SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
'5.13. No.i 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
'13 
JIJL-l 
}\8:42 
This bill seeks to institutionalize a national land use policy to ensure a 
rational, 
holistic;, 
and 
just allocation, 
utilization, 
management and 
development of the country's land resources. According to the United Nations 
Conference on I-Iuman Settlements (1976), land, because of its unique nature and 
the crucial role it plays in human settlements, cannot be treated as an ordinary asset, 
controlled by individuals and subject to the pressures and inefficiencies of the market. 
Private land ownership is also a principal instrument of accumulation and 
conccn tration of wealth and therefore contributes to social injustice; if unchecked, it 
may become Il major obstacle in the planning and implementation of development 
sche11les. Social justice, urban renewal and development, the provision of decent 
dwellings Ilnd healthy conditions for the people can only be achieved if land is used in 
the interests of society (/s a whole. 
In the Philippines, there are various laws passed to address the need for a 
sound land use. The Forestry Reform Code of 1975, the Comprehensive 
Agrarian Reform Law (1988), Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 and the 
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 have all been 
implemented through the years to ensure that the 30,001,563 (2004) total land 
area of the country is utilized properly. However, due to the presence of 
different stakeholders in the use of land and the lack of a national land use 
policy framework the use of land in our country remains chaotic and breeds 
environmental degradation. 
This bill addresses those concerns by mandating the formulation of a National 
Framework for Physical Plan:n.ing (NFPP) which shall serve as the general 
long-term framework for the spatial development directions of the entire 
counh"y and provide analytical parameters for the planned allocation, use and 
management of the country's land and other physical resources. A centralized 
body called the Land Use Policy Council composed of various government 
agencies involved in land use shall be created to fornmlate, periodically 
update and irnplement the said plan and to coordinate with, assist and 
monitor the compliance of local government units (LGUs) in planning, 
developing and implementing their respective comprehensive land use plan 
under this bill. 
Under this proposed measure, land is classified according to use: 


