Overview

The Certificate of Land Transfer (CLT) is a document historically issued under Presidential Decree (PD) No. 27 (1972) as part of “Operation Land Transfer,” which covered rice and corn lands. A CLT recognized a farmer as a qualified tenant-beneficiary of a specific parcel and documented the obligation to pay amortizations to the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

Today, most new agrarian awards are issued under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) through Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) or Emancipation Patents (EPs)—not CLTs. However, CLTs still matter for: (1) legacy PD 27 cases that have not yet been converted to EPs, (2) lost/damaged CLTs that need confirmation or reconstitution, (3) record corrections (name, area, boundaries), and (4) succession/annotation when the original beneficiary has died but the farm is still under PD 27 documentation.

This article explains what a CLT is (and is not), who may obtain or regularize one today, the required documents, the step-by-step process at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and common issues.

Legal Foundations (PD 27 to CARP)

PD No. 27 (1972): Launched Operation Land Transfer for tenanted rice and corn lands, with government acquisition and farmer amortization to LBP. The CLT was the official proof of a beneficiary’s allocation pending issuance of a final title.
Executive Orders and DAR Issuances (1980s): Clarified valuation, amortization, and documentation for PD 27 lands and the transition from CLT to Emancipation Patent (EP).
Republic Act No. 6657 (1988) & amendments: Established CARP. Post-CARP, new awards generally use CLOA (not CLT). Many PD 27 areas later culminate in EPs registered with the Registry of Deeds (RD).
DAR Administrative Orders (various): Provide detailed rules on identification of beneficiaries, documentation, surveys, valuation coordination with LBP, EP issuance, corrections, and dispute resolution.

Key point: A CLT is not an indefeasible Torrens title. It evidences a beneficiary’s rights and obligations under PD 27 and is typically a precursor to an EP.

What a CLT Is—and Isn’t

What it is:

A government-issued document identifying the farmer-beneficiary, the landholding, and the obligation to amortize.
A basis for security of tenure against ejectment in PD 27 areas, subject to compliance.

What it isn’t:

Not a Torrens title; it does not by itself enjoy indefeasibility.
Not freely transferable: sale/lease/mortgage are restricted. Transfers are generally void, except by succession and with DAR compliance.

When a CLT Is Still Relevant Today

Your land is a PD 27 rice/corn land and documentation has not reached EP issuance.
Your CLT was lost or damaged and you need a certified proof for transactions with LBP, DAR, or for conversion to EP.
There are errors in the beneficiary’s name, area, or boundaries needing correction.
The beneficiary has died, and the heirs must be recognized/annotated so amortizations can continue and EP issuance can proceed.

If the parcel is already under CARP/CLOA or already issued an EP, the CLT route is typically moot; the proper path is correction or reconstitution of the EP/CLOA instead.

Offices Involved

DAR Municipal Office (DARMO): Frontline office for intake, verification, and field investigation.
DAR Provincial Office (DARPO): Legal/technical review, survey coordination, and processing of documentation.
CENRO/ DENR / Licensed Geodetic Engineers: For surveys and plans where needed.
Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP): Amortization accounts, valuation coordination.
Registry of Deeds (RD): For eventual registration of EP; CLTs themselves are not Torrens titles but may be referenced in records.
Barangay Agrarian Reform Committee (BARC): Community-level validation and mediation.

Who May Apply or Regularize a CLT Case

Qualified PD 27 beneficiary (actual cultivator/tenant of rice or corn land as of PD 27’s effectivity and under subsequent rules), or
Heirs of a deceased PD 27 beneficiary, or
Current actual tiller in a PD 27 area who seeks confirmation/regularization if the original beneficiary abandoned or relinquished rights (subject to strict DAR rules).

Reminder: Proof of actual cultivation and continuity of tillage remains central.

Documentary Requirements

Requirements may vary per DAR regional/provincial directives. Prepare as many of the following as applicable:

A. For Initial/Legacy PD 27 CLT Documentation (no EP yet)

Personal IDs of beneficiary; 2×2 photos.
Proof of tenancy/actual cultivation: sworn statements; historical farm tenancy agreements/receipts; Barangay certification identifying the applicant as the actual tiller; affidavits of disinterested persons or adjacent farmers.
Landowner/landholding info: landowner’s name, Tax Declaration, parcel identifiers (Lot/Survey No., area, location).
Sketch plan / survey documents (if available); vicinity map; metes and bounds if previously surveyed.
LBP account/acknowledgment or capability to pay amortizations (DAR/LBP will guide setup).
Photos of the land (cultivation and improvements).

B. For Lost/Damaged CLT (reconstitution/certification)

Affidavit of Loss (or Damage).
Barangay certification confirming possession/tenancy.
Police blotter (commonly required for lost documents).
DARMO certification that records show a CLT was issued.
Valid IDs and contact details.
Official receipt for processing/reissuance fees (if any).

C. For Correction of Entries

Petition for correction stating the error (name spelling, area, lot number).
Supporting proofs: birth/marriage certificates, old IDs, survey returns or certified plans, tax map/Index cards, prior DAR documents, and BARC/Barangay validation.

D. For Succession/Heirs’ Annotation

Death certificate of beneficiary.
Heirship documents: e.g., Extrajudicial Settlement (if applicable), family tree, barangay heirship certification, or judicial declaration when required.
Affidavits of heirs designating the actual tiller among them.
Updated LBP amortization records / undertaking to continue payments.
IDs and photos of heirs/actual tiller.

Bring originals and photocopies. DAR may require notarization.

