Republic Act No. 2439

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

The first paragraph of section two of Republic Act Numbered Fifteen hundred and ninety-seven, otherwise known as the "Tondo Foreshore Land Act of 1956," is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 2. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Public Land Act, as amended, and Proclamation Numbered One hundred eighty-seven of the President of the Philippines, dated June seventeen, nineteen hundred fifty, the Director of Lands, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is hereby authorized and directed to survey and subdivide immediately the lands in the district of Tondo, City of Manila, comprising what is known as the "Tondo Foreshore Land," which is bounded on the North by the Philippine Manufacturing Company compound up to Vitas (Government Tenement Houses); on the East by privately-owned parcels of land from the present Azcarraga Street extension to the Philippine Manufacturing Company compound at Bangkusay Street extending to Vitas (Government Tenement Houses); and the South by the present Azcarraga Street extension; and on the West by that portion of land one hundred meters from the pier line to the East, with the exception of such areas as are reserved by the Government for port facilities, roads and other public uses, into lots in such a manner that every lessee of any lot in said land or bona fide occupant of any parcel thereof will not be deprived of any part of the same, should he decide to buy it under this Act. The Director of Lands is hereby further directed to complete such survey and subdivision within one year from the date of the approval of this Act, after which said Director shall turn over all the pertinent records or papers of said survey and subdivision to the Land Tenure Administration which is hereby authorized and directed to sell without delay and without the necessity of public bidding the lots as subdivided to their respective lessees and bona fide occupants if they are duly qualified to acquire public lands at the time of the approval of Republic Act Numbered Five hundred fifty-nine, or, in the case of vacant lots, to persons, who are not disqualified to acquire public lands: Provided, That those lessees and bona fide occupants who will be deprived of their lots or parcels of land by reason of the opening or widening of streets and alleys by virtue of the subdivision herein provided, shall be given preference, in the order mentioned, in the award or sale of the vacant lots: Provided, further, That if said vacant lots are not enough to accommodate all such lessees and occupants, the award or sale thereof shall be by lot: Provided, further, That if there are lessees or bona fide occupants who, after going through the above procedures, still are unaccommodated, the same shall be given preference to acquire lots on the reclaimed area towards the East of Bangkusay Street, in the district of Tondo, City of Manila, and/or occupy of buy houses in the housing projects of the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation to be established in the district of Tondo, City of Manila."

Section 2

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 21, 1959.