1.) Protection land use which shall refer to the use of land primarily for 
rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes and the prOluotion of 
the country's ecological and life-support systems. Areas under this category 
are those under the covetage of Republic Act No. 7586 or the National 
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Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) law and other coastal and marine 
protected ' areas; those areas outside NIPAS but nonetheless require 
protection because of their outstanding physical and aesthetic features, 
anthropological signIficance, and biological diversity; and those areas prone 
to natural hazards; 
2.) Production land Ilse which shall refer to the direct and indirect utilization 
of land resources for crop, fishery, livestock and poultry production, 
agroforestry, rnining, industry, energy development, and tourism. Areas 
included in this category are agricultural lands, fishing grounds, fishponds, 
and fish cages, coastal and marine zones, production forest which comprise 
lands l8% to 50% in slope gradient such as: residual dipterocarps, rangelands 
for grazing purposes, industrial tree plantation/IFMA, community based 
agro-foresb'y areas and other reforestation projects; mineral lands or mining 
areas and reservations, energy resource lands, industrial developluent areas, 
and tourism development areas where productive activities could be 
undertaken to rneet the counh'y's requirements for food security, economic 
growth and development; 
3.) Settle11lents Development which shall refer to any improvement on 
existing settlements in urban and rural areas or any proposed development of 
certain areas for settlernent purposes involving the spatial distribution of 
population, identification of the roles and functions of key urban centers; 
determinalion of relationships among settlement areas, and the provision of 
basic services and facilities to such settlement; and 
4.) Infrastructure Development which seeks to provide basic services and 
foster econOluic and other forms of integration necessary for producing or 
obtaining the luaterial requirernents of Filipinos, in an efficient, responsive, 
safe and ecologically friendly built environment. It covers these sub-sectors: 
transportation, 
cOlnmunications, 
indigenous 
energy 
exploration 
and 
development, water resources, and social infrastructure. 
To ensurl' compliance with the national land use policy, incentives and 
awards shall be given to local government units that regularly update their 
comprehensive land use plan while fines and sanctions shall be imposed for 
violating certain provisions of this proposed measure. 
In view of the foregOing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OFTHE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. NO.---'L 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING 
A 
NATIONAL 
LAND 
USE 
POLICY, 
PROVIDING 
THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Sennte and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS 
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SECTION 1. Title.- This Act shall be known and cited as the "National Land Use 
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Act (NALUPA) of 2013." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies and Principles.- It is the policy of the State to 
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provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, utilization, management, and 
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development of the country's land resources to ensure their optimum use consistent with 
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the principle of sustainable development. All lands of the public domain, waters, minerals, 
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coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy, fisheries, forests or 
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timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the state. With 
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the exception of agricultural lands, all other natural resources shall not be alienated. 
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Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize land use and physical planning as a 
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mechanism for identifying, determining, and evaluating alternative land use and 
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allocation patterns that promote and ensure: 
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a) Sustainable and just management and utilization of natural resources; 
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b) Maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and stability 
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specifically the perpetual protection of permanent forests and watersheds for the 
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attainment of food, water and energy sufficiency; 
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c) Protection and conservation of the country's natural heritage, wildlife and key 
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biodiversity areas to maintain and protect ecological processes in the country; 
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d) Disaster risk-reduction and climate change resiliency; 
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e) Protection of prime agricultural lands for food security m basic food 
commodities with emphasis on self-sufficiency in rice and corn; 
f) Water security through sustainable development and management of water 
resources; 
g) Settlements, transportation and infrastructure development in support of urban, 
rural and regional development and inclusive growth; 
h) Harmony between the rights and the varied interests of every Filipino within the 
framework of people empowerment, decentralization, social justice, and equity; 
i) Respect for and protection of the sustainable traditional resource right of the 
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to their 
ancestral domains to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being as 
well as recognition of the applicability of customary laws and sustainable 
traditional resource use and management, knowledge, and practices in ancestral 
domains in compliance with free and prior informed consent of ICC/IPs; 
j) Equitable access to land through State intervention that guarantees its 
affordability to the basic and marginalized sectors; 
k) Protection, preservation, and development of the Filipino historical, cultural and 
built cultural heritage and resources for the deeper understanding of our history 
and culture as a people; 
1) Attainment of energy security and self-sufficiency; and 
m) Market orientation where the interplay of market forces within the framework of 
ecological and intergenerational factors is encouraged and adopted as the basic 
parameter in achieving efficiency in land use and allocation. 
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It is also the policy of the State to ensure that local government units (LGUs) lshare 
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with the national government the responsibility of managing and maintaining ecological 
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balance within their territorial jurisdiction as stated in the Constitution and the 1991 Local 
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Government Code (LGC) or Republic Act No. 7160. 
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Guided by the principle that the use of land bears a social function and that all 
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economic agents shall contribute to the common good, landowners shall be held 
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responsible for developing and conserving their lands thereby making their lands 
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productive and supportive of environmental stability. 
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SEC. 3. Scope.- This Act shall apply to all lands whether public, private, 
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government-owned, and/ or in the possession of individuals, communities, indigenous 
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peoples, or groups of people, including areas declared/ designated as special economic 
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zones and/ or freeports, proclamations and reservations to provide for a rational, holistic 
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and just allocation, development and management of land resources including such 
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activities that bear impact on said resources. 
CHAPTER II 
DEFINITIONS 
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SEC. 4. Definitions.- As used in and for purposes of this Act, the following terms 
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shall mean: 
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a) "Agricultural land" shall refer to land of public domain and private land which 
have been devoted to agricultural activity as defined in Republic Act No. 6657, 
as amended and not further classified for residential, commercial or industrial 
use and such other uses as may be provided by law; 
b) "Agricultural land use conversion" shall refer to the undertaking of any 
development activity which modifies or alters the physical characteristics of 
agricultural lands to render them suitable for non-agricultural purposes with an 
approved order of conversion issued exclusively by the Department of Agrarian 
Reform (DAR); 
c) "Alienable and disposable (A&D) lands" shall refer to lands of the public 
domain which have been delineated, classified, and certified as open and 
available for disposition under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, 
otherwise known as the "Public Land Act," as amended; 
d) "Ancestral domains" shall refer to all areas generally belonging to ICCs/IPs as 
defined in Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the "Indigenous Peoples 
Rights Act (IPRA) of 1998;" 
e) "Basic and marginalized sectors" shall refer to a group of people such as but not 
limited to the farmers, fisherfolks, urban poor and indigenous people; 
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f) "Basic shelter" shall refer to any subdivision unit, housing unit or condominium 
satisfying the barest minimum shelter requirements under the minimum design 
standards of Batas Pambansa Big. 220; 
g) "Comprehensive land use plan (CLUP)" shall refer to a document embodying a 
set of policies, accompanied by maps and similar illustrations, that serves as 
principal basis for determining the futnre land use of lands and natural 
resources within the territorial jurisdiction of the city or municipality. It 
represents the community-desired pattern of population distribution and 
proposes future allocation of land resources to various land-using activities. It 
identifies the allocation, character, and extent of the areas of land resources to be 
used for different purposes and includes the processes and the criteria employed 
in the determination of the land use. It has a long-term perspective, 
encompassing a minimum of three (3) terms of local elective officials. 
h) "Comprehensive land use planning" shall refer to the act of defining the 
strategic allocation, utilization, development and management of all lands 
within a given territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent characteristic of 
the land itself and supportive of sustainable, economic, demographic, socio-
cultural and environmental objectives as an aid to decision-making and 
egislation; 
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i) "Coastal Areal Zone" shall refer to a band of dry land and the adjacent ocean 
space (water and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses 
directly affect oceanic processes and uses, and vice versa. its geographic extent 
may include areas within a landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the 
shoreline at high tide to include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nip 
swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and other areas within a seaward limit 
of 200 meters isobath to include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds, and other 
soft-bottom areas. For purposes of initiating and implementing sustainable 
coastal resources protection and management, it shall include foreshore lands; 
j) "Critical watershed" shall refer to a drainage area of a river system supporting 
existing and proposed hydro-electric power, domestic water consumption, 
irrigation works or existing water facilities needing immediate protection and 
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rehabilitation to minimize erosion and improve water yield. It shall be closed for 
logging until it is fully rehabilitated; 
k) "Critical watershed" shall refer to a watershed supporting existing and 
proposed hydro-electric power and irrigation works needing immediate 
rehabilitation as it is being subjected to fast denudation causing accelerated 
erosion and destructive floods; 
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I) "Cultural heritage" shall refer to the totality of cultural properties preserved and 
developed through time and passed on for posterity; 
m) "Customary laws" shall refer to a body of written and/ or unwritten rules, 
usages, customs and practices traditionally and continually recognized, accepted 
and observed by respective ICCs/ IPs, consistent with the IPRA; 
n) "Development plan" shall refer to a document that defines the activities or 
measures that the national government or local government units (LGUs) intend 
to implement in order to achieve a defined set of development goals. It 
integrates the socio-economic and sectoral plans of the national government or 
its instrumentality or a particular LGU with the approved land use or physical 
framework plans. It may include an analysis of problems and resources, 
definition of goals and objectives, policy guidelines, project and target 
achievements, and an implementation mechanism which defines the roles and 
contributions expected from the government and the private sector. 
Development plans include the national-level Medium-Term Philippine 
Development Plan (MTPDP) and its counterpart plans at the regional, provincial 
and local levels called the Medium-Term Regional Development Plan (MTRDP), 
the Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP) and the 
Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP). These plans are translated into 
medium-term investment programs, also prepared at the national, regional and 
local levels, where programs, projects and activities derived from the 
development plans are ranked, prioritized and matched with investment 
financing capacities; 
0) "Ecologically-fragile lands" shall refer to lands within the critical watershed, 
brackish and freshwater wetlands, pasture lands, and croplands which require 
rehabilitation and whose continued unsustainable use would adversely affect 
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the productivity of lowland agricultural areas and the stability of the upland 
system; 
p) "Ecotourism" shall refer to sustainable tourism or travel to a given natural area 
with exotic or threatened ecosystems or a heritage area to observe wildlife or to 
help preserve nature, in the process providing for community participation; 
protection and management of natural resources, culture and indigenous 
knowledge systems and practices; environmental education and ethics; as well 
as economic benefits fostered and pursued for the enrichment of host 
communities and the satisfaction of visitors; 
q) "Energy resource lands" shall refer to lands where naturally occurring or 
indigenous energy resources exist in sufficient quantity or quality as to be 
economically viable for exploration, development, production, utilization, and 
distribution process; 
r) "Energy resources" shall refer to surface or subsurface substances that serve as 
energy sources. These are traditionally mineral fuel deposits such as coal, 
peh'oleum, natural gas or renewable resources from geothermal, hrydro 
reservoirs, or non-conventional sources such as ocean waves, solar, wind, 
biomass, and other similar resources which serve the same purpose; 
s) "Environmentally critical areas" shall refer to areas declared by law as: (a) 
protected areas pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 or the NIPAS Act of 1992; (b) 
areas for natural parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves, and sanctuaries; 
(c) areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots; (d) areas which constitute 
the habitat of any endangered or threatened species or indigenous Philippine 
wildlife (flora and fauna); (e) areas of unique historic, archaeological, or 
scientific interests; (f) areas which are traditionally occupied by ICCs/IPs; (g) 
areas with critical slopes; (h) areas frequently visited and/ or hard hit by natural 
calamities (geologic hazards. floods, typhoons and volcanic activities); (i) areas 
exposed to geologic and hydro-meteorologic hazards; 0) prime agricultural 
lands; (k) recharge areas of aquifers; (I) water bodies; (m) mangrove areas; (n) 
coral reefs; (0) mossy and virgin forests; (p) rivers and river banks; and (q) 
swamp forest and marshlands; and (r) foreshore lands. This term shall also 
include other terrestrial, aquatic and marine areas that need special protection 
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and conservation measures because they are ecologically fragile or they are 
needed for food security and food self sufficiency as determined by concerned 
agencies and LGUs in consultation with the concerned sectors; 
t) "Estuary" shall refer to a wetland type where the river mouth widens into a 
marine ecosystem, the salinity of which is intermediate between salt and 
freshwater where tidal action is an important biophysical regulator; 
u) "Exhausted mineral resources" shall refer to a situation where the mineral 
resources in specific sites whose energy reserves of the desired type(s) are no 
longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure for 
extraction or utilization; 
v) "Exhausted mineral lands" shall refer to specific sites whose mineral deposits 
are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure 
for their extraction and utilization as may be determined by the latest 
technology available; 
w) "Exhausted mineral resources" shall refer to a situation where the mineral 
resources in specific sites are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify 
additional expenditure for extraction or utilization as determined by the Mines 
and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and approved by the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
x) "Flood plain" shall refer to the portion of a river valley adjacent to a river 
channel which is covered with water when river overflows its banks at flood 
stages. The plain usually consists of silt deposited by the stream; 
y) "Flood-prone areas" shall refer to low lying areas usually adjacent to large or 
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active water bodies and therefore experience regular or seasonal inundation as a 
result of changes in the mean water level of these bodies or because of land 
reclamation and other artificial interference with the natural processes; 
z) "Food security" shall refer to the policy objective of meeting the food 
availability, accessibility, quality and affordability requirements of the present 
and future generations of Filipinos in a sustainable manner, through local 
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production or importation, only when there is shortage established based on a 
micro level situation, or both, based on the country's existing and potential 
resource endowments and related production advantages, and consistent with 
the overall national development objectives and policies; 
aa) "Food self-sufficiency" shall refer to the policy objective of meeting the food 
requirements through intensive local food production in a sustainable manner 
based on the country's existing and potential resource endowments and related 
production advantages; 
bb) "Forestlands" shall refer to lands of the public domain which have been 
classified or declared as such and all unclassified lands of the public domain; 
cc) "Foreshore land" shall refer to the part of the shore which is alternately covered 
and uncovered by the ebb and flow of the tide; 
dd) 
"Free and prior informed consent" shall refer to consensus of all members of 
the ICCs/IPs to be determined in accordance with their respective customary 
laws and practices, free from any external manipulation, interference and 
coercion, and obtained after fully disclosing the intent and scope of the activity, 
in a language and process understandable to the community; 
ee) "Geo-hazards" shall refer to natural and man-induced geological processes that 
have potential to cause destruction and pose a threat or risk to man's life and 
property; 
ff) "Geo-hazard prone areas" shall refer to areas frequently visited and/or 
vulnerable or prone to experience weather/climatic, hydrologic, geologic, and 
other natural calamities; 
gg) "Heritage zones" shall refer to historical, anthropological, archaeological and 
artistic geographical areas and settings that are culturally significant to the 
country as declared by the National Museum and/ or National Historical 
Commission of the Philippines, pursuant to Republic Act No. 10066 or the 
National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009; 
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hh) "Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICC.s/IPs)" shall 
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refer to groups of people or homogenous societies identified under Republic Act 
No. 8371 or the Indigenous People's Rights Act (IPRA); 
ii) "Inland waters" shall refer to waters, which are not coastal and marine waters 
not subject to acquisitive prescription consistent with the provisions of 
Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise known as the "Water Code of the 
Philippines" ; 
jj) "Inter-tidal sand flat" shall refer to a juvenile fish-feeding area and habitat for 
crustaceans. The litoral gravel and sand biotopes are also used by important 
wintering ground and roosting/feeding grounds of indigenous migratory birds; 
kk) "Integrated ecosystems watershed management" shall refer to an integrated 
planning and management framework that covers the ridge-to-reef landscape of 
a watershed or subwatershed from its upland, lowland and coastal ecosystems 
and the interaction, interdependencies and linkages of its bio-physical, human 
and physical resources and development; 
11) "Key biodiversity areas" shall refer to sites that are nationally and globally 
significant for biodiversity conservation primarily containing specIes that 
require site-scale conservation to prevent extinction in the short-term and 
medium-term. Such species may be nationally and globally threatened, 
restrictedOrange and/or nationally and globally significant congregations of 
species; 
mm) "Lagoon" shall refer to a semi-enclosed coastal basin with limited freshwater 
input, high salinity and restricted circulation which often lies behind sand 
dunes. It is often highly productive and habitat for variety of plants and animal, 
serves as nurseries of prawns and shrimps and also site for harbor, aquaculture, 
industry and recreation; 
nn) "Land" shall refer to resources, both natural and artificial, found on the surface, 
below, and above the ground including inland and coastal waters; 
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00) "Land use" shall refer to the manner of allocation, utilization, management and 
development of land; 
pp) 
"Land use classification" shall refer to the act of delineating or allocating 
lands according to protection land use, production land use, settlements 
development, and infrastructure development as defined and provided for in 
this Act; 
qq) "Land sub-classification" shall refer to the act of determining and assigning 
specific uses of classified lands of the public domain, such as forest or timber 
lands, alienable or disposable agricultural lands, national parks, and mineral 
lands in accordance with existing laws and this Act; 
rr) "Mandatory public hearings/consultations" shall refer to the mechanism to 
ensure the involvement of concerned sectors in all affected areas in land use 
planning from the local to the national level. It involves giving effective notice of 
hearing/ consultation to concerned sectors within an affected area through direct 
written invitations, using regular mail or electronic means and publication/ 
posting in conspicuous places, conduct of a reasonable number of hearings in or 
proximate to the specific area affected, and solicitation of positions and the 
public confirmation of the planning results in the specific area affected before 
the final adoption of the plans; 
ss) "Minerals" shall refer to all naturally occurring inorganic substance in solid, gas, 
liquid or intermediate state excluding energy materials such as coal, petroleum, 
natural gas, radioactive materials and geothermal energy; 
ttl "Mineral exploration" shall refer to the systematic searching or prospecting for 
mineral resources including energy resources; 
uu) 
"Mineral lands" shall refer to lands of the public domain, excluding those in 
permanent forestlands, protection lands and privately-owned lands where 
minerals resources are found in sufficient quantity and quality for extraction, 
development and utilization; 
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vv) "Mineral resources" shall refer to any concentration of minerals/rocks with 
potential economic value; 
ww) "Mudflat" shall refer to a wetland type that is usually an unvegetated area, 
dominated by muddy substrate which provides rich feeding grounds for 
vertebrates such as fish and water birds and also important in preventing soil 
erosion; 
xx) "Multiple use of land resources" shall refer to the utilization or management 
strategy for any land, within production land use areas, which allows any 
activity thereat, involving one or more of its resources, depending on the result 
of prior evaluation on its numerous beneficial use that will produce the 
optimum benefits to the development and progress of the country and the 
public welfare without impairment; with the least injury to its other resources; 
yy) "Municipal waters" shall include not only streams, lakes, inland bodies of water 
and tidal waters within the municipality which are not included within the 
protected areas as defined under Republic Act No. 7586 (the NIP AS law), public 
forest, timber lands, forest reserves or fishery reserves, but also marine waters 
included between two (2) lines drawn perpendicular to the general coastline 
from points where the boundary lines of the municipality touch the sea at low 
tide and a third line parallel with the general coastline including offshore islands 
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and fifteen (15) kilometers from such coastline. Where two (2) municipalities are 
so situated on opposite shores that there is less than thirty (30) kilometers of 
marine waters between them, the third line shall be equally distant from 
opposite shore of the respective municipalities. 
zz) "National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIP AS)" shall refer to the 
classification and administration of all designated protected areas to maintain 
essential ecological processes and life-support systems, to preserve genetics 
diversity, to ensure sustainable use of resources found therein, and to maintain 
their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible; 
aaa) 
"National Parks" shall refer to the land of public domain classified as such in 
the 1987 Philippine Constitution which includes all areas under the NIPAS 
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pursuant to RA7586, primarily set aside and designated for the conservation of 
the natural and historic objects, native plants and animals, their associated 
habitats and cultural diversity; 
bbb) 
"National physical framework plan" also referred to as the National Land 
Use Plan, shall refer to a strategic plan containing the policy areas determining 
the most appropriate and rational use of land and other physical resources such 
as but not limited to protection, production, settlement and infrastructure land 
use. It provides policy guidelines for all decisions relating to land use and 
environmental management, to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of 
inappropriate resource utilization on the country's food security and food self-
sufficiency on rice and corn, the people's welfare and their environment. It 
embodies both policies and strategies necessary to carry out goals and objectives 
of this Act; 
ccc) 
"Network of Protected Areas for 
Agriculture and Agro-industrial 
Development (NP AAAD)" shall refer to agricultural areas identified by the 
Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management 
(BSWM) in coordination with the National Mapping and Resource Information 
Authority (NAMRIA) in order to ensure the efficient utilization of land for 
agriculture and agro-industrial development and promote sustainable growth. 
The NP AAAD covers all irrigated areas; all irrigable lands already covered by 
irrigation projects with firm funding commitments; all alluvial plains; land 
highly suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not; agro-industrial 
croplands or lands planted to industrial crops that support the validity of 
existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises; highlands or 
areas located at an elevation of Five hundred (500) meters or above and have the 
potential for growing semi-temperate and high value crops; all agricultural 
lands that are ecologically fragile the conversion of which will result in serious 
environmental degradation; and all mangrove areas and fish sanctuaries; 
ddd) "Patrimonial properties" refer to all the properties belonging to the State that 
are not intended for public use or for public service for the developm~nt of 
national wealth; 
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eee) 
"People's organization" shall refer to a private, non-profit, voluntary and 
community-based organization with membership constituency established 
primarily to provide service to its members and the community in general; 
fff) "Permanent forest" shall refer to lands of the public domain, that includes forest 
reserves, which has been identified and determined to be needed for protection, 
conservation, preservation and management as forests and shall be reserved, 
conserved and protected into perpetuity for such purpose; 
ggg) "Permanent forestlands" shall refer to forestlands, within public or private 
lands, that have been identified, determined and demarcated on the ground by 
the State to serve such purpose and shall be protected, conserved, preserved, 
maintained and managed as forestlands free from any form of utilization, 
exploitation or development, and reserved permanently as such for the benefit 
and use of future generations; 
hhh) "Physical framework plans" shall refer to strategic plans based on 
comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs) and national policies whether national, 
regional or provincial which provide policy guidelines for all decisions relating 
to land use and environment management to prevent or mitigate the adverse 
effects of inappropriate resource utilization on food security, the people's 
welfare and their environment. It embodies both policies and strategies 
necessary to carry out development goals and objectives; 
iii) "Premature or illegal conversion of agricultural lands" shall refer to any activity 
that modifies or alters the physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render 
them suitable for non-agricultural purposes without an approved order of 
conversion from the DAR Secretary; 
jjj) "Prime agricultural land" shall refer to all irrigated areas, all irrigable lands; all 
rain-fed areas planted to rice and other cops; all alluvial plain lands highly 
suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not; agO-industrial croplands or 
lands presently planted to industrial crops that support the Viability of existing 
agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises, highlands, or areas 
located at elevation of 500 meters or above and have the potential for growing 
semi-temperature and high value crops; all agricultural lands that are 
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ecologically fragile, the conversion of which will result in serious environmental 
degradation; and mangrove areas and fish sanctuaries; 
kkk) "Production land use" shall refer to the direct and indirect utilization of land 
to generate outputs resulting from the following activities: agricultural, Ifish 
farming or aquaculture, timber or agroforestry, grazing and pasture, mining, 
indigenous energy resource development, industry, and tourism; 
Ill) "Protected areas" shall refer to portions of land and water set aside by reason of 
their unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance biological 
diversity, and protected against destructive human exploitation. For purposes of 
this Act, it shall include national parks as defined herein and agricultural lands 
identified and delineated under Section 32 hereof; 
mmm)"Protection land use" shall refer to the utilization of land primarily for food, 
water and energy security, rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes 
for the promotion of the country's ecological and life-support systems; 
nnn) 
"Public domain" shall refer to lands that belong to the State which may be 
any of the following: agricultural, forest or timber, mineral, or national park as 
provided for in the Constitution; 
000) 
"Public lands" shall refer to lands which have not been subject to private 
property rights or subject to sale or other modes of acquisition or concession 
under the general laws, and are devoted to public use; 
ppp) "Reclassification of agricultural lands" shall refer to the act of specifying how 
agricultural lands shall be utilized for nonagricultural uses such as residential, 
industrial, or commercial purposes through the local planning and zoning 
I 
processes pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 
1991 and subject to the requirements and procedure for conversion. It is 
equivalent to land sub-classification for classified lands of the public domain 
and also includes the reversion of nonagricultural lands to agricultural use; 
qqq) "Resettlement sites" shall refer to areas identified by the appropriate national 
agency or by the LGU, with respect to areas within its jurisdiction, which shall 
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be used for the relocation of the underprivileged and homeless, as defined under 
Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA): 
rrr) 
"River basin" shall refer to the portion of land drained by a river and its 
tributaries. It encompasses the entire land surface dissected and drained by 
many streams and creeks that flow downhill into one another, and eventually 
into one river. The final destination is an estuary or an ocean: 
sss) 
"Settlements" shall refer to formal and informal communities or built-up 
residential areas where people prefer to live in land areas classified, zoned, or 
converted for current or future residential or housing development purposes" 
including socialized housing zones for the homeless and underprivileged 
citizens: 
ttt) "Settlements development" shall refer to any improvement on existing formal or 
I 
informal residential or housing settlements or any proposed development of 
certain areas for settlement purposes. It also involves the spatial distribution of 
population, identification of the roles and functions of key urban centers, 
determination of relationships among settlement areas, and the provision of 
basic services and facilities of identified major settlement areas or growth 
centers. It is also concerned with the interrelationship of settlements as they 
develop and establish functional linkages based on their respective endowments 
and comparative advantages: 
uuu) "Shoreline" shall refer to the line where shore and water meet: 
vvv) "Significant caves" shall refer to caves which contain materials or possess 
features that have archaeological, cultural, ecological, historical or scientific 
value as determined by the DENR in coordination with the scientific community 
and the academe: 
www) "Socialized housing" shall refer to housing programs and projects 
undertaken by the government or the private sector for the underprivileged and 
homeless citizens which shall include sites and services development, long-term 
financing, liberalized terms on interest payments, and such other benefits in 
accordance with the UDHA; 
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xxx) 
"Socialized housing zones" shall refer to lands identified and designated by 
LGUs as sites for socialized housing pursuant to Article IV of the UDHA and its 
implementing guidelines; 
yyy) 
"Sustainable development" shall refer to the development objective of 
meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of 
future generations to meet their own needs consistent with the principles of 
social equity, efficiency, and environmental integrity; 
zzz) 
"Tourism development areas" shall refer to specific sites for tourism 
development located in areas identified as priorities in the national and regional, 
area specific tourism master plans and other sector plans such as eco-tourism 
and agri-tourism sites, including those designated through legislative and 
executive issuances i.e., tourist spots, tourist zones and tourism ecozones which 
can be developed into tourism estates or integrated resort, leisure, and 
recreation complexes, and other tourism related facilities subject to restrictions 
imposed by its protection status and land use category; 
aaaa) "Tourism Enterprise Zone" shall refer to an area designated as tourism 
enterprise zone by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority 
(TIEZA) pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act No. 9593 otherwise known 
as the Tourist Act of 2009; 
bbbb) "Tourism estates" shall refer to large tracts of land with well-defined 
boundaries in any area identified in the Philippine tourism master plan and 
regional tourism master plan, by proclamation of the President and/ or by an 
Act of Congress including local legislation. Such land shall be suitable for the 
development of an integrated tourism and resort complex including but not 
limited to accommodation facilities, food and beverage outlets, convention and 
meeting areas, sports, recreational and leisure centers and commercial outlets 
among others. It shall be provided with roads, water supply facilities, power 
and utilities like potable water, drainage sewerage disposal, solid waste disposal 
system and other necessary infrastructure. The estate shall be under one unified 
and continuous management; 
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cccc) "Tourist spot" shall refer to a particular areal site/ spot, human-made or 
natural, known for its unique tourist/visitor-drawing attributes and activities. It 
may be classified according to its social, cultural, natural, historical, scientific, 
religious, and recreational significance; 
dddd) "Tourist zone" shall refer to a geographic area with well-defined boundaries 
proclaimed as such by the President of the Philippines and/ or by Acts of 
Congress. No development projects for any purpose shall be initiated and 
introduced within the zone prior to the formulation of a tourism master 
development plan which shall be undertaken in coordination with the 
Department of Tourism and the Philippine Tourism Authority. A tourist zone is 
established for the enhancement and/or the conservation of cultural land 
historical heritage and for the appreciation and enjoyment of the local 
population and its visitors; 
eeee) "Urban areas" shall refer to all cities regardless of their population density 
and to municipalities with population density of at least Five hundred (500) 
persons per square kilometer; 
ffff) 
"Urbanizable areas" shall refer to sites and lands which, considering present 
characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of 
becoming urban areas within a period of five (5) years; 
gggg) "Urban forestry or green space" shall refer to the establishment and 
management of forest in urban environment for the physiological and 
psychological well-being of the people; 
hhhh) "Water security" shall refer to the sufficient access throughout the year to 
the minimum daily requirement of clean water to maintain a healthy life; 
iiii)"Water use" shall refer to the appropriation of water for domestic, municipal, 
irrigation, power generation, inland fisheries, poultry and livestock, industrial 
and commercial, environmental, and recreational use and other purposes; 
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iijj) "Watershed" shall refer to a topographically delineated area of land drained by 
2 
a stream or fixed body of water and its tributaries having common outlet for 
3 
surface runoff; 
4 
5 
kkkk) "Zoning" shall refer to the process of delineating the specific uses of lands in 
6 
accordance with the approved CLUP within the territorial jurisdiction of a 
7 
city I municipality and specifying the conditions for their regulation; subject to 
8 
the limitations imposed by law and competent authority; and 
9 
10 
Illl) "Zoning ordinance or ZO" shall refer to a local law passed by the Sangguniang 
11 
Bayan or Panglunsod approving the development controll zoning plan in 
12 
accordance with an approved or adopted CLUP for the city I municipality, and 
13 
providing for the regulations and other conditions on the uses of land including 
14 
the limitation on the infrastructure that may be placed thereon within the 
15 
territorial jurisdiction of a city or municipality. It incorporates the protected 
16 
areas under Section 13(a) and the protected agricultural lands under Section 32 
17 
hereof. 
CHAPTER III 
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK AND LAND USE PLANS 
I 
18 
SEC. 5. National Framework for Physical Planning.- The and use and physical 
19 
planning shall be formulated follOWing a combined bottom-up and top-down approach. 
20 
The National Land Use Commission (NLUC) shall draft the National Physical Framework 
21 
Plan (NPFP)I National Land Use Plan (NLUP) which shall have a timeframe of thirty (30) 
22 
years, with regular review and updating every ten (10) years: Provided, however, That 
23 
nothing herein shall prevent the NLUC from reviewing and updating at anytime the 
24 
NPFP/NLUP where public interest so requires. The NPFP, which guides the planning and 
25 
management of the country's land and other physical resources at the national and sub-
26 
national levels, shall indicate broad spatial directions and policy guidelines on settlements 
27 
development, production land use, protection land use, and infrastructure such as but not 
28 
limited to social services, and utilities, transportation and communication. The Regional 
29 
Physical Framework Plans (RPFPs), Provincial Physical Framework and Development 
30 
Plans (PPFDPs) and Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), which shall also have a 30-
31 
year timeframe and cover the phYSical development of their respective territories, shall be 
18 


