Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Subsection (b) of section forty-eight of Commonwealth Act Numbered One hundred forty-one, otherwise known as the Public Land Act, is amended to read as follows:

"(b) Those who by themselves or through their predecessors in interest have been in open, contiguous, exclusive, and notorious possession and occupation of agricultural lands of the public domain, under a bona fide claim of acquisition of ownership, for at least thirty years immediately preceding the filing: of the application for confirmation of title except when prevented by war or force majeure. These shall be conclusively presumed to have performed all the conditions essential to a Government grant and shall be entitled to a certificate of title under the provisions of this chapter."

SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 22, 1957.