)

s = measured slope length corrected for temperature, sag and tension

h = difference in elevation of the end points of each tape measurement

lc = l – Cg = corrected horizontal distance

Section 170 = Sea level correction shall be determined using the formula:

Bh Bh 2
Csl = - 
R R2
Where: Csl = sea level correction

B = actual measured length of the line in meters corrected for temperature, sag, tension,
slope

h = average elevation of the line

R = radius of curvature of the spheroid corresponding to mean latitude of the line; for the
Philippines

R = 6,370,000 meters

Section 171 – Elevations of points to be used in sea level correction shall be determined in accordance
with Section 100.

Section 172 – Distances between monuments of primary lines may be measured with standardized one
hundred meter steel tape, without breaks or splices. The measurements shall be made over accurately
aligned tripods. For this purpose the tripods of transits, plane tables or other instruments shall be used.
When these are not available, similar devices constructed locally may be used.

A board about 4 x 8 x 80 centimeters may be bolted through its center to 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 will fall on the board. The bolt shall be tightened to give firm and steady surface on
which to mark the measurement. The point where the end graduation falls shall be marked with an office
pin stuck on the board. When measuring the end point of the line, the tripod shall be set slightly beyond
the monument and the board is set to swing until the plumb line held over the monument strikes an edge
of the board. This point shall be marked by a pin and then measurement shall be made.

Section 173 – The tape shall be supported at every twenty-five meter 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 to support it against the action of gravity.

Section 174 – In rough terrain where the use of tripods is impractical, the measurement may be made by
the use of two transits correctly aligned between the stations. The distance between the two transits shall
be equal to, or slightly less than the length of the tape used in the measurement. The tape shall, as much
as possible, be supported at every twenty-five meter interval and measurement shall be made between
the horizontal axes of the transits. Extreme care shall be used in reading the tape and the vertical angles.
For each tape interval, vertical angles shall be read from both transits.
Section 175 – In measuring primary distances, the thermometers shall be attached to the tape.

Section 176 – In measurement of less than a full tape length, the tape shall be stretched the full length,
supported at every twenty-five meter interval, standard tension applied and the distance measured in the
same manner as fro a full tape length.

Section 177 – In cases where tape are used under conditions different from those under which they are
standardized, corrections for temperature, sag and tension, and slope shall be applied to the
measurements.

Section 178 – When the correction for slope is being made, difference in elevation shall be determined for
each tape length. The vertical angle shall be measured to the nearest thirty seconds 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 measurements with slope greater than ten degrees
shall be allowed.

Section 179 – The spring balance to be used in determining tension shall be tested by weighing with a
standard weight of not less than ten kilograms in government offices having such standard weight. If an
index error is found, it shall be applied according to its sign to the tension indicated by the spring balance.

Section 180 – The tape thermometers, shall be frequently compared with a standard thermometer. If an
index error is found, it shall be applied to the temperature according to its sign.

Section 181 – All corrections for temperature, sag, pull, slope, and sea level shall be computed to the
nearest millimeter.

Section 182 – After the corrections for temperature, sag and pull have been applied to the measured
inclined or slope distance, reduction of the inclined distance to the horizontal shall be made. The
horizontal line is then reduced to sea level distance.

Section 183 – When the two measurements of a primary line have been corrected for temperature, sag,
pull and slope and reduced to the sea level the arithmetic mean of the measurements shall be adopted as
the length of the line provided the probable error of the arithmetic mean is 1:40,000 or less of the adopted
mean.

Section 184 – The probable error of the arithmetic mean of the two measurements shall be computed as
follows:

Probable Error = 0.33725 D

Where: D represents the difference between the two measurements of the line.

The probable error divided by the arithmetic mean shall be one in forty thousand (1:40,000), or
less.

Section 185 – When the probable error obtained of the two measurements as obtained in Section 184 is
greater than the ratio of one in forty thousand (1:40,000), additional measurements shall be made until
the required precision is obtained.

Section 186 – In general, when more than two measurements of a primary line are made with equal care,
none of the measurements shall be discarded. The arithmetic mean of all the measurements shall be
computed and the probable error shall be determined to the nearest millimeter in accordance with the
general formula for probable error as described in Section 147.

Section 187 – The distance measurements of the primary line shall be 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 azimuth determination for the primary line is found.

Section 188 – Primary distances may also be measured with an Electronic Distance Measuring (EDM)
equipment in accordance with Sections 16 to 20. Each primary line measured ten (10) times using an
EDM instrument shall have a rejection limit of not greater than 0.005 meter from the mean. (156a; LOC
123)

PRIMARY CONTROL COMPUTATIONS

Section 189 – After the measurements of the horizontal angles, the values to be adjusted for the first and
second angles shall be the mean of the repetitions in each case plus (+) or minus (-) the horizon closure
correction. Thos shall be applied equally to each angle. The sum of the adjusted first and second angles
shall be 360 degrees.

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 lines in the circuit less two. The angular error of the closure for
a primary traverse polygon shall be determined using the formula:

Ae = A – [180° (P-2)]

Where: Ae = the angular error of polygon closure

A = the sum of all interior angles of the primary traverse polygon

P = the number of stations or angles or lines in the primary traverse polygon

Section 191 – Another method of determining the angular error of closure is as follows:

a. With the first angle

(1) At the initial station, add the first angle mentioned in Section 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 degrees, the forward azimuth is the sum minus 360 degrees.

(2) At the second station, add 180 degrees to the forward azimuth of the preceding line to
obtain its back azimuth. If the sum exceeds 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, add the first angle
determined at the station as in (!) above.

(4) Continue the procedure until the back azimuth of the initial line is obtained.

(5) The difference in the starting back azimuth and the closing back azimuth of the initial line
is the angular error of closure.

b. With the second angle

 (1) At the initial station, subtract the second angle mentioned in Section 189 from the back
azimuth of the preceding or initial line. 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.

(2) To obtain the back azimuth at the second station repeat “a(2)’

(3) To obtain the forward azimuth at the second station repeat “b(1)”

(4) Continue the procedure until the back azimuth of the initial line is obtained.

(5) Repeat “a(5)”

Section 192 – The maximum allowable angular error of closure for primary traverses shall be determined
using the formula:

Ap = 2.5” Ps

Where: Ap = maximum allowable angular error for primary traverses expressed in seconds
of arc

Ps = the number of stations or angles in the primary traverses

Section 193 – If the maximum allowable angular error of closure is 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 primary lines, as the case may be, to close the polygon.

Section 195 – In case angle measurements are made under different conditions, relative weights may be
assigned to the measured angles for determining corrections. The angular error of a loop traverse shall
be determined and distributed only among the lines of the loop traverse.

Section 196 – After the angles are corrected, the azimuths of primary traverse lines shall be determined
to the nearest one second of arc. The corrected azimuths shall be recorded in the primary angle book.

Section 197 – After the corrected azimuths have been determined, the latitudes and departures of the
traverse shall be computed to the nearest millimeter. Grid azimuths to the nearest second of arc and grid
distances to the nearest millimeter shall be used in the computation.

Section 198 – The actual error of closure shall be determined from the formula:

Ec = L2  D 2

Where: Ec = the linear error of closure

2
L = the error in latitude squared
2
D = the error in departure squared

The linear error divided by the perimeter is the relative error.

Section 199 – The relative error for primary traverse shall not be greater than one part in twenty thousand
(1:20,000) of the perimeter.

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
until the error is within the prescribed limit or precision.

Section 201 – Latitudes and departures shall be balanced as prescribed in Section 203 and the
coordinates of the traverse stations shall be determined to the nearest millimeter. After the traverse has
been closed and approved, no change shall subsequently be made in the bearings or distances except
after consultation with and advice in writing from the Director of Lands Management Bureau or from the
Regional Technical Director for Lands.

Section 202 - The astronomical azimuth of a line shall be determined by observations on the sun or stars.
It shall consist of at least one to eight series of observations as required using an instrument tested
beforehand.

Section 203 - The primary traverse loop shall then be balanced as follows:

a) Determine the latitude and departure from the accepted coordinates of the two
primary stations of the previous traverse from which the new primary traverse started
and closed.

b) Add algebraically the latitudes and departures of the new primary traverse.

c) The difference, if any, between the latitudes and departures determined as

prescribed in (a) and (b) shall be distributed proportionally among the lines of the new
primary traverse.

Section 204 - When the primary traverse control of a project consisting of a circuit and several
loops connected thereto, and the circuit has not been finally coordinated, the entire
system of primary circuit and loop traverses shall be adjusted and coordinated as
follows:

a) Distribute the angular error of closure among the angles of each traverse polygon.
The distribution shall be made in such a way that each polygon shall close in
accordance with the principle enunciated in Section 194.

b) Compute the coordinates of the primary stations, always beginning from and closing
to the BLLM No. 1 through different routes.

c) The final coordinates of each junction station shall be the weighted mean of all the
coordinates of the station as computed from different routes.

d) Coordinates other primary stations by distributing the error in latitudes and

departures between junction stations, considering BLLM No. 1 as a junction station.

SECONDARY CONTROL – LOCATION OF SECONDARY STATIONS

Section 205 - Secondary traverses starting from and closing to primary stations shall be established at
or near the barangay boundaries as far as local conditions may permit following a
general direction of either:
 a) North and south, along arcs of meridians, or
b) East and west, along arcs of parallels.

Section 206 - The secondary traverse lines shall established at intervals of approximately every one
minute of arc in the portions of the 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
into larger lots such as extensive haciendas, reservations and other similar tracts.

Section 207 - When the terrain is rough, hilly or mountainous the secondary traverse shall be located
where it may be of maximum use provided it shall be available to control lot surveys
within the area represented by the cadastral maps. Secondary traverses shall also serve
as the political boundary controls. The barangay corners may be located by simple
triangulation or short traverses. If there are several barangays in the project area, the first
set of secondary traverses shall be big enough to cover two or more barangays. The
angular and linear errors of these loops may be adjusted simultaneously by the method
of least squares to avoid propagation of errors up to the last lines. Additional secondary
traverses shall be established to cover the other barangays.

Section 208 - The secondary stations may be located along public highways or railways and at or near
the barangay boundaries. They shall be defined by concrete monuments of not less than
ten centimeters in diameter and fifty centimeters in length centered by a small nail and
numbered consecutively starting from one. The monuments shall be set to not more than
five centimeters above the ground. Secondary lines shall not exceed five hundred meters
in length.

SECONDARY CONTROL – AZIMUTHS AND DISTANCES

Section 209 - The azimuths of secondary traverse lines shall be determined by the clamped plate
method. With a one-second Theodolite, the azimuth of a secondary line may be
determined by a single observation of the angle between two secondary lines. In
orienting the instrument on the primary stations, the vernier shall be set to read the
azimuths of the primary lines to the nearest fifteen or twenty seconds of arc for transits
and to the nearest one second of arc for theodolites.

Section 210 - Azimuths shall be read from the instruments to the nearest fifteen or twenty seconds of
arc as the case may be for transits and one second of arc for theodolites. Magnetic
bearings shall be read and recorded except when the instrument used is not provided
with a magnetic compass.

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 exceed the amount as determined by the following formula:

As = 10’’ √

where: As = maximum allowable azimuth error of closure for secondary traverses

S = the number of secondary stations in the traverse

Section 212 - Astronomical observation for azimuth shall be taken at every twenty-five to thirty-five
stations in single loop of a secondary traverse and at the junction stations with the
 control traverse of an adjoining project. However, when the secondary control is divided
into 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 sets each and
the probable error shall not exceed ten second of arc as provided in Section 146. The
astronomical azimuth determined at the secondary stations after correction for
convergency shall conform with the carried azimuth to within thirty seconds of arc.

Section 213 - The distances between secondary stations shall be measured in the manner provided for
primary controls in Sections 165 to 172, except that the measurements shall be made
once instead of twice. Stadia distances may be read and recorded for each secondary
line if measured with the tape to check possible omission of a tape length.

Section 214 - The number of secondary control stations shall be indicated on the monuments, in the
field notes, computations and plans with the letter “S” prefixed to the station number.
Azimuths and distances shall be recorded on prescribed LMB forms.

SECONDARY CONTROL COMPUTATIONS

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) Divide the total azimuth error of closure by fifteen (15). The quotient represents the
number of fifteen second (15’’) units.
b) Add one to the number of units determined in (a) and divide by this sum the number
of secondary lines between which the azimuth error shall be distributed.

c) The quotient represents the number of groups of stations which will be corrected by
the same amount.

d) The group shall be corrected by amounts increasing so that the total error shall be
eliminated.

Example:

In a traverse of fifteen lines with an azimuth error of closure of thirty (30’’) seconds.

a) By (a), 30, 15 = 2(15’’) units

b) By (b) and (c), 15 divided by 3 = 5 stations per group

By (d), there will be three groups of five stations each

The correction shall be:

First group 00’’

Second group 15’’
Third group 30’’

The above method shall be adopted only when the clamped plate method of traversing
is used. Otherwise, the allowable azimuth / angular error of closure shall be distributed
to close the traverse polygon as in the case of the primary traverse as stipulated in
Section 194, provided that the azimuth of the secondary line shall be reduced to the
nearest fifteen seconds of arc.
Section 216 - After the distribution of the azimuth error of closure, the latitudes and departures shall be
computed to the nearest centimeter. The bearings and distances to be used in the
computations shall be to the nearest fifteen seconds of arc and to the nearest millimeter,
respectively.

Section 217 - In the case of azimuths measured with one second Theodolite, the azimuth shall be
recorded to the nearest second and the computations shall be made as the preceding
section.

Section 218 - The relative error of closure for secondary traverses shall not be greater than one part in
ten thousand (1:10,000) of the perimeter. 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 provided for in the preceding section,
the field and office work shall be verified to determine, re-observe and correct any
possible error until the error is within the prescribed limit of precision.

TERTIARY CONTROL – LOCATION OF TERTIARY STATIONS

Section 220 - Tertiary traverses of cadastral surveys shall start from primary or secondary stations
except in cases provided in Section 119 (c).

Section 221 - As much as possible, the monuments defining corners of tracts shall be occupied and
used as tertiary stations. All other stations shall preferably be defined by stakes,
centered with tacks or small nails.

Section 222 - Tertiary station numbers shall not be assigned to primary, secondary or location
monuments when such stations are occupied in connection with tertiary traverses.

Section 223 - Tertiary stations shall be numbered consecutively from one for each project or survey
and indicated in the field notes, computations and plans with the letter “T” prefixed to the
station number.

TERTIARY CONTROL – AZIMUTHS AND DISTANCES

Section 224 - The azimuths of tertiary traverse lines shall be determined by the clamped plate method.

In the case of cadastral survey, the instrument shall be oriented on primary or secondary
traverse lines of the cadastral project to the nearest thirty seconds of arc. In the case of
isolated land survey, the instrument shall be oriented to the nearest thirty seconds of arc
on established reference lines like location monuments or by astronomical observations
for azimuth.

Section 225 - All azimuths shall be read directly from the instrument to 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 be read and recorded for each tertiary line.
Section 226 - The maximum allowable azimuth error of closure at the 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 from the following formula:

At = 30’’ √

where: At = maximum allowable azimuth error of closure for tertiary

traverse

T = the number of tertiary stations in the traverse

Section 227 - The difference between the closing azimuth reading and the actual azimuth of the line
on which the tertiary traverse closes shall be the azimuth error of closure. This shall not
exceed the maximum as determined and correct in the field any possible error until the
prescribed maximum limit is attained.

Section 228 - The distance between tertiary stations shall be measured with standardized measuring
devices to the nearest centimeter. In hilly or mountainous terrain, vertical angles or
zenith distances shall be taken and slope distances reduced to the horizontal. Stadia
distances shall be read and reduced for each tertiary line when measured with a tape.

TERTIARY CONTROL FOR ISOLATED SURVEYS

Section 229 - Tertiary controls of isolated land surveys shall start from points of reference, other
control stations or marked corners of approved 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 shall start from and close to this point of reference.

Section 230 - The traverse lines in isolated land surveys shall follow approximately the boundaries of
the properties undergoing survey. Retracing or returning through the same stations of
the traverse to close it is not a correct practice and shall not be accepted for traverse
closure.

Section 231 - When the tertiary control is independent of primary or secondary control, as it is usually
in isolated land surveys, the true azimuth of at least one line shall be determined by
astronomical observations.

Section 232 - If the azimuth is derived from the tertiary control of another survey, or derived from
location monuments and carried by long 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 233 - An astronomical observation for azimuth shall be made at intervals of not more than fifty
stations in circuit and loop traverse. The difference between the observed and carried
azimuth in the system shall not exceed the maximum allowable error of closure as
provided in Section 226. Such error shall be distributed among the lines in the sections
for which the error has been determined.

Section 234 - When the traverse loops are located as links forming a chain, an astronomical
observation for azimuth shall be required at alternate loops, provided that astronomical
observations shall be made on the first and last loops.

Section 235 - When the data recorded on plans of approved surveys are used, the points occupied,
the azimuth used, the class and Bureau of Lands survey number and the name of the
applicant of the previous survey shall be stated in the field notes. Azimuth of lines not
 included in the closed traverse of the former survey shall not be used in the traverse of
the new survey.

Section 236 - The astronomical azimuth for tertiary controls in isolated land surveys shall be
determined by a series of two sets of observations taken as prescribed by Sections 103-
105. The geographic position of the station occupied shall be determined in accordance
with Sections 89-99.

Section 237 - The probable error shall be determined as prescribed by Section 146 which shall not
exceed 15 seconds of arc.

TERTIARY CONTROL COMPUTATIONS

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 Section 215, except that one minute of arc
shall be used as unit instead of fifteen seconds of arc.

Section 239 - After the distribution of the azimuth error of closure, the latitudes and departures shall be
computed to the nearest centimeter. The bearings and distances to be used in the
computation shall be to the nearest one minute of arc and the nearest centimeter,
respectively.

Section 240 - The linear error of closure shall be determined as prescribed by Section 198. The
relative error for tertiary control shall not be greater than one part in five thousand
(1:5,000) of perimeter.

Section 241 - 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 detect and correct any possible error
or re-observe suspected lines that are erroneously observed until the error is within the
prescribed limit of precision.

TRIANGULATION CONTROL

Section 242 - When triangulation control is used for establishing points of control in the survey of
cadastral projects, the general requirements shall be as follows:

(a) The position of the triangulation stations shall be selected so that no angle may be
less than thirty degrees.

(b) Whenever possible, a scheme of quadrilaterals shall be established and the angles
between the diagonals and sides of the quadrilaterals shall be measured.

(c) Other schemes may be used whenever it is not practical to completely use the
quadrilaterals scheme.

(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 measurement of the horizontal angles of
primary controls described in Sections 162 and 164.

(e) The length of the base lines shall be measured with the same degree of accuracy as
that of the primary control lines described in Sections 165 to 188.
 (f) As least two base lines shall be measure, one situated at the beginning and the
other at the end of the triangulation scheme and the triangulation control shall be
adjusted between these base lines.

Section 243 - Detailed special instructions shall be issued by the Director of Lands Management
Bureau, whenever necessary concerning the scheme of triangulation and methods of
adjustments to be used.

Section 244 - When the distance of a primary, secondary or tertiary control line cannot be measured
directly, it may be determined by traverse-triangulation or by broken base measurement.
The projected length of the broken lines on the control line shall be adopted as the
distance of the line.

Section 245 - The three angles of the triangles shall be measured as follows:

(a) For primary controls, by the repetition method as prescribed in Section 162 or by the
direction method as prescribed in Section 164 of primary angles.

(b) For secondary controls, by the repetition method as prescribed in Section 162 but the
repetition shall be four times instead of six or the direction method as prescribed in
Section 164.

(c) For tertiary controls, by the repetition method as prescribed by Section 162 but the
repetition shall be two times instead of six.

Section 246 - The base lines for primary, secondary or tertiary traverse-triangulation shall be measured
as in the case of primary, secondary or tertiary traverse lines, respectively.

LOCATION MONUMENTS SURVEYS

Section 247 - Location monuments shall be established as required in Sections 39, 40, 123, 130, and
543 in the poblacion / center of each municipality / city and in other places thereof at an
interval of about six (6) kilometers.

Section 248 - These monuments shall be made of concrete with specifications prescribed in Section
272(c).

Section 249 - The distance between each pair of location monuments, such as 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and so
on, shall not be less than one hundred meters, and whenever possible, it shall preferably
be about three hundred meters.

Section 250 - The location monuments shall be established whenever possible on the corners of the
plazas such that there will be no danger of the line between the monuments being
obstructed by buildings or other permanent objects.
Section 251 - Each monument shall be referenced by bearings and distances to at least three
permanent objects such as corners of substantial and permanent buildings, nearby edible
fruit trees, etc. and by azimuths to visible church spires, peaks and other similar objects.

Section 252 - The azimuth of the line defined by each pair of location monuments shall be determined
as required in Sections 102 to 109 for the establishment of the base meridian of a survey
project.
Section 253 - The geographic position of BLLM No. 1 shall be determined by a direct connection with a
second or third order geodetic control station.

Section 254 - If there is an established triangulation point within kilometers of these monuments,
connection shall be made therewith by at least secondary control accuracy. If by
secondary traverse, a closed circuit 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.

Section 255 - The distance between each pair of location monuments shall be determined as required
in Sections 165 to 188, inclusive, for primary traverse lines.

Section 256 - The other location monuments established in each municipality shall be connected by at
least secondary control starting from and closing to the BLLM No. 1 of the adjoining
municipalities.

Section 257 - The BLLM No. 1 of municipality shall be connected by secondary control with the BLLM
No. 1 of the adjoining municipalities.

Section 258 - The description of each location monument in the field notes shall contain the data
required in Section 251 and the location of the monuments with respect to streets and
specifications as prescribed in Section 272(c).

The condition of the recovered location monuments (BLLMs, PBMs, MBMs) in the
adjoining projects shall be described in the Location Monument Recovery Report form
and a copy submitted to the Land Management Bureau. (DAO 61, S-1993)

Section 259 - The field notes of the secondary control lines from one municipality to another shall be
kept in one field book and all secondary stations shall be numbered consecutively from
one (1).

Section 260 - The secondary controls connecting location monuments shall be run along public
highways unless more direct routes are possible.

Section 261 - The most prominent points of churches, schools, chapels, railroad stations, sugar mills or
other large buildings along the line of control shall be located and their descriptions
written for future reference.

Section 262 - The points where the control lines cross provincial and municipal boundaries shall be
carefully determined. When monuments are found, such monuments shall be accurately
located and fully described in the field book and on the Location Monument Recovery
Report form.

Provincial and municipal authorities shall be requested to furnish all available data on
provincial and municipal boundaries. Barangay boundaries shall also be located and
surveyed.

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, hemp, tobacco, corn, sugar, coconuts,
homelots etc. shall be entered in the field book opposite the secondary stations.
Likewise, the general characteristics of the area beyond shall also be described. The
width of the road and the location of its center line with reference to the control station
shall be stated.

Section 264 - Railroad lines shall be traversed in the same manner as public roads. Telegraphic posts
at every kilometer along the line, bridges and culverts shall be located.
Section 265 - All stone or concrete culverts or bridges crossed by the control line shall be marked. This
mark shall consist of a hole seven millimeters in diameter and three centimeters deep,
with the letter B.L. These structures shall be sketched, showing the location of the point,
and described in the field book.

Section 266 - If culverts or bridges are not available, road monuments of natural objects, such as fixed
boulders or stone ledges, at intervals of approximately three kilometers from each other
and from BLLMs, preferably at the intersection of the provincial roads or at the
intersection of streams or railroads shall be located, marked and indicated in the field
book as prescribed in the preceding section.

Section 267 - Names of towns, barangays and geographical features shall be determined by diligent
inquiry from the best informed people in the locality. In case of dispute in geographical
names a complete report shall be submitted to the Lands Management Bureau.

Section 268 - A location monument description book shall be prepared for each project.

CHAPTER V – MONUMENTS OF SURVEYS

NATURE OF MONUMENTS

Section 269 - The position of reference points and corners of boundary lines of provinces, cities,
municipalities, barangays, estates and other tracts of land shall be defined and marked
on the ground by monuments of permanent nature, except when such corners lie near
physiographic or natural features. The first and last corners situated near natural
boundaries shall be monumented.

Section 270 - The following objects shall be considered as monuments of permanent nature to be used
in defining and marketing lot corners:

a) Standard concrete monuments.

b) Concrete posts which are parts of the fence when not less than ten centimeters in
diameter, or metal pipes not less than two centimeters in outside diameter.

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 centimeters.

d) Points on masonry or concrete walls.

e) Immovable or fixed hard rocks or boulders with exposed surface of more than one
meter in diameter.

f) Peg, being of a composition that will resist destruction by fire, natural corrosion or
decay with nominal dimensions of 50 millimeters square in cross-section for at least
100 millimeters from the top and not less than 400 millimeters in length.

Section 271 - The following objects shall not be used to define corners:

a) Adobe and other soft stones.

 b) Clumps of bamboos, banana or abaca stalks, papaya trees and other similar forms of
plant life.

c) Living trees less than fifteen centimeters in diameter, except when such trees are
used to define corners along natural boundaries.

Section 272 - The standard concrete monuments to define the permanent position of points of survey
shall be as follows:

a) For provincial, city and municipal boundaries, thirty (30) centimeters square by one
(1) meter long (30 x 30 x 100 cm.) centered by a galvanized iron spike and level on
top, set sixty (60) centimeters in the ground leaving a projection of forty (40)
centimeters above the ground.

b) For barangay boundaries, twenty (20) centimeters square by one meter long (20 x 20
x 100 cm.) centered by a galvanized iron spike and level on top, set sixty (60)
centimeters in the ground leaving a projection of forty (40) centimeters above ground.

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 galvanized iron spike and level on top,
set eighty (80) centimeters in the ground level a projection of twenty (20) centimeters
above the ground.

d) For corners of tracts of land, subject of the Property Registration Decree (PD 1529),
at least fifteen centimeters in diameter by fifty centimeters in length, if cylindrical in
form, and fifteen by fifteen by fifty (15 x 15 x 50) centimeters, if parallelepiped in form,
set not less than thirty-five (35) centimeters in the ground. The top shall be centered
by a galvanized iron spike or by a conical hole not exceeding two (2) centimeters in
diameter and not less than one (1) centimeter in depth to define the corner to which
measurements shall be made and marked by the letters “P.S.” (Private Surveys) for
surveys undertaken by geodetic engineers in private practice and “G.S.” for surveys
undertaken by government geodetic engineers.

e) In the case of the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) Surveys, the corners of the
prominent turns of the boundaries shall be defined by concrete monuments 15 x 15 x
50 cm marked on top “ISF” and the corner number below, and set 40 cm in the
ground. The intermediate points of the boundary may be “x” marks on immovable or
fixed hard rocks or boulders with exposed surfaces of more than one (1) meter in
diameter or trees belonging to the first group.

To define the corners, the same markings shall be made in the case of forest
delimitation surveys except that the monument shall be marked on top with “FZ” and
the corner number below it and centered by a galvanized iron spike or a conical hole
not exceeding two (2) cm. in diameter and not less than one (1) cm in depth. The
boundary monuments of forests shall be set not less than five hundred (500) meters
apart. (Department Administration Order No. 72, series 1990, and P.D. 705).

f) The delimitation survey of the A & D areas, or classified forest areas, national parks
and other protected areas, the boundary shall be marked with parallelepiped
concrete markers 15 x 15 x 50 cm and set 35 cm in the ground leaving a projection of
15 cm above the ground and centered by galvanized iron spike. The corner number
 is engraved on the top. The corners maybe also “X” marks on big immovable
boulders with an exposed surface of one (1) m. in diameter or living trees especially
along the natural features which define the boundary such as the creeks, rivers,
streams, etc. provided that the first and the last corners situated along the natural
boundaries shall be marked by concrete monuments. (DAO 72 s-1990)

g) The corners of mining claims shall be marked with parallelepiped concrete

monuments 20 x 20 x 50 cm set 40 cm in the ground for the principal corners and
cylindrical concrete monuments of 15 cm in diameter x 50 cm long set 40 cm in the
ground for the other corners.

The corresponding corner and survey numbers used in the computation of mining
claim shall be etched on top of the monument. The corners of the mining claim may
also be cement patch on immovable boulders, centered with a hole, spike, or nail and
marked with the corresponding location. The latitude and longitude of the principal
corner shall also be indicated on the sides of the concrete monuments when it
coincides with the full one (1) minute and or ½ minute latitude and longitude,
respectively. (73 MLSR)

When the mining claim undergoing survey adjoins submerged lands, witness corner
monuments along the boundary leading the shoreline shall be set on the ground to
witness the boundary-point-corner on the claim at the low tide level of the sea or lake.
Concrete monuments, galvanized iron spike, fixed rocks, boulders or wooden post
shall be set to define the corners of the claim along the shoreline at the low tide level.

h) Similarly, boundaries of the foreshore lands shall be marked as in the preceding

paragraph.

i) The corners of the prominent turns of the boundary or reservations or ancestral

claims shall be defined by concrete monuments 15 x 15 x 50 cm., set 35 centimeters
in the ground, marked on top by appropriate symbol and the corner number below it.
The first and last corners situated along natural features (rivers, creek, arroyo) shall
be marked with monuments. Intermediate corners along the natural features may be
“X” mark etched on large immovable boulders with exposed area of not less than one
meter in diameter or on living trees belonging to the first group with diameters of at
least fifteen centimeters.

Section 273 - Acceptable living trees when used to define corners shall be blazed at about twenty (20)
centimeters above the ground and when possible, by cutting the bark on the side where
the boundary line passes.

The blaze shall be at least ten centimeters. A cross shall be chiseled upon the blaze and
at the point of intersection of the cross, a galvanized iron spike shall be driven to indicate
the corner to which measurement shall be made.

Section 274 - When concrete posts, masonry, concrete walls, immovable rocks or boulders are used,
the corner shall be defined by a galvanized iron spike driven into the structure to which
measurement shall be made. If for any reason it is not feasible to drive a galvanized iron
spike into a structure, the corner shall be defined by a cross (x) mark chiseled upon such
structure.

Section 275 - When metal pipes having an outside diameter greater than two (2) centimeters are used,
such pipes shall be filled with concrete and the corner shall be defined either by a
galvanized iron spike or by a conical hole not exceeding two centimeters in diameter and
not less than one centimeter in depth, or by a cross (x) mark chiseled on the concrete
top.
Section 276 - When a cross (x) is used to define a corner, such mark shall be chiseled to a depth of at
least five (5) millimeters. Each arm of the cross shall be, whenever possible, not less than
five (5) centimeters in length and the point of intersection of the arms shall define the
corner to which measurement shall be made.

Section 277 - When a corner is inaccessible, its position shall be defined by two witness monuments
each of which shall be place as near as possible to the inaccessible corner. The witness
monuments and the inaccessible corner shall be considered as corners of the tract
surveyed.

Section 278 - All witness monuments shall be identical in nature to corner monuments as prescribed in
Section 270.
Section 279 - Wooden posts of narra, ipil, molave, yacal or nay other durable hardwood of not less than
fifteen centimeters in diameter forming 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
center of a cross to be marked thereon.

Section 280 - The galvanized iron spike used to indicate corners shall preferably be at least one
centimeter in diameter and eight centimeters in length driven flush or level to the surface
of the monuments or objects used.

MANUFACTURE OF CONCRETE MONUMENTS

Section 281 - The political boundary and location monuments shall be constructed at the place where
such monuments can be established permanently. The names of the political
subdivisions shall be inscribed at the corresponding sides of the political boundary
monuments. The monument shall be in the form of a frustum a quadrangular pyramid as
per design of the Land Management Bureau. As much as possible, sub-surface marks
shall be established to define its permanency for future surveys.

Section 282 - Standard concrete monuments shall be made of the following mixture:

Cement - 1 part
Sand - 2 parts
Gravel or broken stone - 4 parts

or such other proportions as may be necessary to insure the best results, depending
upon the quality of the cement and sand used. Sand and gravel must be clean, free from
dust or mud or other organic matter.

