Karin Ting Real Estate Broker and Real Estate Appraiser

10/08/2026

10/08/2026

This is a better way of creating solar farms. Land use is maximized, shorter distance between solar power capture and use and a ready market to resell surplus energy captured.

LOOK: In Naic, Cavite Philippines, nearly 2,000 socialized housing units now generate clean electricity through a 6.55-megawatt grid-connected rooftop solar system without using farmland or displacing livelihoods.

The project is expected to cut over 6,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually, while reinvesting part of its revenue into roof repairs, street lighting, waste management, shared solar facilities, and community training.

Developed by Solaris, Raemulan Lands, and their partners, the NING*NING 6.55-MW Solar Rooftop Project was recognized by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. as the world's first utility-scale, grid-connected solar project integrated into a socialized housing community proving that affordable housing can also help power the nation.

Pasinaya Homes, Naic, Cavite, Philippines.

04/08/2026

31/07/2026

30/07/2026

A nationwide study by researchers from the University of the Philippines has revealed that nearly 31% of agricultural land converted into built-up areas between 2003 and 2019 was located within legally protected agricultural zones under the Network of Protected Areas for Agriculture and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD). Using high-resolution Earth observation data, the researchers found that 3,228 hectares of the 10,397 hectares of cropland converted during the study period were situated inside areas intended to safeguard the country's most productive farmlands. The findings raise serious concerns about the effectiveness of existing land-use policies in protecting critical agricultural resources.

The study identified conversion hotspots across Central and Northern Luzon, particularly in Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac, as well as in SOCCSKSARGEN, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Cebu, and Negros Occidental. Among the 15 provinces with the highest rates of agricultural land conversion, at least eight recorded more than 200 hectares of conversion within NPAAAD-protected areas. Researchers also found that in Luzon, many conversions occurred near major roads, highlighting how expanding transportation networks and rapid urban development continue to drive the loss of productive farmland.

Agricultural lands are essential not only for food production but also for rural livelihoods, biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and climate resilience. As urban expansion accelerates, the continued conversion of fertile croplands into residential, commercial, and industrial developments may reduce the country's long-term capacity to produce food domestically. Experts warn that losing prime agricultural land could increase dependence on food imports, place additional pressure on remaining farmlands, and make the country more vulnerable to future food supply disruptions caused by climate change and global market instability.

The researchers emphasize that the findings strengthen the case for comprehensive land-use reform, particularly through the proposed National Land Use Act (NaLUA), which seeks to establish a unified framework for balancing development with environmental protection and food security. They conclude that science-based spatial planning, stronger enforcement of existing agricultural protection policies, and coordinated national land management are essential to ensure that economic growth does not come at the expense of the Philippines' ability to feed future generations.

Science Department |

27/07/2026

𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦: 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱

Despite its tropical climate and abundant freshwater resources, the Philippines is among the countries facing increasing water risk. Data from the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas 4.0 reveal where renewable water supplies are no longer sufficient to meet growing demand.

🚰 Many river basins in Luzon already face medium-high water stress as renewable water supplies struggle to keep pace with rapid population growth, urbanization, agriculture, and industry.

🔴 The 𝗣𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮–𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗮𝘁 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆'𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀 "𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵," because it supplies water to highly populated cities, while supporting extensive irrigation, industries, and millions of people.

🟡 In the Visayas, Western Visayas and Central Visayas, particularly Cebu, also experience relatively high water stress due to high demand and limited freshwater resources.

⚪ In contrast, Palawan, much of the remaining Visayas, and most of Mindanao generally have low baseline water stress because renewable water supplies remain sufficient to meet current demand.

⚠️ However, low water stress does not eliminate drought risk. Climate variability, especially El Niño and prolonged dry spells, can still cause water shortages.

📈 As population, urbanization, and industrial development continue to expand, water demand is expected to increase, placing greater pressure on these currently less-stressed river basins.

24/07/2026

The (SC) has ruled that a sale of land remains valid even if the deed of sale designates a different lot number from what was actually sold, as long as the parties’ true agreement can be clearly shown. The deed may then be corrected to match what the parties actually agreed to.

In a Decision written by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, the SC’s Third Division upheld the sale of a 491-square-meter parcel of land in Cebu City between buyers Genara and Felipe Abay, Sr. (the Abays) and sellers Crispin Caballes and the heirs of Trinidad Caballes-Gallardo (the Gallardos), despite the mistake in the designation of the lot number in the deed of sale.

The property formed part of the estate of Margarita Lopez, who had nine children, including Crispin and Trinidad.

The Abays visited the site with Crispin and Tomas Gallardo, one of Trinidad’s heirs before buying the property. During the visit, they were showed them the land’s boundaries. Tomas even helped the Abays build a concrete fence around it.

The Abays openly occupied the property for about 20 years until their possession was disrupted when workers of spouses Jacinto and Chiok Ngo Lim Young (the Youngs), who are claiming ownership over the property, entered it, destroyed the fence, and built their own posts.

The Abays discovered that a title over the property had been issued in the Youngs’ name. This prompted them to file a complaint before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to cancel the title.

The Gallardos challenged this, arguing that the documents the Abays presented referred to a different lot, Lot No. 6036-B, and not the lot they were occupying, which was Lot No. 7. While both lots were located in the same area, they were separate properties and were not beside each other. The Youngs supported the Gallardos’ position and maintained that they were buyers in good faith.

The RTC ruled in favor of the Abays which ruling was reversed by the Court of Appeals (CA). The CA held that the documents presented by the Abays showed that they purchased Lot No. 6036-B and not Lot No. 7, which they claimed to own and possess.

The SC disagreed and reiterated its pronouncements in previous cases upholding the validity of the sale and allowing the correction of a contract to reflect the parties’ true agreement in instances where the deed of sale failed to accurately describe the land intended by the parties.

The SC stressed that a person buys property based on what they see on the ground, such as its boundaries, landmarks, and improvements, and not by its technical lot number. Ordinary buyers cannot be expected to identify property based only on survey descriptions or legal documents.

Under the 𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘊𝘰𝘥𝘦, a written document may be corrected when, because of a mistake, it does not express the parties’ actual agreement.

The SC explained that a contract may be reformed or corrected if: (1) the parties agreed on the transaction; (2) the written document does not express their true agreement; and (3) the error was caused by a mistake, fraud, accident, or unfair conduct.

In this case, all these requirements were present.

Thus, the Court declared deemed reformed the Deeds of Sale and Extrajudicial Settlement and Sale by changing the designation of the property sold from “Lot No. 6036-B” to “Lot 7” and the Abays as absolute owners of such property.

Read the full text of the press release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=169523

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/266298-spouses-genera-and-felipe-abay-sr-et-al-vs-spouses-jacinto-s-young-et-al/

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution

23/07/2026

SC: NOTARIES MUST RECORD EVERY NOTARIZED DOCUMENT IN THE NOTARIAL REGISTRY

A dispute over the ownership of two parcels of land in Batangas led the Supreme Court to examine the validity of a Deed of Absolute Sale that was allegedly executed by an agent in favor of the buyers.

Read the full story in the comments section.