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consistent with the national physical framework plan: Provided, that the integration and 
2 
harmonization of the physical framework plans at all levels shall be iterative to ensure that 
3 
the concerns of both top and bottom levels of government are considered. The physical 
4 
and land use plans prepared at all levels shall have internal consistency specifically on, but 
5 
not limited to, the development, management and conservation of forestlands found 
6 
within a given territory and the linkages of the major land use categories to ensure their 
7 
complementation in the utilization, development and management of resources. 
8 
All regional, provincial, city and municipal land use plans and zoning ordinances 
I 
9 
shall only be amended or revised at the earliest after every ten (10) years except if an 
10 
earlier amendment or revision of the CLUP or ZO is authorized by the NLUC due to 
11 
exh'aordinary causes. 
12 
The NLUC shall issue procedural guidelines which shall guide the formulation and 
13 
integration/harmonization process: Provided, the National Economic and Development 
14 
Authority (NED A), the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), the 
15 
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and other agencies will continue 
16 
to issue gUidelines on the content of the plans consistent with their respective agency 
17 
mandates. 
18 
19 
SEC. 6. City and Municipal Land Use Plans.- All barangays shall provide their 
20 
sectoral, temporal and spatial data for the CLUP which shall serve as the foundation for 
21 
the formulation of the city/municipal CLUPs. The data shall be proVided by the 
22 
Sangguniang Pambarangay through stakeholder consultations. The Comprehensive Land 
23 
Use Plan (CLUP) shall determine the specific uses of land and other physical and natural 
24 
resources, both private and public, within their territorial jurisdiction including areas co-
25 
managed with the national government and, as appropriate, management plans for 
26 
ancestral domains, critical watersheds, river basins and protected areas. 
27 
28 
The CLUP shall delineate actual boundaries on the ground within the territorial 
29 
jurisdictions, embody the desired land use patterns of the barangay, city or municipality, 
30 
translate and integrate sectoral plans, and provide appropriate policies for each of the four 
31 
land use planning categories. The spatial directions prescribed in the CLUP shall serve as 
32 
the basis for the preparation and formulation of the Comprehensive Development Plan 
33 
(CDP) and Local Development Investment Programs (LDIP) of the LGUs). 
34 
35 
The CLUP may be formulated as a component of a Comprehensive Land Use and 
36 
Development Plan (CLUDP), which merges the traditionally separate CLUP and 
19 


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Comprehensive Development Plan to address the disconnect between the spatial and 
2 
sectoral factors and to ensure the complementation between the medium- and long-term 
3 
concerns. 
4 
Consistent with the national standards and guidelines prescribed in Section 5, the 
5 
cities and municipalities shall, in consultation with the concerned sectors, prepare their 
6 
respective CLUPS. The City/Municipal Land Use Planning and Management Board 
7 
(C/MLUPB), created under this Act, shall be responsible for the preparation and 
8 
formulation of the CLUP and ensure its consistency with national and regional physical 
9 
planning guidelines and standards. Under the general supervision of the respective 
10 
C/MLUPB, the City/Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator/Office 
11 
(C/MPDC/PDO) shall provide technical, secretariat and administrative support in the 
12 
preparation, consultation, integration and formulation process of the respective CLUPs of 
13 
each city or municipality. 
14 
The CLUPs shall be submitted by the city/municipal Local Development Councils 
15 
(LDC) for adoption and approval of the sangguniang bayan (SB). The approved CLUPs 
16 
shall be submitted to the province for integration into the PPFP. 
17 
The CLUP shall be translated into a zoning ordinance by the concerned sanggunian 
I 
18 
to regulate the uses of land, including the limitations on height, density and bulk of 
19 
buildings and other infrastructure that may be placed thereon. 
20 
21 
SEC. 7. Provincial Physical Framework Plans.- The PPFP shall determine the 
22 
physical development of the entire provincial territory, consolidate and harmonize the 
23 
comprehensive land use plans of component cities and municipalities, consistent with the 
24 
RPFP. It shaH reflect the indicative land use management and physical development 
25 
direction of the province. 
26 
Further, the PPFP shall serve as basis for other sectoral and development plans 
27 
related to land, natural resources, and infrastructure facilities, including the development 
28 
plan of the province; reconciliation and rationalization of land use proposals among 
29 
component cities and municipalities and with the higher level framework plan; guiding 
30 
development agencies and private developers, particularly those that undertake large-
31 
scale projects; and proViding a basis for resolving conflicts arising from the 
32 
implementation of land use plans and development projects involving two or more 
33 
municipalities. 
20 


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The PPFP shall serve as the basis for the preparation of the Provincial Development 
2 
Plan (PDP) and Provincial Development Investment Program (PDIP). The PPFP, PDP, 
3 
PDIP and/ or Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP) shall serve 
4 
as the basis for the formulation of sectoral action plans of national government agencies in 
5 
the province and all LGUs within its jurisdiction. The province may opt to prepare their 
6 
PDP alongside the preparation of PPFP and consolidate them into a PPFDP: Provided, That 
7 
PPFDP shall remain consistent with the PPFP: Provided, fttrther, That any review or changes 
8 
in the PPFP shall coincide with the over-all review process of the NPFP. 
9 
The Provincial Land Use Planning and Management Board (PLUPMB), created 
10 
under this Act, shall ensure that the PPFP is consistent with the national and regional 
11 
planning framework and guidelines issued by the NLUPC/RLUPB. The PPFP shall be 
12 
presented to the Provincial Development Council (PDC) for endorsement to the 
13 
sangguniang panlalawigan, who shall formally adopt and approve the PPFP. 
The 
14 
approved PPFP shall be submitted to the RLUPB for consolidation and integration into the 
15 
RPFP. 
16 
Under the general supervision of the PLUPMB, the Provincial Planning and 
17 
Development Coordinator/Office (PPDC/PPDO) shall provide technical, secretariat and 
18 
administrative support in the preparation, consultation, integration and formulation 
19 
process of the PPFP. 
20· 
SEC. 8. Regional Physical Framework Plans. - In consultation with concerned sectors, 
21 
the Regional Land Use Policy Board (RLUPB) shall define the desired spatial arrangement 
22 
of land-using activities in the entire region, consolidating and harmonizing the provincial 
23 
physical framework plans of provinces and independent cities within the territorial 
24 
jurisdiction of the region. The regional physical framework plan, which depicts an end-
25 
state scenario toward which efforts and activities are directed, shall consist of spatially-
26 
based and area-focused policies, consistent with those in the national framework for 
27 
physical planning, to gUide detailed physical, socio-economic, sectoral and investment 
28 
planning. 
29 
SEC. 9. National Physical Framework Plan/National Land Use Plan. - The National 
30 
Land Use Commission (NLUC) created in Section 14 herein, in consultation with the 
31 
concerned sectors through the conduct of mandatory public hearings/ consultations, shall 
32 
formulate, periodically update and ensure the implementation of a national physical 
33 
framework plan that shall prescribe and influence the country's land use and physical 
34 
development. The NPFP shall operationalize the policies provided in this Act and will be 
21 


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the basis for adopting land use and physical planning-related gUidelines and standards, 
2 
including zoning and other land use control standards that will guide the formulation of 
3 
city / municipal zoning ordinances. 
4 
The NPFP strategic objectives and directions shall be the basis for the preparation 
5 
and formulation and prioritization of the MTPDP and Medium-Term Philippine 
6 
Investment Program (MTPIP). 
CHAPTER IV 
FRAMEWORK FOR LAND USE PLANNING 
7 
SEC. 10. Priorities in Land Use Allocation and Planning.- In projecting spatial 
8 
allocation for different land uses, the LGUs shall first exclude areas under protection land 
9 
use of Section 13(A) hereof, national parks, energy resource lands, and prime agricultural 
10 
lands to ensure ecological integrity, energy supply, and promote food security. Areas with 
I 
11 
prior rights and those with site-specific resources for basic services, such as but not limited 
12 
to, water and indigenous energy resources, shall also be excluded. Spatial allocation and 
13 
planning shall then proceed in accordance with Sections 12 and 13 hereof with priorities 
14 
given to integrated watershed management areas, socialized housing sites, fisherfolk 
15 
settlement in coastal areas, and waste disposal sites. 
16 
17 
SEC. 11. Adoption of Multiple Uses of Land Resources.- The primary and 
18 
alternative uses of a specific land resource shall be determined and evaluated prior to any 
19 
decision for the assignment of its use. Areas feasible for sustainable land resource use may 
20 
be considered multiple-use zones wherein settlements, tourism, agriculture, agro-forestry 
21 
and extraction activities and other income-generating or livelihood activities may be 
22 
allowed: Provided, That multiple uses of land resources shall be excluded in areas 
23 
identified as protection land use; Provided, further, that such land shall be in accordance 
24 
with priorities in land use allocation and planning and that no reclassification shall be 
25 
allowed. 
26 
27 
SEC. 12. Basic Land Use Considerations.- Various land uses as categorized in the 
28 
succeeding section shall be determined in a manner that promotes the policies and 
29 
principles defined in Section 2 of this Act and shall consider the following elements 
30 
therein, among others: 
22 


