Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3227
Introduced by REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines, being an archipelagic country endowed with vast but finite
land and natural resources, faces immense pressure to harmonize the competing
demands of production, settlement, protection, and infrastructure development. The
lack of a coherent national land use policy has resulted in fragmented land use
decisions, unregulated conversion of agricultural lands, encroachment into protected
areas, increased exposure
to
climate-induced disasters,
and conflicts among
stakeholders.
Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution provides that all lands of the
public domain and natural resources are owned by the State, and mandates their
judicious management for the benefit of the Filipino people. Further, Article II,
Section 16 declares the State’s responsibility to protect and advance the right of the
people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of
nature. Despite these mandates, the absence of an institutionalized framework for land
use allocation continues to hinder equitable, sustainable, and efficient development.
This bill seeks to institutionalize a National Land Use Policy that will serve as
the guiding legal and policy framework for the rational and sustainable management
and development of the country’s land and physical resources. By classifying land
into four main categories—Protection, Production, Settlements Development, and
Infrastructure Development—the measure aims to harmonize spatial planning across
all levels of government while promoting ecological integrity, food and water security,
climate change resilience, and inclusive growth.
This legislative proposal creates the National Land Use Commission (NLUC)
under the Office of the President, which shall act as the highest policy-making body
on land use. The NLUC will ensure coordination, standardization, and integration
among agencies and local government units in the preparation, implementation, and
monitoring of land use and physical framework plans. Supporting this structure are
Regional, Provincial, and City/Municipal Land Use Policy Councils that will
operationalize the land use planning process at the appropriate levels using the ridge-
to-reef or watershed ecosystem management approach.
August 6, 2025
1:01 pm


The measure strengthens land governance by defining clear procedures and
responsibilities for planning, mapping, data management, and inter-LGU coordination.
It mandates the preparation of a National Physical Framework Plan (NPFP) and aligns
it with regional and local plans such as the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP),
thereby addressing the inconsistencies and overlaps that have long plagued land
allocation and development processes.
Moreover, this bill introduces safeguards and enforcement mechanisms to
protect prime agricultural lands, ancestral domains, critical watersheds, and protected
areas from illegal conversion and incompatible uses. It provides mechanisms for the
reversion of exhausted mineral and energy lands, encourages land consolidation for
agro-industrial
development,
and
upholds
the
rights
of
Indigenous
Cultural
Communities (ICCs/IPs) through recognition of their own land use plans in
accordance with RA 8371.
Additionally, the bill enforces accountability through incentives for compliant
LGUs, and imposes penalties for illegal land conversion, non-implementation of
CLUPs, and improper reclassification of protected agricultural areas. The proposed
measure likewise includes transitory provisions to ensure a smooth transition and full
alignment of existing land use plans with the standards set forth by the NLUC.
With the increasing threats of climate change, rapid urbanization, and food
insecurity, the need for an integrated land use policy has become even more urgent.
This bill envisions a future where land is not only seen as a commodity, but as a vital
resource managed for the collective welfare of present and future generations.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City
TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 3227
Introduced by REP. EMILIO BERNARDINO L. YULO
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL LAND USE POLICY, PROVIDING THE
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE
NATIONAL LAND USE COMMISSION, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “National Land
Use Act”.
SEC. 2. Declaration of Principles and Policies. – All lands of the public
domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of
potential energy, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other
natural resources are owned by the State. With the exception of agricultural lands, all
other natural resources shall not be alienated.
Pursuant to the constitutional provision or mandate, it is the policy of the State
to provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, utilization, management, and
development of the country’s land to ensure their optimum use to promote sustainable
socioeconomic development and ecological protection.
The State recognizes the need for rational, optimal and sustainable settlements
development, consistent with the principles of environmental management and
equitable access to land and security.
Toward this end, the State institutionalizes land use and physical planning as
mechanisms for identifying, determining, and evaluating appropriate land use and
allocation patterns that promote and ensure:
(a)
Sustainable management and utilization of natural resources;


(b)
Maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and stability
specifically the perpetual protection of permanent forests and watershed and
ecosystem services for the attainment of food, water and energy sufficiency;
(c)
Disaster risk-reduction and climate change resiliency;
(d)
Protection of prime agricultural lands for food security in basic
commodities with emphasis on self-sufficiency in rice and corn;
(e)
Water security through sustainable development and management of
water resources towards water security;
(f)
Provision of adequate and efficient settlements, transportation and
infrastructure development in support of urban, peri-urban, and rural linkages towards
regional development and inclusive growth;
(g)
Harmony between the rights and the varied interests of every Filipino
within the framework of people empowerment, decentralization, social justice, and
equity;
(h)
Respect for and protection of the sustainable traditional resource rights
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;
(i)
Protection of the rights of basic sectors to equitable access to the
country’s land;
(j)
Protection, preservation, and development of the country’s historical,
cultural, archaeological, and built heritage resources for the deeper understanding of
our history and culture as a people;
(k)
Attainment of energy security and self-sufficiency;
(l)
A whole-of-society and whole-of-government orientation, through
which thrusts and strategies espoused by different actors and sectors are heard and
brought together to achieve complex and interrelated goals, is encouraged and
adopted as a basic parameter in achieving efficiency in land use and allocation, within
the framework of ecological development and equity;
(m)
Promotion of the integrated approach to land use and urban transport
planning to effectively manage growth in urban areas and ensure that the capacity of
transport facilities can accommodate the demand for movement of passengers and
goods to, from, and within the centers of socioeconomic activities;
(n)
Vertical and horizontal linkages or spatial strategies and the potential
for co-management and inter-locality cooperation across territorial jurisdictions and


