Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

Rone: RB
HOUSE BILENO. __©&

Introduced by Honorable Isidro S. Rodriguez, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to declare as alienable and disposable for purposes of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) the lands in the Municipality of
Baras, Province of Rizal, surrounding the earth station of PHILCOMSAT declared as
security zone by Presidential Decree (PD) No. 1845, as amended.

Since 1920, the farmers have bzen occupying and cultivating the lands in Sitio
San Miguel of Barangay Pinugay in the Municipality of Baras, Rizal. In 1965, the
Philippine Earth Station of the Philippine Communication Satellite Corporation
(PHILCOMSAT) was built on part of these lands while farmers continued to cultivate
the surrounding areas. In 1982, Presidential Decree No. 1845 declared the three (3)
kilometer radius of the surrounding area of the earth station as security zone. Thus,
farmers were prohibited to enter and cultivate the areas within the security zone.

In 1992, however, the afiected areas were included by the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) in the coverage of CARP. PHILCOMSAT opposed the
action of DAR in court. The matter reached the Supreme Court which held that the
area is exempted from CARP by virtue of PD 1845, as amended. Consequently,
tarmers who have been occupants and tillers of the land for many years were deprived
of the benefits of CARP. They were eventually displaced and remained landless
despite being qualified as beneficiaries of the program.

On March 26, 2012. the farmers petitioned the Office of the President to repeal
PD 1845, as amended, stating that the earth station had been closed and ceased to
operate since 2000. The closure was confirmed and certified by the National
Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Apparently, PD 1845, as amended, lost its
purpose to protect and insure the safety and uninterrupted operation of the station.
Thus, the need to repeal PD 1845, as amended, in order that the lands within the


security zone be declared as alienable and disposable for inclusion under CARP.
Hence, the lands can finally be distributed and titled under the names of the previous
occupants and cultivators as qualified beneficiaries of CARP.

With this proposed measure, farmers will be given the opportunity to own
lands, enhance their dignity and improve the quality of their lives

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

Bo

Meg

ISIDRO S. ROD!



Republic of the Philippines
House Or REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress
Third Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO._6640

Introduced by Honorable Isidro S. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT

DECLARING AS ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE FOR PURPOSES OF THE
COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM THE LANDS
WITHIN THE RADIUS OF THREE KILOMETERS SURROUNDING THE
SATELLITE EARTH STATION OF THE PHILIPPINE COMMUNICATIONS
SATELLITE CORPORATION (PHILCOMSAT) IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
BARAS, PROVINCE OF RIZAL, REPEALING FOR THE PURPOSE
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1845, AS AMENDED

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

SECTION 1, The lands within the radius of three kilometers surrounding the
earth station of the Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation
(PHILCOMSAT) in the Municipality of Baras, Province of Rizal, are hereby declared
as alienable and disposable lands for inclusion under the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP), repealing for the purpose Presidential Decree No. 1845, as
amended, entitled “Declaring the Area Within A Radius of Three Kilometers
Surrounding the Satellite Earth Station in Baras, Rizal, A Security Zone.”

SEC. 2. The Land Management Bureau shall cause the subdivision of the land
so classified and. subject to the approval of the Secretary of Environment and Natural

Resources, determine the area of each lot, taking into consideration the nature of the


land, the number of the proposed applicants and the purpose for which it shall be
utilized.

SEC. 3. The land so subdivided shall be distributed to the bona fide residents
staying within the security zone not otherwise disqualified by law to own public lands
and who do not own any parcel of land in the Philippines nor beneficiaries of any
agrarian reform land distribution: Provided, That no person or family shall be entitled
to own more than one (1) lot

For purposes of this Act, a bona fide resident refers to any person who has been
actually and continuously occupying the area for thirty (30) years prior to the
declaration of the same as security zone.

SEC. 4. No property acquired by virtue of this Act shall, without the consent of
the Land Management Bureau, be sold, transferred, mortgaged, or otherwise disposed
of except through hereditary succession or to the government or to other qualified
beneficiaries. Any such sale or disposition made in violation hereof shall be null and
void.

SEC. 5. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall, in
coordination with the Secretary of Agrarian Reform, issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 6. Presidential Decree No. 1845, as amended, is hereby repealed. All
other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof,

inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended or modified accordingly



SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,