NATRES CLASS DISCUSSIONSSY 2015-2016Chavez v. Public Estates AuthorityAssigned Readings:1. Separateopinionof justice PunoCruz and Europa v. Secretaryfocuson Regalian !octrine". Ayog v. Cusi#. Republic v. $%C &une "'( 1')"*. Republic v. +uasha Aug 1,( 1',"-. .R %o. 11#-#' /arch 1"( 1'').RA!E! REC$0 %10 2$34 The Regalian Doctrine and RelatedConcepts in the 1987 Consti.RE.A5$A% !6C0R$%E or &7RA RE.A5$A this doctrine ta8es its roots fro9 theSpanish colonization here in the country.:asically( eventually incorporated in ourConstitutions ;1'#-( 1',# and 1'),uest of the Philippines(o=nershipof all lands( territories andpossessions of the Philippines passed tothe Spanish Cro=n. /ay iba 8ase na ifyou are being as8ed of =hat is or ho=do you define the Regalian !octrine(so9e =ould e?plain it in relation to ho=it =as used in the Spanish treaties=hich is o8ay for our purposes on%atural Resources but =e relate that toho= it is being incorporated in the 1'),Constitution=hich=e@ll learnlateron.So Chavez pronouced that the King asthe sovereign ruler andrepresentative of the peopleacquired all lands and territories inthe Philippines except those hedisposed of by grant or sale toprivateindividuals.0he 1'#-( 1',#and 1'), Constitutions adopted theRegalian !octrine substituting the Statein lieu of the 3ing. 3asebefore( all lands and=atersareo=ned by the Cro=nA3ing. So that@s thephrasing before. CHAVEZ vs. PEA and AAR! "#.R.$o. 1%%&'() *+l, 9) &((&) en -ancdecision./acts0%ove9ber"B(1',#:Co99issionerofPublic Cigh=ays( signed a contract =iththe Construction and !evelop9entCorporationof thePhilippines ;DC!CPDfor brevity< to reclai9 certain foreshoreandoffshoreareasof /anila:ay.0hecontract alsoincludedtheconstructionof Phases $ and $$ of the /anilaCaviteCoastal Road. C!CPobligateditself tocarry out all the =or8s in considerationof fiftypercent of thetotal reclai9edland.Eebruary *( 1',,: /arcos issuedPresidential !ecree %o. 1B)* creatingPEA=ithpri9ary9andateDtoreclai9land( including foreshore and sub9ergedareas(D and Dto develop( i9prove(ac>uire( ? ? ? lease and sell any and all8inds of lands.D 6n the sa9e date( Presidential !ecree%o. 1B)- =as signed transferring to PEAthe Dlands reclai9ed in the foreshoreandoffshoreof the/anila:ayDunderthe /anilaCavite Coastal Road andRecla9ation Project ;/CCRRPue City. 0he Ereedo9 $slands have a total land1-,.)*1 hectares. April "-( 1''-: PEA entered into a &GA=ith A/AR$ to develop the Ereedo9$slands. 0he &GA also re>uired therecla9ation of an additional "-Bhectares of sub9erged areassurroundingtheseislands toco9pletethe configuration in the /aster!evelop9ent Plan of the SouthernRecla9ation Project/CCRRP. 0he &GA=as entered =ithout public bidding.April ",( 1''): petitioner Chavez( asta?payer(filed a petition for 9anda9uscontending that the govern9ent standstolosebillionsof pesosinthesalebyPEA of the reclai9ed lands to A/AR$. Petitioner assails the sale to A/AR$ oflands of the public do9ain as a blatantviolation of Section #( Article 1$$ of the1'), Constitution prohibiting the sale ofalienable lands of the public do9ain toprivate corporations. April ")( 1''-: PEA:oardconfir9edthe &GA.&une)( 1''-( Pres. Ra9os approvedthe &GA.%ove9ber "'( 1''H: then Senate Pres./aceda delivered a privilege speechcalling the&GAastheDgrand9otherofall sca9s.I A senate investigationfollo=ed. /arch #B( 1''': PEA and A/AR$signed the A9ended &oint GentureAgree9ent./ay ")( 1''': President Estradaapproved the A9ended &GA.0he A9ended &GA covers a recla9ationarea of ,-B hectares. 6nly 1-,.)*hectares of the ,-Bhectare recla9ationproject havebeenreclai9ed( andtherest of the -'".1- hectares are stillsub9erged areas for9ing part of /anila:ay. 7nder the A9ended&GA( A/AR$ =illrei9burse PEA the su9 ofP1()'*(1"'("BB.BB for PEAJs DactualcostD in partially reclai9ing the Ereedo9$slands. A/AR$ =ill alsoco9plete( at its o=ne?pense( the recla9ation of theEreedo9 $slands. A/AR$ =ill furthershoulder all the recla9ation costs of allthe other areas( totaling -'".1-hectares( still to be reclai9ed. A/AR$ and PEA =ill share( in theproportion of ,B percent and #Bpercent( respectively( the total netusable area =hich is defined in theA9ended &GA as the total reclai9edarea less #B percent ear9ar8ed forco99on areas.7nder the A9ended &GA A/AR$ =illac>uireando=na9a?i9u9of #H,.