By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

A bill that seeks to extend the mandate of both the Land Court and Bureau of Lands and Surveys had been passed on first reading during the opening of the ninth regular session of the House of Delegates last Tuesday Jan. 9.
Delegates Antonio Bells and Kerai Mariur introduced House Bill No. 7-154-9, which was referred to the committee on Ways and Means and Financial Matters chaired by Bells.
The bill is to amend certain provisions of RPPL No. 6-31 as amended by RPPL No. 7-3.
RPPL 6-31 mandated the BLS and Land Court carry out the monumentation program of the national government within two years time and RPPL 7-3 extended the time period for the program.
The term of the Land Court will expire on February 11, 2008 and the time period for the BLS expires February 11, 2007.
The bill stated that such extension is necessary at this time for the two agencies to perform their duties.
The bill also stated that by request the notice requirement to Palau Consular Offices is repealed.
It said that the notice requirement is cumbersome and unwarranted.
The bill said that the OEK established a six-month transition period where the BLS would expire on August 11,2008 while the Land Court has another six-month period to phase out by Feb. 11, 2009.
The bill said that the Land Court, within a reasonable period of time not to extend beyond Feb. 11, 2009, should proceed on a systematic basis to hold hearings and make determinations with respect to the ownership of all land within the Republic.
It also said that the BLS within a reasonable time period not to extend beyond August 11, 2008, should proceed on a systematic basis to ensure the designation of areas and survey of all lands and the monumentation of all land within the Republic.