Section 283 - Concrete monuments shall be marked on top with engraved letters such as G.S., P.S.,
I.S.F., F.Z., or such other letters designed according to their use.

CORNERS WHICH SHALL BE MONUMENTED

Section 284 - Whenever conditions permit, all corners, except those otherwise provided, shall be
defined by monuments of the nature specified in Section 272.

Section 285 - Other corners except the first and the last, situated near 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 large stones, rocks, boulders, and trees of specification below the
requirement of Section 270, if monuments of permanent nature are not available. In the
absence of these objects, wooden stakes as specified in Section 279 may be used to
define such corners.

Section 286 - The first and last corners situated near natural boundaries shall be monumented
whenever possible; otherwise, witness monuments for these corners shall be placed in
accordance with the requirements of Section 277 and 278.

Section 287 - Acceptable living trees, fixed rocks or boulders, or galvanized metal pipes may be used
to define the corners when the tract undergoing survey is an island or is surrounded by
natural boundaries and it is not practical to use standard concrete monuments.

Section 288 - Boundary lines of parcels shall be marked with concrete monuments at intervals not to
exceed five hundred (500) meters in length. In forest delimitation surveys pursuant to
P.D. 705, boundaries between forests and alienable and disposable land shall be clearly
marked and maintained on the ground with infrastructure road, or concrete monuments or
with acceptable visible markers to ensure protection of the forests. However, in other
surveys when such boundary lines pass through mountains or hills or rolling country the
intervals between consecutive monuments should be inter-visible.

The corners at prominent turns of the boundaries inside classified forestlands shall be
defined by monuments of permanent nature described in Section 272 and the other
corners thereof may be defined by monuments as specified in Section 270.

Section 289 - Corners which are common to two or more adjoining properties shall be defined by
monuments of the nature specified in Section 270.

Section 290 - When the boundary line follows the direction of irregular rice land dikes, monuments shall
be place at the corners situated within an average interval of not to exceed twenty-five
meters measured directly from monument to monument. The intermediate points may be
marked by wooden post, stakes or any kind of stones.

Section 291 - In isolated surveys, corners of previous survey which were not monumented at the time
of survey and which are common to the property undergoing survey shall be
monumented. In relocating the position of the corner to be monumented, the data of the
previous survey shall be used.

Section 292 - Curvilinear walls of stones, concrete, etc. defining boundaries of properties shall be
marked by galvanized iron spikes set at intervals depending upon the degree of curvature
of such walls so as to form chords not less than one meter in length.

Section 293 - In the case of housing subdivision projects, the block corners shall be marked with
permanent concrete monuments in accordance with Section 272 (d) and surveyed in
accordance with Section 560 to 571.

Section 294 - In cases which are not provided for in this Manual, geodetic engineers may use and
place monuments in the manner which in their opinion shall be best. Such cases shall be
fully stated in their field notes. In public land subdivision surveys within areas planted to
trees, geodetic engineers shall use only concrete monuments or living edible fruit trees or
trees belonging to the first group as corners.

Section 295 - To insure uniformity in the description of corners, the following outline is suggested:
 a) Concrete monument 15 centimeters in diameter by 50 centimeters set 35 centimeters
in the ground leaving a projection of fifteen (15) centimeters above the ground
marked P.S., G.S., I.S.F., F.Z., on top.

b) Standard PS Cylindrical concrete monument 15 x 50 centimeters set 40 centimeters

in the ground, (marked P.S., G.S., I.S.F., on top.

c) Fixed rock or boulder with exposed surface of more than 1 meter diameter marked
with a cross (x) centered with galvanized iron spike.

d) A __________ tree __________ centimeters in diameter with a galvanized iron spike

_________ centimeters above the ground.

e) A ___________ post ______________ by ____________ centimeters with a

galvanized iron spike ________ centimeters above the ground.

f) Galvanized iron spike in cross marked on ______________ fence or wall.

g) Stake or Peg.

In general, the description of corners shall be as brief as possible, definite and devoid of
ambiguity.

PUBLIC HIGHWAYS AND RAILWAYS

Section 296 - The Department of Public Works and Highways shall be consulted on the widths and
center lines of existing public highways or roads or those to be constructed.

Section 297 - The Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Barangay shall be consulted on the minimum
widths of municipal and barangay roads.

Section 298 - The Local Government Planning and Development Office shall be consulted on the
minimum widths of roadways within residential subdivisions.

Section 299 - The railway company shall be consulted on the railroad right-of-way.

Section 300 - Right-of-way of highways or railways shall be monumented as follows:

a) The points of curvature (P.C.) and points of tangency (P.T.) shall be marked with
monuments provided in Section 272.

b) The points along the curve need not be monumented unless expressly 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 301 - Owners or claimants of land adjoining a public highways or street shall be advised of the
minimum right-of-way measured from lot line to lot line for that particular street or
highway as provided in Sections 296 to 298.

Legitimate efforts shall be exerted to inform survey applicants of the importance of

accepting the right-of-way lines as the boundary of their properties.

Section 302 - When the claimant insists upon his right to a portion of the proposed right-of-way, the
area claimed by him shall be surveyed and 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 Engineer or his authorized agent fails to establish the center
line of the right-of-way, the geodetic engineer shall locate the boundary of the land as
pointed out by the survey applicant, stating the fact in the field notes and Geodetic
Engineer’s Certificate.

Section 303 - When the boundary adjoins private roads, the owner of such roads shall be notified of the
survey. Monuments shall be place along the common boundary of the property
undergoing survey and the private road. The width of the road and the name of the owner
shall be indicated in the field notes, plans and certificate of survey.

Section 304 - When the property undergoing survey adjoins a railroad 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 points of intersection between the right-of-way
lines and the boundaries of the property and along the tangent or curve of the right-of-
way, as provided by Section 300.

CHAPTER VI – PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

Section 305 - For the purpose of this Manual, the following and defined:

a) An arroyo shall be any narrow natural bed or channel through which the water flows
continuously or intermittently throughout the year.

b) An estero shall be any bed or channel through which stagnant, dirty or salt water
flows under the influence of the tides.

c) A creek is a stream of water longer than a brook that empties into the river.

d) A river shall be any wide natural bed or channel through which water flows
continuously or intermittently throughout the year.

e) A lake shall be a considerable inland body of standing water, also an expanded part
of a river.

f) A pond is a body of water naturally or artificially confined and usually smaller than a
lake.

g) A pool is a small body of standing or stagnant water.

h) A seacoast is a shore or border of the land adjacent to the sea or ocean.

ARROYOS, ESTEROS AND RIVERS

Section 306 - The classification of streams as arroyos, esteros, creek or rivers is at times difficult as
such streams gradually merge into one or the other. In case of doubt, the local
designation or name of the stream shall determine its classification and shall be clearly
indicated in the field notes and on the plan of the survey.

Section 307 - The natural bed or channel of arroyos, esteros, creeks or rivers shall be the ground within
the banks covered by water during the highest floods which do not cause inundation.

Section 308 - Navigable esteros or rivers shall be those which contain sufficient water to allow rafts,
boats, cascos, etc., to float thereon and engage in transportation or other activities.
Section 309 - RA 1273 Amending Section 90 of Act 141 which took effect in June 14, 1955 provides
that a strip of forty (40) meters wide starting from the banks on each side of any river or
stream shall be demarcated and preserved as permanent timberland; that even after
patent or lease contract has been issued no clearing can be done thereon or the same
cannot be utilized for farming purposes but shall be planted to trees of economic value.

Section 16(7) and 16(8) of PD 705 dated 19 may 1975 provides that twenty (20) meters
strips of land along edge of the normal high waterline of rivers and streams with channels
of at least five meters wide; and strips of mangrove or swamplands at least twenty-
meters wide along shorelines facing oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water; and strips
of land at least 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 interest so requires,
to have said title cancelled or amended.

Section 310 - Conformably, the extent of surveys near rivers and streams shall be as follows:

a) For lands classified in accordance with R.A. 1273, the boundary lines of surveys shall
extend to a line forty (40) meters from the bank on each side of rivers or streams with
channels of at least five (5) meters wide.

b) For lands classified pursuant to P. D. 705, the boundary line of survey shall extend to
a line twenty (20) meters from the edge of normal high waterline of rivers and
streams with channels of not less than five (5) meters wide; twenty (20) meters from
the terrestrial limit of a lake being the line reached by its highest ordinary depth.

These strips of land of forty (40) and twenty (20) meters along the edge of the high
waterline of river and streams with channels of at least five (5) meters wide are
retained as permanent forest for river and stream bank protection. They shall be
excluded from the survey, otherwise said survey shall not be accepted.

c) Side shots to points on the bank of stream to show that these strips of land are
excluded from the survey shall be indicated in the field notes and computation sheets
and plotted on the plan. These points shall be connected in red dotted lines to the
traverse stations from which they were observed.

d) A strip of fifteen (15) meters in width on each side of the centerlines of trails and
roads which are reserved for right-of-way and timber outlet should be set on the
ground, and indicated in the field notes on the plan.

e) The corresponding land classification maps shall be consulted by the Geodetic

Engineer for information on the width of bank protection to be excluded from the
survey, the strip preserved for road right-of-way and timber outlet.

Section 311 - In addition to the twenty or forty meters stream bank protection, streams having natural
beds or channels five (5) meters or more in width shall be excluded from the boundaries of the property
undergoing survey. Likewise, streams less than five (5) meters in width through which water flows
continuously shall be excluded from the survey.

Section 312 - Strips of lands at least twenty (20) meters wide, along shorelines facing oceans, lakes,
and other bodies of waters which are needed for forest purposes, shall likewise be
excluded from the survey in accordance with Section 16 of P.D. 705 (Forestry Reform
Code).

Section 313 - The field notes and plans of the tract undergoing survey which adjoins or near irrigation
ditches, creeks, arroyos, esteros, rivers, etc. shall indicate the following:
 a) The widths of the body of water.

b) Whether it is navigable or not.

c) Whether right or left bank, with the observer facing downstream.

d) The direction of the flow of water by an arrow.

e) The distance in meters from the bank of the river or creek to the lot line.

Section 314 - Private claims, temporary or permanent structure or other works which prevent the free
use of the easement mentioned in Section 322 shall be definitely located on the ground
and indicated in the fieldnotes and on the survey plans.

LAKES, PONDS, AND POOLS

Section 315 - The boundaries of properties bordering lakes, ponds or pools, whether navigable or non-
navigable, shall be located and surveyed. The bodies of water which are entirely included
in the property or estates shall be approximately sketched and the area and name shall
be indicated on the plan of the survey.

Section 316 - The ownership or name of claimant of the natural bed or basin of lakes, ponds or pools
beyond the boundary lines shall be indicated in the survey.

Section 317 - The natural bed or basin of lakes, ponds or pools is the ground covered by the water
when at their greatest ordinary depth.

Section 318 - Private claims located along the shores of Laguna de Bay or other similar lakes, the
waters of which advance or recede with changes of the season, shall be surveyed up to
the boundary line twenty (20) meters from the high-water mark at the time of greatest
depth of water. The shore line at the time of survey and the high-water mark at the time
of the greatest depth of water shall be located and indicated in the fieldnotes and on the
plan of the survey.

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 shallow lakes and marshes used mainly as
municipal fishponds.

SEACOST

Section 320 - The boundary line of lands bordering the sea or its arms shall be the shoreline which is
the line reached by the highest equinoctial tide.

Section 321 - When the tide line is not be distinguishable, the boundary line shall extend to the limit
reached by the sea water during ordinary tempest or storms

Section 322 - Private claims, permanent structures or other artificial works which extend seaward
beyond the shore line or which will interfere with the easement or salvage or coast police
zone shall be accurately located and indicated in the fieldnotes and plans of the survey.
 EASEMENTS, SALVAGE ZONES AND BANK PROTECTION

Section 323 - For the purpose of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage, the banks of
esteros, arroyos, creeks and rivers throughout their entire lengths, situated in urban
areas, agricultural areas, and forested areas shall be subject to the three meter, twenty-
meter, and forty-meter easement of public use, respectively. The shorelines of seas and
lakes, throughout their entire lengths are subject to twenty-meter easement pursuant to
P.D. 705.

Section 324 - Lands bordering the seas, gulfs, bays, or ports are subject to easements of salvage zone
of twenty meters measured landward from the interior limit of the shoreline and an
easement of coast police of six meters wide from the shoreline within the salvage zone.
The easement of coast police is the obligation to leave a right of way six meters wide
within the salvage zone.

Section 325 - In surveying lands which border esteros, rivers, navigable lakes, the sea or its arms, the
geodetic engineer shall locate on the ground and indicate in the field notes and plans of
the survey the easements for public use as defined in the preceding Sections 323 and
324 except when they are within the strip of forty meters for bank protection which is
excluded from the survey as provided for in Sections 309 to 312.

In subdividing decreed or titled properties, these easement and river bank protections
shall be surveyed as separate lot and is inalienable.

CHAPTER VII – SURVEY COMPUTATIONS

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

Section 326 - All computations from the field data of astronomical observations, survey controls, lot
surveys, transformation etc. shall be made on forms prescribed by the Land Management
Bureau using standard mathematical formulas in surveying books and within the limits of
accuracy prescribed in this Manual or as may be issued hereafter.

Section 327 - All survey computations shall be done on LMB prescribed forms for:

a) Logarithms

b) Natural functions and mechanical calculators

c) Scientific calculators

d) Programmable calculators

e) Microcomputers

Computations done with (a), (b), (c), (d) shall be duplicated in accordance with Section
333. When calculators are used, the brand and model shall be entered in the
computation form.

Section 328 - When the computations are to be done on a micro-computer, the LMB prescribed format
or a pre-approved format design submitted by the geodetic engineer shall be used.
 Computations shall be on 2 – ply, 70 gsm or substance 20 plain bond computer
tabulating stock form of the prescribed size. The name, brand and model of the
microcomputer shall be indicated on the form. Preferably, the program on a diskette shall
be submitted with the survey returns.

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 withstand considerable handling without being
blurred or erased.

Section 330 - The blanks on the headings of computations forms for the class of survey, name and
address of applicant, location of land (barangay, municipality, city, province), reference
page to field notes, station occupied, etc. shall be properly filled in.

Section 331 - All figures shall be written in a clear and legible handwriting and computation sheets shall
be kept clean. Illegible figures and crumped or soiled computation sheets shall not be
accepted.

Section 332 - The following rule of approximation shall be used in all cases of logarithms, distances or
numbers required in computation, whether the final number is in the unit’s, tenth’s,
hundredth’s thousandth’s or any other decimal place. Rounding off values are as follows:

a) Digit to be rounded off is less than 5. When the digit to be rounded off is less than 5,
leave the preceding digit unchanged. Thus 2.1234 becomes 2.123 when rounded to
the nearest thousandth, 2.12 to the nearest hundredth, and 2.1 to the nearest tenth.

b) Digit to be rounded off is equal to 5. When the digit to be 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 becomes 20.48.

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, 35.6874 becomes 35.69. Also, 35.6754
becomes 35.68.

Section 333 - All computations shall be duplicated, except when provided otherwise, the original and
duplicate computations shall be made independently by different computers. The final
checking of the original and duplicate computations shall be made by comparing them.
When the same person has to perform the computations, he shall use different formulas
or methods to check the results obtained.

Section 334 - A pencil check shall be placed at the foot of each column to indicate that the data in that
column have been checked by comparison of the original and duplicate computations.

Section 335 - The persons who perform the various computations and checking shall sign their full
names and dates of computation or checking in the respective blanks provided for in the
computation forms.

SURVEY CONTROLS COMPUTATIONS

Section 336 - All controls computations shall be made on authorized L.M.B. Forms.

Section 337 - In the case of traverse controls, if the algebraic sum of the north and south latitudes
and/or the east and west departures is not zero and if the linear error of closure is within
the allowable limit as prescribed for controls computations the traverse shall be balanced
as follows:
 (a) For latitudes:

The correction to be applied to the latitude is to the latitude of the line as the total
error in latitudes (or algebraic sum of N and S latitudes) is to the absolute sum of all
the latitudes

(b) For departures:

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.

Each correction shall be applied to increase or decrease the latitude or departure so as to

finally eliminate the errors after balancing.

Section 338 - Other methods of adjustments may be used such as the Transit rule, compass rule, the
Crandall Method, or least squares method. In certain cases, the traverse may be
balanced arbitrarily in accordance with the recommendation of the geodetic engineer.

Section 339 - The errors in latitudes and departures, the perimeter, linear and relative errors of closure
shall be computed and indicated at the end of each traverse computations and on the
spaces provided therefor.

Section 340 - In isolated land surveys, the traverse shall be computed and closed and the relative error
of closure shall be determined before leaving the place of survey.

LOT DATA COMPUTATIONS

Section 341 - Lot data computations shall be made on the prescribed DENR format. (See Annex B)

Section 342 - The computation for astronomical azimuth, traverse, lot data and area shall be made in
the L.M.B. forms designed for (a) logarithmic method, (b) natural functions and
mechanical calculators, (c) scientific calculators, (d) programmable pocket calculators,
and (e) microcomputers.

Section 343 - At least one direct tie line to corner one of each lot from a reference location monument
shall be computed at the beginning of the computations. In cadastral or public land
subdivision surveys, all tie lines shall be computed from the nearest Location Monument.

COMPUTATIONS OR TRIANGULATIONS, INTERSECTION AND OTHERS

Section 344 - All traverse triangulations and intersections shall be sketched and computed on
authorized L.M.B. forms.

Section 345 - In triangulation control computation the following procedure shall be followed:

a) Prepare the abstracts of directions from the field notes.

b) Prepare the lists of directions from the abstract of directions.

 c) Determine the observed angles from the lists of directions and transfer the data to
the triangle computation form for the computations of the sides of the triangles using
the plane angles.

d) Adjust the triangle closure error either by the method of simple triangle adjustment or
quadrilateral adjustment as required.

e) Derive the grid or true azimuths as the case may be for all the lines of the
triangulation control.

f) Transfer the data of triangle sides and the azimuths derived in (e) on the control /
traverse computation sheets.

g) Compute, adjust and coordinate the triangulation control in accordance with Sections
189 to 205.

Section 346 - The computation sheets shall be kept properly arranged to facilitate reference whenever
needed and shall show the steps taken in the solution of the problem. In a control
consisting of traverse and triangulation caution should be taken to ensure that the
triangulation control is adjusted independently of the traverse.

Section 347 - The computations for geodetic positions, least square adjustment of triangulation control
and all other similar computations shall 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.

Section 348 - When the scheme of quadrilaterals is adopted to control a project, the quadrilateral
adjustment outlined in authorized LMB forms shall be used. All computations shall be
performed on this form to insure uniformity of procedures and to facilitate the verification.

CHAPTER VIII – MAPS AND PLANS OF SURVEYS

STANDARD BASE MAPS

Section 349 - Maps and plans of all land surveys in the Philippines shall be plotted on appropriate
standard base maps projected upon spheroidal quadrangles of Clarke’s spheroid of
1866.

Section 350 - The standard base maps of the Philippines shall be classified into cadastral maps,
barangay boundary and index maps, municipal boundary and index maps, municipal,
provincial, and regional base maps.

CADASTRAL MAPS

Section 351 - The cadastral maps shall comprise areas within spheroidal quadrangle of one minute of
arc in latitude and one minute of arc in longitude and shall be drawn in the Philippine
Plane Coordinates System (PPCS)-PRS 92 to the standard scale of 1:4000 on drafting
material of stable base of uniform size of approximately 54 x 54 centimeters. Sectional
cadastral maps shall be drawn on larger scales on the same material and of the same
size as the standard cadastral maps to show tracts of land which otherwise will appear
too small on the standard scale of 1:4000.
 The sectional cadastral maps shall be in the scale of 1:2,000; 1:1,000; 1:500; 1:250 and
shall comprise areas within shperoidal quadrangles of thirty seconds, fifteen seconds,
seven and one half seconds or three and three-fourths seconds of arc, respectively.

SYSTEM OF NUMBERING OF CADASTRAL MAPS

Section 352 - The extreme west and east meridians and the extreme south and north parallels of
cadastral map in the scale of 1:4000 shall be full minute meridians and parallel,
respectively.

Section 353 - The latitude and longitude of the point of intersection of 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 the extreme west meridian and extreme south parallel of the map are 14
deg. 49 min. N and 120 deg. 54 min. E, respectively, the map shall be numbered as
follows:
◦ ◦
CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E.

Sectional cadastral maps in the scale of 1:2000 may be prepared to indicate the NW, NE,
SE and SW section of the standard cadastral maps and shall be numbered, respectively
as follows:
◦ ◦
NW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1
◦ ◦
NE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 2
◦ ◦
SE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 3
◦ ◦
SW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 4

Sectional cadastral maps in the scale of 1:1000 may be prepared to indicate NW, NE, SE
and SW quadrant sections of the sectional cadastral maps of scale 1:2000 and shall be
numbered, respectively, as follows:
◦ ◦
NW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-A
◦ ◦
NE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-B
◦ ◦
SE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-C
◦ ◦
SW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-D

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 scale 1:1000 and shall be
numbered, respectively, as follows:
◦ ◦
NW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-A-NW
◦ ◦
NE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-B-NE
◦ ◦
SE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-C-SE
◦ ◦
SW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-D-SW

Sectional cadastral maps in the scale of 1:250 may be prepared to indicate the NW, NE,
SE and SW sections of the sectional cadastral map of scale 1:500 and shall be
numbered, respectively, as follows:
◦ ◦
NW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-A-NW-1
◦ ◦
NE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-B-NW-2
◦ ◦
SE Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-C-NW-3
◦ ◦
SW Quadrant CM 14 49’ N - 120 54’ E sec. 1-D-NW-4
 Other sectional cadastral maps on larger scale may be likewise prepared. The general
rule in numbering sectional cadastral map is a follows:

The first sectional cadastral map number shall be assigned to the top-left (NW) quadrant;
the second, to the top-right (NE) quadrant; the third, to the bottom-right (SE) quadrant
and the last, to the bottom-left (SW) quadrant.

Section 354 - Contiguous cadastral maps (CCM), consisting of four or sixteen sheets, shall be drawn
on a single sheet of the same material and size as the standard cadastral map in the
scale of 1:8,000 or 1:16,000, respectively, to show parcels which would be too big on the
standard scale of 1:4,000. The cadastral map number of the extreme southwestern
cadastral map shall be used to designate the contiguous cadastral map number. If the
◦ ◦
extreme southwestern cadastral map number is CM 14 24’ N-120 36’ E, the contiguous
◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
cadastral map number is CCM 14 24’ N-120 36’ E, scale 1:8,000 or CCM 14 24’ N-120
36’ E, scale 1:16,000.

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.

BARANGAY BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS AND

MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS

Section 356 - Barangay Boundary and Index Maps (BBIM) and Municipal Boundary and Index Maps
(MBIM) shall be prepared and drawn in the grid system on drafting material of stable
base and of uniform size of 54 x 54 centimeters, using a scale based on the maximum
differences in northings or in eastings, which ever is bigger, tabulated as follows:

Maximum Difference in Coordinates Scale to be Used

0 to 2400 1: 8000

2400 to 3600 1: 12000

3600 to 4800 1: 16000

4800 to 6000 1: 20000

6000 to 9000 1: 30000

9000 to 12000 1: 40000

12000 to 18000 1: 60000

18000 to 24000 1: 80000

24000 to 30000 1:100000

30000 to 36000 1:120000

36000 to 45000 1:150000

 45000 to 60000 1:200000

60000 to 75000 1:250000

75000 to 90000 1:300000

MUNICIPAL BASE MAPS

Section 357 - Municipal base maps shall be prepared and kept up-to-date for each city, municipality or
municipal districts. They shall comprise areas within spheroidal quadrangle of 15 minutes
of arc in latitude and 10 minutes of arc in longitude. This shall be drawn in the Philippines
Plane Coordinate System/PRS 92 to a standard scale of 1:60,000 on drafting materials of
stable base and of uniform size of approximately 54 x 54 centimeters.

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 other relevant information that may be available from other
sources shall be plotted thereon.

PROVINCIAL BASE MAPS

Section 359 - Provincial Base Map/s shall be prepared and kept up-to-date for each province. They
shall comprise areas within spheroidal 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 Coordinate System/PRS 92 to a standard scale of 1:400,000 on drafting materials
of stable base and of uniform size of approximately 54 x 54 centimeters.

Section 360 - All information derived from approved survey projects shall be plotted in the provincial
base map/s of each province. Boundaries of municipalities and of the province as well as
other relevant information that may be available from other sources shall also be plotted
thereon.

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 of six degrees in latitude and four degrees
in longitude. This shall be drawn in the Traverse Mercator projection to a standard scale
of 1:800,000 on drafting material of stable base and of uniform size approximately 104 x
104 centimeters.

Section 362 - All relevant information derived from approved survey projects shall be plotted in the
Regional base map/s of each region. 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.

PROJECTION MAPS
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 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 or locality
which is established as the point of reference for all surveys therein.

Section 364 - The extreme west and east meridians and the extreme south and north parallels of each
standard projection map shall be full minute of arc.

Section 365 - The latitude and longitude of the point of intersection of the extreme west meridian and
the extreme south parallel of each spheroidal quadrangle shall be used to designate the
◦
corresponding number of the projection map. If the latitude is 13 51’ N and the longitude
◦
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.

Section 366 - All isolated land surveys shall be plotted in pencil on the projection maps prior to its
approval by the Regional Technical Director of Land. In the case of cadastrally surveyed
municipalities, the cadastral maps shall be used as the projection maps.

Section 367 - When a municipality is surveyed as a cadastral project, its projection maps shall be used
as reference in the preparation of the cadastral 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 as listed: (DAO 72 series of 1990)

Agency Maps/Plans Maps Size Scale Remarks

a. Lands Cadastral Maps 54 x 54 cm. 1:4000 Presently being

Service adopted

1:2000 Sectoral map

being adopted

1:1000 -do-

1:500 -do-

1:250 -do-

Barangay 54 x 54 cm. 1:4000 being adopted

Municipal and its

derivatives

Index Maps

(BBIM, MBIM)

Isolated Survey 42 x 54 cm. 1:100 and For titling

 Plan its

derivatives

b. Mines Geologic Map 75 x 55 cm. 1:50000 Presently being

Service adopted

Mineral Land 54 x 54 cm. 1:250000 -do-

Survey Map

Phil. Mineral 60 x 75 cm. 1:250000 -do-

Rights Master

Maps

c. Forestry Integrated Social 54 x 54 cm. 1:4000 -do-

Service Forestry Maps except standard

size

Forest License 54 x 54 cm. 1:1000 -do-

Maps and its

derivatives

d. NAMRIA Land Variable 1:25000 Presently being

Classification adopted

(previously on

scale 1:20000)

e. Parks & 1. National Park Variable 1:50000 Presently

Wildlife adopted

Service

2. Marine Park -do- -do- -do-

Map

3.Marine Reserve -do- -do- -do-

Map

4. Game Refuge -do- -do- -do-

 and Bird

Sanctuary Map

5. Municipal/ 21 x 33 cm. 1:500 -do-

Boundary Tree

Park

MAPS AND PLANS FOR REGISTRATION PROCEEDING

Section 369 - The cadastral maps on which the results of cadastral surveys are drawn shall be
reproduced for cadastral registration purposes.

Section 370 - All plans of isolated surveys which shall be used for administrative or judicial registration
purposes shall be drawn on DENR-LMB prescribed format. If, however, the plans were
prepared using a computerized method, the Geodetic Engineer must secure authority
from LMB.

COORDINATE LINES AND SCALES FOR ISOLATED SURVEYS

Section 371 - Vertical and horizontal center lines of plane coordinates divisible by five shall be
accurately drawn on the original plan and inked in red.

Section 372 - The latitude and longitude lines of corner 1 of a lot or any corner 1 of a group of adjoining
lots shall be drawn in fine black ink on the original survey plan in the following manner:

(a) The latitude line shall be drawn horizontally from left to the right marginal lines
through corner one. The corresponding northings based on BLLM No. 1 shall be
written above and along the latitude line from the left hand border line of the plan
towards the right; while the geographic latitude shall be indicated below the northing.

(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 longitude line from bottom border line towards the top; while the
geographic longitude shall be indicated opposite the easting on the other side of
longitude line.

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 in the eastings of the extreme east and west
corners of the lots, whichever is bigger, as follows:

Scale to be Used Maximum Difference in Coordinates

1 100 0 to 30 meters
 1 200 30 to 60 meters

1 300 60 to 90 meters

1 400 90 to 120 meters

1 500 120 to 150 meters

1 600 150 to 180 meters

1 800 180 to 240 meters

1 1000 240 to 300 meters

1 2000 300 to 600 meters

1 3000 600 to 900 meters

1 4000 900 to 1200 meters

1 5000 1200 to 1500 meters

1 6000 1500 to 1800 meters

1 8000 1800 to 2400 meters

1 10000 2400 to 3000 meters

The lot shall be centered and plotted on the plan so that its extreme corners shall not be
less than four centimeters from each marginal line when using any of the scale provide
above.

Section 374 - When the maximum coordinate difference exceeds three thousand meters, the plan shall
be drawn on scales which are exact multiples of 1:4,000, such as 1:12,000, 1:16,000, etc.
If any of these scales would make the length of the property lines generally less than
one-half centimeter, the survey shall be plotted on more than one sheet using an
appropriate scale.

In plotting one whole big parcel on more than one sheet, the parcel shall be divided into
convenient portions, each to be centered and plotted on the sheet in accordance with
Section 373 noting thereon the numbers of the adjoining sheets.

Section 375 - When a parcel is divided into many small lots, which, if plotted using any one of the
largest possible scales mentioned in Section 373 would result in diminutive geometrical
figures, the subdivision plan shall be prepared on two or more sheets on a uniform scale
with each of its portions centered on the sheet in accordance with Section 374. The
numbers of the sheets on which the other portions of the subdivisions are plotted, shall
be properly indicated on the plan.

Section 376 - One plan for each parcel, tract or lot in isolated land surveys shall be prepared to a scale
in accordance with Section 373.

Section 377 - Long narrow tracts such as highways, railways, canals, etc. may be plotted by dividing
the tract into sections and plotting the sections on two or more plans.
 DETAILS TO BE SHOWN ON PLANS OF ISOLATED LAND SURVEYS

Section 378 - The plans shall be clearly and neatly drawn in drawing ink and shall show the following:

a) The boundaries of the property in full black ink lines heavier than those of adjoining
properties. Permanent walls along boundaries shall be drawn by conventional
symbols.

b) The line from the lot corner to the control stations from which side shots were taken,
by dotted red ink lines.

c) The relative position of adjoining surveyed properties, indicating by dotted lines the
boundaries between them and the names of all adjoining owners and all important
improvements, roads, and streams, etc., including the width, in black ink.

d) The corners indicated by small circles two millimeters in diameter drawn in black ink
and their respective descriptions noted.

e) The boundary lines with corresponding bearings and distances in black ink.

f) The line of corner 1 from reference control point in thin black line with bearing and
distance.

g) Horizontal (latitude) and vertical (longitude) lines passing through corner 1 in thin
black line and the geographic and Cartesian (grid) coordinates in PPCS-TM/PRS 92
indicated in black ink.

Bearing and distances of the survey shall be tabulated on the plan when these are too
numerous to be drawn or shown clearly along or near the boundary lines. When there are
more than fifty lots on the plans, lot descriptions thereof shall be prepared on LMB
authorized forms.

In the case of subdivision or consolidation subdivision surveys, the boundary data of the
lot being subdivided, or of the lots being 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 information that cannot be
inscribed on the plan shall be indicated on the space provided for “Notes” at the bottom
left corner. These are:

1. Description of corners as:

a) All corners marked “P.S” are cylindrical concrete monuments 15 x 50

centimeters.

b) All corners not otherwise described are stakes (or pegs, or “X” on boulders, or
concrete nail on wall or tree).

2. Adverse claims as:

a) Lot 2 is claimed by Edgar Barraca

b) Lot 3 is a portion of Psu-10001 as surveyed for Ivy Reyes.