Step-by-Step Process

1) Initial Inquiry & File Opening (DARMO)

Confirm that the parcel is PD 27-covered (rice/corn, tenanted as of PD 27) and not yet EP/CLOA-titled.
DARMO opens a case folder, provides a checklist, and schedules field validation.

2) Community Validation & BARC Participation

DAR coordinates with BARC and barangay officials to validate actual tillage and possession.
Neighbor farmers and the landowner (or representative) may be consulted. Conflicts are mediated.

3) Technical Work (Survey/Plotting)

If boundaries/area are unclear or outdated, DAR will require a relocation survey or validation of old survey data.
Prepare or update sketch plan/parcel map with lot identifiers.

4) Legal Screening & Beneficiary Qualification

DAR screens qualifications (PD 27 beneficiary criteria; disqualifications like abandonment, excessive landholdings, or non-tillage).
Objections from the landowner or third parties are heard. Contested matters may proceed to DARAB or mediation.

5) Valuation & Amortization Setup (DAR–LBP)

DAR endorses the case to LBP for valuation under applicable PD 27 rules.
LBP opens/updates an amortization account; beneficiary commits to pay amortizations as scheduled.

6) Issuance of CLT (Legacy/Regularization Cases)

Upon satisfaction of requirements and absent successful opposition, DAR issues the CLT to the beneficiary (or confirms/reconstitutes an existing one).
The CLT will state the beneficiary, land description, obligations, and conditions.

7) Post-Issuance Obligations

Pay amortizations to LBP on schedule.
Personally cultivate the land; observe restrictions on transfer and use.
Keep receipts and DAR/LBP communications.

8) Conversion to Emancipation Patent (EP)

Once requirements are met (e.g., amortization completion/conditions satisfied), DAR processes issuance of an EP, which is then registered with the Registry of Deeds.
After EP registration, the CLT becomes superseded by the EP title.

Rights and Obligations Under a CLT

Security of tenure in the awarded parcel, subject to continued personal cultivation and compliance.
Obligation to pay amortizations to LBP per the schedule set under PD 27 rules.
Transfer restrictions: Generally no sale, lease, or mortgage to private parties. Transfers mainly by succession, with DAR compliance and continued cultivation by the qualified heir.
Land use controls: Observe agrarian reform restrictions; unauthorized conversion is prohibited.

Special Situations and Remedies

Overlapping claims / multiple CLTs: DAR conducts verification and may cancel/rectify erroneous issuances. Disputes go to DARAB; decisions may be appealed to the Court of Appeals by Rule 43.
Landowner retention claims: PD 27 and later issuances recognize limited retention. DAR evaluates retention vs. beneficiary coverage.
Abandonment/non-tillage: May lead to beneficiary disqualification and reallocation to the actual tiller, subject to process.
Boundary disputes: Resolved through survey, barangay mediation, and DAR technical/legal proceedings.
Lost CLT: File Affidavit of Loss, secure DARMO certification of records, and request reconstitution or a certified true copy (CTC).

Timelines and Fees

Timelines vary widely based on survey needs, disputes, completeness of documents, and office workload.
Fees are generally minimal at DAR; expect costs for notarization, documentary stamps, affidavits, and surveys (if required). LBP amortization payments are separate and governed by your LBP schedule.

Practical Tips

Start at DARMO where the land is located. Bring IDs and anything proving cultivation (photos, purchase receipts for seedlings/fertilizer, irrigation receipts, barangay certificates).
Secure barangay and BARC support early; community validation is decisive in PD 27 cases.
Organize your file: IDs, tenancy proofs, old CLT (if any), tax declarations, survey data, photos, and a timeline of cultivation.
Keep all LBP receipts and DAR correspondence for eventual EP issuance.
Avoid illegal transfers; coordinate with DAR before any arrangement affecting possession or use.
If the beneficiary has died, the heirs should promptly coordinate with DAR for heirship annotation so amortizations can continue without interruption.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Can a new CLT still be issued today? Only in legacy PD 27 situations where the parcel was covered and documentation remains incomplete. New agrarian awards are typically via CLOA (CARP) or culminate in an EP for PD 27 lands.

2) I lost the CLT. Can I still get an EP? Yes—DAR can process reconstitution or use official records to proceed to EP issuance if you qualify and obligations are met. File an Affidavit of Loss and secure DARMO certifications.

3) Can I sell or mortgage a CLT land? Generally no. Transfers are restricted and typically allowed only by succession (with DAR compliance). Consult DAR before any transaction.

4) Is a CLT the same as a title? No. A CLT recognizes beneficiary status and obligations. The title is the EP (for PD 27) or CLOA (under CARP) registered with the Registry of Deeds.

5) Who decides disputes? Agrarian disputes are handled by DARAB (and may be elevated on appeal). Barangay and BARC mediation often precedes formal cases.

Step-By-Step Checklist (At a Glance)

Go to DARMO (where the land is).
Confirm PD 27 coverage; open a case folder.
Submit documents (IDs, proof of cultivation, barangay/BARC certs, land docs, surveys if any).
Participate in field validation; address objections.
Coordinate with LBP for valuation/amortization setup or updates.
Receive CLT (or reconstituted copy/certification).
Comply with amortizations and cultivation.
Work with DAR for EP issuance and RD registration when eligible.

Final Notes

The CLT is a transitional but crucial instrument in the PD 27 framework. Although most modern agrarian reform processes use CLOAs or culminate in EPs, many farmers still need CLT regularization, replacement, or correction to move forward. Begin with DARMO, assemble proof of actual tillage, and coordinate with LBP for payment compliance. With complete documentation and community validation, conversion to an EP—and thus a registered title—becomes achievable.