PLOTTING

In plotting simple technical description of surveys appearing on the title, consult any acknowledge-able or experienced person, a Geodetic or Civil Engineer or an Architect.  However, for purposes of simply having a reference plan for any particular land with four corners, you may try to plot the map plan as follows:

1. Determine the proper or ideal scale to be used.  Analyze the suitable measurements that will possibly fit with the center of your drawing paper.  Normally, lots more than 1000 square meters in area, a scale of 1:200 up to 1:400 is used.  For larger lot areas, a higher scale of 1:500 or up is used.
2. using a triangular scale in circular or half circular protractor, plot and draw the boundary lines based on every bearing and distance between every corner indicated on the technical description of title.
3. Always orient the protractor towards the north and start planning from corner 1 up to the last corner, the bearing indicated in the lot description.  Then using the triangular scale, measure and draw the distance indicated therein.
4. Continue the same process from one corner or line to another up to the last corner line until it meets corner 1 which is the point of beginning.  This process should be done accurately to render the results correct.  Otherwise, plotting becomes a trial and error process which is costly in terms of time and material.
5. If accurately done, you can proceed in indicating the corner numbers, bearings and distances, lot areas, lot and block numbers, not only of the subject property but also the adjoining lots as indicated in the technical description of the title.

LAND TITLES IN RELATION TO MAPS OR PLANS

A.      TORRENS TITLE TO LAND is issued as evidence of ownership under the Torrens system of registration in accordance with the Public Land Act and Registration Laws.  Titles of ownership originate from approved plans, surveys and decrees issued by the LRA and/or judicial courts such as land patents, private subdivision surveys and other methods of surveys.

B.      Commonly Used Survey Symbols appearing on the approved plans and in titles:

1.  Plans approved by the Land Registration Authority

• (LRC) Psd - Private subdivision of titles and properties
• (LRC) Pcs - Private Consolidation - subdivision of titled properties

2.  Plans approved by the Bureau of Land Management

• Psd - Private Subdivision of titled properties
• Pcs - Private - consolidation subdivision of titled properties
• H - Homestead patents
• FPA - Free Patent Application
• PSU - Private Original Surveys
• AP - Advanced Plans
• GSS - Group Settlement Survey
• PLS - Public Land Subdivision
• CAD - Cadastral Land Subdivision
• SWO - Special Work Order
• AMD - Amended Survey

3.  Other Survey Symbols and Common Tie Points

• BLLM - Bureau of Land Location Monument
• BLBM - Bureau of Land Barrio Boundary Monument
• LM - Location Monument
• CBM - City Boundary Monument
• PBM - Provincial Boundary Monument
• BBM - Barrio Boundary Monument
• OCT - Original Certificate of Title
• TCT - Transfer Certificate of Title

COMMON MAPS OR PLANS USED IN THE REALTY PROFESSION AND ITS CONTENTS

Subdivision maps/plans or schemes are normally prepared as a sales control plan and contain the following data:

a.  Blocks, lots and subdivision plan numbers.

• Road lot numbers/street layout and names
• Open spaces and layout of subdivision facilities
• Lot areas
• Entrance/exit gates and perimeter or boundary lines
• Names of subdivision, location, scale
• Sales legend and other features of the project
• Name of selling Brokers/Realtors and the Owner/ developer company
• Office address and telephone numbers

b. Topography (contour) maps is also a land survey map containing the details of the topography or condition of the land or natural contour of the terrain.

c.  A prepared vicinity or location plan contains the following:

• Lot plan with bearing and distances
• The lines or points of reference
• Corners and boundary lines
• Lot plans and plan numbers
• Name of owners and claimants
• Location and distance from the nearest main road
• Scale, meridian and area
• Certification of the Surveyor/Geodetic Engineer

d.  Greater Manila Area maps are prepared in loose pages or bookbound like the "INS" and "OUTS" which cover the four cities and municipalities or provinces.

e.  Cadastral or public land subdivision (PLS) maps ar eland surveys or large magnitude covering hundreds and thousands of hectares of parcels of lands, cities, municipalities or provinces executed by government or private contractors, prepared and plotted in mounted papers or microfilm plans tracing cloth filed with the Land Management Bureau (LMB) or in its regional offices.

      There are also book bound copies being sold by private printers/suppliers.  Indicated therein are the following data:

• Lot numbers and lot areas
• Old lot titles, its survey numbers TCT numbers
• Important landmarks or points of references
• Lot corners and numbers
• Cadastral lands (CAD) or PLS survey numbers and location
• Overlapping claims or boundary gaps
• Name of owners and claimants
• Scale, sheet numbers and geographical coordinates

      The map may cover one or more lots or its neighborhood or provinces or just a portion thereof, indicating the barrio, municipality and the sea, river, creeks, existing or proposed roads and highways, kilometer plots, highway boundaries and other infrastructure references.