 3. Relation with any cadastral or public land subdivision survey project or reservation (if
survey is near a known reservation), as:

a) This survey is outside Cad 69, Pagsanjan Cadastre.

b) This is outside the non-Christian reservation.

c) This is outside Fort Bonifacio reservation.

4. If lot is a portion of undecreed cadastral lot, the cadastral lot number pertaining to
said portion, as:

Lot 7 = Lot 5000, Cad-69

5. Classification of lot as:

a) For survey inside classified/unclassified forest:

This survey is within classified/unclassified forest and therefore shall not be the
basis for registration or titling purposes.

b) For original survey:

This survey is inside the alienable and disposable area, Block 1, Project No. 25,
Land Classification Map No. 329 for the Province of Laguna.

The Survey was approved based on the investigation report submitted by Deputy
Public Land Investigator _______________ dated _________.

c) For complex subdivision

This subdivision survey is in conformity with the approved subdivision scheme.

Section 379 - In all lots isolated land surveys with areas of one hectare or more, the approximate
boundary of the area under cultivation and the nature of its vegetation such as rice,
pastures, woods, etc. with a brief description of the topographic features such as plain,
rolling, hilly or mountainous shall be indicated in light black dotted lines.

For lots less than one hectare in area, a general classification, such as, “residential lot”,
“home lot”, “rice land”, “sugar cane land”, “commercial lot” shall be indicated on said
plans. For a group of lots shown on one plan in diminutive geometrical figures, a notation
on the plan regarding the topographic features and/or general classification for each lot is
sufficient in both cases.

Irrespective of the area, permanent structures such as buildings with concrete foundation,
stone walls, etc., shall be indicated by dotted black lines on the plans and maps.

Section 380 - Plans of isolated land surveys shall be titled thus:

ORIGINAL SURVEY _______________ Surveyed: __________ Approved: _______

Cad/Pls/Gss ____________________________________________________________

Lot No. ____________________________ Patent No. _________ Date ____________

Decree No. _________________________ Date ______________ LRC Rec. No. ____

OCT No. ___________________________ Dated _____________ Issued to ________

TCT No. ___________________________ Dated _____________ Issued to ________

PLAN OF LAND
AS SURVEYED FOR
(Name of Claimant)
SITUATED IN THE

RURBAN CODE ____________________________

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 provisions of applicable laws of the
Republic of the Philippines and the rules and regulations of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources.

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 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:
Geodetic Engineer
Reg. Cert. No. ______ Date ______
Lic. No. ___________ Date ______

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Lands Management Services
Regional Office ____
______________________
(Location of Office)

The survey plotted herein is found to be technically correct, as per submitted

survey returns of the Geodetic Engineer and therefore recommended for approval.

CHIEF, REGIONAL SURVEYS DIVISION

 APPROVED: ____________________

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

REGIONAL TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

FOR LANDS

_________________________
(Date Submitted)

DATE RETURNED REASON RECEIVED BY:

Printed Name & Signature Date

Position verified by: ___________________________________________

Plotted on PM _____________ N ________________ E by ___________
Field Notes checked by: ________________________________________
Computation checked by: ______________________________________
Astronomical/Traverse/Lot Data _________________________________
Plotted/Inked by: _____________________________________________
Traced by: __________________________________________________
Checked & verified by: ________________________________________

The lettering to be used on all plans shall be simple, uniform, mechanical and not
ornamental lettering. (322 as amended by LAO 4-14)

Section 381 - When the meridian of the survey coincides with the vertical axis of the plan, all bearings
and distances shall be drawn along the 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 written to the south-east; and if due north and due south or due east and due
west, the data shall be written to the north, south and east, respectively.

Section 382 - In general, the lot numbers, corner numbers, corner descriptions, notes, titles, etc. shall
be drawn parallel to the horizontal axis of the plan.

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

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, copy/copies of the approved plans as reproduced by any
photochemical processes, such as cloth reproducible, micro-film enlargements,
polyethylene diazo film white prints, blue prints, etc. may be prepared at the request of
the geodetic engineer but the same shall be duly authenticated by the Regional Technical
Director for Lands.

SURVEY SYMBOLS

Section 385 - The survey symbols to designate various kinds of surveys 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 made by the geodetic engineers in private
practice. In such cases, the letter D shall be suffixed to the corresponding survey
symbols for the purpose of identification as follows:

Example: Homestead Application No. (XI-1)

a) If executed by a geodetic engineer in the Bureau of Lands, the survey number and
symbol will be H-(XI-1) 2425.
b) If executed by a geodetic engineer in private practice, the survey number and symbol
will be H-(XI-1) 2425-D,

Section 387 - The application numbers and not the entry number shall be used to designate the
corresponding survey numbers of all public land surveys not otherwise numbered.

Section 388 - For the current instruction on the survey symbols and numbers, Lands Management
Bureau Circulars or Bulletins shall be consulted.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF SURVEYS

Section 389 - The technical descriptions of each lot of a survey to describe and identify a piece of land
for administrative and ordinary or cadastral land registration proceedings shall contain the
following information:

A. For Numerical Cadastre and Isolated Surveys.

1. Bureau of Lands Survey Number

2. Lot number

3. Name of claimants

4. Location of land

5. Legal authority

6. Name of geodetic engineer

 7. Description of each corner as marked on the ground

8. Coordinates of Corner 1 (Northing and Eastings)

9. Description of point of reference

10. Bearing and distance from point of reference to point 1 of boundary

11. Bearings and distances of boundary lines in consecutive order

12. Area in square meters more or less

13. Names of adjoining owners

14. Meridian used and if applicable, the zone of the grid system

15. Dates of survey and approval

B. For Photo-Cadastral Mapping

1. Lot number
2. Lands Management Bureau case and cadastral project number

3. Name of applicant

4. Location of land

5. Legal authority

6. Name of geodetic engineer

7. Sketch plan of the cadastral lot drawn to scale showing adjoining lot numbers,
their claimant, physical features

8. Description of each point of boundary as marked on the ground

9. Approximate area in square meters

10. Names of adjoining owners

11. Meridian used and if applicable, the zone of the grid system

12. Date of monumenting

13. Date of Photography and by whom

14. Description of camera used

15. Date of approval

Section 390 - The technical descriptions of surveys may be prepared by geodetic engineers from the
data of the approved plans or maps or they shall be computer-generated by the Lands
Management Services of DENR.
Section 391 - Technical description prepared by geodetic engineer in private practice shall be
submitted to the Land Management Service of the concerned Region for approval.

Section 392 - The survey claimant shall be furnished by the geodetic engineer concerned with at least
three (3) copies of the technical descriptions, the approved reproducible copy of the plan
or reproductions thereof duly authenticated by the Regional Technical Director for Lands,
and copies of Geodetic Engineers Certificate.

Section 393 - The technical descriptions of survey may be prepared by the Land Management Services
of the DENR Regional Office concerned upon payment of the prescribed fees, provided
that the technical descriptions of all housing subdivisions and cadastral surveys for titling
shall be computer-generated under the Lot Survey Documentation System (LSDS).

PART II

PROVISIONS GOVERNING ISOLATED LAND SURVEYS

CHAPTER IX – GENERAL PROCEDURE

AUTHORITY AND ORDER TO EXECUTE SURVEYS

Section 394 - The Geodetic Engineers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall
undertake isolated and other surveys upon receipt of the order issued by DENR officials,
as follows:

a) the Secretary in the case of Land Classification of Delimitation surveys and

delimitation surveys of areas proposed for reservations and other surveys not
otherwise mentioned in (b), (c), (d) and (e) of this section;

b) the Regional Executive Director (RED) in the case of Integrated Social Forestry (ISF)
projects; and public land subdivision and cadastral surveys above 1,500 hectares,
relocation/delimitation of proclaimed reservations, and political boundary surveys and
settlement of boundary disputes;

c) the Regional Technical Director for Lands (RTD/Lands) in the case of public land
subdivision, group settlements, and cadastral surveys up to 1,500 hectares;

d) Regional Director of Mines and Geo-Sciences (RD/Mines) in the case of surveys for
mineral claims and quarry permits;

e) Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENR Officer) for isolated
surveys and subdivision of cadastral and PLS lots covered by public land applications
(DAO 38).

Section 395 - Geodetic Engineers and Junior Geodetic Engineers in 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 stating his muniments of title to the land or the basis on which
private 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
residing in the barangay where the land is located attesting to his claim shall be
submitted to form part of the survey returns.

Section 397 - No survey of nay kind shall be undertaken within the classified or unclassified public
forest except with an authority/permit issued by the Regional Executive Director. Returns
of original surveys of private claims within such area shall not be accepted for verification
and approval without such authority/permit. Survey executed within this area shall not be
used as a basis for registration or titling purposes.

Section 398 - Upon receipt of an authority and order for survey from the officials stated in Section 394
or of a request from private land owner or claimant, the geodetic engineer shall proceed
to undertake the survey in accordance with the general provisions of PART I and the
specific provisions of PART II of this Manual which are applicable to the class of survey
authorized and ordered to be undertaken.

INVESTIGATION OF ADJOINING CLAIMS

Section 399 - Before commencing the survey, a reconnaissance and sketch of the tract to be surveyed
shall be made. The names and addresses of all persons claiming ownership of a part of
the entire tract to be surveyed and of adjoining lands shall be obtained.

Section 400 - Inquiry shall be made to ascertain whether or not adjoining properties have been granted
patent or decreed. If the adjoining properties have been decreed or titled, the holder of
the plans and/or certificate of title shall be requested to show the said papers for the
purpose of determining the relative positions of the former surveys with the tract to be
surveyed.

Section 401 - Geodetic engineers shall, by legitimate means, try to convince the applicant and the
adjoining owners to reduce the number of corners of their boundary lines, simplify the
boundaries, reduce the field and office work and minimize the cost of survey.

WHO SHALL BE NOTIFIED OF THE SURVEY

Section 402 - The owners, tenants, actual occupants, adverse claimants, barangay officials and in
general, anyone possessing or claiming interest on lands adjoining or included in a tract
of land to be surveyed shall be duly notified of the survey.

Section 403 - The provincial treasurer and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer
shall be notified in the case of properties claimed or owned by the provincial or the
national government which are included in or adjoin the tract to be surveyed.

Section 404 - The city or municipal mayor or treasurer shall be notified in the case of properties claimed
or owned by the city or municipality which 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 municipal streets. He shall be requested to indicate
the position of center lines and desired width of the proposed or actual streets.

Section 406 - The district highway engineer shall be notified when the tract to be surveyed adjoins
existing public highways, such as national or provincial roads and shall be requested to
indicate the widths and center lines of the roads as established or desired by the
Department of Public Works and Highways.

Section 407 - The owners/claimants of private roads shall be notified to indicate the common
boundaries of the private road and the tract to be surveyed.

Section 408 - The railroad company and its local agent shall be notified to indicate the railroad right-of-
way boundaries which are common to the tract to be surveyed.

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, estero, river, stream or irrigation ditch shall be notified of
the survey. The names of the parties, thus notified, and the authorized representative of
the Department of Public Works and Highways shall be indicated in the proper place on
the plans and/or in the geodetic engineer’s certificate.

Section 410 - If the nearby arroyo, estero, river or any stream is more than five meters in width and it
appears after a diligent inquiry that it is not claimed by any individual or that it is
supposed to be of public ownership, the names of the owners or claimants on the
opposite bank of the arroyo, estero, river or stream need not be indicated on the plans.

Section 411 - When the boundary of the trace to be surveyed extends to the arroyo less than 5 meters
wide, the claimants, if any, of the parcel on the other bank of said arroyo shall be notified
of the survey and their names shall be indicated in the proper place on the authorized
L.M.B. plans as prescribed in Section 378 and on the geodetic engineer’s certificate.

Section 412 - When the tract to be surveyed adjoins a ditch, an irrigation canal or any other man-made
channel, the claimant of said man-made channel shall be indicated on the plan and
geodetic engineer’s certificate.

Section 413 - The adjoining owners or claimants shall be notified by messenger or by mail, preferably
registered, sufficiently in advance of the 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 when the party notified shall be present. Prescribed L.M.B. forms shall be used
for notification purposes.

LOT SURVEYS

Section 414 - In isolated surveys, the methods prescribed in Sections 119 (c), 220 to 237 for tertiary
control shall be used except when otherwise specified in the authority and order for
survey or when special instructions are issued upon recommendation of the Director of
Lands Management Bureau.

Section 415 - Corners which are not occupied and used as stations of the tertiary traverse shall be
located by side shots consisting of the azimuths and distances from the stations which
shall be part of a circuit or loop traverse.
Section 416 - The azimuths of side shots shall be read from the instrument to the nearest one minute of
arc and the distances shall be measured to the nearest centimeter.

Section 417 - The azimuths when reduced to true bearings shall not differ from the magnetic bearings
by an amount greater than the known local variation except in cases when local attraction
exists. When local attraction is noted, it shall be stated in the field notes with an
explanation of its possible cause. In the Philippines, the maximum local variation exceeds
three (3) degrees.

Section 418 - The stadia distance and compass bearing shall be used to check the tape distance and
azimuth.

Section 419 - Corners may be located by traverse, triangulation in the manner prescribed in Sections
244 to 245 when such corners cannot be located by side shots. The angle at the corner
need not be measured.

Section 420 - Corners may also be located in tertiary surveys as follows:

a) From traverse stations by:

(1) Perpendicular offsets from fixed points on traverse lines.

(2) Two distance, preferably from two successive stations, with sketch in the field
notes to identify the point.

b) From established corners of previous surveys by:

(1) Fixed distances from at least two unaltered established corners or makers
especially in subdivision of urban lots into two or more lots. The data obtained
should appear in the field notes.

Section 421 - Control stations shall be placed as close as possible to corners that cannot be occupied.
For residential and agricultural lots, side shots shall not exceed fifty (50) and one hundred
(100) meters, respectively.

If any of the above lengths in side shots are exceeded, the computed position of the
corner shall be checked within five (5), ten (10), and twenty (20) centimeters for
residential, agricultural and marshy lands, respectively, by another side shot from another
station.

These limitations, however, shall not apply to EDM equipment for which special
instructions shall be issued by the Director of Lands.

Section 422 - All important bends along the banks of streams adjoining the tract to be surveyed shall be
located.

Section 423 - When there are several tracts to be surveyed for the survey applicant, each tract shall be
assigned a lot number which shall be consecutive from one even if there are several
sheets of the plan.

The corners of each tract shall be numbered consecutively from one in a clockwise
direction. However, no single lot or tract shall be in more than one city or municipality or
barangay.

TIE LINES
Section 424 - (a) tracts to be surveyed shall be tied by a closed circuit traverse to points of reference
as provided in Section 38, if these points are still intact on the ground. However,
corner markers of the survey itself, if it is a previously approved/decreed/patented
survey, may be used as reference, provided a common point pursuant to Section 432
can be established from at least three (3) available corner makers 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
three (3) corner makers of nearby approved/decreed/patented survey may be used
as reference provided a common point can be establishment pursuant to Section
441.

(b) The tie point of the previously approved/decreed/patented survey, in case the same
shall be the subject of a subsequent subdivision, consolidation-subdivision or
amendment, shall be used as the tie point of the resulting lots. In no case shall the
resulting lots be tied to a different tie point except when the tie point of the previously
approved survey has been obliterated, destroyed, or moved, that the resulting lots of
the subsequent survey shall be tied to nearby reference points as enumerated in
Section 38; Provided, that the new tie point and the old tie point are in the same
system; provided further that the required Report on the Recovery of Reference Point
be submitted together with the survey returns to justify the use of another tie point
which is near the project.

(c) For original surveys and resurveys tied or connected to approved/decreed/patented

surveys as reference other than the established point of references, the tie point of
the reference survey, provided that the reference survey has been verified to be
correctly located, shall be used as the tie point of the original survey or resurvey.

(d) Reference points shall be within but not beyond two (2) kilometers from the
designated corner 1 of the tract in order to minimize linear error of closure. Cadastral
lots shall be tied to the nearest BLLM or other boundary monuments of the cadastral
project. In all cases, in executing closed circuit traverse, no traverse line shall exceed
500 meters.

Section 425 - In residential areas, data to show the position of the tract with respect to the block and
the names and widths of the streets adjoining the block shall be gathered.

COMMON NATURAL BOUNDARIES

Section 426 - When the common boundary between the tracts to be surveyed and previous survey is
an arroyo, estero, river or any stream, and the strip shall be excluded as stated in
Sections 310 to 312 the actual position of said body of water shall be surveyed and
compared with the former position as determined from the previous survey.

Section 427 - When the banks of the arroyo, estero, river or any stream as located in the earlier and
later surveys of unregistered land differ considerably in position, causing the existence of
small lots formed by intersecting banks, the boundaries of the property undergoing
survey along the bank shall be made approximately parallel to those of the earlier survey
if the area of any of the small lots does not exceed ten square meters in the caste of
surveys situated in residential sections of cities, one hundred square meters in the case
of surveys situated in residential sections of municipalities and one thousand square
meters in the case of surveys of agricultural or other lands situated in other parts of
municipalities or cities. The provisions of Section 310 to 314 and Section 315 to 319 shall
be observed.
Section 428 - If the areas in conflict are greater than those allowed in the preceding section, such areas
shall be considered as contested lots and computations and plans thereof shall be
prepared, except when the applicant waives his rights thereto in writing. In which case
the boundaries along the bank of the survey progress may be made approximately
parallel to those of the previous survey or the bank of the river observing the exclusion of
the strip for bank protection as required by law.

Section 429 - The adjustment of boundaries of tracts separated by arroyo, estero, river or any stream
shall be made by making their boundaries along the bank approximately parallel to each
other, leaving a clear space as required by law for bank protection.

ADVERSE CLAIMS

Section 430 - All adverse claims which lie entirely or partly within a tract undergoing survey shall be
carefully sketched and indicated in the field notes and plan of the survey as separate lots
when the adverse claimants do not desire a survey of the claims to be made.

Legitimate efforts shall be exerted to convince the adverse claimants to have their claims
surveyed.

Section 431 - When the adverse claims have been previously surveyed or are undergoing survey, such
adverse claims shall be considered separate lots and computations and plans thereof
shall be prepared accordingly.

Section 432 - Connection of surveys. All surveys shall be adequately connected to existing surveys, or
the position of the survey shall be determined by a method that will enable the survey to
be shown in relation to existing surveys to an accuracy appropriate to the circumstances.
The survey shall be adequately connected to permanent reference points existing in
close proximity to the survey.

RELATIVE POSITION OF SURVEYS

Section 433 - The relative position between adjoining or nearby previously approved isolated land
surveys and the survey in progress shall be determined by a closed circuit traverse. It
shall be checked for azimuth through solar observation from a point of reference as
defined in Section 38 and connecting at least three well defined and permanently
monumented corners of the previous surveys.

Section 434 - In case less than three monumented corners are located, the owner or claimant of the
land previously surveyed shall be requested to indicate the position of three or more
corners, which, together with the tie point and the monument corner or corners found in
place, shall be located by a closed circuit or traverse loop.

Section 435 - The corners of a previous survey to which connection is made shall be carefully
indentified on the ground and described in the field notes.

Section 436 - The traverse connecting the corners of the survey in progress with the previous surveys
shall be computed and plotted to determine and show the relative position of the earlier
and later surveys.
Section 437 - When the previous survey and the survey in progress do not overlap nor adjoin each
other, the boundaries of the survey in progress shall be surveyed as indicated by the
applicant thereof.

Section 438 - Disciosure of discrepancies. A Geodetic Engineer shall disclose any doubt or
discrepancy associated with a survey, include in the survey records sufficient information
to assess its accuracy and give clear descriptions of the located survey marks.

Section 439 - A check survey may be made upon instruction of the Regional Executive Director to
ensure that a survey has been performed in accordance with these regulations and to the
standards of accuracy prescribed by this Manual.

Section 440 - Where two or more geodetic engineers, are unable to agree that a survey has been
performed to the standards of accuracy prescribed in this Manual, any geodetic engineer
concerned may report the matter to the Lands Management Services and request that an
investigation be made.

If the matter is to be investigated, all geodetic engineers concerned shall be informed of

the results of the investigation; if necessary, the Regional Technical Director for Lands
shall issue directives to the Geodetic Engineer as to what is required to be done so that
the survey in question will be brought to the standards of accuracy prescribed by these
regulations.

COMMON POINT

Section 441 - When the previous survey and the survey in progress overlap or adjoin each other, a
common point shall be selected from among the corners which have been located. The
selection of the corner which shall be adopted as a common point shall depend on the
following:

(a) The permanency of the monumented corner as found in the place on the ground.

(b) The degree of precision between the computed positions of the monumented corners
as found in place on the ground determined from the data of the previous surveys
and of the survey in progress.

(c) In general, a living tree, a boulder or any other object of permanent nature used as
corner in the previous survey which is identified beyond doubt in the course of the
survey in progress and which is not likely to have been removed from its original
place shall be selected as a common point in preference to concrete stone or other
monuments which may, with comparative ease, be removed from their original
location and place elsewhere.

Section 442 - When monuments of previous surveys appear to have 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, may be used as witness to the true corners.

Section 443 - When the position of a corner of an earlier survey and its position as determined in a later
survey differ by ten centimeters or less in residential areas and thirty centimeters or less
in agricultural areas, the position as determined in the earlier survey shall be accepted
and adopted as the position of such corner in the later survey.
Section 444 - When the discrepancy in position exceeds the limits set forth in the receding section, the
geodetic engineer shall make such verification as may be necessary to check the data of
the survey in question. A complete report on the discrepancies and the results of
verification shall be made and submitted to the Director of Lands Management Bureau,
through the Regional Technical Director for Lands for decision.

Section 445 - If the recovered corner of the previous survey is not identical to its description in the plan,
investigation shall be conducted by the geodetic engineer to ascertain the cause thereof
and the result of the investigation shall be reported to the Regional Technical Director for
Lands/Director of Lands Management Bureau.

OVERLAPPING OR ADJOINING UNTITLED SURVEYS

Section 446 - When a tract undergoing survey adjoins a surveyed property not yet patented or decreed,
the common boundary line between the earlier and later surveys need not be resurveyed
entirely if the applicant of the tract undergoing survey accepts the corners of the previous
survey as common to his property.

Section 447 - When the applicant of the tract undergoing survey and the owners or claimants of the
adjoining properties agree to a common boundary line different from the boundaries as
demarcated in the previous survey, an affidavit to that effect shall be required of each of
the parties agreeing to the new common boundary lines which shall be monumented and
the costs thereof shall be paid by the interested parties. The plan of the property
previously surveyed shall be amended accordingly.

Section 448 - When the applicant of the property undergoing survey does not accept the corners of the
previous survey as common to his property, boundary, lines shall be monumented and
surveyed on the ground as pointed to by the applicant and the area in conflict shall be
indicated as separate lot on the plan of the later survey. The conflict shall also be
indicated on the plan of the earlier or previous survey by the Lands Management
Services.

OVERLAPPING OR ADJOINING TITLED LANDS

Section 449 - The bearings and distances of the boundary lines of patented, leased or decreed
properties common to the tract undergoing survey shall be accepted and adopted as the
boundary lines of the survey.

Section 450 - Any area in conflict with patented, leased or decreed properties shall be excluded from
the tract undergoing survey.

Section 451 - The discrepancies between the measurement of the later survey and those of the earlier
patented, leased or decreed property shall be noted and entered in the field notes of the
later survey. Should the discrepancies be sufficiently large to warrant the supposition that
the survey of the patented, leased or decreed property was erroneous, an investigation
shall be made and the results must be reported to the Regional Technical Director for
Lands for appropriate action. If there is no overlapping or discrepancy between the later
and the earlier surveys, a certification to that effect shall be made on the prescribed field
notes cover.
Section 452 - In case of properties covered by titles containing no technical descriptions or those with
technical descriptions based on magnetic surveys, special instructions shall be secured
from the Regional Technical Director for Lands.

ISOLATED LAND SURVEYS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS

Section 453 - Surveys of tracts situated within cadastral projects in progress may be made by geodetic
engineer in accordance with the previsions of this manual.

Section 454 - The survey of cadastral project shall be considered as in progress from the date the
survey is ordered by the Regional Executive Director/or Regional Technical Director for
Lands until final approval of the survey returns.

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 survey/s in progress within the
project.

Section 455 - After thirty days from the date of order for survey of cadastral project, by geodetic
engineers other than those executing the cadastral survey of tracts situated within a
cadastral project shall not be made except when the isolated land surveys began prior to
the date of the order for the survey of the cadastral project.

Section 456 - The field notes, computations and sketches or plans of surveys of tracts situated within a
cadastral project shall be submitted to the Land Management Services for verification
through the Chief of the cadastral project within four months from the date of inauguration
of the project. Surveys submitted after the lapse of four months shall be accompanied
with a satisfactory explanation to the Regional Technical Director for Lands who may
accept or reject the survey for verification and approval.

Section 457 - When information is desired as to whether or not a particular tract is included within a
cadastral project, a written request shall be made by the geodetic engineer to the
Regional Technical Director of Lands stating the names of the claimant or owner and the
approximated location and area of the tract.

Section 458 - Geodetic engineers may undertake surveys within decreed or titled parcels inside
cadastral projects free from the limitations of Sections 454 to 456. A copy of the approved
survey plan shall, however, be furnished to the cadastral project chief.

FIELD NOTES

Section 459 - Field notes and field notes cover shall be written on authorized LMB forms and sworn to
before a notary public, in case of surveys executed by geodetic engineers in private
practice and before an official authorized to subscribe oath in the case of DENR geodetic
engineers. The name of the geodetic engineer and the date of survey must be entered on
the upper and lower left hand of each page of the field notes. The name of the
manufacturer and serial number of the instruments and tape used in the survey as well
as the number of certificate of test must appear on the upper right hand page of the said
field notes. The full name and address of the geodetic engineer, the full name and
address of the applicant, location of the land and date of survey shall be entered on the
field notes cover. The geodetic engineer shall sign his name at the space provided
thereat.
Section 460 - The field notes shall be clear, legible and easy to understand. Notes that cannot be
understood shall not be accepted. Proper names shall be written in full.

Section 461 - All survey notes shall be recorded in the field by the geodetic engineer or his authorized
assistant performing the transit work or by a recorder under his personal direction and
responsibility.

Section 462 - Original field notes shall be written clearly in hard pencil or in permanent waterproof ink.

Section 463 - Geodetic engineers shall record the starting and closing azimuths or reference azimuths
in the field notes. Descriptions of the points or monuments from which the azimuths are
derived shall be entered on the right hand page.

Section 464 - Descriptions of stations and corner marks, character of vegetation or cultivation,
topographical condition of the land, the name, 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 other facts shall be indicated in the field notes. Old monuments which may be found
shall likewise be described fully in the field notes referring to the number of survey, if
known, and the name of the applicant thereof. Sketches shall be made on the right hand
page.

Section 465 - When the field notes of any survey occupy more than one page, the pages shall be
properly numbered and the signature of the geodetic engineer, date of survey, names of
manufacturer and numbers of the instrument and tape shall be entered on each page of
the field notes as required in Section 458. If the field notes contain data for more than
one parcel, for the same applicant, full information for each parcel shall be given as
required in the preceding section.

Section 466 - Field notes containing erasures of field data shall not be accepted. If erroneous data
have been entered and corrections are necessary, the data shall be crossed out with a
pencil line so that the information shall still be legible and the correct data written above it
with the initial of the geodetic engineer and date of correction.

Section 467 - The original field notes for each survey shall be combined in one field book. The returns
of surveys for different claimants that are surveyed in one traverse or in one system of
traverses shall be submitted simultaneously for verification and approval.

Section 468 - When the data for any survey depends on original field notes already forwarded to the
Lands Management Services, the geodetic engineer shall make proper reference in the
field book of the survey where the required data may be found station the survey number,
the name of the claimant, and so on.

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 provisions of Section 420 (b), the
corner numbers, lot number and survey 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 appropriate sketches showing the relative position of the corners and the
directions of the measured distances.

Section 471 - Computations and plans of isolated land surveys shall be made in accordance with the
general provisions of Chapter VII and VIII of this Manual and the specific provisions for
each class of survey prescribed in the following chapters.
 GEODETIC ENGINEER’S CERTIFICATE

Section 472 - A geodetic engineer’s certificate sworn be before a notary public shall be prepared and
submitted for each survey made for the same claimant whether such survey contains
only one parcel or several parcels. Geodetic engineer’s certificate submitted by DENR
geodetic engineers shall be sworn to before officials authorized to administer said oath.

Section 473 - Each geodetic engineer’s certificate shall include only the parcels located within the same
municipalities or city. In the case of parcels located in different provinces, municipalities
or cities claimed by the same party, separate survey number shall be assigned and a
separate geodetic engineer’s certificate shall be prepared for each parcel or group of
parcels.

Section 474 - The signature of the geodetic engineer shall conform with the name appearing in his
certificate as geodetic engineer. No other signature or name shall be acknowledged as
valid on plans, computations and field notes.

TRANSMITTAL OF ISOLATED SURVEYS

Section 475 - Geodetic engineers shall submit the following:

a. Letter of transmittal / check list on prescribed from; Quality Assurance document.

b. Survey plan: tracing cloth or diazo film showing contour lines in the case of mineral
land survey.

c. The survey order or survey authority provided for in Sections 394 – 395; 477, 480,
484, 489, etc.

d. The original field notes completely filled in, paged and dry sealed, and field notes
cover duly notarized.

e. The original and duplicate of the complete traverse, topographic surveys (for mineral
land surveys) reference and lot data computations duly signed by the computer and
Geodetic Engineer; conversion into PPCS-TM/PRS-92.

f. Certified geographic position and grid coordinates of the tie point issued by the
agency concerned.

g. The original and duplicate of the complete astronomical observation computations

related to the survey.

h. The original plan complete in every detail, signed and sealed by the geodetic
engineer and with conformity of the land owner in the case of simple subdivision of
the private property.

i. Sketch plan of the survey on tracing paper in the scale of the projection map showing
therein the geographic position of corner 1 of the lowest numbered lot.

j. The geodetic engineer’s certificate on authorized L.M.B. form as required in Sections

471 to 473 inclusive.
 k. In case of the DENR geodetic engineer, an indorsement of the community
Environment and Natural Resources Officer concerned mentioning, among others,
the corresponding public land application number.

l. The affidavit required in Section 396.

m. Survey notification letter on prescribed form.

n. In case of surveys of titled properties, the owners duplicate copy of the certificated of
title, or a true copy thereof certified by the Register of Deeds concerned or a copy
thereof verified by the chief of the Records Section of the DENR Regional Office
concerned.

o. In case the survey includes previously approved surveys, the certification of the Land
Registration Authority as to the status of the said surveys whether applied or not for
registration or for titling.

p. In case of mineral land surveys, in addition to (a) to (h), (j), (m) the following are
required to be submitted:

1) Notarized description and field survey report on mining claim/s in quintuplicate

signed and sealed by the Geodetic Engineer;

2) Plans of consolidated claim showing other surveyed claims and traverse stations.

3) Certification by the applicant/representative that he had witnessed the setting of

monuments of the corners and/or location posts of the mining claim/s being
surveyed.

4) Certification of the Barangay Captain or his duly authorized representative that

the survey was conducted in their area by the Geodetic Engineer.

5) Certification by the Administrator of NAMRIA whether or not corresponding

boundary plan of mining claim/s is/are within government reservation.

6) Sketch plan of private properties prepared by the Geodetic Engineer concerned

together with the corresponding machine copy of the title of the land as
registered by the Register of Deeds of the province or city. (MLSR)

Section 476 - Geodetic engineers who submit advance surveys within cadastral projects as stated in
Section 454 to 456 shall submit the papers required in isolated land surveys.

Section 477 - Upon completion of the field work the computations and preparation of sketches or plans
shall be made with least possible delay and the survey returns shall be submitted to the
Land Management Services. Alleged non-payment of survey fees by the survey claimant
shall not be accepted as reason for the delay in the submittal.

