LAND REGISTRATION AUTHORITY
> To have a more efficient execution of the laws relative to the registration of lands, geared to the massive and accelerated land reform and social justice program of the government
> Headed by an Administrator, who shall be assisted by 2 Deputy Administrators
> All of whom shall be appointed by the President through the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice
> All other officials except the Register of Deeds shall be appointed by the Secretary of Justice upon recommendation of the Administrator
FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY
1. Extend speedy and effective assistance to the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Land Bank, and other agencies in the implementation of the land reform program of the government
2. Extend assistance to courts in ordinary or cadastral land registration proceedings
3. Be the central repository of records relative to original registration of lands titled under the Torrens system, including subdivision and consolidation plans of titled lands
FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR
1. Issue decrees of registration pursuant to final judgments of the courts in land registration proceedings and cause the issuance by the Register of Deeds of the corresponding certificates of title
2. Exercise supervision and control over all Registers of Deeds and other personnel of the Commission
3. Resolve cases elevated en consulta by, or on appeal from a decision of a Register of Deeds
4. Exercise executive supervision over all clerks of courts and personnel of the CFI throughout the Philippines with respect to the discharge of duties and functions in relation to the registration of lands
5. Implements all orders, decision, and decrees promulgated related to the registration of lands and issue, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Justice, all needful rules and regulations therefor
6. Verify and approve subdivision, consolidation, and consolidationsubdivision survey plans of properties titled under Act 496 except those covered by PD 957
7. Discretionary functions
LRA ADMINISTRATOR, AN EXECUTIVE OFFICER WITH JUDICIAL RANK
> Functions are plainly executive and subject to the President’s power of supervision and control
> He can be investigated and removed only by the President
> If the legislature really intended to include the grant of privileges or rank or privileges of Judges of CFI the right to be investigated by the SC, and to be suspended or removed only upon recommendation of that court, then such grant of privileges would be unconstitutional as it would violate then fundamental doctrine of separation of powers
> W/N the resolution en consulta is a judicial function, as contrasted with an administrative process?
> Resolution consultas are only binding to all Registers of Deeds and not to other parties and assuming that it is quasi-judicial in nature, it is merely incidental or minimal to the overall functions of the Administrator
DUTY OF LRA TO ISSUE DECREE NOT COMPELLABLE BY MANDAMUS
> It is ministerial in the sense that they act under the orders of the ccourt and the decree must be in conformity with the decision of the court and with the data found in the record, as to which they have no discretion on the matter
> If they are in doubt upon any point in relation to the preparation and issuances of such decree, it is their duty to refer the matter to court
> In the above respect, then they act as officials of the court but their acts are the acts of the court itself
> The issuance of a decree of registration is part of the judicial function and is not compellable by mandamus because it involves the exercise of discretion
> The duty to render reports is not limited to the period before a decision becomes final, but may extend ever after its finality but not beyond the scope of one year from the entry of the decree
