The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said Friday it will roll out 660 legal titles for public school sites this year to secure school lands nationwide.

“When a school has a clear title, it is no longer at risk of being taken or disputed,” DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the initiative to strengthen school facilities and support long-term planning for education.

The project is a joint effort between the DENR and the Department of Education, aimed at protecting school properties and improving infrastructure development.

Under the program, DENR regional and field offices will conduct surveys, verify boundaries with schools and communities, and process documents for special patents or presidential proclamations. The Land Management Bureau will oversee and monitor implementation.

The initiative forms part of DENR’s broader “Handog ng Pangulo: Luntiang Bukas” program, which focuses on land titling, climate-ready housing, green spaces, forest restoration and livelihood support.

Cuna said securing school lands ensures safer classrooms and better planning for future development.

“A titled school lot means safer buildings, better planning, and more opportunities for every child to learn and grow,” he added.