government levels, highlighting the imperative for a ridge-to-reef and ecosystem-
based approach to land and water resource management and governance; and
(o)
Data and evidence-informed management and governance of land and
water resources, in line with the place-based aspirations and shared values of the
community.
It is also the policy of the State to ensure that local government units (LGUs)
share with the national government the responsibility of managing and maintaining
ecological balance within their territorial jurisdiction as stated in the 1987
Constitution and Republic Act RA 7160, as amended, also known as the “Local
Government Code of 1991”. Guided by the principle that the use of land bears a social
function and that all economic agents contribute to the common good, landowners,
land tenure holders, in the case of forestlands, be it an individual, communal,
corporate or group, is held responsible for developing and conserving their lands,
thereby making their lands productive and supportive of environmental stability.
SEC. 3. Scope. – This Act applies to all lands and natural resources in the
country, whether public, private, government-owned or in the possession of any
person, whether natural or juridical, and serves as guide for the rational, holistic and
just allocation, utilization, development and management of the land and water
resources in the country, including such activities that bear impact on those resources.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act:
(a)
Agricultural land refers to land of public domain which has been
classified as such and is devoted to agricultural activity as defined under RA 6657, as
amended, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988,”
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 refers to the act or process of
changing the current physical use of a piece of agricultural land into some other use
not comprising an agricultural activity as defined under RA 6657, as approved
exclusively by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in an order of conversion;
(c)
Alienable and Disposable (A&D) lands refer to lands of the public
domain which have been delineated, classified, and certified as open and available for
disposition under existing laws;
(d)
Ancestral domains refer to all areas generally belonging to indigenous
cultural communities or indigenous peoples as defined in RA 8371, otherwise known
as “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997;”
(e)
Archaeological site refers to any place, whether above or underground,
underwater or at sea level, containing fossils, artifacts and other cultural, geological,
botanical, zoological materials which depict and document culturally relevant
paleontological, prehistoric or historic events;


(f)
Basic sector refers to a group of people not referring to any organized
groups, such as but not limited to women, youth, elderly, differently abled, peasants
and fisherfolk;
(g)
Coastal area or zone refers 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, the geographic extent of
which includes areas within a landward limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline
at high tide to include mangrove swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps,
estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and other areas within a seaward limit of two hundred
(200) meters isobaths to include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds, and other soft-
bottom areas;
(h)
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) refers to a plan embodying a
set of policies accompanied by maps and similar illustrations that serves as a policy
guide for determining the future use of lands and natural resources within the
territorial jurisdiction of the LGU, including municipal waters with due consideration
to the biogeographic region within which the locality belongs, representing the
community desired pattern of population distribution and proposes future allocation of
land and resources to various activities including the processes and criteria employed
in such determination of allocation of land and resources for a long-term management
of the local territory covering a minimum period of twelve (12) years, reviewable not
earlier than every six (6) years;
(i)
Comprehensive land use planning refers to the act of defining the
allocation, utilization, development and management of all lands and water resources
within a given territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent characteristic and
carrying capacities of the land itself and supportive of sustainable economic,
demographic, socio-cultural and environmental objectives as an aid to decision-
making and legislation;
(j)
Critical habitats refer to areas outside protected areas as defined in RA
7586, otherwise known as the “National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of
1992”, that are known habitats of threatened species and designated as such based on
scientific data taking into consideration species endemicity or richness, presence of
human-made pressures or threats to the survival of wildlife living in the area;
(k)
Critical watershed refers to a drainage area of a river system
supporting existing and proposed hydroelectric power, irrigation works or existing
water facilities needing immediate protection and rehabilitation to minimize erosion
and improve water yield;
(l)
Cultural heritage refers to the totality of cultural properties, whether
natural or human made, preserved and developed through time and passed on for
posterity;
(m)
Cultural property refers to all products of human creativity by which a
people and a nation reveal their identity, including churches, mosques and other
places of religious worship, schools and natural history specimens and sites, whether
public or privately-owned, movable or immovable, and tangible or intangible;


(n)
Customary laws refer to a body of written or unwritten rules, usages,
customs and practices traditionally and continually recognized, accepted, and
observed by respective ICCs/IPs, consistent with RA 8371;
(o)
Development plan refers to the activities and measures that the national
government or LGUs intend to implement over a specified period of time to achieve
the defined set of development goals identified in the national or local physical
framework plans integrating socio-economic, financial, fiscal, legal and legislative
institutional
and
sectoral
plans
of
the
national
government
or
any
of
its
instrumentalities or a particular LGU, consistent with the objectives identified in
spatial plans, such as land use plans or physical framework plans including an
analysis of problems and resources, definition of goals and objectives, policy
guidelines, programs and projects, and an implementation mechanism which defines
the roles and contributions expected from the government and the private sector;
(p)
Ecologically fragile areas refer to areas within critical watersheds,
brackish and freshwater wetlands, pasture lands, inland rivers and waterways coastal
and settlement areas, and croplands which require rehabilitation, protection and whose
continued unsustainable use may result in physical risks and threats to life and
property, public health and safety as well as adversely affect the productivity of
lowland agricultural areas and stability of the upland system;
(q)
Ecotourism refers to a form of sustainable tourism within a natural or
cultural heritage area where community participation, protection and management of
natural resources, culture and indigenous knowledge and practices, environmental
education and ethics, as well as economic benefits are fostered and pursued for the
enrichment of host community and satisfaction of visitors;
(r)
Energy resources refer to surface or subsurface substances that serve
as energy resources including traditionally mineral fuel deposits such as coal
petroleum, natural gas or renewable resources from geothermal, hydro reservoirs or
non-conventional sources such as ocean waves, solar, wind, biomass, and other
similar resources which serve the same purpose;
(s)
Energy resource lands 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 purposes;
(t)
Exhausted mineral resources refer to specific sites where the mineral
resources are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional
expenditure for extraction or utilization as determined by the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau and approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR);
(u)
Flood plain refers to relatively smooth valley floors adjacent to and
formed by rivers which overflow its banks at flood stages. The plain usually consist of
unconsolidated fine sediments such as sand, silt, and clay;