1 
(a) 
Protection land use category as defined in Section 13 shall prevail over exis~ing 
2 
production land use category. The State shall undertake the necessary action in changing 
3 
the classification of these production areas; 
4 
(b) 
Preservation, conservation, rehabilitation and protection to perpetuity of 
5 
permanent forestlands, critical watersheds, key biodiversity areas, environmentally-
6 
critical and ecologically-fragile areas and prime agricultural lands from any other land 
7 
use, conversion, disposition, intrusion, utilization and development aside from its 
8 
determined use and limits; 
9 
(c) 
Protection of natural forests and natural resources ensures environmental 
10 
stability, conserve biological diversity, improve ecosystem functions and provide long-
11 
term ecological and economic benefits. Designated restoration areas are designed to 
12 
revive the ecosystem functions and services of forests as well as improve the economic 
13 
and ecological benefits of local communities; 
14 
(d) Protection of forest and wetlands from infrastructure development to preserve 
15 
the ecological services they provide which are essential to economic development. These 
16 
activities include, but not limited to river channelization and dredging, large scale 
17 
irrigation and river diversions which reduce riverine habitat and alters flood patterns and 
18 
natural flow regimes, reduce downstream water availability 
for agriculture and 
19 
contribute to salinization through saltwater intrusion in coastal areas; 
I 
20 
(e) 
Resolution of land use conflicts which are life-threatening or threatening to 
21 
public safety, sustainability of key production resources or employment activities and the 
22 
delivery of basic services and are harmful or destructive to protected areas, flora, fauna 
23 
and other protected natural resources. Greater consideration shall be given to the human 
24 
and tenurial rights of vulnerable groups in resolving land use conflicts; 
25 
(I) 
Identification of geo-hazard prone areas and high risk/danger zones and 
26 
corresponding risk reduction measures to ensure the prioritization of life and safety: 
27 
Provided, That specifically identified and assessed extremely hazardous and high-
23 


1 
risk/ danger zones shall be similarly protected and cleared from all forms of human-made 
2 
obstacles, obstructions and instructions to ensure and secure public health and safety; 
3 
4 
(g) 
Respect for existing customary rights and traditional land uses of ICCS/IPS; 
(h) Identification of settlement areas to check the demand for land and establish 
5 
the location of employment-generating industries and basic services; and 
6 
(i) 
The availability of natural resources including indigenous energy resources for 
7 
energy security and self-sufficiency. However, infrastructure energy projects such as dams 
8 
with large reservoirs in natural ecosystems shall not be allowed if it would interrupt the 
9 
connectivity of river systems, disrupt fish spawning and migration, and alter seaspnal 
10 
flood regimes. 
11 
12 
SEC. 13. Categories of Land Uses for Planning Purposes. In determining and 
13 
defining the national, regional and provincial framework plans, and CLUPs, land uses 
14 
shall be grouped into four major functional uses as follows: 
15 
(a) 
Protection Land Use shall refer to the use of land primarily for food, water and 
16 
energy security, rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes for the promotion of 
17 
the country's ecological and life-support systems. Planning for protection land use intends 
18 
to achieve food self-sufficiency in rice and corn, water and energy security, environmental 
19 
stability and ecological integrity, ensure a balance between resource use and the 
20 
preservation of some areas with environmental, aesthetic, educational, cultural, heritage 
21 
. and historical significance, and protect people and human-made structures from the ill-
22 
effects of natural hazards. All lands, either public or private, under protection land use 
23 
shall be permanently conserved, preserved, rehabilitated and protected from all other land 
24 
uses, disposition, intrusion, utilization and development that is not consistent from its 
25 
eXisting uses. Areas under this category also include those covered by Republic Act No. 
26 
7586 or the NIP AS Law and other coastal and marine protected areas, those areas outside 
27 
NIP AS but nonetheless require protection because of their outstanding physical and 
24 


1 
aesthetic features, anthropological significance, and biological diversity, and those areas 
2 
prone to natural hazards. Areas outside the coverage of the NIP AS law include, but are 
3 
not limited to the following: 
4 
(a.l.)Old-growth forests and mossy; 
5 
(a.2.) Areas with more than 50% in slope gradient; 
6 
(a.3.)Mangrove and fish sanctuaries, pursuant to Republic Act No. 8435 or the 
7 
"Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997" and Republic Act No. 8550 or "The 
8 
Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998"; 
9 
(a.4.)Buffer zones or strips/easements, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 705, 
10 
amending Presidential Decree No. 389, otherwise known as the "Forestry Reform Code of 
11 
the Philippines" and Presidential Decree No. 1067 or the "Water Code of the Philippines"; 
12 
(a.5.)Salvage zones along foreshore areas, freshwater swamps and marshes, plazas 
13' 
and heritage/historic sites, pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 2146; 
14 
(a.6.) Watersheds; 
15 
(a.7.)Utility easement like transmission lines of power companies, oil and gas 
16 
facilities, cell sites, and domestic water lines; 
17 
(a.8.)Amenity areas or those with high aesthetic values, pursuant to Presidential 
18 
Decree No. 2146; 
19 
(a.9.)Natural 
and 
human-made 
areas/sites 
of 
cultural, 
historical 
and 
20 
anthropological significance, which are declared as such by internationally recognized 
21 
organizations and concerned national agencies; 
22 
(a.l0.) Critical habitats as provided in Republic Act No. 9147 or the "Wildlife 
23 
Resources Conservation and Protection Act"; 
24 
(a.11.) Significant caves under Republic Act No. 9072 or the "National Caves and 
25 


1 
Cave Resources Management and Protection Act"; or 
2 
(a.12.) Key biodiversity areas under Executive Order 578, Series of 2006, or the 
3 
"National Biodiversity Policy"; 
4 
(a.13.) Irrigated and irrigable lands pursuant to Republic Act No. 9700. 
5 
(b) 
Production Land Use shall refer to the direct and indirect utilization of land 
6 
resources for crop, fishery, livestock and poultry production, forestry, agro-forestry, 
7 
mining, industry, energy development, indigenous energy exploration and development, 
8 
and tourism. Planning for production land shall determine the most efficient, sustainable, 
9 
and equitable manner of utilizing, developing and managing land for productive 
10 
purposes. Areas included in this category are agricultural lands, fishing grounds, coastal 
11 
and marine zones, production forest which comprise lands 18% to 50% in slope gradient 
12 
such as: 
residual dipterocarps, rangelands for grazing purposes, industrial tree 
13 
plantation/Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA), community based forest 
14 
management areas and other reforestation projects, mineral lands or mining areas and 
15 
reservations, energy resource lands, industrial development areas, and tourism 
16 
development areas where productive activities could be undertaken to meet the country's 
17 
requirements for food security, economic growth and development. 
18 
(c) 
Settlements Development shall refer to any improvement on existing settlements 
19 
in urban and rural areas or any proposed development of certain areas for settlement 
20 
purposes involving the spatial distribution of population, identification of the roles and 
21 
functions of key urban centers, determination of relationships among settlement areas, and 
22 
the provision of basic services and facilities to such settlement. 
The settlements 
23 
development plan ensures for the present and future generation the following: (i) effective 
24 
integration of activities within and among settlements, allowing efficient movement of 
25 
people and production of commodities through the provision of appropriate land, 
26 
infrastructure, and facilities; and (ii) access of the population to housing, education, health 
26 


1 
care, recreation, transportation and communication, sanitation, and basic utilities such as 
2 
water, power, waste disposal, and other services. 
3 
(d) 
Infrastructure Development shall refer to the availability or supply of basic 
4 
services and fostering of economic and other forms of integration necessary for producing 
5 
or obtaining the material requirements of Filipinos, in an efficient, responsive, safe and 
6 
ecologically friendly built environment. It covers sub-sectors of transportation, 
7 
communications, water resources, and social infrastructure: 
Provided, That the 
8 
determination of functional uses of lands within ancestral domains shall consider 
9 
traditional resource and management systems that do not endanger the lives of the people 
10 
and property of the local community and neighboring areas or increase the vulnerability of 
11 
the natural environment to the effects of natural and human-induced geological processes. 
12 
CHAPTER V 
IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM 
13 
Article I 
14 
NATIONAL LAND USE COMMISSION 
15 
SEC. 14. Creation of the National Land Use Commission (NLUC). ~ The National Land 
16 
Use Commission, hereinafter referred to as NLUC, is hereby created as a Commission 
17 
under the Office of the President. It shall exercise the powers and responsibilities of the 
18 
current NED A Board~National Land Use Committee which is hereby abolished and the 
19 
powers and functions pertaining to land use planning vested by law to the HLURB. The 
20 
NLUC shall act as the highest policy making body on land use and resolve land use policy 
21 
conflicts between or among agencies, branches, or levels of the government. It shall 
22 
integrate efforts, monitor developments relating to land use and the evolution of policies. 
23 
It shall also establish Regional Offices. 
24 
SEC. 15. Composition of the NLUC. ~ The NLUC shall be composed of the following: 
27 


1 
(a) Chairman to be appointed by the President for a term of six (6) years, with a 
2 
rank of Cabinet Secretary; 
3 
(b) The Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority 
4 
(NEDA) and Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 
5 
as Vice-Chairpersons; 
6 
The President may designate from among the two Vice-Chairpersons a Chief 
7 
Executive Officer who shall supervise the day-to-day affairs of the NLUC. 
8 
The members shall be: 
9 
(c) The Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council 
10 
(HUDCC), the Secretaries of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of 
11 
Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of 
12 
Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Transportation and 
13 
Communications (DOTC), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Department of the 
14 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department 
15 
of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Finance (DOF), the Department of 
16 
Energy (DOE) and the Chairperson of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples 
17 
(NCIP); 
18 
The Department Secretaries and the Chairperson of the NCIP may designate a 
19 
representative with a rank not lower than Assistant Secretary and Commissioner, 
20 
respectively: Provided, That the designated representative shall be on a permanent basis. 
21 
(d) A representative each from the Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities; 
22 
(e) A representative each from four (4) basic and marginalized sectors directly 
23 
involved in land use, namely: urban poor, farmer-peasants, fisherfolk, and indigenous 
24 
peoples who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines based on the 
25 
nomination and recommendation of the respective sectoral councils of the National Anti-
28 


1 
Poverty Commission (NAPC). At least two (2) sectoral representatives shall be women; 
2 
(f) Two (2) representatives from private subdivisions, and housing developers; and 
3 
(g) Two (2) representatives from the accredited association of professionals dealing 
4 
on land use such as but not limited to urban and regional planners, environmental 
5 
planners, architects, geologists and geodetic engineers; 
6 
A consultative body shall likewise be convened by the NLUC at least once a year or 
7 
as often as may be necessary. It shall be composed of representatives from the Leagues of 
8 
Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces, other government agencies not represented in the 
9 
NLUC, and from nongovernment sectors such as the private sector, non-government 
10 
organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (POs), and the academic community. 
11 
SEC. 16. Powers and Functions. - The NLUC shall have the following powers and 
12 
functions: 
13 
(a) 
Advise the President of the Philippines and the NEDA Board on all matters 
14 
concerning land use and physical planning; 
. 15 
(b) Integrate and harmonize all laws, guidelines and policies relevant to land use 
16 
and physical planning to come up with a rational, cohesive, and comprehensive national 
17 
land use framework; 
18 
(e) Formulate policies and approve land use and physical planning-related policies 
19 
that may be formulated by the Regional Land Use Policy Board (RLUPB), created under 
20 
Section 25 of this Act, and concerned agencies as well as promulgate zoning and other 
21 
land use control standards and guidelines which shall guide the formulation of land use 
22 
plans and zoning ordinances by local governments; 
23 
(d) Prepare, periodically review and if necessary, update the national framework 
24 
for physical planning to provide the general framework for the spatial development 
25 
directions for the entire country and sub-national levels; 
29 


1 
(e) Review and approve all land use and physical planning related guidelines; \ 
2 
(f) Monitor and coordinate the gathering of data, the conduct of studies pertaining 
3 
to land use planning including studies on the management of identified land uses and 
4 
such other studies not undertaken by other government agencies; 
5 
(g) Report and recommend to the President of the Philippines and to Congress the 
6 
adoption, passage, or amendment of laws to ensure that sectoral programs, plans, projects, 
7 
and activities, including local government initiatives affecting land use are consistent with 
8 
national development objectives; 
9 
(h) Coordinate with and assist other government agencies and LGUs in planning, 
10 
developing, and implementing their land use classification programs, and provide, to the 
11 
extent possible, technical assistance and guidance; 
12 
(i) Monitor and coordinate the activities of concerned agencies and entities of the 
13 
government, as well as LGUs, in the enforcement and implementation of policies and 
14 
regulations relating to land use and resource management and development; 
15 
U) Monitor and coordinate activities in the establishment of a national land 
16 
resource infOlmation and management system of concerned agencies that shall integrate 
17 
and process information on land use and allocation generated by the various national 
18 
government agencies; define information requirements at various levels; and standardize 
19 
information inputs and outputs including scales and symbols used in territorial and 
20 
sectoral maps; 
21 
(k) Be the repository of all RPFPs, PPFDPs and CLUPs and all data and information 
22 
pertaining to land and land use; 
23 
(I) Call on any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the 
24 
government, and/ or private entities and organization for cooperation, support, and 
25 
assistance in the performance of its functions; 
26 
(m) Decide and resolve policy conflicts and territorial jurisdiction on land use 
27 
between or among agencies, branches, or levels of the government and act on unresolved 
30 


