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RECEIVED

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES parell

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
‘Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BatNo,__7848

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 20 of R.A. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 vests on
the Local Government Unit the authority to approve land conversions.

‘The abovementioned provision, however is problematic in a sense that it has caused or has
allowed for the brazen and hapless conversion of many productive agricultural lands into
residential, commercial, industrial or for any other purpose, therefore dispossessing our much
maligned farmers of agricultural lands they would have been able to cultivate.

Such acts not only have an adverse impact on our farmers, but to the country’s food security
situation as well. What was once a flourishing agricultural sector, able to provide for the country’s
self-sufficient food supply and weather food crises, has been almost eradicated for the sake of
indiscriminate construction projects that have, at best, a negligible impact on the wellbeing of
Filipino communities.

It is therefore the determination of this representation to tip the scale between agriculture
and rapid industrialization to its proper balance by amending section 20 of R.A. 7160 to require the
additional approval of the Department of Agrarian Reform before a land conversion application can
be granted.

If passed, the amendment would rationalize the application process regarding land
conversion and uphold the fundamental directive of the Government to provide food security to our
people.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this measure is earnestly sought.

‘Representative
Magdalo Para sa Pilipino Party-List


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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

7843

House Bill No.

Introduced by MAGDALO Party-List Representative
HON. GARY C. ALEJANO-

AN ACT
TO PROTECT ALL AGRICULTURAL LANDS FROM INDISCRIMINATE LAND
CONVERSION AMENDING SECTION 20 OF REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION 1. Short Title—This Act shall be known as the “Agricultural Land Protection

Act.”

SEC. 2. Amendments to Republic Act 7160.—Section 20 of R.A. 7160 otherwise known as

the Local Government Code of 1991 is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 20. Reclassification of Lands. ~ (a) A City or Municipality may, through an

ordinance passed by the Sanggunian after conducting public hearing for the purpose,
authorize the reclassification of IRRIGATED OR IRRIGABLE agricultural lands and
provide forthe manner of their utilization or disposition in the following cases: (1) when the
land ceases to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes as certified to by the
Department of the Agriculture AND; (2) WHEN THE LAND IS NOT IDENTIFIED AS
SUBJECT TO AGRARIAN REFORM OR HAS BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO AGRARIAN
REFORM BENEFICIARIES AS CERTIFIED TO BY THE DEPARTMENT OF

AGRARIAN REFORM: Provided, that such reclassification shall be limited to the


following percentage of the total existing agricultural area, at the time of the passage of the

ordinance.”

SEC. 3. Penalties.—Failure of the concerned local government units to abide by the
provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions shall be grounds for disciplinary action,

as provided for in Section 60 of R.A. 7160.

SEC. 5. Separability Clause.—If any section or provision of this Act shall be held
unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not otherwise affected shall remain

valid.

SEC. 6. Effectivity—This Act shall take effect immediately upon approval.

Approved,