(v)
Flood-prone areas refer to low lying areas usually adjacent to large or
active water bodies and which 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;
(w)
Foreshore land refers to a string of land margining a body of water, the
part of a seashore between the low-water line usually at the seaward margin of a low
tide terrace and the upper limit of wave wash at high tide marked by a beach scarp or
berm;
(x)
Forest refers to an ecosystem or an assemblage of ecosystems
dominated by trees and other woody vegetation or a community of plants and animals
interacting with one another and its physical environment;
(y)
Forest lands refer to one of the four classifications of land defined in
the Constitution under the public domain determined as suitable for forest purposes
and not classified as mineral land, national park or agricultural land such as all
permanent forest reserves, forest reservations, and all the remaining unclassified lands
of the public domain;
(z)
Geo-hazards refer to a geological process or phenomenon that may
cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods
and services, social and economic disruption or environmental damage. This includes
internal earth processes such as earthquakes and volcanic activities, and geophysical
processes like mass movements landslides, surface collapses, debris and mud flow;
(aa)
Geo-hazard prone areas refer to areas frequently affected and/or are
vulnerable or at risk to weather/climatic, hydrologic, geologic and other natural
calamities;
(ab)
Heritage zone refer to historical, anthropological, archaeological,
artistic geographical areas and settings that are culturally significant to the country, as
declared by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) and/or the
National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP);
(ac)
Illegal conversion refers to an attempt to or an actual change in the use
of land from agricultural to a residential, commercial, or industrial and other non-
agricultural activity, without a conversion grant or clearance based on the
requirements under Section 65 of RA 6657, as amended, and to dispossess a tenant as
provided under Section 73 (c) of RA 6657, as amended, when established from the
following instances:
(1)
an agricultural land is developed for use in non-agricultural
activities without a DAR Conversion Order;
(2) the agricultural land being converted is irrigated or irrigable;
(3)
there is land activity such as, but not limited to, earth
filling/dumping, earth moving/digging, and quarrying, and in each
case,
bona fide conduct of agricultural activities on a greater
portion of the land developed has ceased; and
(4)
Other analogous activities.


(ad)
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPPs)
refer to groups of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and
ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on
communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims of ownership
since time immemorial, occupied, possessed, and utilized such territories, sharing
common bonds of language, customs, traditions, and other distinctive cultural traits,
or who have, through resistance to political, social, and cultural inroads of
colonization, non-indigenous religions and cultures, became historically differentiated
from the majority of Filipinos including peoples who are regarded as indigenous on
account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country at the time
of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous religions and
cultures, or the establishment of present state boundaries, who retain some or all of
their own social, economic, cultural, and political institutions, but who may have been
displaced from their traditional domains, or who may have resettled outside their
ancestral domains;
(ae)
Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) refer to the present most important sites
for biodiversity conservation worldwide which are considered places of international
importance for the conservation of biodiversity through protected areas and other
governance mechanisms and which are identified nationally using simple standard
criteria based on their importance in maintaining species populations;
(af)
Land refers to resources, both artificial and natural, found on the
surface, below, and above the ground, including inland waters and the air therein;
(ag)
Land use refers to the manner of allocation, utilization, management
and development of land;
(ah)
Land use classification refers to the act of delineating or allocating
lands according to protection land use, production land use, settlements development
and infrastructure development as provided for in this Act;
(ai)
Land use planning refers to the rational and judicious approach of
allocating available land resources to different land-using activities, such as but not
limited to agricultural, residential, industrial, commercial, institutional, forest land
uses, and for different functions consistent with the overall development vision/goal
of a particular locality;
(aj)
Mandatory public hearings or consultations refer to the mechanism of
involving the concerned stakeholders and communities in land use planning, from the
barangay to the national level, to ensure the social acceptability of the plans including
giving notice of hearing or consultation to the concerned stakeholders through
publication or posting in conspicuous places, conducting a reasonable number of
hearings, and soliciting positions to arrive at a consensus through public presentations
and validation of the planning results undertaken before the final adoption of the plans;
(ak)
Marine protected area refers to a defined area of the sea established
and set aside by law, administrative regulation or any other effective means to
conserve and protect a part of the entire enclosed environment, through the
establishment of management guidelines;