-hectares of reclai9ed land =hich =ill betitled in its na9e. !ss+e02CE0CER0CES0$P75A0$6%S$% 0CE A/E%!E! &6$%0 GE%07REA.REE/E%0 E6R 0CE 0RA%SEER 06A/AR$ 6E CER0A$% 5A%!S( REC5A$/E!A%! S0$55 06 :E REC5A$/E!( G$65A0E0CE 1'), C6%S0$070$6%.Celd: 0he o=nership of lands reclai9edfro9 foreshore and sub9erged areas isrootedinthe Regaliandoctrine =hichholds that the State o=ns all lands and=aters of the public do9ain. Co99on=ealth Act %o. 1*1( also 8no=nNATRES CLASS DISCUSSIONSSY 2015-2016as the Public 5and Act( =hich authorizedthe lease( but not the sale( of reclai9edlands of the govern9ent to corporationsand individuals. CA %o. 1*1 continues tothisdayasthegeneral la=governingthe classification and disposition of landsof the public do9ain. 0he State policy prohibiting the sale toprivate parties of govern9ent reclai9ed(foreshore and 9arshy alienable lands ofthe public do9ain( first i9ple9ented in1'B, =as thus reaffir9ed in CA %o. 1*1after the 1'#- Constitution too8 effect .Eoreshorelands beca9einalienableasnatural resources of theState( unlessreclai9ed by the govern9ent andclassified as agricultural lands of thepublic do9ain( in =hich case they =ouldfall under the classification ofgovern9ent reclai9ed lands. After the effectivity of the 1'#-Constitution( govern9ent reclai9ed and9arshydisposablelands of thepublicdo9ain continued to be only leased andnot sold to private parties. 0hese lands re9ained sui generis( asthe only alienable or disposable lands ofthe public do9ain the govern9ent couldnot sell to private parties. Since then and until no=( the only =aythe govern9ent can sell to privateparties govern9ent reclai9ed and9arshydisposablelands of thepublicdo9ainisforthelegislaturetopassala= authorizing such sale. CA %o. 1*1 does not authorize thePresident to reclassify govern9entreclai9edand9arshylandsintoothernonagriculturallands under Section -';duired fro9the State. 0hese govern9ent units and entitiesshould not just turn around and sellthese lands to private parties in violationof constitutional or statutory li9itations.0he 1'), Constitution continues theState policy in the 1',# Constitutionbanning private corporations fro9ac>uiringany8indof alienablelandofthe public do9ain. 5i8e the 1',#Constitution( the 1'), Constitutionallo=s private corporations to holdalienable lands of the public do9ain onlythrough lease.6ne purpose of the constitutionalprohibitionagainst purchases of publicagricultural lands by privatecorporations is to e>uitably diffuse lando=nership or to encourage Jo=nercultivatorship and the econo9icfa9ilysize far9J. Cuge landholdings bycorporations or private persons hadspa=ned social unrest.D 0heA9ended&GAcoversnot onlytheEreedo9 $slands( but also an additional-'".1- hectares =hich are stillsub9ergedandfor9ingpart of /anila:ay. 0here is no legislative or Presidential actclassifying these sub9erged areas asalienable or disposable lands of thepublic do9ain open to disposition. 0here can be no dispute that thesesub9erged areas for9 part of the publicdo9ain( andintheirpresentstateareNATRES CLASS DISCUSSIONSSY 2015-2016inalienable and outside the co99erce of9an.0he 9ere fact that alienable lands of thepublic do9ain li8e the Ereedo9 $slandsare transferredto PEAand issued landpatentsor certificatesof titleinPEAJsna9e does not auto9atically 9a8e suchlands private. 0o allo= vast areas of reclai9ed lands ofthepublicdo9aintobetransferredtoPEA as private lands =ill sanction agross violation of the constitutional banonprivatecorporations fro9ac>uiringany 8ind of alienable land of the publicdo9ain.12AR3 4/ THE R25!$#00he 1-,.)