Table 10. Qualifications for free and homestead patent applicants. Qualifications Age Free Patent Homestead patent No age requirement At least 18 years, or head of family Note: If the applicant is a minor, he should be duly represented by his natural parents or legal guardian and has been occupying and cultivating the area applied for either by himself or his predecessors-in-interest Note: A married woman can apply (as per DENR Administrative Order 2002-13) Citizenship Natural-born citizen of the Philippines Citizen of the Philippines Maximum area of landholding Under the Public Land Act (CA 141) of 1936: 24 hectares Under 1973 Constitution: 24 hectares Under RA 9176 (Free Patent Law) of 2002: 12 hectares Note: Under DENR Memorandum Circular 22 dated 20 November 1989, the titling limit was reduced to 5 hectares in line with the RA 6657, or the 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law Under 1987 Constitution: 12 hectares Occupation of the land Must have occupied and cultivated the land for at least 30 years Must have resided for at least one year within, or adjacent to the municipality where the land is located Cultivation of the land Land must be fully cultivated At least 1/5 of the land has been cultivated within six months from the date of approval of application Source: DENR Land Management Bureau (DENR-LMB) Second, non-A&D lands suitable for agro-forestry are awarded by means of 25-year stewardship agreements – through the issuance of Certificates of Stewardship Contract (CSCs) to individual families, and CBFMAs to organizations and local communities. These tenure agreements are renewable for another 25 years. CBFM aims to provide security of tenure to forest communities in using and developing forestland and resources for 25 years. CBFM areas are lands classified as forest lands including allowable zones within the protected areas not covered by prior vested rights. DENR in partnership with the LGU is: a) responsible for identifying potential CBFM sites; b) planning forest land uses with communities; c) endorsing and issuing CBFMAs; d) organizing and preparing CBFM communities for their CBFMAs; e) provide technical assistance and skills training for CBFM communities; and, f ) monitor progress and environmental impact of CBFM activities. As for the people’s organizations (POs), their roles involving CBFM communities include: a) joining DENR and LGU in making a forest land use plan and preparing a Community Resources Management Framework (CRMF) including the mission and objectives of POs; b) represent the interest of their forest communities; and, c) protect and maintain forest land entrusted to their stewardship. Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC) 67