(al)
Minerals refer to naturally occurring inorganic substance beneath or at
the surface of the earth, whether or not under water, and includes all metallic minerals,
and non-metallic minerals such as precious stones, industrial rocks, and building
stones;
(am)
Mineral lands refer to any area where mineral resources are found,
including areas that are established as mineral reservations, areas with active mining
operations; areas with projected mining tenurial rights; and areas declared by court
decisions as mineral lands;
(an)
Mineral reservations refer to areas established and proclaimed as such
by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the Director of the
Mines and Geosciences Bureau through the DENR Secretary including all submerged
lands within the contiguous zone and exclusive Economic Zone.
(ao)
National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) refers to the
classification and administration of all designated protected areas to maintain essential
ecological processes and life-support systems, to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure
sustainable use of resources found therein, and to maintain their natural conditions to
the greatest extent possible;
(ap)
National park refers to forest reservation, essentially of natural
wilderness character, which has been withdrawn from settlement, occupancy or any
form of exploitation, except in conformity with the approved management plan and
set aside as such exclusively to conserve the area or preserve the scenery, natural and
historic objects, wild animals and plants therein, and to provide enjoyment of these
features in such areas including lands and waters of the public domain classified as
such in the Constitution such as all areas under the NIPAS primarily designated for
the conservation of native plants and animals and associated habitats and cultural
diversity;
(aq)
Network of Protected Areas for Agriculture and Agro-Industrial
Development (NPAAAD) refers to agricultural areas identified by the Department of
Agriculture (DA), through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management 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 to promote sustainable growth, covering all irrigated
areas, all irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects, all alluvial plains,
lands highly suitable for agriculture, whether irrigated or not, agro-industrial
croplands or lands planted with 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 may result in serious environmental degradation, and
all mangrove areas and fish sanctuaries;
(ar)
Physical framework plans refer to the national, regional or provincial
indicative plans that outline the over-all and macro-level spatial and physical
development objectives, priorities, directions and strategies in its respective levels as


prepared, reviewed, integrated and finalized by the national, regional and provincial
land use councils or boards respectively based on the CLUPs of the LGUs and the
national policy guidelines relating to land use, infrastructure development and
environmental management to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects of inappropriate
resource utilization on food security, the welfare of the people and their environment;
(as)
Physical Planning is the process of organizing physical activities and
land uses, including settlements, environmental protection, economic activities, and
infrastructure to ensure sustainable, orderly, and optimal siting and coordination of
land uses;
(at)
Prime agricultural lands refer to all contiguous irrigated lands/areas
and irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects, including all alluvial plain
lands highly suitable for agriculture, not irrigated that have been identified to satisfy
the need for food self-sufficiency and food security and agro-industrial croplands or
lands presently planted to industrial and high value crops that support the viability of
existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises, highlands or areas
located at an elevation of five hundred (500) meters or above, highly suitable for
growing semi-temperate and high value crops outside of declared permanent
forestlands and protections forests, and are not located in ecologically fragile and
environmentally critical areas;
(au)
Production land use refers to the most efficient, sustainable, and
equitable utilization, development and management of land for productive purposes
which are not classified for protection land use;
(av)
Protected areas refer to portions of land and water set aside by reason
of their unique physical and biological diversity and protected against human
exploitation including all natural forests and agricultural lands identified and
delineated under this Act;
(aw)
Reclassification of agricultural lands refer to the act of specifying how
agricultural lands are classified or used for non-agricultural uses such as residential,
industrial or commercial purposes, as embodied in the land use plan subject to the
requirements and procedure for reclassification undertaken by the LGU in accordance
with Section 20 of RA 7160, as amended;
(ax)
Resettlement areas refer to areas identified by the appropriate national
agency or by the LGU with respect to areas within its jurisdiction which are used for
the relocation of the underprivileged and homeless, as defined under RA 7279,
otherwise known as the “Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992;”
(ay)
Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones (SAFDZ)
refers to the areas within the NPAAAD identified for production, agro-processing,
and marketing activities to help develop and modernize, with the support of
government, the agriculture and fisheries sectors in an environmentally and socio-
culturally sound manner pursuant to Section 4 of RA 8435 or “Agriculture and
Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997”;
(az)
Settlements refer to communities or built-up environment areas where
people prefer to live in;


(ba)
Settlements development refers to any improvement on existing
settlements or any proposed development of certain areas for settlement purposes
involving 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
of growth centers;
(bb)
Shoreline refers to a strip of land covering of at least one (1) kilometer
from the point where seawater reaches during the highest high tide;
(bc)
State universities and colleges (SUCs) refer to public higher education
institutions in the Philippines created and established by law which constitutes their
charter and which have independent and separate governing boards;
(bd)
SUC Land Use Plan refers to a campus master plan mandated under
RA 11396, otherwise known as the “SUCs Land Use Development and Infrastructure
Plan Act” that contains the allocation and utilization of the land within a campus’
geographic boundary to meet the required academic and non-academic support
services and facilities as well as the campus development programs and projects and
the investment needed to implement them;
(be)
Sustainable development refers 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;
(bf)
Tourism development areas refer to specific sites for tourism
development located in areas identified as priorities in the national and regional
tourism master plans and those designated through legislative and executive issuances
as tourist spots and tourist zones which may be developed into tourism estates or
integrated resort, leisure, recreation complexes, and other tourism related facilities;
(bg)
Tourism ecozone refers to tourism development areas, outside of
protection lands which have been granted special economic zone status through the
Philippine Export Zone Authority registration and issuance of the required
Presidential Proclamation, with its metes and bounds, delineated by said proclamation,
pursuant to RA 7916, as amended, otherwise known as “The Special Economic Zone
Act of 1995”;
(bh)
Tourism estates refer to large tracts of land with well-defined
boundaries in any area, excluding those protection lands, identified in the Philippine
tourism master plan and regional tourism by proclamation of the President of the
Philippines or by acts of Congress or by local legislation and declared suited for the
development of an integrated tourism and resort complex with prescribed carrying
capacities and limits for its facilities and activities;
(bi)
Tourist spot refers to a particular area, site or spot, man-made or
natural, known for its unique tourist or visitor-drawing attributes and activities and


