CAGAYAN de Oro City — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 10 has officially dismissed a petition to cancel Xavier University’s (XU) land titles, removing a major legal hurdle for the high-profile "Manresa Town" development partnership with Cebu Landmasters, Inc. (CLI).

In a decisive 13-page resolution dated June 23, 2026, DENR-10 OIC Regional Executive Director Ronald Gadot ruled that the complaint filed by the Concerned Parents, Teachers, Alumni, and Communities (COPTAC) lacks any cogent legal basis.

The local civic group had sought to block the conversion of the campus by demanding the government revert the 64.7-hectare property back to the public domain.

Read also: Lawyer: Reversion still possible, gov’t may take back Manresa

The Core of the Ruling: Why COPTAC’s Claim Failed

COPTAC argued that XU violated the original terms of its 1958 Sales Patent (OCT No. 126) by entering into a joint venture with a for-profit real estate developer to convert institutional land into a commercial and residential complex.

However, the DENR legal division systematically dismantled these claims based on the following findings:

Restrictions Expired Decades Ago: The DENR clarified that the land was acquired via a Sales Patent under Chapter V of the Public Land Act (CA 141). Under Section 29 of the law, statutory prohibitions against the sale or transfer of such lands expire 10 years after the grant. Because the title was issued in 1958, all restrictions on disposal ceased to exist nearly six decades ago.

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No "Perpetual Prohibition" on the Land: The government never intended to place a permanent ban on selling or changing the use of the property. Once the 10-year period lapsed, the land became freely alienable private property.

Commercial Use is Legally Permitted: While the original 1958 text limited corporate land use to educational, religious, or charitable purposes, the DENR highlighted that Section 121 of CA 141 was explicitly amended by Presidential Decree No. 763.

This amendment legalizes corporate acquisitions for commercial and industrial purposes, directly validating the 2021 XU-CLI transaction.

No Evidence of Land Speculation: The DENR rejected COPTAC's accusation of illegal "speculation".

The resolution noted that XU has utilized the land productively for over 60 years and is only selling a 14.3-hectare portion to fund its new 21-hectare "Masterson Campus of the Future," while retaining 29.4 hectares as a green forest reserve.

"The structure of CA 141 fixes definite periods within which the State reserves its interest... it nowhere contemplates that a registered owner shall hold, in perpetuity, a title forever bound by the conditions of its original acquisition."

Xavier University Welcomes Victory for the "Campus of the Future"

Xavier University immediately lauded the DENR-10 resolution, stating that the decision firmly affirms its legal right to own, develop, and maximize the potential of its property.

In an official statement released on June 23, university officials emphasized that the joint venture with CLI is an essential step toward long-term sustainability:

“This project is not merely about putting up buildings; it is a bold, forward-looking vision preparing XU for its next 100 years of educational excellence.”

Proceeds from the 14.3-hectare Manresa Town commercial township will completely finance the state-of-the-art Masterson Campus, ensuring modern educational infrastructure for future generations of students in Northern Mindanao.

Balanced Outlook

As of press time, COPTAC has yet to issue an official statement regarding the DENR's ruling or whether they plan to appeal the decision to the DENR Central Office.