THE Supreme Court ruled that open spaces and road lots inside subdivisions don’t automatically become government property without a written deed of donation.
In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, the Court’s Second Division affirmed that the Quezon City government failed to prove ownership of common areas in Capital Park Homes Subdivision (CPHS).
The case stemmed from a petition filed by Rainier Madrid, a Quezon City taxpayer and resident of a nearby subdivision, who questioned the use of public funds to improve the CPHS properties. He argued that developer VV Soliven never executed a deed of donation transferring the areas to the city, which made them private rather than public property.
While the city government cited a 1964 ordinance that required subdivision developers to allocate 6 percent of their land for public use before plan approval, the Court stressed that compliance with the ordinance doesn’t replace the legal requirement of a written donation.
The Capital Park Homeowners Association admitted there was no deed of donation but pointed to a board resolution acknowledging the supposed turnover. The Regional Trial Court initially dismissed Madrid’s petition for lack of standing, but the Court of Appeals reversed the ruling, finding merit in his challenge., This news data comes from:http://erlvyiwan.com
The Supreme Court upheld the appellate court, ruling that local governments must show a valid transfer of property through a deed of donation and proof of acceptance under the Civil Code. Without such documents, ownership remains with the subdivision developer.
Court rules on subdivision open spaces, road lots
”The donation of subdivision land to a local government unit must be in writing for ownership to be transferred,” the Court said, reiterating that local ordinances alone can’t establish government ownership.
- Searchers retrieve bodies as Afghan quake toll seen to rise
- Lacson clears air over conflict with Marcoleta on flood control probe
- House panel defers 2026 DPWH budget until agency submit changes
- Australia's mushroom murderer faces victims' family in court
- Lookout bulletins out vs Atong Ang, Barretto
- Japan PM decides to quit as opponents seek leadership election: reports
- US Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy again
- Lone bettor wins P86M in 6/42 lotto draw for Sept 6
- MMDA proposes rainwater facilities in Camp Aguinaldo to mitigate EDSA flooding
- Comelec upholds cancelation of Duterte Youth registration