which may be classified according to its social, cultural, natural, historical, aesthetic,
visual, scientific, religious, or recreational significance;
(bj)
Tourist zone refers to a geographic area with well-defined boundaries
proclaimed as such by the President of the Philippines or by acts of Congress where
development projects for any purpose are initiated and introduced prior to formulation
of a tourism master development plan which are undertaken in coordination with the
Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone
(TIEZA) for the enhancement or the conservation of cultural and historical heritage,
and for the appreciation and enjoyment of the local population and its visitors;
(bk)
Transmission line corridor refers to the land beneath, the air spaces
surrounding, and the area traversed by electric power transmission lines including its
horizontal, vertical, and similar clearance requirements;
(bl)
Urban areas refer to all cities regardless of their population density
and to municipalities with a population density of at least five hundred (500) persons
per square kilometer;
(bm)
Urbanizable areas refer to sites and lands which, considering present
characteristics and prevailing conditions, display great potential of becoming urban
areas within a period of five (5) years;
(bn)
Urban forest or green space refers to the establishment or setting up of
areas for mini-forest, eco-parks or small nature parks, in both public and private lands,
wetlands, man-made lagoons and lakes systems, riverbanks and shores, grasslands,
roof and rock gardens, lining roads and highways with trees, shrubs, or ornamental
plants, and ground landscaping of schools, hospitals, and other government agencies
in order to improve the environment in urban areas;
(bo)
Water security refers to the sufficient access throughout the year to the
minimum daily requirement of clean water to maintain a healthy life;
(bp)
Water use refers to the appropriation of water for domestic, municipal,
irrigation, power generation, inland fisheries, poultry and livestock, industrial and
commercial, environmental, and recreational use;
(bq)
Watershed refers to a topographically delineated area of land from
which rainwater can drain as surface run-off vis-a-vis a specific stream or river system
to a common outlet point which may be a dam, irrigation system or urban water
supply take off point, or where the stream discharges into a river, lake, or the sea;
(br)
Zoning refers to the regulatory tool for delineating the specific land
uses in accordance with the approved CLUP within the territorial jurisdiction of a city
or municipality and specifying the conditions for their regulation, subject to the
limitations imposed by law and competent authority; and
(bs)
Zoning ordinance refers to a local law passed by the Sangguniang
Bayan or Panlungsod approving the development control or zoning plan in
accordance with an approved or adopted CLUP of the city or municipality, providing
for the regulations and other conditions on the land uses, including the limitation on


the infrastructure that may be placed within the territorial jurisdiction of the city or
municipality, incorporating the protected areas, protected agricultural lands and
ancestral lands as provided for in this Act.
CHAPTER II
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK AND LAND USE PLAN
SEC. 5. National Physical Framework Plan. – The National Land Use
Commission (NLUC) created under Section 18 herein shall draft the National
Physical Framework Plan (NPFP), which shall have a timeframe of thirty (30) years,
with regular review and updating every ten (10) years. The NPFP, which guides the
planning and management of the country's land and other physical resources at the
national and sub-national levels, shall indicate broad spatial directions and policy
guidelines on settlements development, production land use, protection land use,
social services and utilities, transmission line corridor, and transportation and
communication.
The Regional Physical Framework Plans (RPFPs), Provincial Physical
Framework and Development Plans (PPFDPs), and CLUPs shall cover the physical
development of their respective territories and shall be consistent with the NPFP:
Provided, That the integration and harmonization of the physical framework plans at
all levels shall be iterative to ensure that the concerns of both top and bottom levels of
government are considered. The physical and land use plans prepared at all levels
shall have internal consistency specifically on, but not limited to, the development,
management and conservation of forestlands, watersheds, and all terrestrial, aquatic,
and marine ecosystems found within a given territory and the linkages of the major
land use categories to ensure their complementation in the utilization, development,
management, protection and conservation of all natural
resources. The NLUC shall
issue procedural guidelines which shall guide the formulation and integration or
harmonization of land use plans at all levels: Provided, That the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA), DENR, Department of Human Settlements and
Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of the Interior and Local Government
(DILG) and other agencies will continue to issue specific guidelines on the planning
process and content of the plans consistent with the NLUC guidelines and their
respective agency mandates.
SEC. 6. Regional Physical Framework Plans. – In consultation with
concerned sectors, the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall define the
desired spatial arrangement of land and
land-use activities in the entire region, based
on the consolidated and harmonized PPFDPs of provinces and independent cities
within the territorial jurisdiction of the region. The RPFP, which depicts an end-state
scenario toward which efforts and activities are directed, shall consist of spatially-
based and area-focused policies, consistent with those in the national framework for
physical planning, to guide detailed physical, socio-economic, sectoral and investment
planning. The RPFP shall have a planning period of twelve (12) years to be updated
every six (6) years or when deemed necessary.
SEC. 7. Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plans. – In
consultation with concerned sectors, the Provincial Planning and Development Office
(PPDO) shall prepare a Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plans