CHAPTER X – PUBLIC LAND SURVEYS

 HOMESTEAD

Section 478 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials concerned as stated in
Section 394 for the survey of a homestead, the geodetic engineer, unless otherwise
provided in the said authority, shall proceed to make the survey, complying strictly with
the following requirements:

a) The boundary lines shall form, as much as possible, right angles when adjoining
unclaimed, unoccupied public lands. When adjoining natural features such as seas,
lakes, rivers, etc. or previously approved surveys, the boundary lines shall be marked
on the ground following the provisions of Sections 310 to 314. The forty or twenty
meter stream and bank protection shall be excluded from the survey and no patent or
title shall be issued on the same.

b) Notation and sketches shall be made in the field notes on the general nature of the
land, whether plain, hilly, or mountainous, etc., the vegetation, natural features,
improvements made by the applicants, if any, and such other facts which in the
opinion of the geodetic engineer should be known to the DENR officials concerned.

Section 479 - A homestead shall be surveyed as a single continuous lot situated entirely on one bank
adjoining arroyos, creeks, rivers or any stream of five meters or more in width. It shall be
divided into two or more lots by such natural features. This, however, is without prejudice
to existing regulations on rivers, streams, etc. bank protection.

Section 480 - Homestead surveys shall be made prior to the filing of homestead application in the
CENRO. The cost of the survey shall be borne by the applicant.

SALES

Section 481 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 394 for the
survey of a tract applied for sale by an applicant, shall proceed to make the survey,
complying strictly with the requirements in Section 477.

Section 482 - Surveys shall be made prior to the filing of the sales application in the CENRO.

Section 483 - Whenever practicable, the length of one of the sides of rectangular tracts laid out on the
ground shall not exceed five hundred meters, in the case of individual sales application
subject, however, to the provisions of Sections 288 and 310 to 314.

Section 484 - The area applied for sales shall be surveyed as stated in Section 477. The cost of the
survey shall be borne by the applicant.

LEASES

Section 485 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 394, the
survey of a tract applied for lease by an applicant, the geodetic engineer, unless
otherwise provided in the said authority, shall proceed to make the survey, complying
strictly with the requirements as stated in Section 476.

Section 486 - Surveys shall be made prior to the filing of the lease application in the CENRO.
Section 487 - Whenever possible, the length of one of the sides of rectangular lease tracts laid out on
the ground shall not exceed five hundred meters as stated in Section 287.

Section 488 - The area applied for lease shall be surveyed as stated in Section 477.

Section 489 - The cost of the survey shall be borne by the applicant.

FREE PATENT

Section 490 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 393 for a
free patent survey, the geodetic engineer shall proceed to ascertain the following:

(a) The substantial correctness of the statements made by the applicant in his
application, copy of which shall be sent to the geodetic engineer together with the
order of surveys.

(b) The date of first occupation and cultivation and whether such occupation and
cultivation have been continuous since that date. The information may be obtained
from the applicant and witnesses in separate interviews.

(c) The area under cultivation, area cleared for cultivation and area remaining to be
cleared or which cannot be used for agricultural purposes.

(d) The improvements made by the applicant on or near the tract applied for such as
trails, roads, irrigations, ditches, houses, etc.

(e) The nature and merit of adverse claim, if any.

(f) The use of land other than for agricultural purposes, such as for grazing, fish
breeding, salt panning, etc. and any other facts which in the opinion of the geodetic
engineer should be known to the Lands Management Services.

Section 491 - The surveys shall be made in strict compliance of the requirements as stated in Section
476.

Section 492 - Surveys with previous authority as required in Section 488 shall be made prior to the
filing of the free patent application in the CENRO.

Section 493 - The cost of the surveys shall be borne by the applicant.

RECLAIMED LANDS

Section 494 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the Regional Executive Director or Regional
Technical Director for Lands for the survey of lands which have been reclaimed from the
seas, lakes, rivers, etc. by dredging, filling or any other means, the geodetic engineer
shall proceed to:

(a) Secure the conformity of the Public Estate Authority pursuant to P.D. Nos. 1084 and
1085.

(b) Monument the corners and survey the boundaries of the area reclaimed.
 (c) Subdivide the area surveyed in accordance with the scheme of subdivision which
shall be included in the authority and order for survey issued by the Regional
Technical Director for Lands.

(d) Monument all the corners of the subdivision lots.

Section 495 - The plan of subdivision shall, in general, provide for:

(a) Monuments including sub-surface reference points defining the center of streets or
the street lines to facilitate the re-establishment of street lines when disturbed by
building operation.

(b) The lot shall be of such areas as may be deemed best suited for residential,
commercial or other purposes provided that the scheme of subdivisions be approved
by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board or the Local Planning and
Development Board concerned.

(c) In case of lots granted, donated or transferred to a province, city, municipality or

branch or subdivision of the government for the purpose deemed by said entities to
be conductive to the public interest, the area may be of such size so as to maximize
land utilization.

Section 496 - The survey and subdivision of reclaimed lands shall be made by DENR geodetic
engineers. However, geodetic engineers in private practice may undertake survey and
subdivision of reclaimed lands upon issuance of authority by the RED or RTD. The
survey of a parcel of reclaimed land shall be at the expense of the applicant.

Section 497 - Reclaimed land surveys with previous authority as required in Section 493 shall be made
prior to the filing of the lease application in the Land Management Bureau/Services.

FORESHORE LANDS

Section 498 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 394, for the
survey of foreshore lands for lease purposes, the geodetic engineer shall proceed to:

(a) Monument the landward boundary which, in this case, shall be twenty (20) meters
from the high tide line along the shore. The monuments shall be connected by means
of closed circuit or loop tertiary traverse.

(b) Locate the improvements made on the area applied for such as wharves, canals,
jetties, etc.

(c) Locate the streets, structures, etc. if any, which are adjacent to the tract.

(d) Access road to the sea shall always be provided.

Section 498 - The direction of the boundaries of the tracts from the monuments marking the ends of the
boundary along the high tide line towards the sea, lake, etc. shall be determined by
taking into consideration the improvements of the applicant.

The area shall not exceed forty eight hectares or as may be prescribed by the Secretary
of the DENR.
Section 499 - The land granted, donated or transferred to a province, city, municipality or branch of the
government shall be the area that is actually needed for the purpose for which it will be
used.

Section 500 - The cost of the survey of foreshore lands for lease purposes shall be borne by the
applicant.

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 application in the Land Management Services
unless the DENR directs otherwise.

MARSHY LANDS

Section 502 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 394 for the
survey of marshy lands, the geodetic engineer shall proceed to monument and survey
the boundaries of the area applied for in accordance with the information furnished by the
lease applicant.

Section 503 - As much as or if possible, natural objects in place, such as trees, immovable rocks or
boulders, etc. shall be used as corners of the tract.

Section 504 - The area of a marshy land tract applied for shall not exceed forty eighty hectares or as
may be prescribed by the DENR Secretary. In the case of marshy land granted, donated
or transferred to a province, city, municipality or a branch of the government, shall be the
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 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 506 - The cost of the survey of marshy lands shall be borne by the applicant.

Section 507 - Marshy land surveys with previous authority as required by Section 502 may be made at
any time prior to the filing of the lease application in the Lands Management Bureau/Land
Management Services unless the DENR Secretary directs otherwise.

OTHER LANDS AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL

OR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES

Section 508 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials as stated in Section 394 for
the survey of lands for residential, commercial, industrial or other productive non-
agricultural purposes, as classified in Section 58(d) of Commonwealth Act No. 141, the
geodetic engineer shall proceed to monument and survey the boundaries of the area
applied for in accordance with the information furnished by the applicant.

Section 509 - The area applied for shall not exceed forty eight hectares. However, in the case of
productive lands granted, donated or transferred to a province, city, municipality or
branch of the government, shall be the area that is actually needed for the purpose for
which it will be used.

Section 510 - The cost of the survey shall be borne by the public land applicant.
Section 511 - Surveys with previous authority as required by Section 508 may be made at any time
prior to the filing of the lease application in the Land Management Services.

PUBLIC SCHOOL SITES

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, city, municipality, or other branch of the
government for the establishment of public schools or other educational institutions, the
geodetic engineer shall proceed with the survey following these requirements:

(a) The boundaries as described in the application for survey shall be surveyed and
monumented. However, if possible, the boundary lines shall form right angles when
adjoining unclaimed, unoccupied public lands. When adjoining natural features such
as seas, lakes, rivers, etc. or previous surveys, the boundary of the previous surveys,
shall be adopted as common to the public school sited surveys, provided, the twenty
meter strip for bank protection of rivers and creeks is excluded from the survey.

(b) The area shall not be less than 5,000 square meter in well-drained location that
conforms with the requirements prescribed by public school authorities.

Section 513 - All applications for public school sites filed by provinces, cities and municipalities must be
approved by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports before the conduct of the
survey.

Section 514 - The cost of surveys of public school sites shall be borne by the applicant.

Section 515 - Public school site surveys with previous authority as required by Section 510 may be
made at any time prior to the filing of the application for donation, sales, lease, exchange,
or any other forms of concession.

PRIVATE SCHOOL SITES

Section 516 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials stated in Section 394 for the
survey of the lands of the public domain applied for by private individuals or organization
for the establishment of private schools or other educational institution, the geodetic
engineer shall proceed to make the survey as prescribed in Section 512.

Section 517 - The cost of survey of private school sites shall be borne by the applicant.

Section 518 - Private school site surveys with previous authority as required in Section 516 may be
made at anytime prior to the filing of the application for lease or sale.

SITES FOR PUBLIC CHARITABLE OR OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Section 519 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR official stated in Section 394 for
survey of the public domain applied by a province, city, municipality, or other branch or
subdivision of the government for charitable, philanthropic, specific, or other similar
 institutions, or for other similar purposes, the geodetic engineer shall proceed with the
survey as prescribed in Sections 512 to 515.

Section 520 - The survey of the sites for charitable purposes shall be executed at the expense of the
applicant.

SITES FOR PRIVATE CHARITABLE OR OTHER SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS

Section 521 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR official stated in Section 394 for the
survey of public lands applied by a private individual or organization for charitable,
philanthropic, scientific or other similar institutions or for other similar purposes, the
geodetic engineer shall proceed with the survey as prescribed in Section 512.

Section 522 - The provisions of Sections 512 to 515 shall also be applied to the survey of sites for
private charitable or other similar institutions.

TOWNSITE BOUNDARY AND SUBDIVISION

Section 523 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the Regional Executive Director or Regional
Technical Director for Lands as stated in Section 394 for the survey of a townsite, the
geodetic engineer shall proceed to:

(a) Monument the corners and survey the boundaries of the area to be reserved.

(b) Locate the approximate position of roads, trails, important natural features, etc. within
the area to be reserved.

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 prepared and immediately forwarded
to the Regional Technical Director for Lands together with recommendations as may be
deemed desirable.

The sketch plan shall accurately show the boundary lines, traverses and the position of
the features located as required in the preceding section.

Section 525 - A brief report shall be submitted with the sketch plan stating the location with respect to
rivers, harbors, mountains or other natural features, approximate number of people living
within the boundaries and the amount and purity, possible system of sewerage disposal
and how such disposal may affect other towns or communities.

This report shall be made from personal observation and not from the information
furnished by interested parties.

Section 526 - A topographic survey of the area to be reserved shall be made after the boundary survey.
Unless otherwise required in the authority and order for survey, the contours shall be
located at two meter interval and plotted on a scale of one in two thousand (1:2000).

Section 527 - All private land claims within the area to be reserved shall be surveyed and plotted on the
topographic map.

Section 528 - The topographic survey map shall contain all the details, structures and other information
which may be of value in preparing the scheme of subdivision.
Section 529 - The scheme of subdivision shall designate certain lots for commercial and industrial
uses, for open spaces and public uses and the remainder, as residential lots. The lots
owned by private individuals as evidenced by titles, or as possessed or claimed by them
as private property shall be identified and indicated thereon. The lots whether public or
private, shall be numbered using a general plan or system.

Section 531 - When completed, the topographic map and the scheme or subdivision, together with a
report and recommendation, shall be forwarded immediately to the Regional Technical
Director for Lands.

Section 532 - The geodetic engineer shall be furnished with a copy of the scheme of subdivision as
approved by the Regional Technical Director of Lands in coordination with the local
development council.

Section 533 - Whenever circumstances may warrant, residential sites may be establishment in the
project at intervals of about 10 kilometers from each other or from existing towns,
barangays or residential sites.

Section 534 - The survey of townsites shall be made by DENR geodetic engineers. In case it is
deemed necessary to assign the survey to geodetic 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 newspaper in general circulation to give all geodetic engineers an
opportunity to present their bids. The requirements of Sections 10 to 14 shall apply.

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 purposes, the geodetic engineer shall
proceed to monument the corners and survey the area to be reserved.

Section 536 - After the survey of the boundary, the geodetic engineer shall prepare the scheme of
subdivision under the supervision of the CENR officer and submit the same for approval
of the concerned Regional Technical Director.

Section 537 - The geodetic engineer shall survey the group settlement in accordance with the approved
scheme of subdivision.

Section 538 - The cost of the survey of the group settlement shall be borne by the entities concerned.

DELIMITATION AND SUBDIVISION OF PUBLIC LANDS

Section 539 - Extensive areas of public land classified as alienable and disposable shall be delimited
and subdivided for disposition, excluding therefrom the following:

(a) Lands reserved for public or quasi-public purposes.

(b) Lands appropriated by the Government.

(c) Land which have been acquired and become private property.

(d) Lands on which private rights, authorized and recognized by Commonwealth Act No.
141 or any other law may be claimed.

Section 540 - Upon receipt of authority and order for survey issued by the DENR officials stated in
Section 394, the geodetic engineer shall make a general investigation of the area to be
delimited to ascertain the existence, if any, of lands to be excluded as mentioned in the
 preceding section and to acquire knowledge of the general topography of the area to be
delimited and subdivided.

Section 541 - The authority and order for survey shall describe the areas to be surveyed and specific
instructions as to the size of lots, the area to be reserved and such other requirements
which may be deemed necessary in each particular project.

Section 542 - If the land to be excluded as specified in Section 539 shall be included in the survey as
required in the authority and order for survey, the survey shall be made in accordance
with the requirements of Part III – Provisions Governing Cadastral Land Surveys – as
long as they are applicable and consistent.

Section 543 - When the area to be delimited is practically all public land on which the applicant may not
acquire perfect titles until the requirements of law for the issuance of patent shall have
been complied with, pairs of location monuments shall be established at intervals of
about six kilometers from each other and located by at least a secondary control. The
location monuments shall be made stations of the survey control.

Section 544 - The pair of location monuments most centrally located shall be numbered as BLLM Nos.
1 and 2 and the remaining pairs shall be numbered consecutively from 3 and 4 and so on
for the entire project.

Section 545 - After the establishment of the location monuments, the entire area shall be subdivided
into lots taking into account the actual occupation and the purpose for which such lots
shall be disposed of to the applicants. Roads of at least ten meters wide shall be
provided, taking into consideration the topography of the land and in such a way that
each lot 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 passing through the project. The
District Highway Engineer shall be consulted as to the location of the center lines of the
roads. A strip of land three meters wide in urban areas, twenty meters wide in agricultural
areas and forty meters wide in forest areas along the banks of any stream five meters or
more in width shall be preserved for bank protection and excluded from the survey. This
strip of land shall be demarcated in accordance with Sections 310 to 313, inclusive. The
bank and the traverse stations from which the side shots were taken shall be plotted on
the plan.

Section 546 - If possible, the boundary lines shall form right angles when adjoining unclaimed,
unoccupied public lands. When adjoining previous surveys, the boundary of the adjoining
previous surveys shall be adopted as common to the subdivision lot.

Section 547 - Before proceeding with the final survey, a tentative scheme of subdivision plotted on
tracing paper shall first be taken up with the District Engineer/s, the Planning and
Development Coordinator of the LGU and the local representative of the Philippine Ports
Authority, in case the land to be subdivided abuts the sea, to ascertain whether any of the
lots inside the subdivision is needed for present or future public improvements, or that its
grant under Commonwealth Act 141 may unduly affect any development plan for a town,
barangay, port, etc. or obstruct navigation or any water route. The scheme shall conform
with the land use plan and zoning ordinance of the locality.

Section 548 - In case some of the lots needed for future public improvements, the purpose for which
these lots will be reserved shall be indicated in the tentative scheme of subdivision and
the lots involved shall not be disposed of. After securing the approval of the District
Engineer/s, the Philippine Ports Authority, if required, the tentative scheme of subdivision
shall be submitted to the Regional Technical Director of Lands for approval. The result of
the conference with the District Engineer/s, the Planning and Development Officer of the
 LGU, and the representative of the Philippine Ports Authority shall be included in the
preliminary investigation report to be made for each lot.

Section 549 - The corners of public land subdivision lots shall be marked by standard concrete
monuments to be numbered consecutively from 1 to 999 preceded by a letter in
alphabetical order starting from A. Thus: A-1, A-999, B-1, B-999, etc.

Section 550 - The survey of public land subdivision may be assigned to geodetic engineers in private
practice.

SUBDIVISION OF PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN APPROVED

CADASTRAL SURVEY

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 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.

CHAPTER XI – PRIVATE LAND SURVEYS

ORIGINAL, SUBDIVISION AND/OR CONSOLIDATION SURVEYS

Section 553 - Upon agreement with the owner(s), the geodetic engineer shall proceed to make private
land surveys.

Section 554 - Geodetic engineers must certify in their field notes cover whether or not the parcels of
land surveyed by them adjoin and/or cover any previously approved surveys or decreed
properties.

Section 555 - Geodetic engineers shall comply, at their own expense, with requests from the Land
Registration Authority for any amendments or corrections that may be needed on their
surveys.

Section 556 - The quality of control to be used in private land survey shall be as prescribed in Section
121.

Section 557 - The survey of numerous parcels comprising areas of one thousand or more hectares
shall be undertaken in accordance with the requirements of Part III – Provision Governing
Cadastral Land Surveys.

Section 558 - In the consolidation and/or subdivision lots of decreed properties, the geodetic engineer
shall execute a certificate on the field notes cover as follows:

“I hereby certify that the herein consolidation/subdivision of Lot No. ____

Survey No. ______ was executed by me with the full knowledge and consent of the
owner(s) who signed on the survey plan his/her/their conformity.
 _______________________ _________________________
(Name(s) of Owner(s) (Certification of Title No.)

__________________________
Signature of Geodetic Engineer

In case of simple or complex residential subdivision, the following certification shall be

stated by the geodetic engineer concerned:

“I hereby certify that the herein consolidation/subdivision of (Lot No. ___________,

Survey No. ____________) was undertaken by me with the full knowledge and consent
of the owner or developer.

The land owner’s conformity on the plan shall apply only to simple subdivision.

Section 559 - A separate Geodetic Engineer’s Certificate in triplicate on prescribed LMB form shall
accompany each original survey submitted for verification and approval. In the case of
consolidation and/or subdivision surveys the oath shall be accomplished on the
prescribed field notes cover only.

HOUSING SUBDIVISION SURVEY

Section 560 - Survey returns of housing subdivision surveys of decreed or titled properties submitted to
the Land Management Services for verification and approval shall be in accordance with
the pertinent provisions of Part II of this Manual and of the implementing rules and
regulations governing simple and/or complex subdivisions under Presidential Decree 957
(Subdivision and Condominium Buyer’s Protective Decree).
Complex subdivision projects for housing development governed by P.D. 957, Batas
Pambansa (BP)220, and other related laws shall be accompanied with a scheme of
subdivision or Site Development Plan duly approved by the Local Government Planning
and Development Office, or by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB).

A complex subdivision is defined for the purpose of this Manual as a subdivision of a

registered land wherein 30 % of the land area are allocated for street, passageway, or
open spaces is delineated on the plan.

Section 561 - Licensed geodetic engineer who are commissioned by the owner-developers of a
housing project shall relocate the boundary of the whole property to be developed into
housing subdivision. All boundary corners shall be relocated strictly using the data of the
previous survey. Adjoining property owners shall be notified of the survey and must
witness the re-setting of new corner monuments.

Section 562 - The block boundary corners shall be marked with permanent concrete monuments in
accordance with Section 272 (d) of this Manual, and the distance between block corners
shall preferably be 250 meters. However, if the block exceeds 250 meters, it should not
be more than 400 meters in length and shall be provided by a 3 meter alley at midlength.

Section 563 - Additional reference points with sub-surface markings shall 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 plotted on the survey plan and their cartesian
coordinates shall be part of the survey records. Subdivision lots forming part of the open
 space or subdivision road shall not be the subject of subsequent subdivision surveys,
otherwise Section 567 shall be observed. These lots should be clearly indicated on the
plan.

Section 564 - The individual lot corners may be temporarily marked with stakes to be replaced with
permanent concrete monuments upon completion of land filling or grading on the project
site. The description to the lot corner markers shall be recorded in the field notes and
stated on the plan. (LAO 4-14)

Section 565 - The following documents shall be submitted to the Land Management Services for
verification and approval, with the survey returns stated in Section 474:

a. Certified True Copy of Title;

b. Final Subdivision Plan consisting of the Site Development Plan, Subdivision Scheme
approved by the Local Government Planning and Development Office or by the
HLURB;

c. Copy of Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC);

d. Conversion Clearance (from Agricultural to Residential), if applicable.

Section 566 - The subdivision plan shall be prepared in accordance with Sections 370 to 385 and
carried out in accordance with Sections 553 to 564 of this Manual.
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. Likewise, no amendment survey or subdivision of a lot or lots
in the approved subdivision plan shall be accepted for verification and approval without
the permission of the Local Government Planning and Development Office or the HLURB
and written conformity and consent of the duly organized homeowners association, or in
the absence of the latter, by the majority of the lot buyers in the subdivision.

Section 568 - In the subdivision and pursuant to the provisions of RA 1273 and PD 705, the three (3)
meter easement or the twenty meter bank protection along the banks of creeks, arroyos,
esteros, or rivers which are included in the title, shall be surveyed as a single lot and shall
be planted to trees or shall become tree park except when permanent improvement such
as subdivision perimeter road which cannot be planted to trees as required in Section 2
of P.D. No. 953.

Section 569 - The verification of the socialized housing subdivision shall be focused on the supporting
documents, such as:

 the authenticity of the Torrens Title;

 the existence of the original survey as the basis of the original certificate of title;

 the conformance of the boundary data of the lots with the original approved
surveys or antecedent surveys;

 the correctness of the traverse and control points;

 the aggregate area as per original approved surveys;

 correctness of the survey plan, conformity of the subdivision with the Final
Subdivision Plan approved by offices authorized by law.
 The accuracy of the preparation of the survey returns and plan, the 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 570 - The housing subdivision project shall be subjected to the Lot Surveys Documentation
System (LSDS) to check the correctness of the lot data, and shall be encrypted under the
Computerized Title Generation (CTGEN) established and installed for the purpose in the
Lands Management Bureau/Land Management Services (LRA/ROD) by the Housing and
Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

Section 571 - A plan describing the boundaries of land may be made without the performance of a
survey in the field particularly the case of subdividing a lot by connecting two old corners
provided that the old corners are intact on the ground; the boundaries of the land are
defined conspicuously by walls, shrubs and other markers, and where the information
and particulars to be shown on the plan are sufficient to satisfy the requirements in this
Manual. The survey plan bearing the conformity of the landowner may be submitted for
verification and approval with the notarized field notes cover.

SUNDRY PROVISIONS

Section 572 - The survey returns shall be submitted to the Regional Land Management Services
together with the prescribed letter of transmittal or similar form.
Full information on the preparation and disposition of white prints, etc. shall be provided
on the upper half of the form. The lower half of the form shall be filled out in the Land
Management Services and returned to the geodetic engineer as his receipt.

Section 573 - After the approval of the survey, the sepia copy of the survey plan and the original and
duplicate of the geodetic engineer certificate shall released to the concerned geodetic
engineer or to the survey claimant. The original plan and other records of the survey shall
be retained for file in the Land Management Services. No certified true copy of the plan
for the purpose of registration shall be issued except to the survey claimant or his heirs
provided that an affidavit stating the whereabouts of the approved tracing cloth plan shall
be submitted with the request for another copy.

The city, municipal or provincial assessors shall be furnished with the copies of the
approved plan in accordance with the provisions of R. A. No. 7160 otherwise known as
the Local Government Code of 1991.

CHAPTER XII – GOVERNMENT LAND SURVEYS

FRIAR LAND ESTATES

Section 574 - Surveys affecting the Friar Land Estates shall be executed by geodetic engineers upon
authority and order from the Director of Lands or his duly authorized representative.

Section 575 - The friar Land Estate are situated and known as follows:

Names of Estates and Provinces Location Areas in Hectares

BATAAN:

1. Orion
 Orion, Bataan 935.4741

BULACAN:

1. Binagbag Angat, Bulacan 281.8099

2. Dampol
3. Guiguinto Plaridel, Bulacan 926.4915
4. Lolomboy
5. Malinta Guiguinto, Bulacan 929.9936
6. Matamo
7. San Marcos Bocaue, Marilao, San Jose del 5,207.8943
8. Sta. Maria de Pandi
Monte and Sta. Maria, Bulacan 3,514.8021

Polo, Bulacan 11.7290

Malolos, Bulacan 87.3289

Calumpit, Bulacan 10,153.4477

Angat, Bigaa, Bocaue, Bustos, Sta.

Maria & Pandi, Bulacan

CAVITE

1. Imus Imus, Bacoor, Kawit & Dasmarinas, 17,166.3660

2. Naic
3. Sta. Cruz de Malabon Cavite 7,270.5635
4. San Francisco de
Malabon Naic & Indang, Cavite 9,558.6963

Tanza, Cavite General Trias & Rosario 11,128.4573

Cavite

CEBU

1. Banilad Cebu City 1,873.8061

2. Talisay Minglanilla
Talisay & Minglanilla, Cebu 8,154.9058

ISABELA

1. Isabela Aurora, Antatet, San Mateo, Cabatuan, 19,506.9267

Isabela

LAGUNA

1. Binan Binan, Laguna 3,563.7339

Calamba, Laguna 13,364.9758

Sta. Rosa. Laguna 5,413.3436

OCCIDENTAL MINDORO

1. San Jose San Jose, Occ. Mindoro 22,484.8150

RIZAL

1. Muntinglupa Muntinglupa, Rizal 2,816.9507

2. Piedad
3. Tala Caloocan City 3,812.5498

Caloocan City 6,991.4314

TOTAL 23 Estates 154,976.4930

NATIONAL GOVERNMENT LANDS

Section 576 - The National Government Lands are the following:

(a) Lands forfeited for non-payment of taxes.

(b) Lands adjudicated to the government through foreclosure proceedings.

(c) Lands acquired by the national government through forfeiture of bonds in criminal
cases or as a result of execution of judgment in civil actions.

(d) Lands acquired through expropriation proceedings, donations, purchase or exchange

when no longer devoted public uses.

(e) Lands where old structures formerly used as fortifications and known as “cotas”,
“baluartes”, etc. are built or situated.
(f) All other private properties of the national government acquired or held in whatever
form when not needed for public purposes.

Section 577 - The survey of national government lands shall be made by geodetic engineers upon
receipt of authority and order from the Regional Executive Director and/or the Regional
Technical Director for Lands.

Section 578 - Geodetic engineer hired by applicants of national government lands shall inform the
Regional Executive Director of the proposed survey, stating the name of the applicant,
location of the land applied for, and such data which may facilitate action by the Land
Management Services.

Section 579 - The authority and order for survey to be issued to the geodetic engineers shall be
accompanied by necessary data, sketches, and instructions for making the survey.

Section 580 - The geodetic engineer shall bring with him to the field his notes, information or plans
given by the Regional Technical Director for Lands. From such information and the
evidence of the occupants, adjoining claimants and government officials, he shall try to
relocate the 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 or adjoining owners, diligent search for old
boundary marks and evidence in support thereof shall be made.
Section 581 - The survey shall indicate the boundary lines as claimed by the occupant or adjoining
owners, and as deduced from the evidence given by the Land Management Services or
the information obtained from disinterested persons.

Section 582 - The survey shall also indicate the accurate location of the foundation of all buildings or
ruins found on the tract.

Section 583 - In case there are buildings of strong materials on the land, measurement thereof shall be
taken. The front and side elevations and floor plans shall be sketched, indicating thereon
the materials used in the construction.

Section 584 - The names and addresses of persons giving information and the gist of evidence shall be
taken. Likewise, the names and addresses of all adjoining owners or claimants and
occupants of the land shall be obtained.

Section 585 - An investigation shall be made to ascertain other facts as may be desired and full report
thereon shall be submitted together with the survey returns.

Section 586 - The plans shall be drawn at a scale that will show all essential details. The location of all
buildings shall be approximately plotted and numbered. In no case shall the plan exceed
the size of a cadastral map sheet as prescribed in Section 351.

Section 587 - All notes, information and plans given to the geodetic engineer by the Lands
Management Bureau/Services or acquired during the investigation shall be submitted
immediately, together with the survey returns and required report, upon the completion of
the work.

Section 588 - The survey of private lands to be purchased, expropriated or acquired in any other
manner by the national government or local government units shall be made in
accordance with the requirements of Chapter XI.

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT LANDS

Section 589 - The survey for registration proceedings or other purposes of lands belonging to or
claimed as private property by provincial government or of private lands acquired by said
government through purchase, grant, donation or in any other manner from individuals,
partnerships, associations, corporation or any other forms of organization shall be
conducted by geodetic engineers.

Section 590 - The survey of areas for school sites acquired from individuals, partnership, associations,
corporations or any other form of organization shall be as in accordance with the
regulations of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

Section 591 - The survey of the provincial government lands referred to in Section 590 shall be
undertaken in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter XI.

Section 592 - The survey of lands of the public domain to be acquired by the provincial government
from the national government shall be made by geodetic engineers.

Section 593 - The costs of survey of provincial government land shall be borne by the concerned
provincial government.
Section 594 - Surveys of lands for sub-provincial governments shall be made following the same
methods for provincial government lands surveys.

CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LANDS

Section 595 - The provisions of Sections 590 to 592 of this Manual shall be applicable to the survey of
city or municipal government lands.

Section 596 - The cost of the city or municipal government land surveys shall be borne by the
concerned city or municipal government.

Section 597 - All land surveys for local governments which are not organized as cities or municipalities
shall be surveyed as in the case of the regular city or municipal government.

CONVERSION SURVEYS

Section 598 - Surveys for the conversion of graphical cadastral lots to numerical cadastral lots shall be
made in accordance with the special instructions to be issued by the Regional Technical
Director for Lands.

CHAPTER XIII – OTHER LAND SURVEYS

PROVINCIAL BOUNDARIES

Section 599 - The boundaries of provinces and sub-provinces shall be surveyed in accordance with the
specific instructions which shall accompany the authority and order for survey issued by
the Regional Executive Director.

Section 600 - The authorities of the provinces separated by the boundaries to be surveyed and of the
respective adjoining municipalities shall be consulted are requested to indicate on the
ground the common boundaries. The boundaries as defined by law or executive order
creating the province shall be located on the ground.

Section 601 - All corners accepted as common by the authorities of the adjoining provinces and
respective municipalities shall be defined by monuments specified in Section 272(a).

Section 602 - In the case of disputed boundaries, the corners shall be temporarily defined by hard
wood post or monuments.

Section 603 - The lots included within the disputed area shall be located using transit, tape, theodolite,
and/or EDM. The lot owners thereof shall be requested to provide information as to the
municipalities in which their lots have been declared for taxation purposes.

Section 604 - A sketch plan of the disputed area shall be prepared containing the following information:

(a) Each lot and corresponding lot number.

(b) Name and address of each lot owner or claimant.

 (c) Municipality in which each lot has been declared for taxation purposes. Care shall be
taken to determine whether or not disputed areas are declared in two or more
municipalities.

(d) The boundaries as claimed by each province.

