THE Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has not secured original or transfer certificate titles (O/TCT) for its land assets covering 3.925 million square meters (329.5 hectares) with a combined assessed value of P73.548 billion.
This was revealed in the 2022 audit report of the PPA released by the Commission on Audit last June 26.
Government auditors have warned that without valid proof of ownership over the said properties, the PPA is vulnerable should other interested parties move in to stake a claim.
“The certificate of title is the best form of evidence of land ownership under the system of land registration. Absence of O/TCT to prove ownership exposes the land to the counterclaim of ownership from third parties,” the COA said.
A review by the audit team of the agency’s Land Account and Schedule of Fixed Assets showed only 40,547 sq. m. worth P258.345 million are covered with a TCT, which is under the custody of the Treasury Department in its head office.
The audit report did not disclose the locations and area measurements of the untitled land assets but said they included both original land and reclaimed areas.
However, it said that the list includes the 606,740 sq. m. port area property within the reclaimed tract of the North Harbor, Manila Bay whose ownership is also being claimed by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
The said parcel of land is under the jurisdiction of the Port Management Office (PMO)—NCR South and is listed in PPA’s books at P10.921 billion. The GSIS listed the same property at P17.2 billion.
Also on the untiled list is the 4,627.46 sq. m. property under the South Harbor Expanded Port Zone (SHEPZ) with an assigned book value of P166.589 million.
Auditors noted that ownership of the said property is being disputed by the National Power Corporation.
Responding to the audit observations, the PPA management assured the COA that it is doing all it can to resolve the disputes and titling issues but is forced to rely on the pace of related government agencies.