(PPFDP), which shall define the province's development vision, economic and social
development policies, environmental and ecological protection policies, general land
uses, and inter-city/municipal transportation system. The PPFDP shall integrate and
harmonize the land use plans of component cities and municipalities using the ridge-
to-reef (R2R) or watershed ecosystem management (WEM) approach taking into
consideration shared watersheds, ecosystems and natural resources and planning
concerns, and define the uses of land and other resources within the province
consistent with the policies in the regional physical framework plan. The programs,
projects and activities prescribed in the PPFDP shall be integrated into the provincial
development investment program. The PPDO shall submit the PPFDP to the
Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC), created under Section 24 of this Act,
for review and endorsement to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which shall adopt the
same pursuant to Section 468 (2) (vii) of RA 7160. The PPFDP shall have a planning
period of twelve (12) years to be updated every six (6) years or when deemed
necessary.
SEC. 8. City/Municipal Land Use Plans. – The City/Municipal Planning and
Development Office (C/MPDO) shall prepare the comprehensive land use plan
(CLUP) to determine the specific uses of land and other physical resources therein
including areas co-managed with the national government and, as appropriate, the
ancestral domain areas. This shall be done in consultation with concerned sectors
through mandatory conduct of public hearings and with the use of technology-based
systems such as, but not limited to, the Community-Based Monitoring System
(CBMS) required to be established in every city and municipality under RA 11315 or
the “Community-Based Monitoring System Act”. The CLUP shall be consistent with
the R2R/WEM-based PPFDP and shall define the city or municipal development
vision, appropriate economic, environmental and social development policies,
densities and transportation system using the R2R/WEM approach. The CLUP shall
have a planning period of twelve (12) years to be updated every six (6) years or when
deemed necessary.
The C/MPDO shall also use, among others, the CBMS in the
updating of the CLUPs.
The R2R/WEM-based CLUP will be used as the common reference
framework for the preparation of all sectoral development plans that will form part of
the Comprehensive Land Use and Development Plan which merges the traditionally
separate CLUP and comprehensive development plan to address the disconnect
between
spatial
development
and
sectoral
programs
and
to
ensure
the
complementation between the medium- and long-term concerns and shall be the basis
of the formulation of the local development investment program. The CLUP shall be
translated into a zoning ordinance by the concerned Sanggunian to regulate the uses
of land, including the limitations on height, density and bulk of buildings and other
infrastructure that may be placed thereon.
SEC. 9. Physical Framework and Land Use Planning Process. – The land
use and physical planning process shall be formulated following a combined bottom-
up and top-down approach. The NLUC, in consultation with the concerned sectors
through the mandatory conduct of public hearings, shall formulate, periodically
update and ensure the implementation of the NPFP that shall prescribe and influence
the country’s land use and physical development. The NPFP shall operationalize the
policies provided in this Act and shall be the basis for adopting land use and physical


planning-related guidelines and standards, including zoning and other land use control
standards that shall guide the formulation of city/municipal zoning ordinances. The
policies prescribed in the NPFP shall be integrated into the Medium-Term Philippine
Development Plan and Medium-Term Philippine Investment Program.
In the formulation of the respective National, Regional Provincial or
City/Municipal Land Use Plans, the respective SUC Land Use Plans approved by the
CHED prior to the approval of this Act shall be taken into consideration in the
approval of the plans. As such, the President of the SUCs shall be consulted prior to
the approval of the said plans.
SEC. 10.
Land Use Plans for Ancestral Domains. –
Land use plans for
ancestral domains shall be formulated by the ICCs/IPs themselves in accordance with
their needs and traditional resource and management systems with the assistance of
the NCIP, the LGUs and civil society organizations (CSOs) concerned. Such plans
shall be recognized and adopted in the City/Municipal, Provincial, Regional and
National Physical Framework Plans.
Physical Framework Plans made prior to the delineation of ancestral domains
included in such plans shall, without prejudice to the rights of the ICCs/IPs concerned,
adopt different land use categories in accordance with their particular needs and
traditional resources and management systems.
In cases where there are no ancestral domains sustainable development and
protection plans (ADSDPPs), the LGUs and ICCs/IPs shall jointly formulate the land
use within the ancestral domains until such time that the ICCS/IPS shall have
formulated their ADSDPPs.
SEC. 11. Revision of Existing Planning Guidelines. – The existing planning
guidelines on the NPFP, RPFP and PPFDP shall be reviewed and revised pursuant to
Sections 5, 6, 7, and 9 of this Act.
CHAPTER III
FRAMEWORK FOR LAND USE PLANNING
SEC. 12. Basic Objective of Land Use or Physical Framework Planning. –
The primary objective of a physical framework plan is to describe existing land uses
and to identify an integrated physical framework, including an overall vision, policies
on social and economic development and environmental protection and supporting
transportation and other infrastructure facilities, that shall define future development.
Its output includes the identification of programs, projects and activities needed to
achieve
the
desired
development,
without
compromising
environmental
and
ecological stability, and which shall serve as inputs to the investment program. In the
case of the CLUP, it is also intended to provide specific development and building
guidelines and parameters that be implemented through a zoning ordinance.
SEC.
13. Priorities in Land Use Allocation and Planning. – Using the
R2R/WEM approach in projecting spatial allocation for different land uses, the LGUs
shall first exclude areas under protection land use in Section 17 (a) hereof, national
parks, energy resource lands, and prime agricultural lands to ensure ecological
integrity, energy supply, and promote food security. Areas with prior rights and those