Section 605 - The claims of one province shall be indicated by heavy dotted lines and of the other
province by heavy dash lines. A heavy full line shall mark the division between
municipalities as indicated by tax declarations. Lot lines shall be indicated by ordinary full
lines. All topographical information such as rivers, mountains, etc. that will assist the
authorities in their decision shall be shown.
Section 606 - The local authorities shall be given opportunities to arrive at an agreement in accordance
with the Local Government Code, R. A. 7160 before a report on the dispute is forwarded
to the Regional Executive 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 standard provincial boundary monuments and the
temporary markers referred to in Section 602 shall be removed.

Section 608 - The cost of the survey of disputed boundaries between provinces shall be borne by the
concerned provinces.

MUNICIPAL BOUNDARIES

Section 609 - The authorities of the municipalities separated by the boundary to be surveyed shall be
consulted and requested to indicate on the ground the common boundaries. The
boundaries as defined by law or executive order creating the municipality shall, as much
as possible, be located on the ground.

Section 610 - All corners accepted as common by the authorities of the adjoining municipalities shall be
defined by monuments as specified in Section 272(a).

Section 611 - In the case of disputed municipal boundaries, the procedure outlined in Sections 602 to
607 shall be followed.

Section 612 - In cadastral projects the lots within the disputed area shall be surveyed and the area shall
be made as a cadastral case.

Section 613 - When the areas in disputed are claimed by municipalities situated in different provinces,
the provincial authorities concerned shall be requested to settle the dispute.

Section 614 - If the dispute is not settled by proper authorities, the matter shall be reported to the
Regional Executive Director and the Director of Lands Management Bureau.

Section 615 - After the final decision of proper authorities, the adopted municipal boundaries shall be
monumented with standard municipal boundary monuments as specified in Section 272
(a) and the monuments temporarily marking the disputed boundaries shall be removed.

BARANGAY BOUNDARIES
Section 616 - The survey of barangay boundaries shall be made after consultation with the barangay
and municipal authorities concerned who shall be requested to indicate the barangay
boundaries.
Section 617 - All corners accepted as common by the authorities of the adjoining barangays shall be
defined by monuments as specified in Section 272(b).

Section 618 - In the case of disputed barangay boundaries, the procedure outlined in Section 602 to
607 shall be followed.

Section 619 - In case the dispute is not settled by proper authorities, the matter shall be reported to the
Regional Executive Director and the Director of Lands Management Bureau.

Section 620 - After the final decision of proper authorities, the adopted barangay boundaries shall be
monumented with standard barangay boundary monuments and the monuments
temporarily marking the disputed boundaries shall be removed.

VERIFICATION SURVEYS

Section 621 - Whenever any approved survey is reported to be erroneous, or when titled lands are
reported to overlap or where occupancy is reported to encroach in another property, a
verification survey shall be made only by a Geodetic Engineer in accordance with the
order of the Regional Executive Director or Regional Technical Director for Lands. The
field verification shall, among others,

a) ascertain the position and descriptions of the existing survey monuments or marker,
buildings, fences, walls, and other permanent improvements, which are used to
provide evidence of original boundaries;

b) give primary consideration to original survey marks, except where other evidence,
including original measurements, position of improvements, or statements by
occupants, suggests that the original markers were incorrectly placed or have been
disturbed;

c) ascertain the positions of buildings, fences, walls or other permanent improvements

affected by the determination of the boundaries;

d) inform the parties concerned of the effect of the determination of the boundaries and
secure a statement from the parties that they have been informed of these findings.

Section 622 - when gross errors or discrepancies in adjoining surveys are discovered, an explicit
statement of the lines found to be erroneous and other discrepancies shall be recorded in
the field notes. It shall be the responsibility of the Geodetic Engineer to disclose any
doubt or discrepancy with the survey.

Section 623 - The geodetic engineer whose survey is reported to be 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 in error, he shall report in detail all discrepancies between the
new survey and the original survey and submit an explanation as to the cause thereof. If
on the contrary, he finds his survey correct, a joint survey with the geodetic engineer who
reported the error shall be ordered to settle the differences in findings.

Section 624 - All survey work undertaken to check boundary lines and position of corners and to obtain
common points, etc., of surveys previously approved by the Director of Lands/Regional
 Technical Director for Lands shall be designated as verification surveys (Vs). The number
of the survey to be verified shall be given in the order for survey.

Section 625 - The provisions of Sections 621 to 624 shall apply to verification surveys of isolated
surveys and cadastral lots.

AMENDMENT SURVEYS

Section 626 - An amendment survey shall be made for the purpose of changing the boundary lines by
increasing or reducing the number of corners of previously survey or consolidating and/or
subdividing the area without including any new area or any area already included in other
surveys previously approved by the Director of Lands/Regional Technical Director for
Lands.

Section 627 - The amendment survey for the consolidation and/or subdivision into various lots, for
registration proceedings of the area of an original survey, may be made following the
same methods prescribed for original surveys.

Section 628 - A full explanation in writing of the reason for requesting the amendment shall be
submitted, giving the authority therefor, either as desired by the owner or as directed by
the court.

Section 629 - If the person requesting the amendment is not the owner or claimant of the land, he shall
be required to submit satisfactory proof that the owner or claimant thereof desires the
amendment.

Section 630 - If amendment is desired to conform to adjoining previous surveys, the numbers of said
surveys or the Land Registration Authority (LRA) survey numbers shall be stated.
Certified copies or survey plans approved by the LRA shall be submitted with the survey
returns.

Section 631 - Amendment/subdivision of cadastral lots pending judicial registration shall be made only
upon order of the Court if the case has been filed for compulsory registration; otherwise,
the survey shall be made upon authority and order issued by the Regional Executive
Director.

Section 632 - Returns of amendment surveys submitted to the Land Management Services for
verification and approval shall include, among others, the tracing plan, order of the court,
sketch plan showing the stations occupied, the control survey and the original field notes.

SEGREGATION SURVEYS

Section 633 - Segregation surveys are surveys for the purpose of segregating twenty (20) per cent or
less of the area of previously surveyed large tract of public land.

Section 634 - Segregation surveys shall be made in accordance with applicable provisions of Sections
394 to 452. The remaining area of the mother lot shall be reflected in the footnote of the
plan.

LEASED, PATENTED AND DECREED LAND SURVEYS

Section 635 - The subdivision survey of leased, patented, or decreed properties shall be made using
the bearings, distances and areas in the original survey approved by the Director of
Lands or Regional Director of the Land Management Service and/or in the antecedent
subdivision survey approved by the Land Registration Authority (LRA), Lands
Management Bureau (formerly Bureau of Lands) or Lands Management Services, or that
appearing in the lease or title. In case of discrepancy the data in the approved survey
shall prevail. The discrepancy shall be reported for reference in administrative or judicial
correction of the title.

Section 636 - Discrepancies between the survey data of leased, patented or decreed properties and
those of the later survey of an adjoining land shall be carefully investigated and reported
to the Regional Technical Director for Lands.

Section 637 - The subdivision plan or plans of leased, patented or decreed properties shall show the
entire boundary of the original lot or lots and each subdivision shall be treated as a
separate parcel. Original lots not subdivided shall not be shown on the plan, or if shown
at all, it shall be in fine dotted lines. Subdivision lots shall be numbered by repeating the
old number followed by the letter of the alphabet: Provided, that if the subdivision is made
in blocks, the blocks and the lots in each block shall be numbered consecutively from 1.
A subdivision plan shall contain the subdivision of one lot only and to be assigned as
distinct subdivision survey number.

Section 638 - All improvements, especially those described in the title or patent, shall be plotted on the
plan of each lot of the subdivision. In the absence of such improvements, the words “No
Improvement” shall be noted correspondingly on the plan.

Section 639 - Lot descriptions shall be prepared on the prescribed Lot Descriptions form in case they
cannot be shown on the plan.

Section 640 - Surveys made under Sections 621 to 639 shall be carefully investigated. The
convergency of meridians of the different surveys shall be considered.

REINSTATEMENT/RELOCATION SURVEYS

Section 641 - Lot corners of a previously surveyed land, patented, decreed and titled shall be reinstated
or relocated only by a qualified and experienced Geodetic Engineer who is Knowledge of
the laws on property, land registration, public lands and natural resources and who shall
be able to explain his survey to the satisfaction of the approving officials and to the courts
in case land conflicts are finally submitted for judicial settlement.

Section 642 - The relocation of corners or re-establishment of boundary lines shall be made using the
bearings, distances, and area stated in the survey approved by the Director of Lands
Management Bureau or the Regional Technical Director for Lands or written in the lease
or Torrens Title.

Section 643 - The geodetic engineer as required in verification surveys, shall:

(a) Ascertain the positions and descriptions of the existing survey monuments, buildings,
fences, walls, and other permanent improvements, which are used to provide
evidence of original boundaries;

(b) Give primary consideration to original survey marks, except where other evidence,
including original measurements, position of improvements, or statement of
 occupants suggests that the original marks were incorrectly place or have been
disturbed;

(c) When it is positively established that a boundary survey mark has not been placed as
originally intended, re-set the mark after having recorded the position of the mark that
is to be re-set;

(d) Ascertain the positions of buildings, fences, walls and other permanent improvements
adversely affected by the determination of the boundaries and indicate the same on
the plan;

(e) Inform any owner affected by the determination of the boundaries and obtain a
statement from the owner that he has been informed;

(f) Record any encroachment caused by the differences between the positions of
boundaries as determined in reinstatement/relocation survey and the original or
earlier surveys.

Section 644 - The data used in monumenting or relocating corners of approved surveys shall be
submitted to the Land Management Services for verification and approval. New corner
marks set on the ground shall be accurately described in the field notes and indicated on
the original plans on file in the Land Management Services.

Section 645 - The relocation of corners, re-establishment of boundary lines, etc. of magnetic surveys,
upon which valid land titles have been based, shall be the subject of special instructions
to be issued in each case.

RESURVEYS

Section 646 - A reserve is a survey made of a previously surveyed tract of land for the purpose of
voiding the original approved but undecreed survey due to failure to include all the areas
claimed by the applicant.

Section 647 - Survey returns of a resurvey shall be accepted for verification and approval only upon
surrender for cancellation of the approved plan, technical descriptions and geodetic
engineer’s certificate of the original survey. An affidavit of loss and a satisfactory proof
that the plan is not the subject of any public land application or registration proceedings
shall be submitted in lieu of the approved plan.

Section 648 - It shall also be applied to the survey of a tract of land, decreed or titled, whose technical
descriptions are not inscribed in the title or are no longer available in the Lands
Management Bureau or the Land Registration Authority. The corners as indicated by the
landowner and the adjoining landowners shall be surveyed. The survey shall conform to
adjoining decreed or titled properties.

Section 649 - The new survey returns shall be accompanied by a detailed explanation why the resurvey
was necessary.

Section 650 - In cases of previously decreed magnetic surveys or of surveys whose technical
descriptions cannot be reconstructed, the geodetic engineer shall make a complete
resurvey of the property as pointed out by the applicant and described in the certificate of
title, trying survey returns shall include the plan, geodetic engineer’s certificate and a
report of findings.
 TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEYS

Section 651 - The topographic survey of cadastral projects, irrigation projects, estates, mineral land
claims, etc. shall be made in accordance with special instructions to be issued for the
purpose.

The primary and secondary control stations, and political boundary monuments shall be
used to control the topographic survey of cadastral projects.

Section 652 - The elevation of the BLLM No. 1 of the municipality or cadastral project may be
determined approximately by altimeter in case the elevation cannot be obtained by more
accurate methods.

Section 653 - The elevation of all primary and secondary control stations and of the political boundary
monuments shall be determined by leveling starting from and closing at the BLLM No. 1
of the municipality or project.

Section 654 - The topographic survey shall be made with transit and stadia or by plane table or by
photogrammetry or any comparable method.

Section 655 - Topographic survey shall be made in accordance with the procedures described in
standard surveying textbooks and the specifications for the survey.

SPECIAL SURVEYS

Section 656 - Surveys for geographic and scientific investigations, experiments and all other surveys
not otherwise mentioned in this Manual shall be made in accordance with special
instructions which may be issued for the purpose. This shall be designated as “Special
Work Order” (SWO) which can not be a subject of titling and must be clearly stated on
the plan.

Section 657 - Hydrographic surveys of canals, esteros, rivers, lakes, bays, and other bodies of water,
shall be the subject of special instructions which shall be issued by the CGSD/NAMRIA
for each case.

Section 658 - In all other surveys, detailed reports shall be submitted, in addition to the field notes,
sketches and plans, stating in full the methods of work, difficulties and local conditions
encountered and other pertinent information.

LAND CLASSIFICATION AND DELIMITATION SURVEY

Section 659 - Upon receipt of the authority and order from the DENR Secretary, the Forest
Management Bureau (FMB), in coordination with the National Mapping and Resource
Information Authority (NAMRIA), shall determine and prescribe the criteria, guidelines
and methods for the proper classification and survey of the public forest delimiting the
alienable and disposable areas from the forest reserves when Congress shall have
determined by law the specific limits of the public domain.

Section 660 - Sub-classification categories. The land uses for which sub-classification shall be carried
out within the inalienable lands of the public domain classified as forestlands, mineral
 lands, and national parks under Article XII, Section 3 of the New Constitution and as
defined by the New Constitution, P.D. 704, P.D. 705, R.A. No. 7586 (NIPAS Act), LOI
1262 and other applicable laws shall be as follows:

1. for forestlands: agricultural, industrial or commercial, residential, resettlement,

ancestral lands, grazing, protection, production, agro-forest, fish farm;

2. for national parks: natural park, strict nature reserve, natural monument, wildlife
sanctuary, protected landscapes and seascapes, resource reserve, natural biotic
areas; and

3. other categories established by law, conventions or international agreements which

the Philippine Government is a signatory.

Section 661 - Classification and sub-classification shall be done by NAMRIA, in coordination with FMB,
through the Regional Land Evaluation Parties (LEPs). This can be done by interpretation
and analysis of the most recent aerial photos, satellite data as well as legal references of
the subject area, supplemented by data/information gathered from the field.

Section 662 - Exact boundaries of the permanent or forest reserves and public forest shall be laid out
and monumented on the ground at not more than 500 meters between monuments and
constructed in accordance with Section 272(e). Wooden post 30 x 30 x 200 centimeters,
buried 50 centimeters into the ground, with chiseled markings in accordance with Land
Classification marking system may be used to mark intermediate corners established
conspicuously at every 100 meters. Markers shall also be established at the perimeter of
the buffer zone at every fifty (50) meters intervals in addition to the permanent markers or
concrete monuments (PD 705, DAO 13, S-1992).

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 shall be plotted on a Land Classification (LC) Map at the scale of
1:50,000 using the standard topographic map as the base map. If this scale is not
practical, other scales as may be determined by NAMRIA, may be used.

The layout and other information to be indicated on the map shall be determined by
NAMRIA. However, the international cartographic symbols for the features such as roads,
bridges, railroads, etc., shall be used. Witness marker and other vital information that
may serve as guide in future relocation of boundary markers shall be described in the
field notes.

Section 664 - The Land Classification Map shall be prepared by NAMRIA and checked for its technical
accuracy. The Land Classification Map together with the corresponding draft DENR
Administrative Order, shall be submitted through the FMB and proper channels for
approval of the DENR Secretary.

The Land Classification Map shall indicate, among others, the corner number, geographic
and Cartesian coordinates in PPCS-TM/PRS 92 of corner 1, and Cartesian coordinates
of the other corners, description and markings of the corner monument or markers.

Section 665 - If the land, as classified and delimited, falls within the territorial jurisdiction of two or more
municipalities, the portion falling in each municipality shall be designated as separate
parcels (Parcel A, B, C, etc.), respectively, and the corresponding areas are determined.

Section 666 - After the approval of the map by the DENR Secretary, copies shall be given to the
Regional Office, CENRO, PENRO, the Forest Management Bureau, the Lands
Management Bureau, and the Lands Management Services.
Section 667 - The NAMRIA shall be the repository of Land Classification records which include
fieldnotes, computations, and land classification maps and other related documents.

BUFFER ZONES WITHIN FORESTLANDS

Section 668 - Buffer Zone: Definition – As used herein, a buffer zone refers to a strip of land with
natural or established vegetation which provides an added layer of protection to the
natural forests including mangrove forests.

Buffer zones shall be located and established in the following area (DAO 13, S-1992):

a) Twenty-meter strips of land along the edge of normal high waterline on rivers and
streams with channels of at least five (5) meters wide or even less than five (5)
meters if the water is continuously flowing:

b) Strips of land at least fifty (50) meters in width fronting the sea, ocean or other bodies
of water and 20 meters on both sides of river channels/banks maintained and
developed to enhance the protective capability of mangrove against strong currents,
winds and high waves;

c) In storm-prone areas, mangrove forest strips 100 meters wide inward along shoreline
fronting the seas, oceans and other bodies of water and 50 meters strip river bank
protection;

d) Twenty-meter strips of land outside the boundaries and immediately adjacent to

designated protected areas;

e) Twenty-meter strips of forest land adjoining ISF projects;

f) Twenty-meter strips of land along the boundaries of reforestation projects adjacent to

private/alienable or disposable lands; and

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 features such as waterways (rivers, streams, creeks),
gullies, or ridges tops, these shall be used as boundaries. (DAO 13, S-1992).
Section 669 - The CENROs AND PENROs shall identify, with the aid of the latest Forest Resources
Condition Maps, aerial photographs and/or technical references, potential areas as buffer
zone. Areas identified shall be demarcated on the ground by markers at every fifty (50)
meter intervals at the perimeter of the buffer zones. These shall be indicated on a buffer
zone map at the scale of 1:50,000 with the standard topographic maps as the base maps
and in PPCS-TM/PRS-92.

Section 670 - Once the boundaries of these buffer zone are identified and marked on the ground, the
perimeter survey may be done through compass survey method or using Forestry transit
and tape. However, it should be tied to a nearby GPS station in the PPCS-TM/PRS-92 for
positional location. If there is no PRS-92 nearby, the assistance of CGSD/NAMRIA shall
be sought to establish the position of the buffer zone in the PPCS-TM/PRS-92. The
 compass survey shall be checked for its accuracy and polygon closure but need not be
approved.

Section 671 - The CENRO concerned shall prepare an Administrative Order establishing the area as a
buffer zone which shall be submitted to the DENR Secretary through proper channels,
together with the map and development plan of the area, for approval.

Section 672 - The CENRO, PENRO, Forest Management Services, Forest Management Bureau,
Lands Management Bureau, and CGSD/NAMRIA shall be furnished with copies of buffer
zone maps and approved administrative order. The Land Management Services (LMS)
shall be the repository of the map and survey records. The LMS shall project the buffer
zones in its Property Surveys Control Maps. Established buffer zones shall not be the
subject of application for lease or permit or any other form of alienation (DAO 13, S-
1992).

DELIMITATION OF RESERVATIONS, PARKS

AND OTHER PROTECTED AREAS

Section 673 - Upon receipt of the authority and order issued by the DENR officials as stated in Section
394 for the survey of lands reserved or proclaimed as National Parks and other Protected
Areas, etc., NAMRIA shall proceed to monument the corners, with the assistance of the
Regional Land Evaluation Party and the Forester assigned to the project, based on the
technical descriptions contained in the proclamation. The consecutive boundary corners
shall be inter-visible and not to exceed 500 meters from each other. The positions of the
corners shall be determined using, preferably, GPs receivers and the metes and bounds
shall be computed.

Section 674 - The political boundary of local government units as established by law or executive order
shall be located in the area. If the area falls within the territorial jurisdiction of two or more
municipalities as established by law, the portion falling in each municipality shall be
designated as Parcel A, B, C, etc., respectively. Then the corresponding area of these
parcels are determined. The survey should also be based on the evaluation report,
inventory and sketching of the said area by the Regional Land Evaluation Party and
personnel of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB). (D.a.1, DAO 72-1,
S.1990; C.2, DAO 47, S.1990).

Section 675 - If the delimitation survey is done by authorized private geodetic engineers capable of
undertaking GPS surveys, the observed GPS data shall be submitted to the
CGSD/NAMRIA for processing, adjustment and determination of the geographic and
Cartesian coordinates in PPCS-TM/PRS-92. Thereafter, the geodetic engineer shall
submit the isolated survey returns as stated in Section 474 to the Lands Management
Services for verification and approval of the plan.

Section 676 - If the delimitation survey is done by the geodetic engineer using conventional surveying
method and instruments, the complete survey returns as stated in Section 474 shall be
submitted to the Lands Management Services for verification and approval.

Section 677 - If the proclaimed area is in conflict with previously approved surveys or decreed
properties, the survey in that particular portion shall be made to conform with the
technical descriptions of the approved survey. (C.2, DAO 47, S.1990).

Section 678 - The survey shall be computed; the meters and bounds determined and plotted on a
suitable map size, preferably 100 centimeters by 120 centimeters, at a scale of 1:50,000.
Section 679 - Previously approved surveys inside the area shall be reflected in the plan by light full
lines indicating therein the survey numbers. The unsurveyed claims shall be sketched
and reflected on the plan in dotted lines. The actual land uses and permanent
improvements in these private claims shall be indicated on the plan. (C.5, DAO 47,
S.1990).

Section 680 - All corners of the boundary shall be marked conspicuously in the ground with concrete
monuments 15 x 15 x 50 centimeters in accordance with Section 272(f).

Section 681 - After the plan has been approved in accordance with Sections 675 and 676, a copy
thereof together with the numerical data of the metes and bounds, descriptions and
geographic location of the corners shall be given to the Lands Management Bureau,
Forest Management Bureau, the CENROs, and PENROs concerned. Copies of the GPS
survey plan approved by CGSD/NAMRIA shall be furnished to the Regional Lands
Management Services for plotting in its Survey Control Map, and the Forest and Lands
Management Bureaus, the CENROs and PENROs concerned.

DELIMITATION SURVEY OF FOREST RESERVES

Section 682 - Upon receipt of authority and order from the DENR officials as stated in Section 394 for
the survey of areas declared as permanent forest reserves, NAMRIA, with the assistance
of a Forestry Officer assigned to the project, shall proceed to monument the corners and
the boundaries based on the sketch map prepared by the Land Evaluation Parties and on
the technical information and references sourced and/or gathered from the following:

a. Technical data contained in the proclamation.

b. Photo maps or enlarged rectified aerial photographs;

c. Latest available maps and references derived from satellite images;

d. Base information supplied by the CENRO, PENRO and DENR Regional Office;

e. Cadastral maps, latest LC Maps, and other sources of data and information relevant
for the purpose.

Section 683 - Permanent or forest reserves shall mean the mass of land of the public domain which
have been the subject of the present system of classification and determined to be
needed for forest purposes.

Section 684 - Sections 414 to 424 shall be followed in the perimeter survey of areas delimited as forest
reserves, if done using conventional survey method and equipment. If the survey is done
using GPS receivers to establish the positions of the corners, NAMRIA shall determine
the survey design and execute the GPS Survey. If done by authorized private geodetic
engineer using GPS receivers, Section 675 shall be followed.

Section 685 - All corners of the boundary shall be monumented in 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 alienable and disposable lands
shall be clearly marked and maintained on the ground. The corners shall be marked with
concrete monuments at interval of one hundred (100) meters but not to exceed 500
meters. Infrastructure or roads which will serve as buffer zone shall not exceed two (2)
meters in width, exclusive of shoulders and drainage ditches. In cases wherein the
 permanent forest boundary is adjacent to natural ground features such as waterways
(rivers, streams, creeks), gullies, or ridge tops, these shall be used as buffer zone.
Otherwise, buffer zones shall be established in accordance with Sections 688 to 672
(Buffer Zones within forest lands).

Section 687 - The survey shall be computed and plotted in accordance with Sections 326 to 335, 341 to
343, and 371 to 386. The survey symbol shall be Frb (Forest Reserve Boundary). The
complete survey returns shall be submitted to the Lands Management Services for
verification and approval. However, survey using GPS receivers shall be submitted to
CGSD/NAMRIA for verification and approval as stated in Section 675.

Section 688 - Maps of classified forest reserves shall be prepared at a uniform scale of 1:50,000, using
standard topographic maps as base maps or as may be determined by CGSD/NAMRIA.
The maps shall indicate the PPCS-TM/PRS 92 grid lines. The PPCS-TM (1965) grids
may be indicated by tick marks. The Forest Management Bureau, Lands Management
Bureau, the PENRO and CENRO concerned, and the Lands Management Services in
the case of the GPS Surveys processed by NAMRIA shall be furnished with copies of the
map and boundary data.

Section 689 - When the forest reserves transcends two or more municipalities, the portion within the
boundary of each local government unit shall be plotted on the map and designated as
separate Parcels A, B, C, etc. respectively. The corresponding areas are determined.

INTEGRATED SOCIAL FORESTLY SURVEY

Section 690 - Upon receipt of authority or order from the Regional Executive Director for the perimeter
survey of ISF areas, the designated geodetic engineer, with the assistance of the
Forestry Officer assigned by the RED to the project, shall proceed to monument all
corners or corners of the prominent turns of the boundaries based on the sketches
prepared by the Land Evaluation Parties. However, the distance between two succeeding
monuments shall not exceed 500 meters and their construction shall be in accordance
with Section 272(e). (B.3, DAO 72 S. 1990; Sec. 17 PD 705, S. 1975)

The perimeter survey of ISF projects shall be done in accordance with these rules and
regulations and with an accuracy of fourth order as prescribed in Section 55.

Section 691 - The survey shall be tied to a point to known geographic positions in the PPCS-TM/PRS
92 by a closed traverse of tertiary precision or a system of triangulation/trilateration using
Theodolite and EDM or Total Station Systems. Actual observations using GPS receivers
may be made on the monumented corners and on inter-visible monumented corners for
azimuth orientation. (B.4, DAO 72 S. 1990)

Section 692 - In the case of on-going cadastral projects, the perimeter survey of ISF areas shall be
surveyed concurrently with the lot boundary surveys in A and D areas. The ISF areas
inside forestland or public forest shall be depicted on a Social Forestry Map (SFM) and
the parcels, if non-contiguous, shall be indicated as separate Parcels A, B, C, etc.,
respectively. (72 DAO 72 Amd.)

The lots within the alienable and disposable areas shall be assigned cardinal numbers
(lot 1, 2, etc.) and prepared on a cadastral map (CM).
Section 693 - A strip of at least twenty (20) meters along the boundary line of ISF areas and within the
forest land shall be delineated as buffer zone between the ISF areas and forestlands.
These should be marked “X” on immovable or fixed hard rocks or boulders with exposed
surfaces of more than one meter in diameter or trees belonging to the first group or
 indigenous or living edible fruit trees. In any case, the distance between the two
succeeding marks should not exceed five hundred (500) meters. No improvements shall
be introduced within the zone except for dirt roads connecting ISF areas and the outside
areas.

Section 694 - The parcellary sketching of the individual ISF awards within the ISF areas shall be done
by Administration through tachimetry methods or by compass survey. These parcellary
sketches of the individual award to each ISF beneficiary shall be approved by the
CENRO or PENRO.

Section 695 - The position of roads, trails, existing structures, important natural features, etc., within the
ISF areas and in the public forest shall be approximately located by transit and stadia or
by other approximate method.

Section 696 - After the completion of perimeter survey of the ISF area and parcellary sketching of the
farmlots cultivated by upland farmers in cadastrally surveyed municipalities, a sketch plan
shall be prepared on authorized LMB Forms. The survey symbol shall be “SFCM –
Region Code Number - survey number”. In municipalities that are not yet cadastrally
surveyed, the survey symbol shall be “SFM-Region Code Number – survey number”. The
sketch plan in both cases shall show the boundary lines, traverses, monuments and the
position of the features mentioned in the preceding section. (B.7.1, DAO 72 S. 1990,
amd)

Section 697 - In the case of the on-going cadastral survey, an overlay of the cadastral map segregating
the forestland and public forest shall be prepared. This overlay shall be prepared similar
to the cadastral map in all aspects but shall be called Forestry Cadastral Map (FCM)
instead of CM.

For ISF surveys independent of cadastral survey, the map shall be called Social Forestry
Map (SFM). The perimeter survey of the ISF parcels shall be plotted on these maps and
numbered consecutively from ISF-Parcel A, ISF-Parcel B, etc. for areas outside a
cadastral survey and ISFC-Parcel A, ISFC-Parcel B, etc. in cadastrally surveyed areas.
No single parcel should fall in two or more Cadastral projects or municipalities. (B.7.2,
DAO 72, S. 1990)

Section 698 - The plan and other survey returns shall be submitted to the DENR Land Management
Services for verification and certification. The plan shall be marked “NOT FOR
REGISTRATION PURPOSES” in order that this can not be used for titling by the
awardee.
Section 699 - A comprehensive report together with the survey returns shall be submitted stating the
location of the ISF areas with respect to the bodies of water, natural features such as
mountains, existing virgin forests, nearest communities, man-made features such as
dams and highways, and the approximate population of persons living in the area. These
data shall be based on the personal observation of the survey party and not of the
occupants.

CHAPTER XIV – MINERAL LAND SURVEYS

Section 700 - Mineral land surveys are surveys of mining claims, quarry applications, sand and gravel
applications, and other mineral lands except coal and petroleum, executed for lease,
permit, license or for other purposes pursuant to the provision of the mining laws of the
Republic of the Philippines.(MLSRR)
 LODE PATENT AND LEASE SURVEYS

Section 701 - Mining claims located and registered before November 15, 1935 may be surveyed for
lease purposes at the option of the applicant, provided that in the case of the former,
there must have been spent not less than One Thousand Pesos (P1,000.00) for labor
and improvements for the development of each claim. Mining claims located and
registered on or after November 15, 1935 shall be surveyed for lease purposes any time
within four (4) years from the date of the registration thereof, or thereafter provided that a
lease application has been filed during the said period.(MLSRR)

Section 702 - Claims located and registered under Act No. 137 which were existing and in force since
January 1, 1942, and whose owners thereof filed lease applications on or before October
28, 1950 in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 1 (b) of Rep. Act No. 81, as amended
by Act No. 215, may also be surveyed for lease purposes.(MLSRR)

Section 703 - The position of corners, location posts Nos. 1 and 2, and of the discovery post, shall be
verified on the ground and compared with the description and sketch given in the
declaration of locations. All corners and location posts shall be marked in accordance
with Section 73 (g).(MLSRR)

Section 704 - The distance between location posts Nos. 1 and 2 shall not exceed three hundred (300)
meters. When the distance exceeds 300 meters, location post No. 2 shall be moved to a
position on the location line at a distance of distance 300 meters from location post No. 1.
When 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 the positions of these
posts shall govern the position of the claim.(MLSRR)

Section 705 - All boundary lines shall be run when possible. If it is impossible to run the boundary,
closed traverse lines and/or triangular/trilateration system may be run for control and the
corners shall be set by side shots from the stations of said control.

Section 706 - When a corner is inaccessible, its position shall be defined by two witness corners which
shall be placed along the boundary lines and as near as possible to the inaccessible
point. These shall be considered as intermediate corners of the mining claim and/shall
bear numbers with the suffixes a, b, c, etc.

In case of fractional lode claims, at least one of the boundary lines shall be as near as
possible parallel to the location line.(MLSRR)

Section 707 - After the survey, the original plan of the claim shall be 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 of the survey; name of the owner or holder of the claim;
location, area in hectares; date of registration of deed of assignment; date of registration
of amended declaration of location, if there are any; dates of issuance of the survey order
and submission of survey returns; lease application number and date filed; and survey
number.(MLSRR)

Section 708 - The reference point of the claim, as indicated on the declaration of location or the tie
point of the group of claims to which the claim under survey is a part, should be
connected with the survey and indicated on the field notes, computations and on the
working sheet plan, if possible.