1 
land use policy conflicts at the regional level elevated by the Regional Land Use Policy 
2 
Board (RLUPB); 
3 
(n) Adopt rules of procedures for the orderly and expeditious conduct of meetings 
4 
and other business of the Council; 
5 
(0) Perform such other acts and functions and exercise such other powers as may be 
6 
necessarily implied, inherent, incident, or related to the foregoing; and 
7 
(p) Review and recommend fiscal policies and taxation on different land uses and 
8 
classification to achieve national goals. 
9 
SEC. 17. NLUC Technical Secretariat (NLUC-TS).- A Technical Secretariat sh<\ll be 
10 
created to provide technical support to the NLUC. It shall be headed by an Executive 
11 
Director with a rank of Undersecretary. He shall be a qualified professional in any of the 
12 
fields of land use, physical planning, environmental management, engineering, public 
13 
governance or law: 
14 
SEC. 18. The NLUC Technical Secretariat Executive Director. _. The Executive Director 
15 
shall supervise the operations of the NLUC Technical Secretariat and assist the NLUC 
16 
Chairperson or his/her designated Chief Executive Officer (CEO). 
17 
In the absence of the CEO, he/she shall preside over the meetings of the NLUC-TS. 
18 
He/she shall also perform such other functions as may be tasked by the 
19 
Chairperson or CEO-Vice Chairperson. 
20 
SEC. 19. Offices, Units and Staff Support. - The Policy and Planning Unit of the 
21 
HLURB shall be the core secretariat of the NLUC. The staff in the HLURB Policy and 
22 
Planning Unit and NEDA Regional Development Office who opted to transfer to the 
23 
NLUC shall be given priority without diminution in rank and remuneration. The staffing 
24 
pattern shall be drafted by the NLUC in coordination with the DBM and Civil Service 
25 
Commission. Other government agencies may also be called upon for staff support. 
31 


1 
The NLUC technical secretariat shall be divided into following service units -
2 
Planning and Policy Services, Technical Advisory and Assistance Service, and 
3 
Administrative and Financial Services. Each service unit shall be headed by a Director 
4 
with minimum rank of Director I (SC 22) and shall possess professional qualifications that 
5 
relate to land use, physical planning, management, engineering, governance and law. 
6 
(a) Planning and Policy Services - shall provide planning and policy support 
7 
services to the NLUC. It shall be responsible for preparation, formulation and issuance of 
8 
national land use planning guidelines, standards and policies that would be approved by 
9 
the NLUC. It shall also be responsible for assisting the NLUC in monitoring the 
10 
implementation and compliance of national and local agencies on the national land use 
11 
policies, directives, and guidelines. It shall also maintain and update an open and publicly 
12 
accessible national land use plan inventory, information and database monitoring system 
13 
that shall collate, integrate and consolidate the general status of the country's land uses at 
14 
all LCU levels. It shall also provide legal and legislative support to the NLUC and other 
15 
policy-making bodies on land use policies and land use related issues and concerns. 
16 
(b) Technical Advisory and Assistance Service - shall provide technical advisory 
\ 
17 
services to the NLUC and other policy making bodies related to land use management and 
18 
implementation. It shall also provide technical assistance to local and national agencies in 
19 
the preparation and formulation of their local land use plans, development and sectoral 
20 
plans, and other land use-related concerns that maybe raised by these bodies. It shall 
21 
maintain a national network of technical capable and qualified representatives under its 
22 
supervision and administration that shall provide technical advisory and secretariat 
23 
support to local land use planning bodies at the LCU levels. The technical advisory and 
24 
assistance service shall develop and provide training and capacity building programmes 
25 
on land use planning, land management, zoning, mapping and other related skills for local 
32 


1 
government units to enhance and strengthen their capacity to effectively perform the 
2 
functions of LGUs under this Act. 
3 
(c) Administrative and financial services - shall provide day-to-day administrative, 
4 
human resources, bud getting, logistical support and financial services to the NLUC and its 
5 
technical secretariat. 
It shall also perform other administrative and support services 
6 
necessary for the effective and efficient operation of the NLlJC and NLUC secretariat. I 
7 
Article 2 
8 
REGIONAL AND LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING BOARDS 
9 
SEC. 20. City/Municipal Land Use Planning and Management Board (CjMLUPMB). -
10 
The C/MLUPMB 
is hereby created under this Act in all municipalities and cities, 
11 
including highly urbanized and component cities, to oversee the preparation, integration, 
12 
adoption and approval of their respective Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and 
13 
shall ensure the consistency of such plans with approved national, regional and provincial 
14 
planning guidelines. The C/MLUPMB shall also be directly responsible for the effective 
15 
management and implementation of the approved CLUP and for ensuring that any 
16 
existing and future local policies, including zoning ordinances, development initiatives, 
17 
programs and projects introduced within its jurisdiction are consistent with and 
18 
supportive of the land use resource management and physical planning objectives, 
19 
directions and character identified by the approved CLUP. 
20 
SEC. 21. Powers and Responsibilities of the City/Municipal Land Use Planning and 
21 
Management Board. -
The following are the powers and responsibilities of the 
22 
C/MLUPMB: 
I 
23 
(a) 
In coordination with the city/municipal planning and development 
24 
office/coordinator, review and issue the necessary local planning guidelines and/ or 
25 
implementing policies for the preparation and formulation of the CLUPs within its 
33 


1 
jurisdiction as provided for by approved national, regional and provincial planning 
2 
policies and guidelines; 
3 
(b) 
Review and endorse to the sangguniang bayan or sangguniang panlungsod 
4 
the draft CLUP for adoption; 
5 
(c) Ensure the input of the barangays within the jurisdiction of the respective 
6 
city /municipal on sectoral, temporal and spatial dimensions of the plan and its 
7 
consistency with approved national, regional and provincial planning guidelines; 
8 
(d) Review, monitor and assess the implementation and operationalization of the 
9 
approved CLUP; 
*) 
(e) Decide and resolve land use policy and zoning conflicts that may arise between 
11 
or among barangays within the LGUs; 
1¢) 
(f) Resolve and decide any complaints regarding the issuance of applications for 
13 
locational clearances, building and. zoning permits and/ or other planning-related 
I 
14 
requirement for any project, both private and public, by the LCU to ensure consistency 
15 
and conformity with the approved CLUP and zoning ordinances; 
16 
(g) 
Advise the local chief executive and sangguniang bayan on all matters 
17 
pertaining to land use and physical planning; 
18 
(h) Promote cooperation and sharing of resources between and among its 
19 
barangays and neighboring LGUs to address common land use and development issues 
20 
inicuding those related to geo-physical hazards, watershed and river basins, coastal and 
21 
marine waters, climate change impact and disaster risks; and 
22 
(i) Convene a technical working group composed of city/municipal agriculturist, 
23 
city/municipal environment and natural resources officer, city/municipal engineer, 
24 
city/municipal assessor and such other LGU officials with land related functions in the 
34 


1 
preparation of the CLUP. The TWG may request any field officials of national government 
2 
agencies with land administration function to assist for the same purposes. 
3 
SEC. 22. Composition of the CjMLUPMB. - The C/MLUPMB shall be composed of 
4 
five (5) members and shall be headed by a Chairperson: 
5 
(a) City/municipal planning and development coordinator (C/MPDC); 
6 
(b) 
Chairperson of the Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Environment and 
7 
Natural Resources who shall serve as the chairperson of the C/MLUPMB; 
8 
(c) 
One 
(1) 
representative 
from 
the 
local 
business/private 
sector 
9 
association/chamber of commerce, who shall be appointed from among the accredited 
10 
organizations within their respective development councils; 
11 
(d) One (1) representative from the basic sector and marginalized groups (urban 
12 
poor, fisherfolk, farmers and indigenous peoples) who shall be appointed from among the 
13 
accredited organizations within their respective development councils; and 
14 
(e) NLUC representative who shall serve as ex-officio member. 
15 
Except for ex offiCio members, the members of the C/MLUPMB shall be appointed 
16 
for a term of three (3) years, subject however to the elected office held, government 
17 
employment and/or official designation in the LGU, national agency and/or local 
18 
business/private sector association or basic and marginalized sector group representation 
19 
in the Board. 
The City/Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator/Office 
20 
(C/MPDC/O) shall provide technical secretariat and administrative suppor\ and 
21 
resources for the effective operation of the C/MLUPMB. 
22 
Aside from the C/MPDO/C, the C/MLUPMB may call upon other local and 
23 
national government offices and agenCies such as the local engineer, the assessor and the 
24 
local field representatives of the DA, the DPWH, the DOTC, the DOT, the DENR, the 
35 


1 
DAR, the DepED and other concerned national agencies to assist the C/MLUPMB in the 
2 
performance of its roles and mandates. 
3 
Annual appropriations for the operation and activities of the C/MLUPMB shall be 
4 
included in the annual budget proposal of the C/MPDO/C: Provided, That other funds 
5 
and resources, including grants, applicable service fees and charges collected, 
6 
contributions, donations, and other funds to support its operations and activities may be 
7 
accepted and received by the PLUPMB, subject to existing auditing and reporting 
8 
procedures. 
9 
LGUs shall create and/or activate their respective C/MLUPMB upon guidelines 
10 
issued by the NLUC for such purposes, not later than six (6) months from the effectivity of 
11 
this Act. 
12 
SEC. 23. Provincial Land Use Planning and Management Board (PLUPMB). - The 
13 
PLUPMB is hereby created in all provinces under this Act to oversee the preparation, 
14' 
integration, adoption and approval of the Provincial Physical Framework Plan (PPFP) and 
15 
shall ensure its consistency with approved national and regional planning guidelines. The 
16 
PLUPMB shall also be directly responsible for the effective management and 
17 
implementation of the approved PPFP and ensure that any existing and future 
18 
development initiatives, programs and projects introduced within its jurisdiction are 
19 
consistent with and supportive of the land use resource management and physical 
20 
planning objectives, directions and character identified in the approved PPFP. 
21 
In addition to the functions enumerated in Section 109 of the LGC, the PLUPMB 
22 
shall: 
23 
(a) Advise the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on all matters pertaining to land use and 
24 
physical planning; 
25 
(b) Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for adoption, the provincial 
36 


1 
physical framework plans, prepared and periodically updated by the Provincial Planning 
2 
and Development Office and other land use and physical planning-related policies; 
3 
(e) Assist the Sangguniang Panlnlawigan in reviewing the CLUPs of component 
4 
cities/municipalities to ensure consistency with the provincial physical framework plans 
5 
and compliance with the limits prescribed under the 1991 LGC for reclassifying 
6 
agricultural lands; and 
7 
(d) Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and, 
8 
allocation that may arise between or among cities/municipalities and any unresolved land 
9 
use conflicts at the city / municipal level. 
10 
The PLUPMB may call upon any local official concerned such as Provincial 
11 
Planning and Development Coordinator, Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Environment 
12 
and Natural Resources Officer, Provincial Engineer, Provincial Assessor, or any official of 
13 
national agencies and other relevant agencies during discussions on land use and physical 
14 
planning concerns. 
15 
SEC. 24. Composition of the PLUPMB. - The PLUPMB shall be composed of the 
16 
following fourteen (14) members to be selected based on the rules to be formulated by the 
17 
NLUPC as provided in this Act: 
18 
(a) 
Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator (PPDq; 
19 
(b) 
Chairperson of SP Committee on Environment and Natural Resources; 
20 
(e) 
Provincial Chapter President - League Of Municipalities and/ or League of 
21 
Cities; 
22 
(d) 
Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (P ARO); 
23 
(e) 
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO); 
24 
(f) 
Provincial Agricultural Officer (P AO); 
25 
(g) 
NCIP Provincial Officer; 
26 
(h) 
NLUC Technical Representative; 
37 


1 
(i) 
One 
(1) 
representative 
from 
the 
local 
business/private 
sector 
2 
association/ chamber of commerce, who shall be appointed from among the accredited 
3 
organizations within their respective development councils; 
4 
G) 
Four (4) representatives from the basic and marginalized sector groups (urban 
5 
poor, fisherfolk, fanners, indigenous peoples): Provided, That at least two (2) 
6 
representatives shall be women: Provided, further, That the representatives shall be 
7 
appointed from among the accredited organizations within their respective development 
8 
councils; and 
9 
(k) 
Designated board chairperson to be chosen among the members. 
10 
Except for ex-officio members, the members of the PLUPMB shall be appointed for 
11 
a term of three (3) years, subject however to the elected office held, government 
12 
employment and/ or official designation of the local government unit, national agency 
13 
and/or local business/private sector association or basic and marginalized sector group 
14 
representation in the Board. The NLUPC, within ninety (90) days from its establishment, 
15 
shall formulate the rules for the selection of the chairperson and the members in the 
16 
PLUPMB. The Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator/Office (PPDC/O) shall 
17 
provide technical secretariat and administrative support and resources for the effective 
18 
operation of the PLUPMB. 
19 
Aside from the PPDO, the PLUPMB may call upon other local and national 
20 
government offices and agencies such as the local engineer, assessor, and local field 
21 
representatives of the DA, DPWH, DOTC, DOT, DENR, DAR, DECS, NCrp and other 
22 
concerned national agencies to assist the PLUPMB in the performance of its roles and 
23 
mandates. 
24 
Appropriations for the regular operation and activities of the PLUPMB shall be 
25 
included in the annual budget proposal of the PPDO: Provided, That other funds and 
26 
resources, including grants, applicable service fees and charges collected, contributions, 
38 


