LUNA, Apayao – Finally, the Province of Apayao has its own Registry of Deeds (ROD).
Barely a month before the 22nd Founding Anniversary on February 14 or nearly 22 years after the Provinces of Kalinga and Apayao parted ways for good was the inauguration of the newly established office of the Registry of Deeds for the Province of Apayao.
Apayao Representative Eleanor Bulut-Begtang and Atty. Robert Nomar Leyretana, the Land Registration Authority (LRA) OIC Administrator together with Vice Governor Remy Albano led the inaugural ceremony here on January 20, 2017 which was attended by different Registrar of Deeds from Cordillera, LRA Officials from Central Office, provincial and municipal officials and heads of national line agencies.
Congresswoman Begtang in behalf of the Province of Apayao personally conveyed her earnest gratitude to the LRA Officials for allowing the province to realize its long desire of establishing its own ROD, distinct and separate from the ROD of Kalinga. She relayed how her father, the late Hon. Elias Bulut, Sr. started lobbying the possibility of having a ROD in Apayao and that how determined her office together with Governor Elias Bulut, Jr. pursued to fulfill this goal.
“It is a long and tedious process. I told my Chief of Staff to constantly make follow-ups with the office of LRA and it took six (6) years until today just to realize this dream,” Congw. Begtang told the public.
She also thanked former LRA Administrator Atty. Eulalio Diaz III for his efforts and likewise expressed her special appreciation to Atty. Maria Elnora Puday, Registrar of Deeds of Kalinga for having patiently accommodated the Iapayaos with regard to the issuance of decrees of registration and certificates of title and other land transactions.
“Ayaw po sana naming humiwalay sa Kalinga pero kailangan kasi malayo kami sa kanila, dadaan pa kami sa isang probinsiya bago makarating sa kanila at laking tulong na dito na mismo iproproseso ng mga taga-Apayao ang mga titulo ng kanilang lupain,” Congw. Begtang said with a grin.
Atty. Leyretana meanwhile has recognized how the Province made extra effort in tracking the progress of having an independent ROD. He made special recognition to Governor Bulut for the “Usufruct Agreement” he executed in favor of LRA.
“This is a long lasting legacy the leaders of Apayao can leave to the people. This has been brought by hard work and persistency through Congw. Eleanor Begtang and Governor Elias Bulut,” Atty. Leyretena stressed.
The OIC Administrator also reminded the new work force of ROD Apayao headed by Atty. Ranvylle Albano, Deputy Register of Deeds II to work hard and show their efficiency in serving the people in line with the need for technical skills in this computer era.
In the message and formal turn-over of Atty. Puday, she challenged Atty. Albano to at least maintain the excellence mark which ROD Kalinga had consistently received from the Civil Service Commission.
In return, Atty. Albano accepted the challenged and informed the public that the operation and provision of services will be in a month or two. “We still need to get hold of the documents and records from ROD Kalinga before we can fully operate,” Atty. Albano said.
Vice Governor Albano as well thank the LRA officials and those who attended. As an act of sincere gratitude, Vice Governor Albano handed out separate Provincial Resolutions to LRA OIC Administrator Atty. Leyretana and Atty. Puday after the contents were read by Board Member Samuela Real. The resolutions were enacted as to recognize their efforts, contributions and labors in making ROD exist in the Province of Apayao.
By GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