Any discrepancy found on the ground relative to the reference point shall be stated on the
descriptive report and shown on the working sheet plan that accompanies the survey
returns.(MLSRR)
Section 709 - National, provincial, and municipal roads, passing through a lode or placer claim under
patent or lease shall be surveyed and their actual positions shall be shown on the
plan.(MLSRR)

INVESTIGATION OF DEVELOPMENT
WORK AND IMPROVEMENTS

Section 710 - The improvements upon each mining claim shall be numbered consecutively. The
dimensions and character value of each improvement shall be specified in the descriptive
field report which shall be prepared and made a part of the survey returns.(MLSRR)

GENERAL PROVISIONS FOR PATENT:

PERMIT/LICENSE AND LEASE SURVEYS

Section 711 - All mineral land surveys shall be executed by licensed and duly bonded deputized
Geodetic Engineers or by the DENR Geodetic Engineers only upon receipt of an order of
survey from the DENR officials as stated in Section 394 (d).(MLSRR)

Section 712 - Before a survey order is issued, the applicant should file within the prescribed period, an
application for order of survey in the Mines and Geo-Sciences Regional Office on the
proper form prescribed for the purpose. The application shall be accompanied by the
following:

(1) Two (2) sets of carbon copies of the original declaration of location or two (2) certified
copies of the same declaration of location issued by the Mines Regional Recorder.

(2) Pertinent documents such as deed of assignment and power-of-attorney duly

registered with the Mines Regional Recorder, and in the case of partnership or
corporation, a copy of the articles of partnership or incorporation duly registered with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(3) A notarized survey service contract executed by and between the applicant and the
deputized geodetic engineer, except when the deputized geodetic engineer is
employed by the claimant and/or company interested in the survey provided that
proof of employment of the deputized geodetic engineer is submitted. Such service
contract shall stipulate, among others, the following:

i. The name of the contracting parties;

ii. The names of the mining claims or identification of areas sought to be

surveyed;

iii. The consideration or contract price and mode of payment of the same; and

iv. The date of the submission of the survey returns thereof through the
Regional Technical Director for Mines.

(4) Affidavit of the deputized geodetic engineer concerned, stating that he can execute
the survey of the claims and submit the returns thereof to the Regional Technical
Director for Lands through the 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 survey order. No extension of period
within which to submit the survey returns shall b allowed unless for reasons of force
majeure, admitting payment by the applicant of not less than 20 % but not more than
50 % of the agreed professional fee advanced in consideration of such
representation: Provided, that this provision on payment of the professional fee shall
not apply if the deputized geodetic engineer is an employee of the applicant and/or
company interested in the survey. No mineral land survey returns shall be accepted
by the Land Management Services without the endorsement of the Regional Director
for Mines and Geo-Sciences.

(5) A surety bond in the amount currently set by existing regulations per application for
order of survey for the approval of the Regional Executive Director. This bond shall
be forfeited for failure to execute the survey and/or comply with the obligations as
required by existing rules and regulations. However, for survey of mining claims to be
executed by the geodetic engineers of DENR Regional Office at the time the
application for order of survey is filed.(MLSRR)

Section 713 - Before executing a mineral land survey, the deputized geodetic engineer or the DENR
geodetic engineer shall require the applicant or his authorized representative to show the
reference point, location posts and corners of the claim particularly for those claims
registered under Commonwealth Act 137. The survey shall not be executed until after the
claim is properly identified.

Section 714 - In case the area shown to the Geodetic Engineer is other than the area described in the
declaration of location, the applicant should be advised to file a declaration of location for
a new mining claim. After the registration of the new mining claim, a carbon copy or a
certified copy of the new declaration of location shall be forwarded to the Regional
Executive Director concerned with a request for the amendment of the survey
order.(MLSR)

Section 715 - Before starting the survey, the geodetic engineer shall notify the DENR Regional Office
concerned, the people in the region through the Mayor of the municipality or the
Chairman of the barangay where the claim/application is located, of the date of the
executive of the survey. The notice shall contain, among others, pertinent information, an
advice to any interested person to present his opposition to the geodetic engineer and
show the corners of his mining claim/application, if there is any.(MLSR)

Section 716 - In mineral land surveys, all computations, plans, and maps to be submitted to the Lands
Management Services through the Mines and Geo-Sciences for verification and approval
shall be prepared in the Philippine Plane Coordinate System-Transverse
Mercator/Philippine Reference System 1992, using surveying instruments duly tested and
certified in accordance with Sections 15-37 of this Manual.

Section 717 - Tie line survey shall either be a closed traverse or a system of the
triangulation/trilateration from a point of known geographic positions in the PRS 92. The
relative position between the claim undergoing survey and other surveyed claims within
one hundred fifty (150) meters of the survey in progress, shall be determined by a closed
traverse to at least two (2) existing well defined and permanently marked corners of the
former and later surveys and should not exceed thirty (30) centimeters in the northings or
eastings. Conflicts of mining locations should also be indicated on the plan and their
corners or posts should be surveyed as much as possible. (MLSRR)

Section 718 - The numbering of the corners shall be in the clockwise direction. If additional corners are
necessary between the corners described in the declaration of location, these should be
considered as intermediate corners with the suffixes a, b, c, etc.(MLSRR)
Section 719 - The corners of the mining claims shall be marked with the corresponding corner and
survey number used in the computations. For claims registered under U.S. Congress of
July 1, 1902 or under CA 137, if the numbering of the corners on the declaration of
location is counterclockwise, the mark on the monuments should either be in accordance
with: the preceding statement or with the corresponding corner numbers on the
declaration of location with the name of the mineral claim. In the latter case, the
deputized geodetic engineer should submit necessary explanation which should be form
part of the report. For claims/applications shall be defined by monuments placed at
mining claims/applications shall be defined by monuments placed at intervals of not more
than four hundred (400) meters. When the boundary lines of the claim pass across
mountains or rolling terrain, the intermediate monuments between corners shall be
established on ridges, and whenever possible, consecutive monuments shall be inter-
visible.(MLSRR Amd)

Section 720 - The corners of the mining claim shall be concrete monuments or cement patch on
boulder, centered with a hole, spike, pipe or nail and marked with the corresponding
corner number and survey number as indicated in the declaration of location and in the
order of survey.(MLSRR)

Section 721 - When the mining claim undergoing survey adjoins submerged land, a witness corner
monument along the boundary leading to the shoreline shall be set on the ground to
witness the boundary or point or corner of the claim at the low tide level of the sea or
lake. Concrete monuments, galvanized iron pipes, fixed rocks, boulders or stakes and
other monuments shall be set to define the corners of the claim along the shoreline at low
tide level.(MLSRR)

Section 722 - When the survey covers mining claims or leases with previously approved survey plans,
an actual survey and verification of the existence of the corners of the old survey should
be undertaken. The actual surface occupants and improvements should be verified and
indicated on the plan. Any missing corner should be relocated and monumented. The
filed notes and computations should be submitted together with the survey returns.
(MLSRR)

Section 723 - Mineral reserves, which have been proclaimed closed to mining location and other
reservations established prior to the registration of the mining claim shall be excluded
from the surveys for lease, permit or license.(MLSRR)

Section 724 - Boundaries of claims under survey should be indicated as public lands or private lands
with the name of the owners, surveyed mineral claims with corresponding survey
numbers, roads, and/or natural boundaries.(MLSRR)

Section 725 - When a scheme of triangulation or trilateration is used for establishing points of control,
the position of stations should be selected so that well-conditioned triangle are used. By
well-conditioned triangle it means that no angle thereof shall be less than twenty (20)
degrees.(MLSRR)

Section 726 - Amendment surveys shall be executed only when ordered by the Regional Executive
Director. This order shall contain specifically the conditions and objects sought in the
required amendment.(MLSRR)
Section 727 - All field notes, computations, reports of the survey and plans of all mineral land surveys
shall be submitted to the CENRO for plotting in the CENRO Index Map of Surveys. These
shall then be forwarded to the Regional Director for Mines and Geo-Sciences.

The Regional Director for Mines and Geo-Sciences shall retain the other documents
related to the mining application and forward the survey returns to the Regional Technical
 Director for Land Management Services for verification and approval. (DAO 72, S-1990;
DAO 35, S-1993)

Section 728 - The previously approved surface surveys and other occupancies shall be plotted in
dashes on the mineral land survey plans by the Regional Surveys Division. The Regional
Surveys Division shall also plot the mineral land surveys on the cadastral map or
Property Surveys Index Map.

Section 729 - The applicant for survey of permit or lease of mineral lands, shall furnish the Deputized
Geodetic Engineer all maps showing the location of the survey and underground
workings which shall be submitted as part of the survey returns and for use of the Mines
and Geo-Sciences.(MLSRR)

Section 730 - The survey returns should be submitted within one year from the date of receipt of the
survey order. These shall include the documents stated in Section 466.

In addition, the following shall also be submitted:

a) Elevation and topographic survey computations

b) Descriptions and filed investigation report on the mining claim in quintuplicate signed
by the Geodetic Engineer and duly notarized.

c) A consolidated plan at a scale of 1:4,000 showing the relative positions of the

surveyed mining claim(s) and other claims with existing rights at time of the survey.

d) Other documents pertinent to the survey of mining claim.

e) Original copy of the survey order.

The survey returns without the field notes, computations, plans and the above stated
documents shall not be accepted.

Except for reasons of force majeure, failure to submit the survey returns within one year
from receipt of survey order is sufficient cause for cancellation of the surveyor’s survey
bond and/or cancellation of the survey order pursuant to Section 32 of P. D. No.
463.(MLSRR)

TOPOGRAPHIC AND UNDERGROUND ELEVATION SURVEYS

Section 731 - Survey of the surface and underground workings of mineral lands shall be made to
ascertain whether or not said workings have been extended beyond the mines/quarry
boundaries of the claim or application defined by imaginary vertical claims passing along
the surface boundaries.

Section 732 - Topographic surveys as well as underground elevation surveys shall be done following
the procedures and computations found in surveying textbooks.

Section 733 - The following contour intervals shall be adopted to suit the topographical conditions of the
area undergoing survey.

Difference of Maximum & Minimum Elevations Control Intervals

99 meters or less 5 meters
100 meters and above 10 meters
Section 734 - In surveying claim which adjoins previously approved mining surveys, the topography of
the former should conform with the topography of the latter at common boundary and the
contours should match with each other. In case they differ, the differences should be
carefully investigated and the error of the new survey shall be corrected. However, if the
error is within the approved survey, no correction shall be made, instead a report shall be
submitted together with the survey returns. Necessary corrections may be ordered by the
Director of Mines and Geo-Sciences according to the nature of the work and the amount
of error found.(MLSRR)

Section 735 - The field notes, computations and plans of topographic and underground elevation
surveys shall be submitted as part of the survey returns.(MLSRR)

PREPARATION OF MINERAL LAND SURVEY PLANS

Section 736 - Plans of mining claims shall be drawn on the isolated survey form designed for mineral
land surveys using the Philippine Reference System of 1992 (PPCS-TM/PRS 92).

Section 737 - The plan shall be clearly and neatly drawn in drawing ink prepared in accordance with
Sections 371 to 374. The following shall be shown on the plan:

a) The boundaries of the claim shall be shown in full black ink heavier than those of
adjoining surveys. Stone or other permanent wall along boundaries shall also be
shown.

b) All bearings and distances in black ink.

c) Contour lines in brown ink.

d) Rivers, creeks and waterlines in blue with their respective widths.

e) Surveyed private claims and public lands, mining claims, surface 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.

f) Latitude and longitude of corner 1 of plans for lode, placer, sand and gravel; latitude
and longitude of all corners of mining and quarry application claims, registered under
P. D. 463.

g) The improvements and their descriptions and their extent.(MLSRR)

Section 738 - Bearings and distances shall be tabulated on the plan when they are too numerous to be
shown clearly along or near the boundary lines.

Section 739 - All plans shall show a statement certifying whether or not a protest was raised during the
survey. The format and text of the plan shall be as prescribed by the DENR.

Section 740 - The approved original plan shall be returned to the Regional Director for Mines and Geo-
Sciences. Copies shall be retained by the Regional Surveys Division for official file. The
CENRO and PENRO concerned shall be furnished with the copies of the approved
original plan.

Section 741 - Symbols to be used for mineral land surveys are found in the appendix.
 PART III

PROVISIONS GOVERNING CADASTRAL LAND SURVEYS

CHAPTER XV – FIELDWORK ON CADASTRAL PROJECTS

GENERAL STATEMENT

Section 742 - Cadastral surveys of municipalities or portions thereof and of other extensive areas as
classified in Section 3, authorized by the President of the Philippines, shall be made by
geodetic engineers upon order of the Regional Technical Director for Lands or Regional
Executive Director pursuant to Section 394.

Section 743 - Cadastral surveys may be assigned by the Regional Executive Director to geodetic
engineers in private practice whenever such assignment is necessary for the prompt
adjudication of titles.

Section 744 - Geodetic engineers who wants to enter into any contract or negotiation with the land
owners and local authorities of any municipality or province to undertake the cadastral
survey thereof shall first obtain a written authority or permission from the Regional
Technical Director for Lands or the Regional Executive Director.

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
Management Services.

Section 747 - For information and record purposes, the personnel employed by the geodetic engineer
shall be reported to the Regional Executive Director, copy furnished the Director of Lands
Management Bureau as soon as said employee was employed in any assigned project.
The personnel includes the geodetic engineer’s aides, cartographers, surveymen,
linemen, tapemen, computers, and other persons he or she may employ. No substitution
of technical personnel or reduction of personnel and equipment per Cadastral Survey
Management Plan shall be made without prior approval of the RED.

Section 748 - The unit of survey shall be the city or municipality or portion thereof or area designated in
the authority and order for survey. Cadastral survey project number shall be secured from
the Land Management Bureau. The boundary survey shall follow the limit as defined in
the law or the executive order creating the local government unit.

PRELIMINARY OPERATIONS
 DATA OF THE SURVEY

Section 749 - The following shall be secured by the geodetic engineer from the Lands Management
Services, whenever available, in connection with the order for the survey:
(a) Copies of projection maps on a scale of 1:4000 and/or enlargement thereof covering
the entire area of the project;

(b) Prints or tracings of approved plans and copy of computations of all previous surveys
within the project;

(c) Progress map of each adjoining cadastral project, in progress and completed;

(d) Approved horizontal angles, distances and other data on main control stations of
adjoining projects;

(e) Approved data on provincial and municipal boundary monuments and lot corners
along the boundaries of adjoining projects; and

(f) List of approved surveys, surveys field for registration and their status such as
decreed, pending, dismissed, etc.

Section 750 - The cost of preparing the data described in the preceding 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 case of surveys assigned to them.

SCHEME OF WORK

Section 751 - The following scheme of work on a cadastral survey project is suggested:

(a) Post and distribute notices of survey in English, Spanish, and Filipino languages and
in the local dialect.

(b) Locate the main control lines, monument its stations and run the preliminary survey in
accordance with Section 132.

(c) Start the manufacture of standard concrete corner monuments.

(d) Prepare the progress and project control map from the preliminary survey and sketch
thereon the boundary of the project, locating areas in dispute between municipalities,
provinces, etc. See Sections 915 to 920.

(e) Take astronomical observations for azimuth as required to establish the base
meridian. Start the measurement of the azimuth and distances of the main and
subsidiary controls.

(f) Submit the main and subsidiary controls for verification and approval.

(g) Prepare the sketch sheets noting thereon the previous surveys and start sketching of
lots claimed. Start monumenting of the property corners and of political boundaries.

(h) Post the “30-day notices”. Notify owners or claimants to appear on the ground, verify
and approve boundaries as monumented.
 (i) Start survey of lots and other details after approval of main and subsidiary controls.

(j) Plot on the cadastral maps the corners as located from control stations, connecting
the corners in accordance with the sketch of the survey. Transform previously
approved surveys to PPCS/Grid-PRS 92 system.

(k) Number the lot corners in the cadastral maps according to the field notes.

(l) Prepare lot data computations.

(m) At the expiration of the 30-day notice, make a tracing of the cadastral maps and
verify same in the field, correcting all errors found. Post copies of the cadastral maps
in the Barangay Hall.

(n) Make a final check to verify discrepancies. The work shall be schedule in such a way
that the work in localities of difficult access will be performed during favorable
weather.

(o) Complete and ink the cadastral maps.

(p) Prepare the barangay/case boundary of index maps and complete the progress map.

(q) Prepare the municipal/project boundary and index map.

(r) Prepare the complete survey returns of the project.

All phases of work may be done simultaneously in different parts of the project.

NOTIFICATION OF SURVEY

Section 752 - Copies of the general notice of the survey in Filipino, English and Spanish languages and
in the local dialect, stating the area involved and the date of beginning, shall be
distributed and posted in conspicuous places in the barangay being surveyed and the
municipal building of the municipality in which the lands or any portion thereof are
located. Copies of the notice shall also be sent to the barangay, municipal and provincial
authorities.

The general notice f survey in English is as follows:

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Land Management Services, Region ___

CADASTRAL SURVEY PROJECT)

:
NO. ________ ) SUBJECT: Cadastral Project No. ________
Cadastral Survey of the
 Municipality of _____________,
Province of ________________

1. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 1851 of the Administrative Code (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 the municipality of _______________, province of
____________ a cadastral survey of all lands situated within the boundaries of the said
municipality will be commenced by the _____________________.

2. In accordance with Section 1853 of the said Code, the geodetic engineers and other employees
of the ___________________ shall have full authority of law to enter upon the above mentioned
lands for the purpose of making the survey and placing monuments thereon; and it is the duty of
all persons of claiming said lands or interest therein to fully inform the said geodetic engineers
and other employees concerning the boundaries of their respective land claims.

3. Any person who shall willfully refuse to give such information or shall in any manner interfere with
the survey and placing of the monuments, or shall alter the location of the same, or shall deface,
destroy or remove the 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.

4. Practicing geodetic engineers are hereby requested to submit to the Land management Services,
within sixty (60) days from ____________ 19 ___, 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 __________________. Isolated surveys not listed as herein
required will not be accepted for verification and approval.

5. Upon the completion of this cadastral survey, a petition for the 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 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 welfare of the community is
desired and requested. This cooperation may be expressed in the form of facilities given to the
geodetic engineers 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 appropriate and feasible in each case.

____________________________
Regional Executive Director

Section 753 - The following certificate shall be attached to one copy of the notice in each language and
local dialect:

“I hereby certify that on this date, _____________, 19 _______, in accordance

with the provisions of Section 1, Act 2259, as amended, I posted a copy of the attached
notice of survey at the following described points: ________________ and on the
principal building in the Barangay of __________________, Municipality of
_______________, Province of _____________________.”

_____________________________
Chief, _____________ Cadastre
Cad- _________________________
 This signed certificate with one copy of the notice in each language and local
dialect shall be returned promptly to the Land Management Services upon completion of
the posting.

CONTROL OF THE PROJECT

Section 754 - The provisions of Sections 117 to 228, 238 to 241 and 242 to 246, shall govern the
establishment of primary, secondary and tertiary controls of cadastral projects.

POLITICAL BOUNDARIES

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:

(a) Provincial or city boundaries

(b) Municipal boundaries

(c) Barangay boundaries

Section 756 - The requirements of Sections 559 to 620 on the establishment of political boundaries
shall be also applicable to cadastral projects.

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.

Section 758 - Political boundary monuments shall be established at the prominent turns or angles of
the boundaries and where they cross roads or large streams. Where these boundary
lines follow roads, streams or other natural features, a monument shall be placed near
their junction points. Intermediate points along said road or natural boundary need not be
monumented but marked with other acceptable markers.

Section 759 - Municipal and barangay boundary monuments shall be established along straight
municipal and barangay boundaries at intervals at nor more than one kilometer except
when the boundary passes through forest lands.

Section 760 - Barangay, municipal and city boundary monuments shall be numbered consecutively
from one (1) for each municipality/city. The numbers of the barangay, municipal, city and
provincial boundary monuments shall be inscribed or chiseled under the name of the
respective barangay, municipality, city or province.

Section 761 - In case a municipal boundary monument is common to two or more municipalities, the
monument number for each municipality shall be chiseled or inscribed on the respective
faces of the monument fronting the corresponding municipality.

Section 762 - The corner of the municipal boundary already defined by a provincial boundary
monument shall be given its equivalent municipal boundary monument number without
altering the inscription on the monument fronting the corresponding municipality.

Section 763 - The corner of the barangay boundary already defined by aprovincial or a municipal
boundary monument shall be assigned its equivalent barangay boundary monument
 number without altering the 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 Regional Executive Director, copy furnished the
Lands Management Bureau, the barangay, municipal or city and provincial authorities
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 general claims of each municipality or
province. The municipality in which each of the affected lots are declared for taxation
shall be indicated on the sketch sheet by its initial letters. Contested areas declared in
two or more municipalities shall be determined and indicated on the sketch sheets
accordingly. The information shall be drawn on the sketch sheets in black ink to facilitate
reproduction.

Section 766 - In case the boundary dispute is not settled before the completion of the field work of the
cadastral project, the disputed area with all the lots contained therein shall be surveyed
and treated as separate cadastral case.

Section 767 - In case the boundary disputes, the procedure outlined in Sections 602 to 607, 611 to 615,
618 to 620 of this Manual and Section 118 of RA 7160 shall be followed.

NOTIFICATION TO LOT CLAIMANTS

Section 768 - The following notice shall be prepared in the local dialect, for posting and general
distribution, by the sketching party at the time the work of defining and sketching of lot
boundaries is commenced in each barangay.

PUBLIC NOTICE

________________, ______
TO ALL PROPERTY CLAIMANTS IN THE __________________________________
of _____________________, Municipality of ________________________, Province of
____________________, Philippines.

You are hereby advised that the President of the Philippines has ordered the survey and
registration of all lands in the ____________________ of _______________, Executive Director has
given due notice of the date on which such survey shall begin, all in accordance with the provisions of
Section 1 of Act No. 2259, entitled “The Cadastral Act” as amended by section 1850 of the Revised
Administrative Code, Act 2711. You are therefore notified in accordance with section 2 of said act as
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___.

You are further notified in accordance with Section 4 of said Act as amended by section 1854 of
the Revised Administrative Code, Act 2711, that: “I shall be the duty of every person claiming interest in
the lands to be surveyed, or in any parcel thereof, to communicate to the geodetic engineer in charge
upon his request therefor all information possessed by such person concerning the boundary lines of any
lands to which he claims 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, shall interfere with
the placing of any monument in connection with any such survey, or shall 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 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 days or both.”

______________________________________
Chief, Cadastral Survey Party No. __________

Section 769 - Copies of this notice shall be posted in prominent and public places and each claimant
shall be furnished with a copy of the notice in the local dialect. A copy thereof with
translation in Filipino, English, and Spanish languages shall also be posted on the main
municipal and barangay buildings at the time that the general delivery and posting is
made in each barangay. One copy in the local dialect and in Filipino, English, and
Spanish shall be transmitted to the Land Management Services with following certificate
attached thereto:

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 local claimants of lands located in the barangay of
_____________, municipality of _____________, Province of ____________ and have
caused copies of said notice to be posted in prominent and public places in the district
and copies of said notice in the English, Spanish, and Filipino languages and the local
dialect were also posted in the municipal and barangay buildings of said municipality.

___________________________________
Chief, __________ Cadastral Survey Party
Cad - _________________

LOT SKETCHES

Section 770 - Sketch sheets on any mapping paper shall be prepared in 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 prepared for sections of the project
in which the lots are too small to be shown in the standard scale.

Section 772 - All previously approved surveys shall be drawn in pencil and all new monuments and
control stations shall be inked on the sketch sheets.

Section 773 - Each sketch sheet shall be given the corresponding cadastral map number or sectional
cadastral map number.

Section 774 - Sketching parties shall secure the services of guides who are familiar with lot boundaries
and the claimants after consultation with officials of the local government unit (LGU).

Section 775 - Lot corners, roads, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, pools, irrigation canals or ditches,
political boundaries, railroads, etc., shall be plotted on the sketch sheets and their local
name indicated.

Section 776 - Lot corner marks and boundaries such as stone walls, trees, stakes or monuments shall
be indicated on the sketch.
Section 777 - Sketches shall be made in the field using plane table and alidade, stadia rod or on aerial
photographs. Where competent sketchmen are available, sketches may be made by the
free hand method. The boundaries along borders of the adjoining sheets shall be
carefully compared and checked in order to avoid omitting or duplicating side shots
during the lot survey. All data secured shall be indicated by using the conventional
symbols and signs as prescribed for cadastral maps. The corners sketched shall be
marked temporarily by stakes until verified and monumented in the presence of
claimants. Trees shall be marked on the side opposite the lot in which they are claimed.

Section 778 - The lots shall be formed such that no single lot shall fall in more than one barangay.

Section 779 - The name of the claimant of each lot shall be written on 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 780 - Streams five meters or more in width, streams less than five meters in width through
which water flows continuously and irrigation ditches or canals shall be excluded from the
lot. The property lines shall extend only to the banks thereof excluding the mandatory
bank protection and easement as stated in Section 310 to 312. These waterways shall be
indicated by their local names as rivers, esteros, arroyos, creeks, canals or ditches as the
case maybe on the sketch sheets. The direction of flow of the water shall be indicated
survey symbols.

Section 781 - Foreshore lands shall be sketched as a separate cadastral 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 indicated on the sketches by appropriate survey symbols.

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 separate lots when claimed as private
property. Such claims, however, should be discouraged.

Section 783 - Sketches must be prepared with care especially with regard to lots and spelling of all
proper names. The name of the municipality, cadastral survey number, scale and sketch
sheet number shall be shown in ink on the lower right hand border. The sketches shall be
dated and signed by the sketchmen.
Section 784 - As soon as sketching is finished and before final lot numbers are assigned to each lot,
the project shall be divided into cadastral cases which shall be co-extensive with the
barangay. Lots shall be numbered consecutively in each cadastral case/barangay.

SKETCHING OF PREVIOUSLY SURVEYED OR

PATENTED, LEASED AND DECREED PROPERTIES

Section 785 - Sketchmen shall carry to the field the tracings of patented, leased, decreed and
previously approved surveys. All corner markers shall be located and definitely identified
as the original monuments.

Section 786 - All previous surveys contained in one sketch sheet shall be drawn in a sheet of tracing
paper. The sketchmen shall compare the plan of the previous survey with the actual
boundaries of the land as found on the ground. Diligent search shall be made for old
monuments.

Section 787 - In case of minor difference between the plan of the previous survey and the actual
boundaries thereof, the latter maybe accepted provided the adjoining owners agree
 thereto and the adjoining 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
measurement in the original survey, such areas shall be sketched, surveyed and
numbered as separate lots.

Section 788 - claims inside patented or decreed properties shall be disregarded unless supported by an
order from the Regional Trial Court for each specific claim.

In case of leased untitled properties, the adverse claim must be supported by written
authority from the Regional Technical Director for Lands or an order from the Regional
Trial Court for each specific claim before it is considered.

Section 789 - The corners of patented, leased, or decreed properties, or of previous surveys common
to two or more adjoining lots shall be monumented in case the corners were not
monumented in the previous survey or in case the monuments were not found in place.
However, this requirement shall not apply to adjoining approved cadastral projects or to
corners of previous surveys that were not required to be monumented. Corners common
to only one adjoining lot maybe monumented if the owner pays for the cost of relocating
and monumenting the said corners.

Portions of patented, leased, or decreed or previous surveys which form part of river,
estero, arroyo, creek and the mandatory stream bank protection as stated in Sections
310 to 312 shall be sketched, and later surveyed, as separate lots and indicated as such
in the cadastral maps.

CONFLICTING CLAIMS
ection 790 - In case of disputed ownership, the sketching party shall try to bring the claimants to an
agreement in the field in order to reduce the number of such conflicting claims. The
adverse claimants shall be advised that the Court will require them to establish their
muniment of title to such disputed area.

SKETCH AND SURVEY RECORD CARD

Section 791 - Sketching parties shall carry to the field sketch and survey record cards. One card for
each lot shall be prepared by the sketch party and filled out with information as required
thereon. The spelling of the claimant’s name, his age and community tax certificate
number shall be carefully verified by the sketchman.

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 convenient to assign for the use of one
sketchman number 1 to 1,000; to another, number 1001 to 2000; and so on.

Section 793 - The date the lot was sketched, the name of the sketchman, the date of appearance of
applicant or agent, etc. must be entered on the sketch card by the sketchman at the time
of sketching. The applicant or his agent shall be required to sign the certificate relative to
sketching on the back of the card, crossing out the work “survey” in the certificate.

Section 794 - Information pertaining to public, government or mineral land applications and previous
surveys shall be noted in red ink.

Section 795 - As the sketching progresses, the municipal engineer shall be requested to indicate the
centerlines and widths of all streets and roads other than provincial roads. The corner at
the points of intersection of the road and lot boundary lines shall be monumented.
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.

Section 797 - Curves of right-of-way of railways and highways shall be laid out and monumented as
required in Section 300 (a). For other curves of short radii such as those of streets,
circular plazas, etc., the laying out and monumenting shall depend upon the plans of
layout, if any, of the local authorities.

Section 798 - These sketch and survey record cards shall, after completion, be placed in the
alphabetical file.

Section 799 - These cards shall be duplicated and the duplicate card shall be placed in the numerical
life. The geodetic engineer shall carry the duplicate cards for completion during the lot
survey.

Section 800 - Both cards shall contain the class of land, whether urban or rural; home lots; agricultural;
nature of cultivation such as Riceland, copra, vegetables, etc. the nature of claim,
whether titled/patented or public land; and the prevailing land use in accordance with
Lands Management Bureau prescribed classification scheme.

Section 801 - The claimants of parcels adjoining the project boundaries shall be notified of the survey
and shall be requested to sign the sketch and survey record cards for their adjoining
parcels during the sketching and survey. The adjoining parcels shall be assigned
adjoining lot numbers as prescribed in Section 923.

Section 802 - A set of index cards to be known as “A” lot cards shall be prepared for adjoining parcels
(A-lots) described in the preceding section indicating thereon the A-lot number, the
names and addresses of the claimant and his agent and the survey number, if any, of the
A-lot.

MONUMENTING OF LOTS

Section 803 - All lot claimants shall be informed of the importance of monumenting as far reaching
single feature of the cadastral project. The value and usefulness of the surveys depend
upon the permanency of the work.

Section 804 - Concrete monuments shall be indicated upon the sketch by a circle; stakes by the points
of intersection of the boundaries. Other markers shall be designated by names and
dimensions such as “mango tree, thirty centimeters in diameter,” etc.

Section 805 - Standard concrete monuments shall be manufactured under the direction of the geodetic
engineer in charge of the cadastral project following the provisions of Sections 272(d)
and 282.

Section 806 - Standard concrete monuments defining and marking the boundaries of cadastral lots
shall be numbered consecutively from 1 to 999 preceded by a letter in alphabetical order
starting from A: thus A-1, A-999; B-999; etc.

Section 807 - The requirements of Sections 269 to 304 shall govern the monumenting of lots within
cadastral projects.
 THE FINAL SURVEY

NOTIFICATION OF LOT CLAIMANTS PRIOR TO THE FINAL SURVEY

Section 808 - After the lots had been sketched and monumented and before final lot surveys are
inaugurated in a barangay, each lot claimant shall be notified by survey notification card
to appear at the premises on the stated date of interview for the purpose of verifying the
boundaries of his property as sketched and monumented. The notification card
containing the name of the claimant, the lot number, the location of lot by barangay and
the sketch sheet number shall be delivered, preferably, by members of the party or by
mail.

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 on the survey notification card. The lot
owner/claimant shall be advised that no answer shall be verified during the court hearing
for any lot without the corresponding survey notification card unless sufficient reason 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 the document of transfer.

Section 810 - If claimants are notified by mail they shall be given at least fifteen days advance notice.
The sketches must be available for their examination on the dates stated in the
notification. Checks shall be made 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 claimant or his
representative shall be requested to sign the duplicate 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 812 - In case a lot number is changed after the claimant has received his survey notification
card, he shall be advised and a new card indicating the new lot number shall be issued in
exchange for the old one.