1 
donations, and other funds to support its operations and activities may be accepted and 
2 
received by the PLUPMB subject to existing auditing and reporting procedures. 
3 
SEC. 25. Regional Land Use Policy Board (RLUPB).- At the regional level, the 
4 
Regional Land Use Policy Board (RLUPB) shall be institutionalized, replicating the NLUC 
5 
structure and composition which shall include a duly authorized representative from the 
6 
NEDA, the DENR, the DA and the DAR. The RLUPB shall have the following functions: 
7 
(a) 
Formulate and adopt regional policies on land use and physical planning; 
8 
(b) Prepare and periodically update a regional physical framework plan, taking into 
9 
consideration national polices and lower level plans; 
10 
(c) Assist the provinces in preparing and periodically updating its physical 
11 
framework plans to ensure consistency with the regional and national plans and policies 
12 
and to facilitate its integration to the regional plans; 
13 
(d) Review, prior to adoption by respective sanggunians, the Provincial Physical 
14 
Framework Plan and CLUPs of highly urbanized and independent component cities to 
15 
ensure consistency with the regional physical framework plan and national policies set 
16 
forth by LUPC and compliance with limits prescribed under the 1991 LGC for reclassifying 
I 
17 
agricultural lands; 
18 
(e) Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and 
19 
allocation that may arise between or among regional line agencies, provinces and 
20 
cities/ municipalities; 
21 
(1) Monitor changes in land use and other physical resources in the region; 
22 
(g) Evaluate consistency of major programs and projects with the regional physical 
23 
framework plans and their impact on land use and the environment; 
24 
(h) Undertake the gathering of regional data for the Land Resource Information and 
25 
Management System; and 
26 
(i) Perform other related functions as may be directed by the LUPC. 
39 


1 
Article 3 
2 
ADOPTION, ApPROVAL AND REVIEW OF LAND USE PLANS 
3 
SEC 26. Component Cities and Municipalities. - Component cities and municipalities 
4 
shall have the power and authority to adopt and approve their respective CLUPs and ZOs 
I 
5 
through their respective sanggunians subject to the power of review of their respective 
6 
provinces only with respect to the consistency of the CLUPs and ZOs with Section 8 hereof 
7 
on the preparation of the provincial physical framework plan. 
8 
SEC 27. Provinces and Independent and Highly Urbanized Cities. - Provinces and 
9 
independent and highly urbanized cities shall have the power and authority to adopt and 
10 
approve their respective CLUPs, ZOs or provincial physical framework plan, as the case 
11 
may be, through their respective sanggunian but subject to the review of the RLUPB as 
12 
provided in Section 25 of this Act. 
13 
Article 4 
14 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LGUS 
15 
SEC 28. National Base Mapping Program. - A national mapping program shall be 
16 
implemented, coordinated, and monitored through the creation of an Inter-agency 
17 
Technical Committee (ITC) composed of the NAMRIA, as the lead agency, the Bureau of 
18 
Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Land 
19 
Management Bureau (LMB), the Land Registration Authority (LRA), the Protected Areas 
20 
and Wildlife Bureau (P A WB), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Philippine 
21 
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the DAR, the National Water 
22 
Resources Board (NWRB), the DOE, the NED A and other concerned government 
23 
agencies/bureaus. The ITC shall be constituted, and the mapping program shall be 
24 
initiated, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. The agencies mentioned in 
40 


1 
this Section shall endeavor to finish their base mapping program within two (2) years 
2 
upon the effectivity of this Act. 
3 
To facilitate land use planning and as a part of the National Base Mapping Program, 
4 
the Interagency Technical Committee (ITC) shall establish a nationally consistent 
5 
Alphanumeric Grid Reference System based on universally-defined coordinate and grid 
6 
systems for accurate and consistent identification and communication. 
7 
The spatial and non-spatial data generated by these activities shall be downloaded 
8 
to the LGU as soon as practicable. On the other hand, existing land information data 
9 
available to the national government agencies as of the effectivity of this Act shall be 
10 
immediately downloaded to the LGU. 
11 
For purposes of uniformity and standardization, the LGUs, to be assisted by the 
12 
appropriate agencies of the national government, shall likewise prepare their respective 
13 
territorial maps using scales, symbols, and other indicators to be prescribed in accordance 
I 
14 
with this Act. The completed maps shall be integrated in the national physical framework 
15 
plan pursuant to Section 5 of this Act. 
16 
SEC. 29. National Geo-hazard Mapping Program. - Within thirty (30) days from the 
17 
effectivity of this Act, a nationwide geo-hazard mapping program shall be initiated jointly 
18 
thru the NLUC by the PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and 
19 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the NAMRIA, the MGB, the BSWM, 
20 
and the DOE, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
21 
Council (NDRRMC), the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
22 
(RDRRMC), and other concerned government agencies. The program shall include the 
23 
generation of indicative geo-hazard zoning maps that will outline areas in the Philippines 
24 
which are prone to liquefaction, landslides, severe flooding, lahar, ground rupturing, 
25 
tsunami, river erosion, coastal erosion, sinkhole collapse, earthquake, lava flow, 
26 
pyroclastic flow, base surge, and other natural hazards. 
41 


1 
For purposes of uniformity and standardization and in order to develop a safe-built 
2 
environment, the LGUs shall subsequently incorporate and integrate the generated geo-
3 
hazard zoning maps in their respective CLUPs. Said geo-hazard maps shall serve as guide 
I 
4 
for all the LGUs in the preparation of their own hazards-constrained development plans. 
5 
The national physical framework planning, pursuant to Section 5 hereof, shall incorporate 
6 
these geo-hazard maps. 
7 
All infrastructure activities including real estates and subdivision projects and the 
8 
development of tourist spots requiring an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) 
9 
shall be required to submit an Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessment Report 
10 
(EGGAR). 
11 
SEC. 30. Scope and Nature of Responsibilities of Other National GOZJernment Agencies. -
12 
All concerned national government agencies/bodies shall periodically report to the NLUC 
13 
on the various activities and accomplishments relative to land use. Likewise, they shall 
14 
provide their respective sectoral/ development plans and render technical and 
15 
administrative support if called upon by the NLUC relative to the implementation of the 
16 
provisions of this Act. 
17 
SEC. 31. Submission of Annual Report on the Implementation of CLUPs. -
The 
18 
C/MLUPC shall submit an annual report on the implementation of their land use plans to 
19 
the PLUPMB, which shall integrate the same for submission to the RLUPB, which shall in 
20 
turn integrate the provincial reports for submission to the NLUC. 
21 
CHAPTER VI 
22 
SPECIAL AREAS OF CONCERN 
23 
Article I 
24 
AGRICULTURAL LANDS 
25 
SEC. 32. Priority A reas for Agricultural DeZJelopment. - Priority areas for agricultural 
42 


1 
development for purposes of agricultural production shall be those agricultural areas 
2 
under protection land use covered under Republic Act No. 6657 or the CARP, as amended, 
3 
and those covered under Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial 
4 
Development (NPAAAD), defined in Section 4 of this Act and in KA. No. 8435 or the 
5 
" Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act". 
'6 
SEC. 33. Conversion of Agricultural Lands. - Prime agricultural lands and specific 
7 
types of lands to the extent necessary for attaining food self -sufficiency in rice and corn 
8 
and food security in other basic commodities, as determined by the DA, subject to 
9 
mandatory public hearingsj consultations with the LGUs, the private sector, the NGOs, 
10 
and POs, shall be protected from conversion, which shall include but not limited to areas 
11 
under the NPAAAD: Provided, That all irrigated and irrigable lands, all lands developed or 
I 
12 
possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all agricultural lands 
13 
that are eCOlogically fragile and whose conversion will result in serious environmental 
14 
problems cannot be converted, the areas under which are subject to review every ten (10) 
15 
years by the DAR, with the mandatory public hearingsj consultations. 
16 
SEC. 34. Sub-classification or Re-classification of Agricultural Lands by LGUs. - Sub-
17 
classification or re-classification of agricultural lands to other uses under Section 20 of the 
18 
LGC of 1991 shall exclude the protected agricultural lands as stated in the preceding 
19 
section. Moreover, such sub-classificationj reclassification is not synonymous to 
20 
conversion. The DA and DAR shall provide the LGUs with complete list and maps of 
21 
protected agricultural lands within their territorial jurisdictions. 
22 
Article 2 
23 
ANCESTRAL DOMAIN 
43 


1 
SEC 35. 
Priority Areas For Agricultural Development Within Ancestral Domain. -
2 
Agricultural lands within ancestral domain shall be developed in accordance with their 
3 
Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development Protection Plan (ADSDPP). 
4 
SEC 36. Respect For Ancestral Domains. - The Ancestral Domain Management Plan 
5 
(ADMP) or ADSDPP shall be adopted in the CLUP and/ or other plans that the LGU is 
6 
mandated to produce. The extent of the ancestral domains shall be reflected in the land 
7 
use plan, where it will be zoned as such in the zoning ordinance and shall be co-managed 
8 
by the LGU and IP community. Additionally, the ADSDPP shall be included in the 
9 
investment plans of the LGU. 
10 
SEC 37. Ancestral Domain Policy Adoption. - Ancestral domain policies shall be 
11 
adopted in the LGU's land use policy framework. 
However, in the event that the 
12 
ADMP / ADSDPP is still in the formulation stage or remains to be formulated, the right to 
13 
self-determination and traditional resource and management systems and processes shall 
14 
be upheld at all times as provided for by the IPRA of 1997. 
15 
Article 3 
16 
FOREST LANDS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 
17 
SEC 38. Forestland Boundary Delineation. -
Pursuant to Section 4, Article 12 of the 
18 
1987 Constitution which mandates Congress to determine by law the specific limits of 
19 
forestlands and national parks, the Secretary of the DENR shall submit to Congress the 
20 
final forestland boundaries delineated by province and the Congress shall consider the 
21 
same for adoption. 
22 
SEC 39. Reversion of Alienable and Disposable Lands to Forestlands. -
Upon the 
23 
recommendation of the Secretary of the DENR, duly reviewed and endorsed by the NLUC, 
24 
and after due consultations with the concerned LGUs and affected parties, Congress may 
25 
authorize the reversion of alienable and disposable lands of the public domain or portion 
44 


1 
thereof to forestlands. Thereafter, said lands shall be included in the preparation of land 
2 
use plans within forestlands. 
3 
SEC. 40. Critical Watershed Areas. - The DENR, in coordination with the DA, LGUs, 
4 
and other government agencies, 
including government-owned and -controlled 
5 
corporations, and with mandatory public hearings/consultations, shall review, identify 
6 
and delineate critical watershed areas that need to be protected, rehabilitated, enhanced, 
7 
and/ or withdrawn from uses that contribute to their further degradation. 
8 
SEC. 41. Formulation and Implementation of Integrated Watershed Management Plans. -
\ 
9 
In the absence of a law on the protection and sustainable management of our forests, the 
10 
LGUs through their local land use committees and upon mandatory public 
11 
hearings/ consultations with the concerned sectors, and with the assistance of DENR, shall 
12 
prepare their watershed management plans which shall be integrated with their respective 
13 
CLUPs. The formulation and integration of the plan shall be guided, among others, by the 
14 
principle that the management and development of inland water resources shall be at the 
15 
watershed level. A nationwide mapping of watersheds in the country shall be 
16 
implemented. 
17 
In cases where the watershed areas transcend the boundaries of a particular 
18 
municipality, an inter-LGU committee composed of representatives from local land use 
19 
committees of the LGUs where the watershed area is located shall be formed. With the 
20 
assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory public hearings/consultations with the 
21 
concerned sectors, the inter-LGU committee shall formulate the watershed management 
22 
plan for the said watershed area. 
23 
The DENR and the concerned LGUs shall jOintly implement the watershed 
24 
management plan subject to regular consultations with and involvement of the community 
25 
and other stakeholders in the implementation of the plan. 
45 


1 
The preparation of forest land use plans shall make use of the watershed as the 
2 
basic planning unit. 
3 
Article 4 
4 
National Parks and other NIP AS Areas 
5 
SEC. 42 Integrated Management Strategy. For more effective planning, management 
6 
and protection of Protected Areas at the provincial and municipal/ city levels, the 
7 
Protected Area Management Plan referred to in the NIP AS law shall be incorporated in the 
8 
PPFP and CLUPS, if applicable, wherein Protected Area Zoning shall be reflected. 
9 
Article 5 
10 
COASTAL ZONE 
11 
SEC. 43. Criteria on the Allocation and Utilization of Lands within the COllstal Zones. -
12 
The allocation and utilization of lands within the coastal zones shall be guided by the 
13 
following: 
14 
(a) Areas vegetated with mangrove species shall be preserved for mangrove 
15 
production and shall not be converted to other uses; 
16 
(b) Areas which meet all accepted criteria on elevation, soil type, soil depth, 
17 
topography, supply for successful fishpond development, and are not identified as 
18 
mangrove protected areas, shall be utilized for aquaculture purposes; 
19 
(c) Areas sub-classified as mangrove and still suitable for use as such, or due to 
20 
environmental conditions need to be preserved as mangrove, but is devoid of mangrove 
21 
stands shall not be converted to other uses. The DENR shall ensure that these lands shall 
22 
be reforested within a given period of time; 
23 
(d) Areas accessible to the sea and identified for fisher folk settlement and housing 
24 
shall be allocated to traditional fisherfolk who are inhabitants of the coastal communities 
25 
and members of legitimate fisherfolk organizations and/ or holders of stewardship lease 
46 