* hectares of reclai9ed landsco9prising the Ereedo9$slands( no=covered by certificates of title in thena9e of PEA( are alienable lands of thepublic do9ain. PEA 9ay lease theselands toprivatecorporations but 9aynotsell ortransfero=nershipof theselandstoprivatecorporations.PEA9ayonly sell these lands to Philippinecitizens( subject to the o=nershipli9itations in the 1'), Constitution ande?isting la=s. 0he -'".1- hectares of sub9ergedareasof /anila:ayre9aininalienablenatural resourcesof thepublicdo9ainuntil classified as alienable or disposablelandsopentodispositionanddeclaredno longer needed for public service. 0hegovern9ent can 9a8e suchclassificationanddeclarationonlyafterPEA has reclai9ed these sub9ergedareas. 6nly then can these lands >ualifyas agricultural lands of the publicdo9ain( =hich are the only naturalresources the govern9ent can alienate.$n their present state( the -'".1-hectares of sub9erged areas areinalienable and outside the co99erce of9an. Since the A9ended &GA see8s totransfer to A/AR$( a private corporation(o=nership of ,,.#* hectares of theEreedo9$slands( suchtransfer isvoidforbeingcontrarytoSection#(Article1$$ of the 1'), Constitution =hichprohibits private corporations fro9ac>uiringany8indof alienablelandofthe public do9ain. SincetheA9ended&GAalsosee8s totransfer to A/AR$ o=nership of "'B.1-Hhectares of still sub9erged areas of/anila :ay( such transfer is void forbeingcontrary to Section "( Article 1$$of the 1'), Constitution =hich prohibitsthe alienation of natural resources otherthan agricultural lands of the publicdo9ain. PEA 9ay reclai9 thesesub9erged areas. 0hereafter( thegovern9ent canclassifythereclai9edlands as alienable or disposable( andfurtherdeclarethe9nolongerneededforpublicservice. Still( thetransfer ofsuch reclai9ed alienable lands of thepublic do9ain to A/AR$ =illbe void invie= of Section #( Article 1$$ of the 1'),Constitution =hich prohibits privatecorporations fro9 ac>uiring any 8ind ofalienable land of the public do9ain. CHAVEZ vs. PEA and AAR! "#.R.$o. 1%%&'() $ove6-er 11) &((%Resol+tion o7 R.Sub9ergedlands( li8ethe=aters;seaor bay< above the9( are part of theState@s inalienable natural resources.Sub9erged lands are property of publicdo9inion( absolutely inalienable andoutsidetheco99erceof 9an. 0hisisalso true =ith respect to foreshorelands. Any sale of sub9erged orforeshore lands is void being contrary tothe Constitution.Co99on=ealth Act %o. 1*1( Dforeshoreandlandsunder=ater=erenottobealienated and sold to private parties(D PEA is the central i9ple9enting agencytas8ed to underta8e recla9ationprojects nation=ide. PEA too8 the place of the !epart9ent ofNATRES CLASS DISCUSSIONSSY 2015-2016Environ9ent and %atural Resources;D!E%RD for brevity< as the govern9entagencycharged=ithleasingor sellingall reclai9ed lands of the public do9ain.$nthehandsof PEA( =hichtoo8overthe leasing and selling functions of!E%R( reclai9ed foreshore ;orsub9erged lands< lands are public landsinthesa9e9anner that thesesa9elands=ouldhavebeenpubliclandsinthe hands of !E%R.0his sche9e=ill effectivelynullifytheconstitutional baninSection#( Article1$$ of the 1'), Constitution =hich =asintended to diffuse e>uitably theo=nership of alienable lands of thepublic do9ain a9ong Eilipinos( no=nu9bering over )B 9illion strong. As =e held in our ' &uly "BB" !ecision(the A9ended &GA Dviolates glaringlySections " and #( Article 1$$ of the 1'),Constitution.I$n our H /ay "BB# Resolution( =e!E%$E! =ith E$%A5$0K respondents@/otionsfor Reconsideration. 5itigations9ust end so9e ti9e. $t is no= ti9e to=ritefinis tothisD.rand9other of AllSca9s.D 0o allo= vast areas of reclai9ed lands ofthepublicdo9aintobetransferredtoPEA as private lands =ill sanction agross violation of the constitutional banonprivatecorporations fro9ac>uiringany 8ind of alienable land of the publicdo9ain.PEA =ill si9ply turn around( as PEA hasno= done under the A9ended &GA( andtransfer several hundreds of hectares ofthese reclai9ed and still to be reclai9edlands toasingleprivate corporation inonly one transaction. 