Guidelines on the Electronic Filing of Pleadings and Documents in Land Claims and Conflicts Cases

DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-14

Subject: Guidelines on the Electronic Filing of Pleadings and Documents in Land Claims and Conflicts Cases

Signed: April 30, 2025 . Published: Daily Tribune, May 9, 2025 . Acknowledged: ONAR, U.P. Law Center, June 4, 2025

Legal Basis

Executive Order No. 192, s. 1987; RA 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act); Supreme Court A.M. No. 10-3-7-SC and No. 11-9-4-SC (electronic copies and the Efficient Use of Paper Rule); and DAO 2016-31 (Procedure in the Investigation and Resolution of Land Claims and Conflicts Cases).

SECTION 3. Scope

All new and pending land claims and conflicts cases before CENROs, Implementing PENROs, DENR-NCR, and the Land Management Bureau, covering answers, replies, rejoinders, position papers, comments, motions, petitions, compliances, manifestations, and submissions. The initial protest must still be filed personally.

SECTION 5. Official E-mail Addresses

Each concerned DENR office creates a dedicated e-filing address using the format (Office)(Place)(Region)efiling@(provider), and maintains an Official E-mail Registry of party addresses.

SECTION 6. Electronic Filing by Parties

• Parties opting in submit a Request for E-mail Registration (Annex A) with a designated e-mail and one mobile number; they may still file by other modes under DAO 2016-31.
• Copies must first be personally served on the opposing party, with proof of service attached.
• DENR orders, notices, resolutions, and decisions continue to be served personally, by registered mail, or by private courier.
• Documents are filed in PDF using a prescribed file-naming format; attachments over 25 MB are sent in labeled batches, and maps that cannot be uploaded may be filed personally or by courier. A Declaration (Annex E) certifies copies as true.
• Filing periods remain governed by DAO 2016-31.

SECTION 7. Processing

• E-mails received before the end of the day, even after office hours, are deemed received that day.
• The Records Officer prints and transmits submissions within one day; the action officer evaluates within three days whether the filing used the registered address and was timely, then acknowledges or notifies the party of defects.
• Electronic submissions are compared with parties' copies at the Preliminary Conference or a Clarificatory Hearing; failure to supply omitted pages despite notice is deemed a waiver.
• A Preliminary Conference Order (Annex I) sets out mandatory ADR schedules, admitted facts, issues, evidence, and the ocular inspection date.

Effectivity

Takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon receipt by ONAR.

Signed by Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga. Summary prepared by EnviSynergy from the official DENR issuance; refer to the full text for binding provisions.