) 
1 
contracts or titles to ancestral domains or any form of property right arrangements who 
2 
participate in coastal resource management initiatives, subject to the usual census 
3 
procedures of the HUDCC. 
4 
(e) Areas which are neither sub-classified as mangrove, fisherfolk settlement nor 
5 
fishpond may be devoted to recreational or tourism purposes: Provided, That such 
6 
undertaking will not result in environmental degradation and displacement of small 
I 
7 
fishers; 
8 
(f) Areas which are considered as traditional fishing grounds shall be used 
9 
primarily for such purpose; 
10 
(g) Areas which have been allocated for small infrastructure needed by fisherfolk 
11 
shall be allowed; and 
12 
(h) Areas which form part of foreshore lands as defined in this Act including those 
13 
which are under lease agreements or arrangements shall undergo zoning and evaluation 
14 
to determine their boundaries and actual sizes and corresponding uses. 
15 
SEC. 43. Coastal Land Zone SUb-classification. - All public lands in the coastal zones 
16 
shall be sub-classified into any of the following: estuaries, lagoons, inter-tidal flats, 
17 
mudflats, fishponds, mangroves, protection from tidal surge, for preservation of 
18 
biodiversity, habitats and sanctuaries for endangered wildlife, fisherfolk settlement, or 
19 
recreational/ tourism areas. No sub-classification of coastal zones to different uses shall be 
20 
done without the following: 
21 
(a) 
Conduct of a comprehensive resource and environmental assessment by the 
22 
DENR and respective LGUs and accredited NGOs and POs within their jurisdiction; 
23 
(b) 
Integrated Coastal Management Approach, in accordance to EO 533, shall be 
24 
used as the framework for coastal areas which should be incorporated in the 
25 
Comprehensive Land Use Plan of the LGUs 
26 
(c) Prior consultation with the Local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management 
27 
Councils (FARMCs) formed under Republic Act No. 8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code. 
47 


1 
SEC. 44. Zoning of Foreshore Areas. - Local government units, in coordination with 
2 
the DENR, shall conduct zoning of their respective foreshore areas to assist government 
3 
and community fishers identify priority areas for conservation and development, and to 
4 
enable them to set targets for mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation. 
5 
SEC. 45. Protection of Waterways Easements and Flood Plains. - Structures of any kind 
6 
shall not be built in waterways easements. Pursuant to PD 1067 or the Water Code, the 
7 
banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their entire 
8 
length and within a zone of three (3) meters in urban areas, twenty (20) meters in 
9 
agricultural areas and forty (40) meters in forest areas, along their margins, are subject to 
10 
the easement of public use only in the interest of recreation, naVigation, floatage, fishing 
11 
and salvage. 
12 
The protection of flood plains shall adopt a river basin management approach in 
13 
order to come up with integrated flood mitigation interventions. Development within 
14 
flood plains and other flood-prone areas must be controlled or, if allowed, must be so 
15 
sited, constructed and serviced that life of occupants are not put at risk and that 
16 
disruptions during floods are minimal. The identification and characterization of flood-
17 
prone areas and flood plains shall be an integral part of CLUP preparation. Through the 
18 
CLUPs and zoning ordinances, LGUs shall establish land use regulations to mitigate flood 
19 
risks. 
20 
The DPWH, in coordination with DOST and DENR, shall declare flood control 
21 
areas, as necessary, and prohibit or control activities that could damage or cause 
22 
deterioration of lakes and dikes, obstruct the flow of water, change the natural flow of 
23 
rivers, increase flood losses or aggravate flood problems pursuant to PD 1067. 
24 
Article 5 
25 
MINERAL LANDS 
48 


1 
SEC. 46. Criteria for the Utilization and Allocation of Land for Mining Purposes.-
2 
Consistent with Section 6 of this Act and the provisions of Republic Act No. 7942 or the 
3 
Mining Act of 1995, and to ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance 
I 
4 
and maximizing economic returns to mining operations are realized, the allocation and 
5 
utilization of lands for mining purposes shall be guided by the following: 
6 
(a) The principles of sustainable development and responsible mining; 
7 
(b) In case of small-scale mining, adequate and acceptable safeguards shall be 
8 
instituted by the holders of mining rights or permits to prevent environmental 
9 
degradation of the mining sites and adjacent areas; 
10 
(d) 
Mineral reservations which have become non-operational for more than five 
11 
(5) years as determined by the MGB shall be placed under appropriate surface 
12 
management by the DENR; and 
13 
(e) 
Consistent with the Mining Act of 1995, areas closed to mining operations 
14 
shall be periodically reviewed through mineral exploration to be undertaken by the 
15 
DENR for the purpose of determining whether or not their continued closure is consistent 
16 
with the national interest and, if warranted, recommend their reclassification as mineral 
17 
lands. 
18 
(f) 
Land under protection land use shall be exempted from mining activities to 
19 
minimize the effect of natural calamities and to protect food security respectively. 
20 
(f) The small to large scale mining operations shall yield from and recognize the 
21 
tenurial instrument given by the government such as Original Certificate of Title (GlCT), 
22 
Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT), Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), 
23 
Emancipation Patent - Certificate of Land Ownership Award (EP-CLOA) and other 
24 
instruments. 
25 
SEC. 47. Reversion of Mineral Lands. - All mineral lands with exhausted mineral 
26 
resources, as determined by the MGB upon the recommendation of the DENR, shall revert 
49 


1 
to its original land classification, that is, as forestland or agricultural land. In the case of 
2 
forestlands, the DENR may classify such areas for other purposes in consultation with 
3 
concerned LGU's, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and other national government 
4 
agencies. 
5 
Article 6 
6 
ENERGY RESOURCE LANDS 
7 
SEC. 48. Guidelines for the Utilization and Allocation of Lands for Energy Resource 
8 
Exploration, Development, Production, Utilization, and Distribution Purposes. - To ensure that 
9 
the objectives of maintaining ecological balance and maximizing the power potential from 
10 
indigenous energy resources in the most economical and environmentally-acceptable 
I 
11 
means are realized, the allocation and utilization of lands for said purposes shall be guided 
12 
by the following, consistent with existing regulations and laws on energy resources: 
13 
(a) 
Indigenous energy resource exploration and development for the purpose of 
14 
a National Energy Resource Inventory and Data Base as well as Energy Resource Block 
15 
Map shall be allowed subject to the implementation of complementary watershed and 
16 
other land management plans; 
17 
(b) Indigenous energy resource exploration, development, production, utilizatiOn, 
18 
and distribution shall be subject to the appropriate requirements and processes of the 
19 
Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (ElS) System. Each project shall secure an 
20 
Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) prior to project implementation to ensure 
21 
adequate and appropriate environmental management measures and optimum methods 
22 
for resource access and recovery are utilized; and 
23 
(c) Energy reservations or portions thereof which have become or have been 
24 
established to be non-economically viable to operate or are no longer used for energy 
25 
purposes shall be released to give way to other land uses, subject to existing laws covering 
26 
energy reservations. 
50 


1 
SEC 49. Reversion of Energy Resource Lands . . - All exhausted indigenous energy 
2 
resource lands not covered by proclamations shall automatically revert to the category of 
3 
forestlands or agricultural lands open to disposition, whichever is appropriate. Exhausted 
4 
energy resource lands shall refer to specific energy resource sites whose energy reserves of 
5 
the desired type/ s are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional 
6 
expenditure for their extraction and utilization. 
7 
CHAPTER VII 
8 
SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPMENT 
9 
SEC 50. Town, City, and Settlements Development. - The development of town, city, 
10 
and settlements through the zoning ordinances of cities and municipalities shall be guided 
11 
by CLUPs and urban zoning standards designed to maximize existing urban spaces. 
12 
Socialized housing and settlement areas shall be established only on alienable and 
13 
disposable lands in order to avoid further degradation of forestlands. 
14 
SEC 51. Settlements Within Geo-hazard Areas. - Settlements, in particular housing or 
15 
residential developments, within geo-hazard areas may be allowed provided that 
16 
mitigating and/ or protective measures are adopted to address the potential danger or risk 
17 
to lives and property within such settlements. 
I 
18 
Residential zones as designated in the CLUP shall be considered as outside the geo-
19 
hazard areas. For this purpose, housing projects within such areas shall be exempted from 
20 
the ECC as well as the Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessment Report 
21 
(EGGAR) and maybe implemented without the need for any further certificate of 
22 
exemption from the DENR or any other government regulatory agency. 
23 
SEC 52. Designation of Sanitary Landfill. - Each city or municipality shall identify, 
24 
deSignate and allocate an area preferably within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as 
25 
sanitary landfill within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The LGUs, in 
51 


1 
coordination with the DENR or any other competent authority, shall identify sanitary 
2 
landfill in order to fast-track the conduct of environmental impact assessment study and to 
3 
facilitate processing of the environmental compliance certificate. The site or area shall be 
4 
identified in the city or municipality's CLUP. For this purpose, cities and municipalities 
5 
shall establish their solid waste management program, pursuant to RA. No. 9003, 
6 
otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000". Likewise, as 
7 
provided under Section 33 of the LGC, cities and municipalities may, through appropriate 
8 
ordinances, bind themselves towards the establishment of a common solid waste 
9 
management program. 
10 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in coordination 
11 
with concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary guidelines and standards for the 
12 
formulation and establishment of solid waste management programs by cities and 
13 
municipalities, and shall submit the same to the LUPC for review and approval. 
14 
SEC. 
53. Designation and Zoning of Socialized Housing Zones. -
Each city or 
15 
municipality in urban, urbanizable and rural areas shall designate through the CLUP 
16 
adequate lands for housing or residential purposes, including socialized housing and 
17 
resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the local population as well as 
18 
the underprivileged and homeless in their territory, pursuant to existing laws and 
19 
regulations. In order to ensure adequate availability of land for the hOllsing needs of the 
20 
local population, the CLUP shall be updated, at the earliest after every ten (10) years for 
21 
prOVinces, cities and municipalities. 
22 
The designated sites for socialized housing shall be located in residential zones, and 
23 
shall be zoned as socialized housing zones that are integrated in the city or municipality's 
24 
zoning ordinance, pursuant to existing laws and regulations. Preference shall be given to 
25 
lands proximate to public transportation facilities which may include inter alia railways 
26 
and public terminals. 
52 


1 
Fisherfolk settlements and housing in coastal municipalities shall be zoned near the 
2 
sea for easy access to their livelihood pursuant to Section 42 of this Act. 
3 
SEC 54. Urban Forest or Green Space. - Each city or highly urbanizing municipality 
4 
shall identify, designate, and allocate lands owned by the city or municipality as urban 
5 
forest or green space based on the guidelines and standards to be issued by the DENR and 
6 
approved by the NLUC 
7 
CHAPTER VIII 
8 
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS 
9 
SEC 55. Criteria for Designating Industrial Development Areas. _. The identification 
10 
and establishment of industrial development areas including Special Economic Zones 
11 
and/ or freeports shall conform with the provisions of R A. No. 7916, or the Philippine 
12 
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) Act, R.A. No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian 
13 
Reform Program, (CARP) Act, as amended by RA. No. 9700 or the Comprehensive 
14 
Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms Act (CARPER), RA. 8371 or the 
15 
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), RA. No. 7279 or the Urban Development Housing 
16 
Act (UDHA), and RA. No. 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act 
17 
(AFMA), taking into consideration the following: 
18 
(a) 
Identified network of areas for agricultural development and protected 
19 
agricultural areas pursuant to the AFMA; 
20 
(b) 
National policies on the regional dispersal of industries and agri-based 
21 
industrial development; 
22 
(e) Identified growth areas and corridors in the National Development Plan; 
23 
(d) National Protected Areas System (NIP AS) and non-NIP AS areas that require 
24 
protection; 
25 
(e) National and Urban Development and Housing Framework; 
53 


1 
(f) Identified Socialized Housing Zones; 
2 
(g) National framework for physical planning and other existing national programs 
3 
and policies; 
4 
(h) Local Government Unit (LGU) consent through a resolution from the affected 
5 
LGU's respective sanggunians; 
6 
(i) Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Environmental Impact 
7 
Statement (EIS); 
8 
G) Certificate of no overlap from the DENR, DAR and the NCIP; and 
9 
(Ie) NEDA approval. 
10 
The land use plans of all Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and/ or freeports whether 
11 
created by special laws, through Republic Act No. 7916 (PEZA Law) or executive 
12 
proclamations shall conform to the approved Comprehensive Land Use Plans pursuant to 
13 
this Act. The National Land Use Commission (NLUC) shall order all Special Economic 
14 
Zones and freeports to submit revised land use plans, for review and approval by their 
15 
respective city or municipal councils where these areas are located. 
16 
Any conflict or overlap in land use shall be resolved in favor of the preferential 
17 
rights of the basic and marginalized sectors protected by the Constitution. 
18 
NEDA shall review and 
evaluate the Viability in terms of the volume of 
19 
inveshnents against the cost of environment, labor, tax incentive, and maintenance of 
20 
peace and order of Special Economic Zones and freeports. 
21 
The designated industrial development areas shall become an integral part of the 
22 
land use plan and zoning ordinance of the city or municipality where these areas are 
23 
located. 
24 
CHAPTER IX 
25 
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND HERITAGE AREAS 
54 


1 
SEC. 56. Designating Tourism Development Areas. - The identification, selection, and 
2 
development of tourism development areas, tourism estates and tourism enterprise zones 
3 
(TEZs) shall be done in consultation and coordination with the concerned LGUs, the 
4 
TIEZA and concerned national government agencies, the private sector, and the affected 
5 
communities, subject to the provisions of R.A. No. 9593 Or Tourism Act of 2009. Tourism 
6 
development areas shall likewise include those covered by legislative and executive 
7 
issuances as tourist spots, tourist zones and tourism ecozones which can be developed into 
8 
tourism estates or integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes and other tourism-
9 
related facilities as well as those identified in the national, regional and inter-regional 
10 
tourism, and area specific tourism master plans and other sector plans such as ecotourism 
11 
and agri-tourism sites. 
12 
Designated areas for tourism development shall become part of the CLUPs of the 
13 
cities or municipalities where these are located. 
14 
Lands identified as part of a TEZ shall qualify for exemption from the coverage of 
15 
Republic Act Nos. 7279 and 6657 subject to rules and regulations to be crafted by the 
16 
TIEZA, HUDCc. DAR and DA: Provided, That a certificate shall be obtained from the DA 
17 
that said lands are no longer economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes, 
18 
consistent with Section 33 of this Act. 
19 
SEC. 
57. Identification and Declaration of Areas for Protection, Conservation and 
20 
Preservation of Cultural Heritage. - Pursuant to R. A. No. 10066, the National Historical 
21 
Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) and/or the National Museum in coordination 
22 
with National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), HLURB and other 
23 
concerned agencies, local communities, and the private sector, shall identify declared areas 
24 
and structures which shall be protected and/ or preserved as part of the Philippine cultural 
25 
heritage subject to the IPRA. 
55 