0he Regalian !octrine is the foundationof the ti9ehonored principle of lando=nershipthatall landsthat=erenotac>uired fro9 the govern9ent either bypurchase or by grant belong to thepublic do9ain. Sono=it is presentlyincorporated under Section "( Article 1"or the %A0$6%A5 EC6%6/K LPA0R$/6%K 6E 0CE 1'),C6%S0$070$6%.$/P6R0A%04 0he 1st sentence of Section". Article 12, Section 2, 1987 Constitution. All lands o7 the p+-lic do6ain)8aters) 6inerals) coal) petrole+6)and other 6ineral oils) all 7orces o7potential energ, 7isheries) 7orests orti6-er) 8ildli7e) 7lora and 7a+na) andothernat+ral reso+rcesareo8ned-, the1tate.2ith the e?ception ofagricultural lands( all other naturalresources shall not be alienated. 0hee?ploration( develop9ent( and utilizationof naturalresources shallbe under thefull control and supervision of the State.0heState9aydirectlyunderta8esuchactivities( or it 9ay enter into coproduction( joint venture( or productionsharing agree9ents =ith Eilipinocitizens( or corporations or associationsat least si?ty percentu9 of =hosecapitalis o=ned by such citizens. Suchagree9ents 9ay be for a period note?ceedingt=entyfive years(rene=ablefor not 9orethant=entyfiveyears(and under such ter9s and conditions as9aybeproovidedbyla=.$ncasesof=ater rights for irrigation( =ater supply(fisheries( or industrial usesother thanthe develop9ent of =ater po=er(beneficial use 9ay be the 9easure andli9it of the grant.0he State shall protect the nation@s9ariti9e =ealth in its archipelagic=aters( territorial sea( and e?clusiveecono9ic zone( and reserve its use andenjoy9ent e?clusively to Elipino citizens.0he Congress 9ay( by la=( allo= s9allscale utilization of naturalresources byEilipino citizens( as =ell as cooperrativefish far9ing( =ith priority subsistencefisher9en and fish=or8ers in rivers(la8es( bays( and lagoons.NATRES CLASS DISCUSSIONSSY 2015-20160he President 9ay enter intoagree9ents =iith foreigno=nedcorporations involving either techinicalor financial assistance forlarge scalee?ploration( develop9ent( utilizationof9inerals(petroleu9(andother 9ineraloils according to the general ter9s andconditions provided by la=( based onrealcontributions to the econo9icgro=th and general =elfare of thecountry. $n such agree9ents( the Stateshall pro9ote the develop9ent and useof local( scientific and technicalresources.0he President shallnotify the Congressof every contract entered into inaccordance =ith this provision( =ithin #Bdays fro9 its e?ecution. :asically(Section "tal8sofcoursethe1stportion =ould be the Regalian!octrine. And then( the succeedingsentences actually tal8 of theConstitutional li9itations of thee?ploration( develop9ent and utilizationof natural resources. 0his is perhaps thecoreof ourinitial studyinthe5a=of%atural Resources. Section " is veryi9portant.So =e start =ith start =ith the conceptof Regalian !octrine as provided in the1stsentence and the li9itations asprovided in the succeeding sentences. So =hen =e discuss Section "( of Article1" of the present Constitution( =e ta8enote of these concepts ofimperiumand dominium. A. !PER!29the gov@t authorityposessed by the State e?pressed in theconcept of sovereignty. :. D4!$!29the capacity of theState to o=n and ac>uire property.0hisprinciple of dominiumisbasically the foundation of theRE#A5!A$D4CTR!$Eunder Section". So A55 %A07RA5 RES67RCES are62%E! :K 0CE S0A0E. So =e all 8no= that under the presentConstitution( as phrasedinSection"(the Regalian !octrine is already strippedoff of its 9edieval connotations( li8eyung paano cya narelate to the Cro=n(to the 3ing or to the +ueen. Soalthough the !octrine is still phrased asthe Regalian !octrine( pertaining to theCro=n( the 3ing or the +ueen( basically(for concept purposes =ala na cya. $t isbeing substituted by the concept of theState. !P4RTA$T 5E#A5 C4$1E;2E$CE14/ THE RE#A5!A$ D4CTR!$E01. Anypersonclai9inganyportionofthe public do9ainmustbe able tosho8 title 7ro6 the 1tate. E