Many legal-sounding words are being tossed about, which could also affect other paradise islands in the Philippines. It is said that February of last year the NAMRIA (National Mapping and Resource Authority) counted 7,507 and only 2000 are inhabited while the rest are not and have no names. Enough for carpetbaggers, hackneyed politicians and rent-seeking bureaucrats to play in. On November 6, 1902 the Land Registration Act was passed by the Philippine Commission and on February 11, 1913 the Cadastral Act was passed. On July 14, 1932 some of the lands of the Heirs of Lamberto Tirol were originally titled. In 1933 some of the lands of the Heirs of Ciriaco H. Tirol were titled (Secretary of DENR v. Yap, 568 SCRA 164, 197 – 2008). Many owners of private lands were similarly situated. Landowners were slow to take advantage of the registration laws due to lack of publicity, defective surveys, and administrative and legal expenses and deficiencies. Many private lands in the country are still untitled.

Tirol, C. T. (2018, April 24). Boracay lands – parameters of use (1st of 3 parts). The Daily Guardian, pp. 4, 5.