Section 813 - After the claimants or his authorized representatives have appeared and approved the
lots as monumented, the following notices in English, Spanish, Filipino and local dialect
shall be posted in conspicuous place throughout the locality and on the municipal
building. The notice shall be referred to as the “30-day notice.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

All persons claiming land within the barangay of ____________________ municipality of

______________, who have not filed claim to such parcels of lands in connection with
the cadastral survey, are hereby notified to do so at the office of the cadastral survey
party within 30 days from the date hereof and to give notice or enter such protests as the
case may require to protect their rights as claimants, or to protest against any action of
the geodetic engineer or survey made by him, in default wherefore, it shall be understood
that there are no further claims or pending protests.

__________________________________________
 Chief of Party _______________ Cadastre
Cad - _________________

Section 814 - Upon completion of the cadastral survey, one copy of the notice in each language and in
the local dialect shall be forwarded with the survey returns to the Land Management
Services accompanied by the following certificate:

“I hereby certify that copies of the attached notices were posted in conspicuous
places in the barangay of _______________________ on
__________________, 19____ and on the municipal building of
_____________________.

____________________________________
Chief of Party, ___________ Cadastre
Cad - ________________

LOT SURVEYS

Section 815 - Upon approval of the main and subsidiary controls and the completion of lot sketching,
monumenting and notification to claimants as required in Sections 768 to 813, the survey
of the individual lots therein shall be made by conventional ground survey or
photogrammetric methods of at least tertiary precision.

Section 816 - If tertiary traverses are used to locate the lot corners, they shall be run as required in
Sections 220 to 228.

Section 817 - Tertiary stations for each cadastral project shall be numbered consecutively from one.
The numbers 1-1000 may be assigned to one geodetic engineer for his use; the numbers
1001 to 2000, to a second; the numbers 2001 to 3000, to a third; and so forth. The
unused numbers need not be accounted for.

Sections 818 - The sketches shall be carried into the field by the transit party for the purpose of
identifying lots and lot corners. A careful check of all information thereon must be made.

Section 819 - The adjoining sketches shall be compared before the survey is made and duplicate
corners checked off. Corners outside the 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 surveys shall be confined to the interior limits of each sketch which shall be
absolutely complete.

Section 820 - A sketchman shall accompany the lot survey party for the purpose of assisting in the
prompt location of lot corners.

Section 821 - Whenever possible, corners shall be located by using them as stations of tertiary
controls.

Section 822 - The provisions of Sections 409 to 420 shall be followed, whenever applicable, in locating
corners of lots.

Section 823 - The side shot need not be assigned a final lot corner number at a time it is recorded. In
lieu thereof, a provisional system of numbers may be assigned to side shots and entered
 on the sketch, the chain book and the extreme left margin of the field book. The
provisional series shall be consecutive from one for each days work.

Section 824 - The sketchman shall indicate the tertiary control on the sketch sheet. Side shots shall be
indicated by radial lines from control stations to corners, numbering shots consecutively
as provided for in the preceding section.

Section 825 - the markings of corners on the ground, i.e., by monuments (old and new), trees, stakes,
etc. must be carefully verified and entered in the field book. The number, if any, and the
size of the monument must be entered in the field book and indicated on the map. If all
monuments used are of standard size, a notation to that effect shall be made on the first
page of each field book giving the dimensions thereof. Old monuments or marks found in
place shall be concisely described indicating clearly and definitely the point of which the
measurement was made.

Section 826 - In case an entry in the field notes is cancelled a notation shall be made to indicate where
the new data will be found. Field notes must be clear and distinct and full details must be
recorded.

Section 827 - The date, name of geodetic engineer and number of the corresponding tape book shall
be noted at the top of the first and last pages at the field notes for each day’s work.

Section 828 - The tapeman shall record taping notes on authorized L.M.B. form. Before leaving the
station from which the distances were measured he shall furnished the geodetic engineer
with the measured distances for entry in the field notes.

Section 829 - The geodetic engineer shall take with him to the field the numerical sketch and survey
record card. He shall verify with the lot claimant the data entered on the card. After
completion of the survey, the name of the geodetic engineer, the name of the claimant or
his agent who appeared, the date of appearance and the date of survey shall be noted on
the card. The signature of claimant or his duly authorized agent must be affixed on the
certificate at the back of the card.

Section 830 - After the lots are surveyed and plotted on the cadastral maps, a tracing or white prints of
each cadastral map shall be made. This shall be used for verification of lot boundaries
and corner marking and posting in the barangay hall where the land is located. Land
owners shall be given thirty (30) days from the date of posting to report any error or
mistake noted on the white prints or tracings. Any error found in the map shall be
corrected accordingly. Whenever possible, the distances of the lot lines shall be
measured directly.

SURVEY AND REPORT ON PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SURVEYS

Section 831 - The geodetic engineer undertaking the cadastral project shall secure the data of all
previously approved surveys in the cadastral project and of adjoining properties from the
Land Management Services, the Land Registration Authority, the Registry of Deeds of
the province or city, the landowners who may have the approved tracing cloth plan, the
geodetic engineers and surveying companies. These surveys, including their
subdivisions, shall be indicated in the cadastral survey records.

Section 832 - Tracings or sketches and lot data computations of these surveys shall be made.

Section 833 - The landowner/claimant or his authorized representative shall be requested to indicate on
the ground the corners and boundaries of the surveyed property claimed by him.
Section 834 - If the boundaries of the property as pointed by the owner/claimant or his authorized
representative conform with the boundaries as described in the survey or differ slightly
therefrom, the previously approved survey shall be accepted in accordance with Section
787 and adjusted accordingly in the cadastral survey.

Section 835 - If the boundaries differ substantially and the owner or claimant is actually additional land,
the additional area shall be made as a separate cadastral lot in accordance with Section
787.

Section 836 - In case the land previously surveyed has not be titled and the claimant wants to combine
the surveyed area and the additional unsurveyed area in one cadastral lot, he shall be
required to surrender the approved tracing cloth plan of the survey together with an
affidavit requesting the Regional Technical Director for Lands for the cancellation of the
plan. If the approved to that effect and certification of the Land Registration Authority or
the clerk of court of the province that the land covered by the said survey plan has not
been the subject of registration proceedings.

Section 837 - 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 shall be made to execute an affidavit relative to the excluded
area.
Section 838 - Titled and leased properties without technical descriptions; with technical descriptions but
do not form closed polygons; and with technical descriptions from magnetic surveys shall
be resurveyed. The resurvey shall relocate the corners and boundaries of the property at
the same places where they were originally surveyed on the basis of the data and the
best evidence available.

Section 839 - Claims inside previously approved surveys not yet titled shall be made as separate lots.
Claims inside titled or leased properties shall be disregarded unless supported by an
order from the Regional Trial Court or by written authority from the Regional Technical
Director for Lands, for each claim in accordance with Section 788.

Section 840 - In case it has been established that there is a definite overlapping between previously
approved surveys, the following procedures shall be followed:

a. When the overlap is between surveys not yet titled or leased, the area in conflict shall
be made as separate cadastral lot;

b. When the overlap is between titled or leased properties, the area in conflict shall also
be made as a separate cadastral lot; and

c. When the overlap is between a titled or leased property and a property not yet leased
or titled, the latter shall be amended to exclude therefrom the portion in conflict,
except when there is a court order or an order from the Regional Executive Director
in case of the leased property, directing the showing of the conflicted area as a
separate cadastral lot.

Section 841 - Roads and streams included within previously approved surveys shall be located and
assigned separate cadastral lot numbers.

Section 842 - In case the owner or claimant of a property covered by a previously approved survey
within a cadastral project desires changes or subdivision, he shall secure the authority
from the Regional Technical Director for Lands for each change.

Section 843 - Common points with previously patented, leased or decreed surveys situated within
cadastral projects shall be located. The area given in the lease, patent or title shall be
 accepted as final. The 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 to the cadastral survey.
After reducing the old survey coordinates, the old survey as reduced shall be adopted in
all computations. The provisions of Section 789 shall be complied with.

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 fix the location of corner one of the survey
unless it cannot be otherwise identified. Existing monuments, marks occupation or
agreement of the owner and adjoining claimants shall be given preference in determining
the location of this point and other points of the boundary. An old survey shall be
considered adjusted in the cadastral survey if its corners and boundaries are located in
the cadastral system at the same places where they were originally surveyed.

Section 845 - A report in duplicate on previous survey shall be submitted with the returns of the
cadastral survey. The report shall be accompanied by tracing plans showing the relation
between the previous survey and the corresponding cadastral lot or lots. Discrepancies
found in previously approved surveys of undecreed lots shall be mentioned in the report
and indicated in red ink on the lot data computation of the cadastral lot or lots.

Section 846 - This report shall be in the following form:

REPORT ON PREVIOUS EXPENSES

B.L. SURVEY …………….. L.R.C. NO. __________________________ Lots

…………………………. Surveyed for ________________________ Lots
…………………………. Claimed by _________________________

Corners …………………… recovered. Additional land claimed along lines

……………………… or land excluded along lines ………………… all other corners
practically relocated. Tie line checked.

____________________________________
Chief of Party, ____________ Cadastre

Section 847 - The report on adjoining cadastre shall be made as follows:(712)

REPORT ON ADJOINING CADASTRE

Cad - _______________________, Case _______________________ Corner Nos.

__________________________________________ recovered. Corner Nos.
_____________________________ data found erroneous and subdivision made to
include portion of Lot No. ________________ of Case No.
__________________________ in Cad - ___________________ etc.
Section 848 - The adjustment/transformation of the boundaries of adjoining cadastre shall be made in
accordance with instructions to be issued by the Director of Lands Management Bureau
and/or the RTD for Lands.

Section 849 - Each report shall be signed by the Chief of the cadastral project. The duplicate
computations and report must be clear and complete. This shall be given to the geodetic
engineer assigned to assist the Court at the hearing of the cadastral case.
Section 850 - Computations of previous surveys located within a cadastral project which were furnished
to the survey party must be preserved without erasures, corrections or other notations
thereon and must be returned to the Land Management Services together with the
returns of the cadastral survey.

Section 581 - Prints or tracings of previously approved surveys shall be marked in red ink to indicate
changes in the boundaries thereof as agreed upon by the owners/claimants.

PUBLIC LANDS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS

Section 852 - All public land claims within a cadastral project shall be surveyed subject to the limitations
as prescribed in Chapter X, Part II of this Manual, for each class of claim, such as
homestead, lease, sale, etc., as the case may be.

Foreshore lands, whether covered or not by appropriate public applications shall be

sketched, monumented, and surveyed as separate cadastral lots.

Section 853 - Public land claims for which final inspection has been made and approved shall be
monumented and surveyed.

Section 854 - Information relative to illegal or unauthorized occupation or claim on public land shall be
gathered.

Section 855 - Chiefs of cadastral projects must make special reconnaissance work to determine the
extent of public lands within their projects.

Section 856 - In case private claims extend beyond the limit of cultivation and occupation, investigation
shall be made to determine the nature of the claims. Report thereon shall be submitted to
the Regional Technical Director for Lands. A brief of the report shall be noted on the back
of the sketch and survey record card for the corresponding lot.

Section 857 - Claimants/occupants of lands of the public domain classified as alienable and disposable
shall be advised to file the appropriate public land applications. In any case, the land shall
be surveyed.

Section 858 - Claimants/occupants of lands of the public domain which are classified as alienable and
disposable may obtain advance plans of cadastral lots upon payment of cadastral cost
and related fees for use in voluntary judicial registration. Advance plan shall be issued
only after approval of the cadastral survey or the particular case where the lot is located.
The name of the original cadastral lot or survey claimant shall be maintained in the
advance plan and it must faithfully reflect the cadastral records. No advance plan shall be
issued for one or more lots of the many lots of an original isolated survey as all the lots
shall be the subject of one registration case.

Section 859 - Upon completion of each cadastral project, a report, including a list of lots applied for
under the provisions of the Public Land Act in numerical order, the names and addresses
of the applicants and the kinds of numbers of their applications shall be submitted to the
Regional Technical director for Lands. Another report on the lots claimed as private
property within the public land area, giving the names of the claimants, the nature of their
claims, and the improvements made by them shall be submitted. All Relevant information
tending to prove that the land is of the public domain and the names and addresses of
witnesses who can testify to this effect must be gathered and submitted to the Regional
Technical Director for Lands.
Section 860 - Private claims inside unclassified areas also called public forest shall not be surveyed
except with written authority from the Regional Executive Director.

Section 861 - In case a lot claimant agrees to file an appropriate public land application, he shall be
furnished the necessary blank form which may be obtained from the Community
Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and assisted in accomplishing the
same. The application shall show the cadastral lot number applied for and the nature of
the application shall be noted on the sketch and survey record card of the lot.

Section 862 - If the claimant is disqualified to file an application because of restrictions imposed by the
law or regulation, but insists on his claim of private ownership, the boundaries as claimed
shall be sketched, monumented and surveyed if covered with a written authority as
provided in Section 860. The geodetic engineer shall indicate on the sketch plan the
nature of the vegetation such as virgin forest, second growth timber, cogon etc., and the
location and nature of cultivation on any portion thereof. The information shall be placed
on the cadastral map and on the supplementary index cards as provided for in the
following section.

Section 863 - A supplementary index card shall be prepared and the required information shall be
secured from the claimants and entered thereon.

Section 864 - The following form for a supplementary card is suggested:

REPORT OF OCCUPATION OF PUBLIC LANDS

Survey No. ____________________, _____________________________ Province, Lot

No. _______________ Claimant _____________________ Area cultivated to
________________ Has., Forest _____________ Has., Second growth
___________________ Has., Cogon _____________ Has. Occupied since
___________________ Cultivated since __________ Has. Claims Title by
_____________________ Muniments of Title ________ Remarks:

____________________________________
Chief of Party, __________ Cadastre
Cad - ____________________

Other pertinent information may be included in the report.

Section 865 - The names and addresses of the adjoining owners and their testimonies on the
occupation and cultivation shall be written on the reverse side of the card. The card shall
be submitted to the Land Management Services.

A list of “Claims of Doubtful Validity” shall also be prepared showing parcel numbers and
names of the claimants. This list shall be signed by the chief of survey party and
submitted together with the survey returns.

Section 866 - A numerical list on foreshore land sketched, monumented and surveyed as required in
Section 852 indicating the areas, application numbers and cadastral map numbers shall
be prepared in triplicate and submitted together with the survey returns for the cadastral
case.
 Upon completion of the sketching of the occupied lands within the cadastre, a report on
public land suitable for agriculture that may be applied for in the near future and on public
lands which are very mountainous or otherwise not adopted for agricultural purposes
shall be submitted to Regional Technical Director for Lands.

Section 867 - A graphical representative of these areas shall be made on the progress map similar to
those map illustrating the area sketched and surveyed.

Section 868 - Public lands within cadastral projects may be subdivided for distribution to interested
applicants in accordance with special instructions, provided, the applicants are qualified
under the Public Land Act.

Section 869 - The subdivision shall be made to form rectangular lots and shall have as few corners as
possible. All corners shall be monumented.

Section 870 - Public lands not desired to be subdivided shall be sketched, monumented and surveyed
as a single cadastral lot.

GOVERNMENT LANDS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS

Section 871 - All government lands included within cadastral projects shall be sketched, monument and
surveyed and assigned cadastral lot numbers.

Section 872 - Information on national, provincial or municipal government lands within a cadastral
project shall be secured from the officials concerned.

Section 873 - A list of national, provincial and municipal government lands within the project shall be
prepared and submitted together with the survey returns of the project. This list shall be
arranged in numerical order of cadastral lot numbers assigned to government land,
indicating the name of the owner or claimants such as “National Government” or
“Provincial Government” or “Municipal Government”.

MINERAL LANDS WITHIN CADASTRAL PROJECTS

Section 874 - All patented mineral lands within a cadastral project shall 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 dotted line.

Section 875 - A list of cadastral lots equivalent to patented mineral land surveys and another list of
other mineral land surveys within the project shall be prepared in numerical order and
submitted together with the survey returns of the project. These lists shall indicate the
mineral land survey numbers and the owners or claimants thereof.

PUBLIC LAND SUBDIVISON AND GROUP SETTLEMENT

SURVEYS WITHIN THE CADASTRAL PROJECT

Section 876 - The main control of the cadastral project shall traverse public land subdivision (Pls) or
group settlement surveys (Gss) within the cadastral project. Recoverable BLLMs,
boundary monuments (MBMs and BBMs) shall be made part of the cadastral main
 control. When there are no recovered BLLMs or boundary monuments in the Pls or Gss,
main control points shall be established in these areas and BLLMs are established in
accordance with Sections 117 and 122.

Section 877 - The Pls or Gss shall be plotted on the cadastral map as one big lot. For this purpose, the
Pls or Gss boundary data shall be transformed into the system of the cadastre.

Section 878 - Unless otherwise required in the survey order, such as in the transformation into the
PPCS-TM/PRS 92, the individual lots of the public land subdivision or of the Gss shall not
be plotted on the cadastral maps.

PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES

Section 879 - The provisions of Chapter VI on Physiographic Features, shall be strictly followed in
cadastral surveys.

ADVANCE SURVEYS

Section 880 - Advance survey of a lot pertains to the preparation of the isolated survey returns of
cadastral lots that are not yet verified and approved or its field survey, if not yet surveyed;
provided the project controls have been approved. Chiefs of cadastral survey parties
must discourage requests for advance surveys of parcels located within the 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.

The survey of the property in question shall be made after the primary and secondary
controls of the project have been completed, verified and approved. Said property and all
contiguous properties shall be plotted on the cadastral maps. Tracings shall be made
from the cadastral maps showing adjoining owners, markings of all corners and the tie
lines. Geodetic engineer’s certificate shall be prepared from the sketch and survey record
card and signed by the chief of project. Lot data computations, in duplicate, shall be
prepared and checked.

Section 881 - Advance surveys shall be made only after a written authority has been granted by the
Regional Executive Director upon recommendation of the Regional Technical Director for
Lands.

Section 882 - The cost of the advance survey computed in accordance 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 number assigned to the advance
survey on the cadastral maps, lot data computation sheets, sketch and survey record
card.

Section 884 - Each contested area of parcel shall be made a separate lot.
Section 885 - In case of cadastral projects assigned t and undertaken by geodetic engineers in private
practice, advance surveys may be authorized subject to the terms and conditions agreed
upon by the interested parties and the geodetic engineers. However, if the project is
covered by a contract with the DENR, the cost of the advance survey shall be paid to the
 DENR Regional Office. The requirement of Section 739 shall be strictly complied. The
survey returns shall be submitted to the Land Management Services for verification and
approval.

Section 886 - In case the survey returns of the cadastral case of the project are already submitted for
verification and approval, in compliance with the requirements of Sections 740 and 741,
the advance survey shall be prepared and submitted based on the certified extra copies
of the submitted survey.

CHAPTER XVI – CADASTRAL COMPUTATIONS AND MAPS

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS

Section 887 - All computations of azimuths, time, latitude, etc. shall be made in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 77 to 109 and 326 to 335.

POINTS OF CONTROL

Section 888 - The computations of primary, secondary and tertiary controls shall be made in
accordance with the provisions of Sections 189 to 204, 215 to 219, 238 to 241, 326 and
340, 344 to 348. Only approved survey controls computations shall be used for lot data
computations.

CADASTRAL LOT NUMBERS

Section 889 - The lots situated within each city, municipality or settlement shall be numbered
consecutively from one, preferably in a clockwise direction for each project.

Section 890 - when the cadastral project comprises only a portion of a city or municipality, the
numbering shall begin consecutively from one to the last number for the project.

Section 891 - When the cadastral survey of the remaining unsurveyed portions of the city or
municipality is made, the cadastral lot number shall begin from the number next to the
highest lot number of the previously surveyed portions.

Section 892 - When portions of a completed project are transferred by law to the jurisdiction of an
adjoining city or municipality, the numbers assigned to the lots comprised within the
transferred portion shall not be used in the other remaining portion of the cadastral
survey of the city or municipality.

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 within any public or private land claims.

LOT DATA COMPUTATIONS

Section 894 - The chief of the cadastral survey party or his Geodetic engineers shall prepare lot data
computations in two copies on the prescribed Lands Management Bureau forms as
 stated in Section 341. Corners of each lot shall be numbered consecutively from one in a
clockwise direction. The description and coordinates of the tie point shall be indicated
thereon.

Section 895 - When one or more small lots are entirely inside a big lot and the boundaries of the former
do not coincide with the boundaries of 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 automatically be excluded. The big lot may. However, be divided into smaller
lots so that no lot will be inside another lot.

Section 896 - In the preparation of lot data sheets for cadastral surveys, when previously executed
surveys are accepted and cadastral lots are made equivalent thereto, the corners of the
cadastral lot which are equivalent to the corners of the previous survey shall be referred
to the previous survey, giving the corner and survey number. Corners of lots of a lower
cadastral number that are common on equivalent to the corners of surveys mentioned
herein shall be referred to the cadastral lot and not to 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 sheet.

Section 897 - In all cases, except as stated earlier, lots having higher cadastral lot numbers shall be
referred to those lots having lower cadastral lot numbers bearing the original data when
equivalent corners are given on the lot data sheet.

Section 898 - To save time in copying data of previously approved surveys and transforming their
coordinates to the system of the cadastral survey, the method outlined below may be
followed:

Example:

If corners 1 and 2, Lot 927 are equivalent to corners 3 and 4 of Lot 3, II-1124, corners 1
and 2 of the former shall be referred directly and made equivalent to corners 3 and 4 of
the latter. Assuming that line 1 to 2 of Lot 927 is common to line 2 to 1 Lot 923, corners 2
and 1 of the latter shall be made equivalent to corners 1 and 2 of the former, instead of
corners 3 and 4 of Lot 3, II-1224.

Section 899 - The nearest provincial, municipal, or barangay boundary monument; BLLM or BLBM, or
Global Positioning System-PRS 92 station, shall be used as the tie point to corner one of
each lot. No tie line should exceed one thousand (1,000) meters in length.

The kind of reference point used, its number, and grid coordinated shall be placed in the
proper column of the lot data computation sheet or lot description sheet. The bearings
and distances of the tie lines shall be computed and doubly checked.

Section 900 - Lot data computation sheets shall be plainly marked with their respective lot numbers and
bound in consecutive order in books of not more than 100 lots.

Section 901 - The computed grid coordinates of each lot corner shall be checked against its plat on the
cadastral maps to verify the accuracy of computations, plotting and numbering of lot
corners.

Section 902 - All intersections of property lines with the boundaries of the project and with titled or
leased properties shall be computed, coordinated and monumented.

Section 903 - If the areas of lots covered by public land applications are within the prescribed
maximum, the exact areas thereon shall be computed.
Section 904 - Any excess area may either be included in the adjoining lot provided the maximum area
for such lot is not exceeded or be considered 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 which have the least improvement.

Section 905 - A brief description of the corner marks such as “Tree”, “P.S.”, “Stone”, “Rock”, etc. and
the concrete monument number corresponding to each corner shall be indicated at the
proper column of the lot data computation sheet.

Section 906 - A case or barangay boundary computation in duplicate shall be prepared for each
cadastral case as required in Section 784.

Section 907 - A project or municipal boundary computation in duplicate shall be prepared from all the
barangay boundary computations of the project.

MAPS

PROJECT CONTROL MAP

Section 908 - The project control map of the cadastral project shall be 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 the Lands Management Bureau together with the approved
survey control returns of the project.

Section 909 - The project control map shall be prepared at any 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:

(a) BCGS and BL triangulation stations; GPS-PRS 92 stations

(b) Primary control stations

(c) Secondary control stations

(d) BL Location Monuments

(e) Astronomical observation stations

(f) Other recoverable points of reference in the project

(g) Grid lines and plane coordinates; scale

(h) Graticule lines and tick marks and geographic coordinates

(i) Adjoining political subdivisions and survey projects

Section 910 - The project control map shall be titled as follows:

PROJECT CONTROL MAP OF

CAD ___________
 Municipality of _______________________________________________
Province of _______________________________________________
Island of _______________________________________________ Scale
1; _______________________________________________
(Graphical Scale)

PPCS-PTM/PRS 92 Zone No.

Surveyed : From __________________ to ____________________

________________________
Project Chief

POLITICAL BOUNDARY CONTROL MAP

Section 911 - The political boundary control map of the cadastral project shall be prepared on a
reproducible material of stable base as stated in Section 908 approved for official use by
the Lands Management Bureau. This map shall be submitted to the Land Management
Services together with the approved political boundary control computations. A copy of
this map shall be forwarded to the Lands Management Bureau.

Section 912 - The political boundary control map shall be prepared at any appropriate scale that will
allow the plotting of the entire municipality/project on 54 x 54 centimeters with marginal
lines of 50 x 50 centimeters. This shall show/contain the following information:

(a) BCGS and BL triangulation stations, GPS-PRS 92 stations

(b) Primary control stations

(c) Secondary control stations

(d) BL Location Monuments

(e) Other recoverable points of reference in the project

(f) Grid lines and plane coordinates

(g) Graticule line and geographic coordinates; scale

(h) Political subdivisions (Barangay) of the project and monuments

(i) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads, and railroad lines

(j) Forest lands and marshy lands

(k) Large tracts of lands such as haciendas and reservations, parks and other protected
areas

(l) Bounded project area and aggregate areas of numbered cadastral lots.
Section 913 - The political boundary control map shall be titled in the same manner as prescribed in
Section 910 except that instead of Project Control Map Political Boundary Control Map
shall be used. All other information remain the same.

Section 914 - When the political boundary control survey returns together with the project control
survey returns are to be submitted to the Land Management Services, for verification and
approval, the political subdivisions and corresponding monument numbers may be
projected on the project control map. This shall be titled as Project and Political Boundary
Control Map. All the other information as prescribed in Sections 909 and 912 shall
likewise be shown. Otherwise, a separate political boundary control map as prescribed in
Section 912 shall be prepared.
PROGRESS MAP

Section 915 - The progress map based on the control survey of the project shall be made on
reproducible material of stable base approved for use by the Land Management Bureau.
A white print copy of the progress map shall be submitted once every three months to the
Land Management Services together with the periodic report for information on the
progress 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. It shall indicated the
approximate distance of the project from the poblacion of the municipality or center of the
city and shall show the nearest place or point accessible to transportation.

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 centimeters, with marginal lines of 100 x 100
centimeters, and shall show the following:

(a) BCGS and BL triangulation stations

(b) Primary control stations

(c) Secondary control stations

(d) BL Location Monuments

(e) Astronomical observation stations

(f) Other recoverable points of reference in the project

(g) Grid lines and plane coordinates, scale

(h) Graticule lines and geographic coordinates

(i) Political subdivisions of the project and monuments

(j) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads, and railroad lines

(k) Forest lands and marshy lands

(l) Large tracts as haciendas and reservations

(m) Adjoining political subdivisions and survey projects

(n) Other pertinent information

Section 917 - The progress map shall contain a table showing the totals for each class of work
accomplished for each month.

Section 918 - The monthly progress of sketching, monumenting and lot surveys shall be shown
separately on the progress map by miniature sketches.

Section 919 - The progress map shall be title in a manner similar to that prescribed in Section 910
except that instead of Project Control Map the title Progress Map shall be used.

Section 920 - The progress map shall be prepared in accordance with the prescribed form and layout.

CADASTRAL MAPS

Section 921 - Cadastral lots and other details of the cadastral survey shall be plotted on cadastral maps
on reproducible materials of stable base approved for use by the Lands Management
Bureau on 54 x 54 centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x 50 centimeters prepared in
accordance with the Philippine Plane Coordinate System-Transverse Mercator/Philippine
Reference System 1992.

Section 922 - The names of claimants, the numbers of the concrete monument and the description of
lot corners shall be indicated on the cadastral map except when space limitation does not
permit it. The respective lot numbers shall, in every case, be indicated thereon as nearly
as possible in consecutive and regular order.

Section 923 - Cadastral maps shall show the names of all claimants adjoining the project boundaries as
well as the lines between the adjoining claims which shall be drawn in dash line.
Adjoining unsurveyed parcels shall be assigned consecutive numbers beginning from 1 in
a clockwise direction. These numbers shall be preceded by the letter “A”, as A-1, A-2,
etc. adjoining approved surveys shall be indicated by the lot and corresponding survey
number and name of claimant.

Section 924 - When a cadastral lot covers an area previously patented, leased or surveyed, the
relationship of the lot to the previous survey shall be indicated on the cadastral map as
follows:

(a) When the cadastral lot is equivalent to a previously approved survey, both the
cadastral number and the number of the previously approved survey shall be shown.

(b) If the previous survey has been subdivided, the plat of the corresponding subdivision
lots shall bear the cadastral numbers and words “Portion of Lot ____________
Survey No. ___________ L.R.C. Case No. _______________.”

(c) When the accepted boundaries of the cadastral lot cause rejection of the former
survey of untitled property, the cadastral plat of such lot bear the notation.

“Resurveyed, Lot ________, Survey No. _____________”

(d) The Land Registration Case (L.R.C.) number shall be noted on the plat for all lots
previously registered or for which application for registration has been made when
the numbers of the case can be positively determined.

Section 925 - The local names of natural features such as mountains and all bodies of water, rivers,
esteros, arroyos, shall be ascertained, the spelling verified and their names indicated on
the progress and cadastral maps. The names of barangays shall be indicated within their
respective boundaries.
Section 926 - Control stations shall be plotted by coordinates and side shots therefrom, by protractor
and scale or by drafting machine, if available.

Section 927 - When two adjoining cadastral projects are in progress at the same time, the cadastral
maps showing their common boundaries shall be plotted first. Each survey party shall
trace the data plotted on the cadastral maps of the other survey party. These tracings
shall be submitted together with the survey returns of the cadastral project.

LOT AND CASE/BARANGAY BOUNDARY DESCRIPTIONS

Section 928 - Lot and Case/Barangay Boundary Descriptions in prescribed LMB form shall be prepared
for all lots and case/boundary of each cadastral case alter final verification of the
corresponding lot data and case/barangay boundary computations.

CASE/BARANGAY BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS

Section 929 - For each cadastral case formed in Sections 784, a case/barangay boundary and index
map shall be prepared from the case/barangay boundary computation as required in
Section 906 and from the pertinent cadastral, sectional cadastral and contiguous
cadastral maps. This shall be drawn at a convenient scale on drafting film or other stable
transparent material approved for use by Land Management Bureau in the same size as
cadastral map of 54 x 54 centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x 50 centimeters.

Section 930 - The case/barangay boundary and index map shall show the following:

a) Lands Management Bureau survey number.

b) Cadastral case number.

c) Location of the land.

d) Aggregate area and number of parcels in the alienable and disposable and the forest
lands of the case; case boundary area.

e) Scale (numerical and graphical).

f) Date of survey.

g) Legal authority.

h) Name and signature of the project chief; Professional GE License No.

i) Date of approval.

j) Names of signatures of recommending and approving Land Management Services

Officials.

k) PPCS-PTM/PRS 92 zone number and point of origin

l) Tie point and tie line

 m) Bearings and distances of the boundary lines except when too numerous to be
tabulated on the map.

n) Description of each corner as marked on the ground.

o) Adjoining properties, surveys and names of claimants or owners of adjoining

properties.

p) Adjoining political subdivisions.

q) Grid lines and plane coordinates.

r) Cadastral lines and geographic coordinates.

s) Cadastral map sheet number, sectional and contiguous cadastral map numbers

t) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads, and railroad lines.

u) Political boundaries and monuments.

v) Location monuments and geodetic control station

w) Residential sites and settlements.

x) Large tracts such as haciendas, forest lands, marshy lands and reservations,
protected areas, ancestral claims.

y) Pertinent notes.

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 case/barangay.

Section 931 - The corners of the case/barangay boundary shall be indicated by circles one (1)
millimeter in diameter except corners defined by political boundary monuments.
Appropriate survey symbols shall be used.

Section 932 - The technical descriptions of the case or barangay boundary shall be prepared and
submitted after the approval by the Regional Technical Director for Lands of the cadastral
maps and the case or barangay boundary and index map.

