Professional Documents
Culture Documents
All things which are or may be the as real property those “real rights over
object of appropriation are considered either: immovable property”
3. in the provision of paragraph 1 of Article 417
1. Immovable or real property; or of the New Civil Code which classifies as
personal property “obligations and actions
which have for their object movables or
2. Movable or personal property. (333) demandable sums.”
Par. 7 “Fertilizers”
Par. 5 “Machineries, receptacles, instruments or
- it must actually be used on the land,
implements ...”
fertilizer kept in the farmhouse are not
- are essentially movables but by reason
immovable.
of their purpose — they being destined
for use in the industry or work in the Par. 8 “Mines,quarries,slag,dumps,waters”
tenement — they are converted into real
- they are considered immovable
properties.
property, once separated they are no
- REQUISITES:
longer mines but minerals and
1. They must be machinery,
considered personal.
receptacles, instruments or
implements;
- Waters referred here are those found in
2. They must be placed by the
their natural beds such as flowing
owner of the tenement or by
streams, rivers or canals.
his agent;
3. There must be an industry or
Par. 9 “Docks and structures”
work carried in such building or
- they are considered as immovables as
on the piece of land; and
long as they are intended by their nature
4. They must tend directly to
and object to remain at a fixed place.
meet the needs of said
industry work.
4. Immovable by ANALOGY or LAW
General Rule: the Supreme Court held that machinery
which is movable by nature becomes immobilized - Rights as property provided that the
when placed by the owner of the tenement, property same is patrimonial in nature:
or plant, but not so when placed by tenant, - “patrimonial” owned by the state in its
usufructuary, or any other person having only a private capacity.
temporary right, unless such person acted as the 1. Real Rights- the owner belonging to a
agent of the owner. person over a specific thing, it is enforceable
against the whole world (contract)
Exception: if in the contract of lease it is stipulated 2. Personal Rights- power belonging to one
that such machinery, receptacles, instruments or person to demand of another, the fulfillment
implements placed there by the lessee will become, of a prestation to give, to do or not to do.
at the termination of the lease, the property of the (obligation)
lessor for in that case they will be considered as
immovable property since in placing them the lessee Whether a right is personal or real property shall
will just be merely acting as an agent of the lessor. depend on:
a. whether it is a personal or real RIGHT, and
- it is necessary that they must be b. whether the SUBJECT MATTER thereof is a
“essential” and “principal” elements of personal or real property.
the industry or works without which such - With respect to personal rights, it will
industry or works would be unable to fall under personal property regardless
function or carry on the industrial of the subject matter thereof.
purpose for which it was established.
- With respect to real rights - depends on
its subject matter
a. Aside from the element of essentiality, 1. If the subject matter of the real
b. paragraph 5 of Article 415 also requires that right is a real property, then
the industry or works be carried on in a such real right is a real
building or on a piece of land. property.
In relation to persons and entities other than the State For a property of the State to fall under public
and its political subdivisions (or private persons, dominion, it is not necessary that the same be
either individually or collectively), actually used for some public use or for some
- their properties are denominated as that public service.
of private ownership
An intention to devote it to public use is sufficient
Art. 420. The following things are property of public and it is not necessary that it must actually be used as
dominion: such.
(1) torrents, ports and bridges constructed by the
State, banks, shores, road- steads, and others of
similar character; Public Use v. Public Service
(2) Those which belongs to the State, without being - public use which is not confined to
for public use, and are intended for some public privileged individuals, but is open to the
service or for the development of indefinite public. Public use may be
the national wealth. (339a) used indiscriminately by the public.
- While the public service although used
CLASSIFICATION OF PUBLIC DOMINION for the benefit of the public, cannot be
There are three kinds of property of public dominion: used indiscriminately by anyone but only
1. those that are intended for public use; by those that are authorized by proper
2. those that are intended for some public authority.
service; and
3. those that are intended for the The “roads” referred to under Article 420(1) of the
development of national wealth. New Civil Code are the national highways and roads
constructed and maintained by the national
“PUBLIC DOMINION” government through the Department of Public
- is to be viewed as referring to public Worksand Highways. Provincial, city and municipal
ownership in relation to the properties of roads and streets.
the State intended for public use or for
some public service mentioned in On the other hand, are properties of public dominion
paragraph numbers (1) and (2) of Article of the local government unit concerned and are
420. governed by Article 424 of the Civil Code andthe
- Since the ownership of these properties provisions of the Local Government Code.
belong to the public in general and not
to the State, the latter may not make
them the object of commerce unless The term “ports” in Article 420(1) of the New Civil
they are properly converted into Code includes seaports and airports. The MIAA
patrimonial. properties pursuant to the Airport Lands and Buildings constitute a “port”
constructed by the State. Hence, they are properties
4. They cannot be burdened with voluntary Art. 423. The property of provinces, cities, and
easements municipalities isdivided into property for public use
and patrimonial property. (343)
Art. 421. All other property of the State, which is not
of the character stated in the preceding article, is Property for public use and patrimonial property.
patrimonial property. (340a) - The first consists of the provincial roads,
city streets, municipal streets, squares,
- All other property of the State, which is fountains, public waters, promenades,
not of the character stated in Article 420 and public works for public service paid
of the New Civil Code, is patrimonial for by said provinces, cities or
property. municipalities.
- It is considered as a property of the - All other property possessed by said
State in what may be called the private provinces, cities or municipalities is
sense. patrimonial.
- It is said that over this kind of property - The nature of properties owned by cities
the State has the same rights and has (municipalities and provinces) in this
the same power of disposition as private country is determined by the character
individuals subject, of course, to existing of the use or service for which they are
rules and regulations. intended or devoted.
- Examples of Patrimonial Prop: - Properties which are intended for public
1. Friar Lands use or for some public service are
2. Alienable and disposable lands properties for public use.
of the public domain
3. Lands covered by RA 7227 All others are patrimonial properties.
- It was held in Laurel v. Garcia, that any
conveyance of a real property falling It matters not that the property is not actually devoted
under the patrimonial property of the for public use or for some public
State must be authorized and service.
approved by a law enacted by the
Congress. Art. 424. Property for public use, in the provinces,
- Hence, in the case of Laurel, the Court cities, and municipalities, consists of the provincial
held that even if the Roppongi property roads, city streets, municipal streets,the squares,
is patrimonial property of the State, then fountains, public waters, promenades, and public
President Corazon Aquino could not sell works for public service paid for by said provinces,
it since there was no law authorizing her cities, or municipalities.
to do so.
All other property possessed by any of them is
- Consequently, unless the law patrimonial and shall be governed by this Code,
expressly provides, a patrimonial without prejudice to the provisions of special
property of the State is not subject to laws. (344a)
acquisitive prescription.
- An example of a law that allows the - The property of provinces, cities and
acquisition of patrimonial properties of municipalities for public use is governed
the State by way of acquisitive by the same principles as property of
prescription is Commonwealth Act No. public dominion ofthe same character.
141 which authorizes confirmation of
imperfect title. - Hence, the following jurisprudence or
- The adverse possession which may be principles are applicable to properties of
the basis of a grant of title in the political subdivisions (provinces,
confirmation of im- perfect title cases, cities and municipalities) for public use:
however, applies only to alienable
lands of the public domain— which 1. They are outside the
fall under the patrimonial properties of commerce of man.Being
the State. outside the commerce of man,
it cannot be alienated or leased
or otherwise be the subject
matter of contracts.
PRIVATE OWNERSHIP