with site-specific resources for basic services, such as but not limited to, water and
indigenous energy resources, shall also be excluded. All land use activities inside the
excluded areas that are not consistent with the general purposes of the excluded areas
shall be assessed, regulated, and/or modified to ensure that these activities do not
compromise the general purposes of the excluded areas. Spatial allocation and
planning shall then proceed in accordance with Sections 16 and 17 hereof with
priorities given to integrated watershed management areas, socialized housing sites,
fisherfolk settlement in coastal areas, and waste disposal sites.
SEC. 14. Approach to Land Use and Physical Framework Planning. – The
R2R/WEM approach shall be used in land use and physical framework planning to
promote a holistic, integrated, equitable and inclusive development, and a flourishing
environment, watersheds and ecosystems. It shall include a description of existing
land uses and land use trends, as well as the physical, demographic, economic, social,
political, environmental, and ecological conditions that have shaped and are likely to
shape future land use and physical developments. It shall then derive a land use plan
or physical framework by matching, reconciling or integrating the demand for land
with the supply of land in a holistic manner to optimize socioeconomic development
and minimize the total impacts of the land use plan on watersheds and ecosystems.
The resulting land use plan or physical framework shall be the basis for identifying
necessary policies, programs, projects and activities, and development controls to
guide future development. The land use plan or physical framework shall be holistic
in nature and not emanate from specific individual or corporation which, in essence,
constitutes as spot zoning.
SEC. 15. Adoption of Multiple Uses of Land Resources. – The primary and
alternative uses of a specific unit of land resource based on its capability to support
certain uses sustainably shall be determined and evaluated prior to any decision for
the assignment of its use. Areas feasible for sustainable land resource use may be
considered multiple-use zones wherein settlements , tourism, agriculture, forestry,
agro-forestry and extraction activities and other income-generating or livelihood
activities may be allowed by concerned agencies: Provided, That multiple uses of
land resources shall be excluded in areas identified as protection land use: Provided,
further, That such land uses shall maximize the socioeconomic benefits without
compromising the desired levels of ecosystem services within a ridge to reef unit:
Provided, finally, That such land uses shall be in accordance with priorities in land
use allocation and planning and that no reclassification shall be allowed.
SEC. 16. Basic Land Use Planning Considerations. – In determining the
various land uses, the people and their productive activities and the need for
functional open spaces and preservation areas as well as the various interrelationships
of the physical characteristics of the land and other elements therein shall be
considered, among others, including the following:
(a)
Availability of natural resources including indigenous energy resources
for energy security and self-sufficiency;
(b)
Geology, geomorphology, current and emerging geologic climate-
related hazards and risks, soil, vegetative cover, demography and slope;
(c)
Economic, environmental, cultural, social and related development
activities;


(d)
Existing government policies on land and natural resources allocation,
utilization, management and disposition;
(e)
Technological changes or advancement;
(f)
Existing customary rights for the protection of indigenous peoples and
vulnerable groups including women, rural and urban poor;
(g)
Desired levels of ecosystem services like water quality and quantity,
soil stability, biodiversity, agricultural and fishery productivity, among others; and
(h)
Inventory of prior and existing rights, to harmonize determination of
land use.
SEC. 17. Categories of Land Uses for Planning Purposes. – In determining
and defining the national, regional and provincial framework plans, and CLUPs, land
uses shall be grouped into four major functional uses as follows:
(a)
Protection land use which include the use of land primarily for food,
water and energy security, rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes to
promote the country’s ecological and life-support systems. Planning for protection
land use intends to achieve food self-sufficiency in rice and corn, water and energy
security, environmental stability and ecological integrity, ensure a balance between
resource use and the preservation of some areas with environmental, aesthetic,
educational, cultural, heritage and historical significance, and protect people and
human- made structures from the ill-effects of natural hazards. All lands, either public
or private, under protection land use shall be permanently conserved, preserved,
rehabilitated and protected from all other land uses, disposition, intrusion, utilization
and development that is not consistent with its existing uses. Areas under this
category also include those covered by RA 7586, as amended by RA 11038 or the
“Extended National Integrated Protected Areas Act of 2018”, 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, such
as but not limited to the following:
(1)
Natural forests and mossy areas with more than 50% in slope
gradient;
(2)
Mangrove and fish sanctuaries, pursuant to RA 8435, and RA
8550, or “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998”;
(3)
Buffer zones or strips/easements, pursuant to Presidential
Decree (PD) 389, otherwise known as the “Forestry Reform Code of the
Philippines”, as amended by PD 705, or the “Revised Forestry Reform Code
of the Philippines” and PD 1067, or the “Water Code of the Philippines”;
(4)
Salvage zones along foreshore areas, freshwater swamps and
marshes, plazas, archaeological, and heritage or historic sites, pursuant to
Presidential Proclamation No. (PP) 2146, series of 1981 entitled “Proclaiming
Certain Areas and Types of Projects Environmentally Critical and within the
Scope
of
Environmental
Impact
Statement
System
Established
under
Presidential Decree No. 1586”;
(5)
Watersheds supporting bulk or domestic water supply;
(6)
Utility easement like power lines of electric power generators,
transmission
and
distributors,
oil
and
gas
facilities,
cell
sites,
and
bulk/domestic water lines;
(7)
Amenity areas or those with high aesthetic values, pursuant to
PP 2146;