PROJECT/MUNICIPAL BOUNDARY AND INDEX MAPS

Section 933 - After the completion of all the case/boundary and index maps of the project, a project or
municipal boundary and index map shall 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 computation required in Section 907. This shall be drawn at a
convenient scale on a stable material in the same size of cadastral map 54 x 54
centimeters with marginal lines of 50 x 50 centimeters.

Section 934 - The project/municipal boundary and index map shall serve as an index of case/barangay
boundary index maps. It shall define the boundary of the project/municipality and shall
show the following:

a) Lands Management Bureau survey number.

b) Location of the project.

c) Aggregate area and number of parcels in the alienable and disposable and the forest
lands in the project/municipality; case boundary area.

d) Scale (numerical and graphical).

e) Date of survey

f) Legal authority.

g) Name and signatures of the Chief of Party; Professional GE License number

h) Date of approval of the project survey.

i) Names and signatures of the recommending and approving officials.

j) PPCS-PTM/PRS 92 zone number and point of origin.

k) Tie point and tie line.

l) Bearings and distances of the boundary lines except when too numerous to be
tabulated on the map.

m) Description of each corner and the tie point.

n) Adjoining surveys and political subdivisions.

o) Case number and name of barangay.

p) Grid lines and plane coordinates.

q) Graticule lines and geographic coordinates.

r) Mountain ranges and peaks.

s) Important streams, rivers, lakes, roads and rail roads.

t) Political boundary lines and monuments and numbers.

u) Location monuments and geographic control stations.

v) Residential sites and settlements.

w) Large tracts such as hacienda, forest lands, marshy lands and reservations,
ancestral claims, protected areas

x) Pertinent notes

The bearing and distance of the tie line shall be determined from BLLM No. 1 to corner 1
of the project/municipal. The boundary lines of the project/municipality shall be included
in the lot descriptions of the last case/barangay if the same cannot be tabulated on the
map.
Section 935 - Corners of the project/municipal boundary shall be indicated by circles one (1) millimeter
in diameter except corners defined by political boundary monuments. Appropriate survey
symbols shall be used.

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 points of reference shall be properly indicated.

CHAPTER XVII – PROJECT RECORDS AND REPORTS

FIELD BOOKS

Section 937 - The following groups of field notes shall contain all the records of the different phases of
the survey work. These field notes shall be grouped as follows:

(a) Astronomical observation books.

(b) Primary angle book/s.

(c) Primary distance book/s.

(d) Secondary azimuth book/s.

(e) Secondary distance book/s.

(f) Reference book for primary stations, location monuments and political boundary
monuments.

(g) Certification of geographic positions of GPS/PRS92 stations used in the survey.

(h) Lot survey books.

Section 938 - Field notes shall be bound in hard field book cover made on prescribed cardboard
material for records preservation and shelf filing. 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 on the upper right hand corner of the right face of the fieldnotes. The date when
the data were observed and recorded, the names of the observer and recorder shall be
entered on each page of the field book and all other blanks shall be filled up accordingly.
The field notes cover mentioned in Section 459 shall be completely accomplished and
notarized and included as the preface of each field book.

COMPUTATION BOOKS

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 duplicate computations. Each set shall
consist of the following books:

(a) Main and subsidiary control computation books of

1. Astronomical observations
 2. Primary controls

3. Secondary controls

4. Location monuments

(b) Political boundary controls

(c) Tertiary control computation books

(d) Intersection and other reference computation books

(e) Lot data computation books

(f) Old survey computation books – one copy

Each book shall be bound in hard cloth book cover made on prescribed cardboard
material for shelf filing. It shall be properly labelled, indicating original or duplicate as the
case may be, the book number, survey number, and name of project, and project
chief/contractor.

MONUMENT DESCRIPTION BOOK

Section 940 - Monument description book shall be prepared on the prescribed L.M.B. form. It shall
describe all recovered triangulation stations, BLLM’s, primary control stations and political
boundary monuments and all recovered points of reference as prescribed in Section 38.
Each class of monuments shall be entered separately in their numerical order.

Section 941 - Each monument shall be fully describe, indicating the markings, dimensions, general
location (municipality and barangay) and the surrounding features such as rivers, roads,
hills, houses, streets, etc. the coordinates as determined in the cadastral survey, the
cadastral map on which each monument falls and the grid azimuths and distances to the
nearest reference monuments or other objects and control stations shall be indicated.
Each kind of point of reference shall grouped together and arranged in increasing
numerical order.

Section 942 - The page and field book number where the azimuths and distances are entered to
determine the location of the monument shall be indicated on the form. All data shall be
entered in black drawing ink and checked and initialed by the chief of project.

GEODETIC ENGINEER CERTIFICATE

Section 943 - A geodetic engineer’s certificate, prepared on LMB prescribed form, each bearing original
signatures shall be prepared for each case/barangay, signed by the chief of party, dry
sealed, and duly notarized and submitted as part of the survey returns. The certificate
shall contain the names of claimants of adjoining parcels (A-lots) listed in numerical order
of said adjoining parcels. The manner and date of notification relative to contested lots
shall be noted in the certificate.
 FINAL REPORT ON THE PROJECT

Section 944 - A final report shall be prepared in the manner of a technical report writing after the
completion of each cadastral project. The final report shall be in three hardbound copies
made on standard size bond paper and double spaced. Two copies shall be for the LMB
Library and the third copy for the LMS.

Section 945 - The final report on the project shall include the following:

CHAPTER I – THE PROJECT PROFILE

(a) Geographical location – Name of locality, important natural features such as rivers,
lakes, mountains, etc. with their local names

(b) Demography – Approximate number of inhabitants, statistics on births and deaths,

natives and foreigners, local dialects, religious, schools, etc.

(c) Local history – Important historical events, places, monuments, etc.

(d) Government – Organizational of local government, names of local officials.

(e) Commerce and industry – Industrial and commercial enterprises

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, equipment and other
resources, posting of notices, formal inauguration ceremonies showing the
attendance and participation of local officials and the public.

CHAPTER III – THE SURVEY

(a) Describe local conditions, difficulties, etc., encountered in establishing base meridian,
primary and secondary controls and sketching, monumenting and lot surveys, etc.

(b) Describe methods of work which had been devised to meet local conditions.

(c) Analyze results of the work; describe conditions which may have influenced final
results in surveying operations, etc.

(d) Describe in general matters regarding political boundary questions, conflicts, etc.

CHAPTER IV – LAND QUESTIONS

(a) Describe conditions of land ownership; tenural structure, impact of land reform.
 (b) Describe the situation with regards to public, government and mineral lands, general
or special problems or questions affecting administration or the land resources.

CHAPTER V – PARTY ADMINISTRATION

(a) Organizational/staffing

(b) List of all officials and employees engaged in the work including tapeman, sketchman
and surveymen.

(c) Methods of work, field and office.

(d) Equipment, supplies and appropriations.

(e) Summary of statistics of the survey such as the number of barangays, total number
of lots, aggregate area, number of lots and area in each case/barangay and others
listed in item (d) of Section 930; inclusive dates of survey; personnel turnover.

(f) Project cost data

(g) Project management plan and other matters which may be deemed worthy of
mention.

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

Section 946 - Before transmitting the survey records to the Regional Technical Director for Lands, the
verification required in Section 830 must be performed.

The following shall also be checked:

1. COMPUTATION

Original versus duplicate

(a) Astronomical observations

(b) Lot data preparation for new lots and adjusted computations for previously
approved surveys

(c) Tie lines and grid coordinates of tie points

(d) Tertiary controls

2. SURVEY CARDS

(a) Names of barangay or districts and cadastral map numbers versus data in the
cadastral maps.

(b) Original versus duplicate sketch and survey record cards.

 (c) Data on cards versus data on lot data computations.

3. DRAFTING

(a) Connections of corners of lots in accordance with the results obtained from the
verification required in Section 830

(b) Lot corners on cadastral maps as plotted by coordinates versus by drafting

machine or by scale and protractor

(c) Previous surveys versus cadastral lots

TRANSMITTAL OF SURVEY RECORDS

Section 947 - The survey returns of the main and subsidiary controls consisting of the project
control/map, field books, computation books, and other miscellaneous records shall be
submitted ahead to the Regional Technical Director for Lands for verification and
approval.

After the completion of the of the cadastral survey, the following survey records shall be
carefully packed, labelled and submitted to the Regional Technical Director for Lands:

1. FIELD NOTES AND COMPUTATIONS

(a) All the field books as grouped in Section 937.

(b) All the computation books mentioned in Section 939.

(c) Duplicate computations of all previous surveys.

2. MAPS

(a) Progress map

b) Cadastral maps

(c) Political Boundary Control Map

(d) Case/barangay boundary and index map

(e) Project/municipal boundary and index map

(f) Set of prints of cadastral maps used to verify the work as required in Section 830

(g) Tracing or prints of previous surveys

3. SURVEY CARDS

(a) Numerical and alphabetical set of sketch and survey record cards

(b) One set of “A” lot cards, required in Section 802.

4. REPORTS, LISTS AND OTHER PAPERS

 (a) Certification of public notices

(b) Sheets of “30-day” notice in duplicate

(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

(e) Geodetic engineer’s certificate in quadruplicate required in Section 943

(f) List in duplicate of previous surveys equal to cadastral lots, accepted and
amended

(g) List in triplicate of unclaimed lots within the project and of doubtful claims to be
opposed by the National Government during registration

(h) List in triplicate of all public, government and mineral land claims within the
project

(i) List in triplicate of foreshore lands

(j) Monument description book mentioned in Section 940 to 942

(k) Project cost book (as for administration projects)

(l) Final report on the project in triplicate with hard book cover

(m) Boundary descriptions of lots, case/barangay and project/municipality

(n) Technical descriptions of the case/barangay boundary in quadruplicate

(o) Two (2) sets of alphabetical and numerical list of claimants in quadruplicate

Section 948 - Cadastral survey returns shall be forwarded to the Land Management Services of the
concerned DENR-Regional Office. If the delivery is by freight, two shipments must be
made. The shipment must be under two different bills of lading, on different dates and
must be properly insured.

Section 949 - The first shipment shall contain the field notes, maps, original computations, reports and
one set of sketch and survey record cards. The second shipment shall contain the
sketches, duplicate computations and remaining papers or records of the project.
Personal submittal is encouraged for security.

COMPLETION OF CADASTRAL SKETCHING

AND GRAPHICAL CADASTRE

Section 950 - Cadastral sketching and graphical cadastral projects may be converted into, or
completed as, numerical cadastral projects by performing the remaining phases of each
cadastral operation.
Section 951 - The completion/conversion survey shall be undertaken upon issuance of a survey order
by the Regional Executive Director/Regional Technical Director of Lands. The original
cadastral survey number assigned to the cadastral sketching or graphical cadastre shall
be retained minus the letters “P”, “M”, or “S”, as the case may be.

Section 952 - In the conversion of cadastral sketching and cadastral or photo cadastral mapping
projects to numerical cadastral surveys, specific instructions shall be issued by the
Regional Executive Director. The phases of work to be done such as monumenting of lot
corners, lot survey, ground coordinates determination from rectified
photographs/photomaps, as the case may be, adjustment of previously approved
surveys, computations and preparation of required maps, etc., shall be specified. The
required project records and corresponding survey returns shall be submitted to the
Regional Technical Director for Lands for verification and approval.

CHAPTER XVIII – CADASTRAL COURT HEARINGS

WHO SHALL ATTEND THE COURT HEARINGS

Section 953 - Geodetic engineers shall be assigned by the Regional Executive Director to attend court
hearings for the adjudication of titles to lands within cadastral projects.

Section 954 - Geodetic engineers in private practice may attend court 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 attend the hearings.

DATA TO BE FURNISHED

Section 955 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend cadastral court hearings shall be furnished by
the Lands Management Services with the following papers:

(a) Two sets of numerical and alphabetical list of claimants for each case.

(b) Two set of prints of plans/maps.

(c) Two sets of list of areas of all lots in each case.

(d) The report of the Land Registration Authority concerning the status of all lots included
in the registration cases if filed in the Regional Trial Court.

(e) Prints and tracings showing discrepancies between the previous surveys and the
cadastral survey. These prints and tracing are those mentioned in Section 845.

(f) List and copy of reports on public, government and mineral land lots situated within
each cadastral project case.

(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.
\
(h) Cards of lot claimants, arranged alphabetically for each cadastral project case.

(i) Lot descriptions showing the numerical list of lot claimants.

 (j) Other papers and records which may be necessary in each case.

Section 956 - A statement of all amendments and changes made in the cadastral maps before the date
of hearing shall be furnished the geodetic engineer who shall call the attention of the
Court thereto.

LOCATION OF OFFICE

Section 957 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court hearings shall request the Clerk of
Court to provide him with accommodations in the building where the hearings are to be
held.

Section 958 - When the Judge sets the hearing of cadastral cases in a city or municipality other than
the place where the court is permanently stationed, the geodetic engineer shall request
for a reasonably spacious room to be used as office, preferably within the building where
the court will hold its session from the concerned City or Municipal Mayor.

Section 959 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court hearing shall transfer his office to the
municipality where the hearing will take place at least thirty days prior to the date set for
the hearing of the cadastral case.

Section 960 - The geodetic engineer shall coordinate with the City or Municipal Mayor on all matters
requiring mutual action relative to the hearings. He shall request that all the claimants in
the barangay within each cadastral project case be notified to appear at the office of the
geodetic engineer and to file their answers with the Clerk of Court. Prescribed forms may
be obtained from the Clerk of Court.

GENERAL PROCEDURE OF WORK

Section 961 - Immediately upon receipt of the records mentioned in 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 corresponding to the numerical list of claimants for facility in
checking the answers filed by each claimant.

Section 962 - The marked prints, together with the lists and computations furnished by the geodetic
engineer, shall be used for checking the answers filed by the claimants.

Section 963 - The print copies on which the names of claimants are not indicated shall be made
available to the claimants, agents or attorneys by posting these in conspicuous places,
for information and identification of the numbers and location of lots being claimed. The
geodetic engineer or his assistants shall keep these prints for future use in connection
with contested claims.

Section 964 - Before the date of the hearing of each cadastral case, the geodetic engineer shall confer
with provincial, city and municipal treasurer concerned to get information regarding the
parcels that have been forfeited for non-payment of taxes. These parcels must be
identified on the cadastral maps and reported to. A list of the location of the lands, the
names of claimants, the tax declaration numbers and the cadastral lot numbers shall be
prepared. The fiscal or the attorney representing the government shall be furnished with
a copy of the list with the information that said lots may be claimed as property of the
national government. A copy of the report shall be forwarded to the Regional Technical
Director for Lands for record purposes.
Section 965 - The lot number, the names of the claimants and the adjoining owners in each answer
shall be carefully verified and checked against the prints and the list of claimants.

Section 966 - The tax declaration number given in the answer shall be checked against the list of tax
delinquents to see whether or not the land has been forfeited for non-payment of taxes.
The geodetic engineer shall examine the muniment of title. If the claim is based on
purchase, he shall also examine the basis/claim of ownership of the vendor.

Section 967 - Discrepancies between the answers and the maps and the list of claimants shall be
carefully investigated and verified. In case it is necessary to amend or correct the
answers, the interested parties shall be requested to make the necessary correction. The
geodetic engineer or his authorized assistant shall verify and approve all answers before
they are filed with the Clerk of Court. Notation shall be made in red ink on all answers for
lots contested by the government.

Section 968 - All changes in the names of the claimants as given in the answers after verification is
made shall be entered in the cadastral lists.

Section 969 - When two or more claimants filed an answer for the same lot, the names of those not
shown in the cadastral lists shall be entered therein and reported to the court.

Section 970 - The geodetic engineer shall ascertain the nature of each lot. A list of all lots claimed as
public, mineral or government lands shall be given to the lawyer representing the
government and the Regional Technical Director for Lands. This list shall contain all
available information regarding the nature or basis of the claim of the government.

Section 971 - The geodetic engineer shall advise the claimants to prepare their answers based on the
data obtained from the ground or from actual facts existing at the time of the filing of the
answers.

MEMORANDUM OF HEARINGS AND REPORTS

Section 972 - The “Memorandum of Hearings and Operations” shall be prepared in duplicate by filling
out the different columns as the court hearings progresses. The most salient incidents
that have taken place during the hearing of a cadastral lot and the status of the lot as
reported by the geodetic engineer to the lawyer representing the government or to the
court shall be entered on the column headed “Memoranda”.

Section 973 - The date of the hearing of any cadastral lot and all the orders of the court for corrections,
subdivision or investigations on any lot shall be recorded on the corresponding column of
the prescribed form.

Section 974 - A monthly report showing the progress of the court hearings shall be submitted on the
prescribed form. This shall be prepared in black drafting ink to facilitate printing.

Section 975 - when there are two or more cadastral cases in municipality, the total in columns 7 to 11
for that municipality shall be shown.

Section 976 - The information in columns 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 shall be obtained from the maps furnished by
the geodetic engineer. Information in columns 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 16 shall be
obtained from the memoranda required in Section 972, the copies of the claims filed by
the Director of Lands Management Bureau and from the records of the PENRO.
Information in columns 4 and 13 shall be obtained from the clerk of court.
 SUBDIVISION OF CADASTRAL LOTS

Section 977 - When the hearings so require, or for any reason the judge so desires, the geodetic
engineer or at least one of his authorized assistants shall be present at the court
sessions. He shall, in addition to his other duties, receive from the court or from the clerk
thereof, all orders for subdivisions or investigations of cadastral lots under hearing.

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 cadastral lot is received, the geodetic
engineer shall ascertain whether or not part to the lot to be subdivided is included in
previously patented or decreed lots.

Section 980 - When the Court orders the segregation of previously patented or decreed tracts from a
cadastral lot, the cost of the subdivision shall be charged to the corresponding cadastral
case.

Section 981 - When the lot to be subdivided is patented or decreed, the cost of subdivision shall be
borne by the applicants who shall be requested to make a deposit with the court before
any work in undertaken.

Section 982 - If the deposit is not sufficient to cover the cost of the subdivision, additional deposit shall
be made by the claimants.

Section 983 - In case the claimants fail to deposit the required additional amount, the court shall be
informed that the subdivision work has not been completed, stating the reasons thereon.
The expenses already incurred shall not be refunded to the claimants.

Section 984 - In case the lot to be subdivided is not patented or decreed, it shall be ascertained if the
subdivision survey is necessary and if the reason is due to the negligence or fault of the
interested parties. If the work to be done is requested for the sole benefit and
convenience of negligent claimants requesting the subdivision, the cost of subdivision
shall be charge against said claimants.

Section 985 - The subdivision shall be made in accordance with the agreement of the interested parties
who shall be required to make the necessary deposit to defray the cost of the survey.

Section 986 - When a lot is claimed by two or more persons and the court finds it necessary to
subdivide the said lot into portions to be adjudicated to the claimants who have not been
at fault, the cost thereof shall be charged against the proper cadastral case.

Section 987 - The claimants shall be advised that no technical descriptions pr tracing plan will be
furnished to them unless the proportionate cost of the cadastral survey is paid.

Section 988 - When a subdivision or correction is necessary as a result of incorrect survey by the party
who executed the cadastral survey through no fault of the claimants, the cost thereof
shall be charged against the cadastral project case.

Section 989 - Consolidations and/or subdivisions which are necessary for public interest or requested
for the direct benefit of a municipality, province, city, or the national government, or
ordered by the court, shall also be made and the cost thereof shall be charge against
cadastral case.
Section 990 - In the event that the claimants required to defray the cost of the consolidation and/or
subdivision surveys ordered by the court fail to make the necessary deposit, the geodetic
engineer shall report the matter in writing to the court with the recommendation that the
case be dismissed or the claimants be ordered to make the deposit.

Section 991 - In the subdivisions of cadastral lots, subdivision corners along the original cadastral lot
boundary lines shall be located as pointed out and agreed upon by the interested parties.
The geodetic engineer shall submit a written report to the court attaching copy of the
approved subdivision survey of the lot.

Section 992 - The grid azimuth of these subdivision surveys shall be derived from the lot corner
monuments in place on the ground. In cases where two monuments are not inter-visible,
a circuit traverse, of which three or more monuments shall be occupied as traverse
stations, may be run using an assumed azimuth. The traverse shall be computed and
the compared with a similar determination between the same monuments from the
cadastral data to determine the correction to be applied to the assumed azimuth. In
general, monuments as far as the condition of the work will allow, shall be occupied as
stations.

Section 993 - Astronomical observations for azimuth may be used but the azimuth shall be corrected
for the convergency of meridians between the central meridian of the zone and the place
of observation to reduce the astronomical azimuths to grid azimuths.

Section 994 - In consolidation and/or subdivision surveys of cadastral lots, no geodetic engineer
certificate shall be submitted with the survey returns.

ORDER OF THE COURT

Section 995 - Upon receipt of the cadastral records, the geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court
hearings shall prepare the lists of lot reported by the Administrator of the Land
Registration Authority and those amended by the cadastral survey in three groups as
follows:

(a) Cadastral lots that are subdivision of patented, leased or decreed parcels of lands,

(b) Cadastral lots that differ slightly from the old survey,

(c) Cadastral lots that are portions of patented, leased or decreed parcels subdivided by
case/barangay boundaries.

Section 996 - Cadastral lots that include portions of registered and unregistered land shall be divided in
accordance with the order of the court.

Section 997 - The tracing referred to in Section 845 shall be consulted to see to it that points of the
previous surveys that have been recovered are identical to the corresponding points in
the cadastral survey.

Section 998 - Beds of streams included in previous surveys shall be made separate lot or lots for the
purpose of providing bases of action for the adjudication of such tracts to the national
government.

Section 999 - In areas where the value of the land is comparatively high, as in the poblacion or highly
developed barangay, any linear error exceeding 10 centimeters in the position of the
corner between the previously patented, leased or decreed survey and the cadastral
 survey, shall be carefully investigated on the ground. This is to ascertain whether or not a
subdivision, correction or amendment of the cadastral lot must be undertaken.

Section 1000 - All orders of the Court, including the assignment of lot numbers to the subdivision lots,
shall be strictly followed. The final subdivision lot numbers shall be assigned by the
regional office concerned to be confirmed later by the Court.

Section 1001 - If in the course of the subdivision survey, it is found that additional amendment is
necessary, the matter shall be immediately reported to the Court. The survey returns
shall not be transmitted to the 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
technical description of the adjoining lots will not be affected.

Section 1002 - If an amendment of the survey of the adjoining lot is necessary, the interested parties
shall request the Court for the said amendment. In case decision on the adjoining lots
had already been rendered, the Court shall be requested to modify the decision
accordingly.

REPORTS AND OTHER PAPERS

Section 1003 - All reports to be submitted to the Court shall be made in triplicate, two copies to be
given to the Court and the third, together with the other papers of the cadastral case,
shall be retained by the geodetic engineer to be transmitted to the Land Management
Services upon the termination of the court hearings.

Section 1004 - All reports on subdivisions or amendments of cadastral lots shall be accompanied by
sketches of the lots subdivided or amended.

Section 1005 - The survey returns of the subdivisions or amendments of cadastral lots shall consist of
a copy of the order or the decision of the court, field notes, computations, sketch plans
of the lots subdivided and a copy of the report of the geodetic engineer to the court
after the surveys were made.

Section 1006 - At the termination of the cadastral hearings a final report of all the changes made in the
lots of the cadastral case shall be submitted to the court.

Section 1007 - The form of final report shall be as follows:

IN THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF _______________________ CADASTRAL

CASE NO. ___________________________________ L.R.C. RECORD NO.
_____________CADASTRE NO. ___________

THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, applicant

FINAL REPORT

TO THE HONORABLE COURT:

The undersigned geodetic engineer has the honor to submit the following changes made in the lots of the
above numbered cadastral case as ordered by the court, viz:

CAD LOT CHANGES RESULTING NAME OF REMARKS

 NOS. MADE LOT NUMBERS CLAIMANTS

17 Subdivision 17-A Bienvenido Cruz

17-B Arie Reyes

205 -do- 205-A Shirley Nejal Decreed in LRC No.

1456

205-B Ivy Reyes Under Cadastral Act

306 -do- 306-A Warlito Quirimit Decreed in LRC No.

4432
505
-do- 505-A Arnel Padua Decreed in LRC No.
2023

505-B Ramon Decreed in LRC No.

2334
Mendoza

804 804-B Public Land Under Cadastral Act

804-C Marlea Muñez

Manila, Philippines, November 24, 1994.

Privadi J.G. Dalire

Geodetic Engineer
Assigned to attend the Court

Section 1008 - Upon completion of the necessary survey work on cadastral lot/s, the
following records shall be immediately forwarded to the Regional Technical
Director for Lands:

(a) Field notes, sketches and computations of the subdivision or amendments.

(b) A copy of the court order for subdivision, amendment or investigation with the
corresponding reports and sketches.

(c) A copy of the final report to the court as required in the preceding section.

Section 1009 - After the termination of court hearings on a cadastral case, one set of “Memorandum of
Hearings and Operation” duly accomplished and the report of the Land Registration
Authority shall be forwarded to the Lands Management Bureau. Duplicates shall be
retained in the Regional Lands Management Services.

Section 1010 - All records not mentioned in the preceding section shall be retained as permanent
records of the concerned Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office
(PENRO).
 COST OF COURT HEARINGS

Section 1011 - The geodetic engineer assigned to attend the court hearings shall keep a record of
costs as required by regulations.

PART IV

MISCELLANEA

CHAPTER XIX – LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

LAWS

Section 1012 - The laws and decrees involving land questions, surveys and geodetic engineers are
the following:

(a) The Cadastral Act No. 2259 as amended.

(b) Act No. 3240 as amended.

(c) Act No. 3327 as amended.

(d) Revised Administrative Code, Act No. 2711, as amended.

(e) The Public Land Act, C.A. No. 141, as amended.

(f) The geodetic engineering Law, R.A. No. 4374, as amended by P.D. 202 and P.D.
335.

(g) The Agricultural Land Reform Code, R.A. No. 3384 as amended.

(h) Mineral Resources Development Decree of 1974, P.D. 463.

(i) The Forestry Reform Code, P.D. 705.

(j) The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers’ Protection Decree, P.D. 957.

(k) U rban Land Reform Decree, P.D. 1517.

(l) The Philippine Water Code, P.D. 1067.

(m) The Property Registration Decree, P.D. 1529.

(n) The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, R.A. 6657.

(o) T he Local Government Code; R.A. 7160

(p) Batas Pambansa Bilang 220

(q) R.A. 1273, P.D. 953

REPEAL OF REGULATIONS
Section 1013 - The Manual for Land Surveys in the Philippines issued under Lands Administrative No.
4 series of 1980 as it is hereby revised and all previous Manual of Instructions, Circular
Letters, Office Circulars, and other regulations, numbered or unnumbered, inconsistent
with this revised Manual of Land Surveying Regulations in the Philippines are hereby
repealed.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GEODETIC ENGINEERS

AND JUNIOR GEODETIC ENGINEERS

Section 1014 - A Geodetic Engineer or Junior Geodetic Engineer engaged in survey work shall:

a) ensure that the survey is performed in accordance with provisions of laws, these
Regulations, and to the standards or accuracy prescribed;

b) ensure that any part of a survey not performed by the Geodetic Engineer
personally is performed by Junior Geodetic Engineer for whose work the Geodetic
Engineer accepts responsibility;

c) ensure that: the survey is carried out under the immediate personal supervision of
a Geodetic Engineer who shall attend in the field to provide the necessary
supervision in carrying out of the survey in accordance with these Regulations and
any relevant directives issued by the DENR; that only qualified and highly trained
assistant shall be allowed to handle the instruments under his supervision and for
whose work the Geodetic Engineer accepts responsibility;

d) ensure that with a survey method or equipment which he employs in performing a

survey he can demonstrate that such method or equipment is capable of achieving
the purpose of the survey and the appropriate standards of accuracy: Provided that
when such method or equipment involves a departure from or variation of any
directive issued by the DENR, he shall submit a report and shall include in the
records of the survey full information so as to state clearly the method or
equipment used;

e) ensure that the rules and regulations issued by the Professional Regulations Board
of Geodetic Engineering governing the practice of Junior Geodetic Engineers are
strictly observed; and

f) ensure that the Code of Ethics for Geodetic Engineers and Junior Geodetic
Engineers have been faithfully observed.

Section 1015 - Geodetic Engineers who have been Chief of Survey Party from commencement to the
completion of a large survey project requiring at least secondary precision or fourth
order accuracy, or licensed geodetic engineer who had worked as assistant in such a
project from commencement to completion as per records of the Lands Management
Bureau or Land Management Services, or geodetic engineers of the DENR who have
held positions equivalent to chief of party, may execute cadastral survey subject to the
authority or order which may be issued by the Regional Executive Director (RED) or the
Regional Technical Director for Lands (RTD/Lands) in accordance with Section 394.
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.

VIOLATION OF REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES

Section 1017 - (a) Violations

(1) Violations of any provisions of this Manual by the Geodetic Engineer, Junior
Geodetic Engineer, and survey contractors shall be sufficient ground for the
Regional Technical Director for Lands to deny the acceptance for verification
and/or approval o any survey made by him. In case he is in the service of the
DENR, he shall further be subject to administrative action which the
RTD/Lands, the Regional Executive Director and/or the Director of Lands
Management Bureau may deem justifiable under the circumstances.

(2) In case of approved surveys executed by Geodetic Engineer or Junior

Geodetic Engineer in private practice, the matter shall also be referred to the
fiscal and/or the Board of Geodetic Engineering for whatever disciplinary
action the fiscal and/or the Board may find necessary to take in the case in
relation to the Code of Ethics of Geodetic Engineers, the provisions of the
Geodetic Engineering Law, RA 4374, as amended, and to the provisions of
other laws, without prejudice to the cancellation of the survey; Provided, that
any official or employee of the DENR found abetting or knowingly helping
directly or indirectly in this Manual shall be subject to disciplinary action
which the Secretary may find necessary. The cost of field and office
verifications of erroneous surveys shall be charged against the Geodetic
Engineer or Junior Geodetic Engineer concerned.

(b) Penalties for surveys conducted by unauthorized persons.

(1) Penalties shall be those prescribed by laws, by the Board of Geodetic

Engineering, and those prescribed or may be prescribed later by the DENR.

(2) Any person who shall, without permit to survey from the Secretary of the
Regional Executive Director, enter any forest lands, whether covered by a
license agreement, lease, license, or permit, or not, and conduct or
undertake a survey for whatever purpose shall be liable to Imprisonment 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 cancellation of his
professional license, if any.

(3) Any public officer or employee who knowingly surveys, classifies, or

recommends the release of forest lands as alienable and disposable lands
contrary to law, shall, after administrative proceedings, de dismissed from the
service with prejudice to re-employment, and upon conviction, suffer
imprisonment of not less than one (1) year and a fine pursuant to Section 74,
PD 705. The survey, classification and release of forest lands shall be null
and void.
 (4) Administrative sanctions such as blacklisting or denial of the acceptance of
surveys may be imposed on the Geodetic Engineer or Junior Geodetic
Engineer who violates the provisions of this Manual. A list of Geodetic
Engineers or Junior Geodetic Engineers who violate the Manual will be
periodically provided by the Lands Management Service to the Lands
Management Bureau and other concerned agencies.

SUPPLEMENTARY AND MANDATORY REGULATIONS

Section 1018 - Whenever additional or supplementary regulations or amendments to this Manual is

necessary, the same shall be issued in the form of administrative orders.

Section 1019 - Survey regulations and specifications governing national geodetic network controls,
hydrographic and other kinds of surveys not covered by this Manual shall be provided
in a separate Manual.

Section 1020 - The Lands Management Bureau as the policy-making arm of the DENR in the effective
and efficient management, surveys, disposition of public A & D lands, government-
owned lands and other lands not falling under the jurisdiction of other government
agencies, in coordination with the other agencies performing surveys, shall continue to
study these instructions, develop and recommend new standards and operating
procedures consistent with the advancement of surveying science and technology.

EFFECTIVITY OF MANUAL

Section 1021 - This Manual of land Surveying Regulations shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
publication in the Official Gazatte.

VICTOR O. RAMOS
Secretary