• 
1 
The LGUs in coordination with the NHCP, the NCCA and the Cultural Center of 
2 
the Philippines (CCP) shall designate historical zones to protect the historical integrity of 
3 
said geographical areas and cultural space of intangible cultural properties. 
4 
CHAPTER X 
5 
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 
6 
SEC. 58. Allocation and Use of Land for Infrastructure Development. - Land, whether 
7 
public or private, shall be allocated and utilized for priority infrastructure projects that are 
8 
supportive of national or local development objectives. The NEDA, in consultation with 
9 
the concerned national government agencies, LGUs, and the private sector shall identify 
10 
and periodically review, update and/ or revise the list of priority infrastructure projects 
11 
subject to Sections 6 and 33 of this Act, and Section 47 of R. A. No. 8435 or AFMA. In 
12 
determining and evaluating the list of priority infrastructure projects, consideration shall 
13 
be given to those that: 
14 
(a) Respond to immediate and vital requirements of the national economy with 
15 
priority on improving rural infrastructure and the development of the agriculture and 
16 
fisheries sectors; 
17 
(b) Upgrade existing facilities to international standards; 
18 
(c) Address the need for sustainable settlements development; and, 
19 
(d) Help mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing phenomena or 
20 
those that shall serve as alternatives to eXisting infrastructures found in natural hazard-
I 
21 
prone areas: Provided, That the provision and implementation of infrastructure support 
22 
shall be made compatible with existing environmental conditions and the physical, 
23 
whether natural or human-made, and cultural character of the area. Mandatory public 
24 
hearings/consultations pursuant to existing laws and regulations shall be held prior to the 
25 
conduct of all infrastructure projects that will necessarily involve dislocation or 
26 
displacement of people in the area: Provided, further, That the proponent of the 
56 


1 
infrastructure project shall follow the rules on just and humane eviction or demolition 
2 
under Section 28 of R. A. No. 7279 or the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA), 
3 
notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 8975, prohibiting lower courts from 
4 
issuing temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, or preliminary mandatory 
5 
injunctions, and proponent shall follow IPRA: Provided, finally, That national government 
6 
infrastructure projects shall allocate budget for the adequate relocation of displaced 
7 
communities. 
8 
SEC. 59. Infrastructure Projects Within Ceo-hazard Areas. - Construction of priority 
9 
infrastructure projects within hazard-prone areas shall be allowed: Provided, That 
10 
mitigating and/or preventive measures are adopted to address the potential adverse 
11 
economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts that will emanate from these 
12 
infrastructure projects, subject to the findings and recommendations of a feasibility 
13 
study / environmental impact assessment in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 
14 
1586, Establishing An Environmental Impact Statement System, Including Other 
15 
Environmental Management Related Measures, and R. A. No. 4846 or the Cultural 
16 
Properties Preservation and Protection Act, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 374. 
17 
Existing projects that did not go through the process of an environmental impact 
18 
assessment and pose threats to the environment, integrity of historic, archeological, or 
19 
scientifically significant areas; or are impinging on critical ecosystems, shall either be as 
20 
determined by the concerned agencies: (a) terminated immediately, (b) required to 
21 
implement an Environmental Management Plan; (c) gradually phased-out and relocated, 
22 
or (d) maintained up to their life span, subject, however, to mitigating measures: Provided, 
23 
That the rules on mandatory public hearings/ consultations and just and humane eviction 
24 
or demolition shall also be observed prior to the termination, gradual phase-out, or 
25 
relocation of projects that will necessarily involve dislocation or displacement of people in 
26 
the area. 
57 


1 
CHAPTER XI 
2 
TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND VALUE FORMATION 
3 
SEC. 60. Value Formation. - In order to create a well informed, responsible and 
4 
committed citizenry who values the protection, conservation and development of the 
5 
country's limited land, and other physical resources, the State shall mandate the inclusion 
6 
of sustainable land use education or any subject related thereto in the curricula of primary, 
7 
secondary and tertiary education. 
8 
SEC. 
61. Information and Education Campaign. -
The NLUC shall undertake a 
9 
nationwide education information campaign in land use and physical planning to be 
10 
implemented by local and national government agencies. The DILG and concerned 
11 
agencies shall formulate and implement a land use management capability-building 
12 
program for national and local government officials, community leaders, NGOs, POs, 
13 
religious sector, and the general public: Provided, That it shall be mandatory for local 
14 
government officials involved in the preparation of CLUPs and PPFDP, including the 
15 
municipal, city and provincial development officer to attend the Land Use Management 
16 
Capability-Building Program. 
17 
CHAPTER XII 
18 
INCENTIVES, SANCTIONS, AND PENALTIES 
19 
Article 1 
20 
Incentives and Awards 
21 
SEC. 62. Formulation of a System of Incentives and Awards. _. The NLUC shall come 
22 
out with a system of incentives and awards to LGUs that regularly update their 
23 
CLUPs/ZOs within the prescribed period, as follows: 
24 
(a) 
Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities, and Independent Component Cities -
58 


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1 
once every ten (10) years; and 
2 
(b) 
Component cities and municipalities once every ten (10) years. 
3 
SEC. 63. Priority in Gi-uing Technical Assistance to LGUs. - [n providing technical 
4 
assistance and other forms of support related to land use management and the 
5 
implementation of development plans, the national government agencies shall give 
6 
priority to cities and municipalities with approved CLUPs/ZOs. 
7 
i\rticle 2 
8 
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES 
9 
SEC. 
64. Fine for Non-Completion and Non-Commencement of Development of 
10 
Agricultural Lands with Approved Order of Conversion. -
i\ landowner and his/her 
11 
designated developer or duly authorized representative who fails to commence and/ or 
12 
complete the development of agricultural lands with approved order of conversion shall 
13 
be penalized, jointly or severally, with any of the following fines based on the zonal value 
14 
of the land at the time the fine is imposed: 
15 
(a) On failure to commence within one (1) year from the date of conversion order: 
16 
(1) Six percent (6%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the first three (3) 
17 
hectares, 
18 
(2) Fifteen percent (15%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the next three (3) 
19 
hectares, and 
20 
(3) Thirty percent (30%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the remaining 
21 
area: 
22 
Provided, That the order of conversion shall be deemed revoked automatically and the land 
23 
shall revert to its original agricultural use and covered by the Di\R through compulsory 
24 
acquisition for distribution to qualified beneficiaries. 
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(b) On failure to complete fifty percent (50%) of the approved conversion plan 
2 
within a specified time frame. Fifty percent (50%) of the zonal value of the subject land 
3 
and the revocation of the conversion plan on the undeveloped portion which shall 
4 
automatically revert to its original use as agricultural land. The same shall be covered 
5 
under the CARP and processed for land distribution as soon as possible. 
6 
SEC 65. Authority to Impose Fine. - The DAR shall impose the penalty provided for 
7 
under the preceding section. 
8 
SEC 66. Withdrawal of Local Development Permits or Licenses. - Upon receipt of 
9 
notice from the DAR, the concerned agencies and the city or municipality shall withdraw 
10 
or revoke any development permit and other licenses that may be necessary to develop the 
11 
agricultural land subject of conversion. 
12 
SEC 67. Utilization of Fines. - The fines collected under Sections 64, 69 and 70 
13 
hereof shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund consistent with the 
14 
prOVisions of the CARP, as amended. 
15 
SEC 68. Failure to Formulate, Enforce, and/or Implement the CLUPs. - Consistent with 
\ 
16 
due process, the DILG shall investigate, review, and impose appropriate action regarding 
17 
local chief executives and other local officials and employees responsible for the 
18 
formulation, enforcement, andlor implementation of the CLUPs in case of any of the 
19 
following: 
20 
(a) 
Failure to implement and enforce the CLUP due to negligence of duty; 
21 
(b) 
Failure to provide appropriate budgetary allocation to effect its 
22 
implementation; and, 
23 
(c) 
Failure to complete the preparation of the CLUP despite the availability of 
24 
funds, resources, and support by the sanggunian concerned. 
25 
Any public official or employee, regardless of whether elected or appointed or 
60 


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1 
holding office or employment in a casual, temporary, holdover, permanent, or regular 
2 
capacity, found to be responsible for any of the foregoing acts, after due notice and 
3 
hearing by the appropriate body or agency, shall be punished with forfeiture of salaries 
4 
and allowances and suspension from: 
5 
6 
7 
1. 
Six (6) to nine (9) months, in case of non-implementation of CLUP; or 
2. 
Three (3) to six (6) months, in case of non-completion of the CLUP. 
SEC. 
69. Person(s) Abetting Illegal Conversion. ~ Any person initiating, causing, 
8, inducing, or abetting illegal conversion shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned from seven 
9 
(7) to twelve (12) years and imposed a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos 
10 
(PI00,000.00), or both at the discretion of the Court: Provided, That if the offender is a 
11 
public official or employee, whether elected or appOinted, the penalty shall, in addition 
12 
thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the service and forfeiture of 
13 
all benefits and entitlements accruing to the public position and perpetual disqualification 
14 
to run or apply for any elective or appointive public office: Provided, further, That if the 
15· offender is a juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the 
16 
president, chief executive officer, manager, chairperson and all the members of the board, 
17 
and other responsible officers thereof, and the fine shall be equivalent to the zonal value of 
18 
the land or forty percent (40%) of the shareholders equity, as determined at the time of 
19 
judgment whichever is higher, plus forfeiture of the land in favor of the State for sale 
20 
though public auction, the proceeds of which shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian 
21 
Reform Fund as provided for in Section 67 of this Act. 
22 
SEC. 70. Penalty for Reclassification of Protected Agricultural Lands and Exceeding the 
23 
Limit of Areas Allowed for Reclassification. ~ Any person initiating, causing, inducing, or 
24 
abetting the reclassification of protected agricultural areas into non-agricultural uses and 
25 
exceeding the limits set forth under Section 20 of the LGC of 1991, shall be penalized with 
26 
imprisonment of twelve (12) years and a fine of not less than One hundred thousand pesos 
61 


1 
(plOO,OOO.OO), or both at the discretion of the court: Provided, That if the offender is a public 
2 
official or employee, the penalty shall, in addition thereto, include dismissal through 
3 
permanent separation from the service, whether elected or appointed, and forfeiture of 
4 
entitlements accruing to the public position, and perpetual disqualification to run or apply 
5 
for any elective or appointive public position: Provided, further, That if the offender is a 
6 
juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed on the president, chief executive officer, 
7 
manager, chairperson and all the members of the board, and other responsible officers 
8 
thereof. 
9 
SEC. 71. Payment of Disturbance Compensation. - Following the order of priority as 
10 . 
enumerated in Section 22 of the CARP, as amended, qualified beneficiaries such as 
11 
agricultural lessees and share tenants, regular farm workers, seasonal farm workers, other 
12 
farm workers, actual tillers or occupants of public lands, collective, or cooperative of the 
13 
above-mentioned beneficiaries, and others directly working on the land affected by 
I 
14 
agricultural land use conversion shall be entitled to the payment of disturbance 
15 
compensation equivalent to five (5) times the average of the gross harvests on the 
16 
landholding during the last five (5) preceding calendar years or a certain percentage of the 
17 
converted land, whichever is higher, as determined by the DAR. 
18 
CHAPTER XIII 
19 
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
20 
SEC. 72. Convening of the NLUC. - Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this 
21 
Act, the President shall convene the NLUC. 
22 
SEC. 
73. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from the 
23 
effectivity of this Act, the NLUC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement 
24 
the provisions of this Act. 
Said rules and regulations shall be submitted to the 
62 


• 
• • 
1 
Congressional Oversight Committee for approval. 
2 
SEC 74. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Use Act. - There is hereby 
3 
created a Congressional Oversight COlnmittee which shall monitor the implementatiop of 
4 
this Act. It shall be composed of seven (7) members from the Senate and seven (7) 
5 
members from the House of Representatives. The Chairpersons of the Senate Committee 
6 
on Environment and Natural Resources and the House of Representatives Committee on 
7 
Natural Resources shall be the Chair and Co-Chair of the Congressional Oversight 
8 
Committee, respectively. The other members from the Senate shall be appointed by the 
9 
Senate President based on proportional representation of the parties or coalitions therein 
10 
with at least one (1) senator representing the minority. The other members from the House 
11 
of Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker also based on proportional 
12 
representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least one (1) member representing 
13 
the minority. 
14 
The secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the existing 
15 
secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight and the funding shall be 
16 
taken from the appropriations of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
17 
SEC 75. Appropriations. -
The appropriations for the National Land Use 
18 
Commission shall be taken from the budget of the Office of the President in the General 
19 
Appropriations Act in the year following the effectivity of this Act shall be used to carry 
20 
out the initial operations of the National Land Use Commission. Thereafter, additional 
21 
sums as may be necessary for the full implementation of NLUC's functions shall be 
22 
included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
23 
SEC 76. Review of Existing Land Use Plans. - Provinces, cities, and municipalities 
24 
specially managed/ administered areas by government, all Special Economic Zones 
25 
and/ or freeports with eXisting land use plans shall review, revise, reconcile, and 
26 
harmonize the same with the guidelines and standards set forth under this Act within 
63 


• 
, ' 
1 
three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. Actual use shall be preferred over future or 
2 
reserve use. 
3 
SEC 77. Repealing Clause. -
All republic acts, executive orders, rules and 
4 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the provisions 
5 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
6 
SEC 78. Non-impairment Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to 
7 
diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or available to marginalized or 
8 
basic sectors under existing laws including but not limited to Republic Act Nos. 7279,6657, 
9 
8371, and 8550. 
10 
SEC 79. Separability Clause. - If for any reason or reasons, any part or proviSion of 
\ 
11 
this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid other parts or 
12 
provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
13 
effect. 
14 
SEC 80. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
15 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
16 
circulation. 
Approved, 
64