Manila, March 11 -- The Ilocos Norte government continues to give free patents to all eligible residents who have been occupying alienable and disposable but untitled lands for a very long time.

Among the latest beneficiaries were 447 individuals who got hold of their free patents at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena on Monday afternoon, Evalaudia Duyor, acting provincial assessor of Ilocos Norte, said in a media interview on Tuesday.

"More could have been awarded with their original certificate of land titles but some are still being processed," Duyor said.

The distribution of free patents has been a program of the provincial government since 2011, in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, to resolve iss...