THE Supreme Court ruled that open spaces and road lots inside subdivisions don’t automatically become government property without a written deed of donation.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the Court’s Second Division affirmed that the Quezon City government failed to prove ownership of common areas in Capital Park Homes Subdivision (CPHS).
Court rules on subdivision open spaces, road lots
The case stemmed from a petition filed by Rainier Madrid, a Quezon City taxpayer and resident of a nearby subdivision, who questioned the use of public funds to improve the CPHS properties. He argued that developer VV Soliven never executed a deed of donation transferring the areas to the city, which made them private rather than public property.
While the city government cited a 1964 ordinance that required subdivision developers to allocate 6 percent of their land for public use before plan approval, the Court stressed that compliance with the ordinance doesn’t replace the legal requirement of a written donation.
The Capital Park Homeowners Association admitted there was no deed of donation but pointed to a board resolution acknowledging the supposed turnover. The Regional Trial Court initially dismissed Madrid’s petition for lack of standing, but the Court of Appeals reversed the ruling, finding merit in his challenge.
The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court, ruling that local governments must show a valid transfer of property through a deed of donation and proof of acceptance under the Civil Code. Without such documents, ownership remains with the subdivision developer.
Court rules on subdivision open spaces, road lots, This news data comes from:http://vq-rhes-tu-oeml.705-888.com
”The donation of subdivision land to a local government unit must be in writing for ownership to be transferred,” the Court said, reiterating that local ordinances alone can’t establish government ownership.
- AFP: It would take more than a tugboat to tow BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal
- Marcos to youth: Help in nation-building
- New Zealand to allow some wealthy foreign investors onto property market
- 17 House lawmakers press Marcos administration to raise WPS issue to UN
- Rains over Metro Manila, parts of PH as LPA may develop into 'short-lived' tropical depression
- Actress Angel Aquino victim of 'deepfake,' seeks prosecution of perpetrators of cyber pornography
- Immigration deports 49 South Korean fugitives
- Nepal to block unregistered social media platforms – govt
- No winner in lotto draws for Aug 28
- ‘40% of Filipinos obese’
