The online mapping system, MapSys aims to ensure integrity in real estate transactions in the Philippines
Philippines, an archipelago of 7107 islands with rich biodiversity, is one of the emerging economies in Southeast Asia. Quick development necessitates a systematic land administration and management system. To aid prospective buyers, mortgagees and investors, Chamber of Real Estate & Builders’ Associations (CREBA) has launched MapSys – the Philippines’ first fully automated parcellary online mapping system (www.mapsys.ph). Mapsys aims to ensure integrity in transactions involving real estate in the Philippines, by providing an information-packed GIS map of the specific parcel being offered for sale or as collateral for loans – wherever such a parcel may be situated in the Philippines.
According to CREBA officials, the GIS Parcel Vicinity Map shows geo-referenced location and configuration, its geophysical attributes and the geographic and spatial features of its vicinity or locality as plotted from the survey data contained in the ownership document in just about a minute. This helps resolve a serious problem in the Philippines, where buyers/mortgagees/ investors are often victimized by misrepresentations as to the actual location of the land. It uses a dynamic scale that ranges from 1:1,000 to 1:20,000. The generated parcel map enables users to accurately locate the parcel on the ground by just using a compass and their car’s odometer (or a GPS equipment). It also informs users if their source document – i.e. title or survey plan – is erroneous or defective in its description of the parcel.
MapSys Architecture
Mapsys uses ESRI’s ArcGIS Server platform, and was built using the application development framework (ADF) and dynamic link libraries (DLLs) of ArcGIS Server. However, the parcel plotting and map layouting applications were conceptualised and designed by CREBALAND and developed by it in collaboration with its technical partner XSYS Inc. It also leverages the reliability of high-end IBM servers. Map- Sys’ digital geodatabase has a comprehensive nationwide coverage in the Philippines. It contains approximately 30 layers of information for each administrative subdivision in the country including nearly 30,000 barangays (the smallest administrative division in the Philippines) and 1750 towns and cities. The database contains digitised geographic coordinates of the country’s official location monuments nationwide, commonly known as tie points.
MapSys also contains fully digitised topographic maps, up-todate road maps, hydrologic maps, land cover maps, local land use maps, Department of Agriculture zoning maps and a host of other valuable spatial information, processed by CREBALAND from raw data obtained from government agencies and other reliable sources.
Registration and Subscription. MapSys has been designed with a global perspective. Registered users can create accurate lot plans and vicinity maps of any parcel in any location nationwide, online, 24×7 and in real time in MapSys.
All they need to do is to enter the technical description of the parcel they want mapped, using any document containing the necessary information such as a title certificate or a survey plan. Visual guides help them at every step and at the end of the process, the system displays a download link for complete parcel map. This link remains available only for ten days. Any firm or institution with regular mapping needs can apply for subscriber access.
Cost factor
The cost of developing CREBALAND GIS and its component systems including Mapsys amounted to more than PHP 120 million, according to CREBA officials. This includes the cost of building the comprehensive, multi-layered geodatabase from the scratch, the cost of acquiring/aggregating the raw data (paper-based maps and other information from various official sources), the investment in software and hardware and system development/automation costs.
Market response
Even before its formal launch, major banks, real estate trade organisations, the Consumers Union of the Philippines and giant institutions have shown a enthusiasm to participate, according to CREBA officials, who add, “The Chairman of the Congressional Committee on Housing and Urban Development has endorsed the system for use by local governments nationwide and is currently in talks with us on how the poorer local government units (LGUs) may connect to the system for the preparation and updating of their comprehensive local land use plans, as well as in identifying sites for socialised housing. We are launching awareness campaigns to popularise Mapsys for the benefit of individual dealers in Philippine real estate.”
(Based on inputs provided by CREBA Land Services and Title Warranty Corp.)
