National Housing Authority v. Court of Appeals

Summary

This case involves a property dispute over the exact boundaries of a seven-hectare area granted to Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, Inc. (MSBF) through usufructuary rights under Proclamation No. 1670. Bulacan Garden Corporation (BGC) leased premises from MSBF but faced demolition by the National Housing Authority (NHA), leading to conflicting land surveys about whether BGC's area fell within MSBF's legitimate seven-hectare usufruct. The Supreme Court recognized MSBF's authority to determine the location of its usufructuary area but noted that MSBF had improperly exceeded its seven-hectare limit by occupying 16 hectares. Rather than choosing between competing surveys, the Court ordered a joint survey by both parties to definitively establish the boundaries, emphasizing the need to include MSBF's main structures while respecting the seven-hectare limitation and the 50-year maximum term for corporate usufructs under Civil Code Article 605.