Upgrade Energy Philippines (UGEP), a leading renewable energy company in the Philippines focused on delivering high-quality and cost-competitive solar energy and energy efficiency projects, is looking for a Land Due Diligence Officer—someone who is detail-oriented, analytical, and capable of ensuring all land-related documentation and compliance requirements are thoroughly reviewed to support successful project development.
The Land Due Diligence Officer is responsible for conducting comprehensive legal, technical, and regulatory due diligence on land and property acquisitions. The role ensures that all land assets considered for purchase, lease, or development are free from legal risks, ownership issues, and encumbrances, and are compliant with Philippine laws and local government requirements.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Title Verification & Legal Due Diligence
- Verify land ownership through Transfer Certificates of Title (TCT), Original Certificates of Title (OCT), and Condominium Certificates of Title (CCT).
- Review title history and trace back ownership to identify irregularities or fraudulent transfers.
- Check for liens, encumbrances, adverse claims, easements, and annotations on titles.
- Coordinate with the Registry of Deeds for certified true copies and title verification.
2. Land Records & Government Compliance
- Conduct verification with relevant government agencies, including:
- DENR (land classification, forest land status, protected areas)
- DAR (agrarian reform coverage, CARP issues, CLOA titles)
- LRA / Registry of Deeds
- LGUs (zoning, land use classification, tax declarations)
- Ensure compliance with zoning ordinances and land use plans.
3. Tax & Financial Due Diligence
- Validate real property tax payments and secure tax clearances from the local Treasurer's Office.
- Review tax declarations and compare with actual land usage and title details.
- Identify unpaid taxes, penalties, or discrepancies.
4. Site Inspection & Technical Validation
- Conduct ocular inspections to confirm land boundaries, occupancy, and actual conditions.
- Identify informal settlers, tenants, or adverse occupants.
- Coordinate with geodetic engineers for relocation surveys and boundary verification.
5. Risk Assessment & Reporting
- Prepare due diligence reports summarizing findings, risks, and recommendations.
- Highlight red flags such as ownership disputes, overlapping titles, or regulatory restrictions.
- Provide go/no-go recommendations for land acquisition.
6. Documentation & Transaction Support
- Assist in the preparation and review of contracts such as Deeds of Sale, Lease Agreements, and MOAs.
- Ensure completeness of required documents prior to acquisition or transaction closing.
- Coordinate with legal counsel on complex issues.
7. Stakeholder Coordination
- Liaise with brokers, landowners, government agencies, and internal teams.
- Support negotiations by providing due diligence insights and risk analysis.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Legal Management, Political Science, Real Estate Management, Business Administration, or related field
- At least 2–5 years experience in land due diligence, property acquisition, or real estate/legal work
- Strong knowledge of: Philippine land laws (Property Registration Decree, Civil Code, etc.) , Agrarian Reform laws (CARP, DAR regulations), Land registration processes and documentation
- Experience dealing with government agencies (DENR, DAR, RD, LGU) is highly preferred
- Ability to read and interpret land titles, surveys, and legal documents