(8)
Natural and human-made areas/sites of cultural, historical and
anthropological significance, which are declared as such by internationally
recognized organizations and concerned national agencies;
(9)
Critical habitats as provided in RA 9147, otherwise known as
the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act”;
(10)
Significant caves under RA 9072, otherwise known as the
“National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act”; or
(11)
Key biodiversity areas under Executive Order No. 578, series
of
2006,
entitled
“Establishing
the
National
Policy
on
Biodiversity,
Prescribing its Implementation Throughout the Country, Particularly in the
Sulu Sulawesi Marine Ecosystem and the Verde Island Passage Marine
Corridor”.
Existing property and private rights shall be recognized and respected on the
condition that these rights are harmonized with the intent of the identified protected
land use.
(b)
Production Land Use wherein there is a direct and indirect utilization
of land resources for crop, fishery, livestock and poultry production, forestry,
agroforestry, mining, industry, energy development, indigenous energy exploration
and development, and tourism. Planning for production land determines the most
efficient, sustainable, and equitable manner of utilizing, developing and managing
land for productive purposes. Areas included in this category are agricultural lands,
fishing grounds, coastal and marine zones, production forest, which can be made
available for timber and agroforestry production, rangelands for grazing, forest lands
for special uses including for energy and reforestation projects, mineral lands or
mining areas and reservations, energy resource lands, industrial development areas,
and tourism development areas where productive activities may be undertaken to
meet the country's requirements for food security, economic growth and development.
(c)
Settlements
development
wherein
any
improvement on
existing
settlements in urban and rural areas or any proposed development of certain areas for
settlement purposes 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 to such settlement.
The settlements development plan ensures for the present and future generation the
following: (1) effective integration of activities within and among settlements,
allowing efficient movement of people and production of commodities through the
provision of appropriate land, infrastructure, and facilities; (2) access of the
population to
housing,
education, health
care, recreation,
transportation and
communication, sanitation, and basic utilities such as water, power, waste disposal,
and other services; and (3) security against risks associated with climate change and
other natural hazards.
(d)
Infrastructure development includes the availability or supply of basic
services and fostering of economic and other forms of integration necessary for
producing or obtaining the material requirements of Filipinos, in an efficient,
responsive, safe and ecologically friendly built environment. It covers sub-sectors of
transportation, communications, energy, water resources, and social infrastructure:
Provided, That the determination of functional uses of lands within ancestral domains
shall consider traditional resource and management systems that do not endanger the
lives of the people and property of the local community and neighboring areas or
increase the vulnerability of the natural environment to the effects of natural and
human-induced geological processes.


CHAPTER IV
IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM
SEC. 18. Creation of the National Land Use Commission. – The National
Land Use Commission (NLUC) is hereby created as a Commission under the Office
of the President. It shall exercise the powers and responsibilities of the current
National Land Use Committee, which is hereby abolished. The NLUC shall be
chaired by a Commissioner to be appointed by the President. The Commissioner will
have the rank of a Cabinet Secretary. The Commissioner shall be a qualified
professional in any of the fields of land use, physical planning, environmental
management, engineering, public governance or law.
The NLUC shall act as the highest policy making body on land use and
resolve land use policy conflicts between or among agencies, branches, or levels of
the government. It shall coordinate efforts towards the development of integrated land
use plans at the national, regional, provincial, and municipal/city levels, and monitor
the implementation of all land use plans including relevant policies.
SEC. 19. Composition of the NLUC. – The NLUC will be composed of the
following:
(a) Commissioner of NLUC as Chairperson;
(b) Secretary of NEDA as Vice-Chairperson;
As Ex-Officio Members:
(c) Secretary of DENR;
(d) Secretary of DHSUD;
(e) Secretary of DA;
(f) Secretary of DAR;
(g) Secretary of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);
(h) Secretary of DILG;
(i) A Representative from the LGUs;
(j) Chairperson of National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP); and
(k) Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The Department Secretaries may designate a representative with a rank not
lower than Assistant Secretary: Provided, That the designated representative shall be
on a permanent basis. The representative from the LGUs shall come from the Leagues
of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities.
SEC. 20.
Powers and Functions. – The NLUC shall have the following
powers and functions:
(a)
Advise the President of the Philippines on all matters concerning land
use and physical planning;
(b)
Integrate and harmonize all laws, guidelines and policies relevant to
land use and physical planning to come up with a rational, cohesive, and
comprehensive national land use framework;
(c)
Formulate policies and endorse land use and physical planning-related
policies that may be formulated by the RLUPC, created under Section 23 of this Act,
and concerned agencies as well as promulgate zoning and other land use control
standards and guidelines which shall guide the formulation of land use plans and
zoning ordinances by local governments;


(d)
Prepare, periodically review and if necessary, update the national
framework for physical planning to provide the general framework for the spatial
development directions for the entire country and sub-national levels;
(e)
Review and endorse all land use and physical planning related
guidelines;
(f)
Monitor and coordinate the gathering of data, the conduct of studies
pertaining to land use planning including studies on the management of identified
land uses and such other studies not undertaken by other government agencies;
(g)
Recommend to the President of the Philippines the adoption, passage,
or amendment of laws to ensure that sectoral programs, plans, projects, and activities,
including local government initiatives affecting land use are consistent with national
development objectives;
(h)
Coordinate with and assist other government agencies and LGUs in
planning, developing, and implementing their land use classification programs, and
provide, to the extent possible, technical assistance and guidance;
(i)
Monitor and coordinate the activities of concerned agencies and
entities of the government, as well as LGUs, in the enforcement and implementation
of land use plans, policies and regulations relating to land use and resource
management and development;
(j)
Monitor and coordinate activities in the establishment of a national
land resource information and management system of concerned agencies that shall
integrate and process information on land use and allocation generated by the various
national government agencies; define information requirements at various levels; and
standardize information inputs and outputs including scales and symbols used in
territorial and sectoral maps;
(k)
Be the repository of all RPFPs, PPFDPs and CLUPs and all data and
information pertaining to land and land use;
(l)
Call on any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of
the government, and or private entities and organization for cooperation, support, and
assistance in the performance of its functions;
(m)
Decide and resolve policy conflicts and territorial jurisdiction on land
use between or among agencies, branches, or levels of the government and act on
unresolved land use policy conflicts at the regional level elevated by the RLUPC;
(n)
Adopt rules of procedures for the orderly and expeditious conduct of
meetings and other business of the Council; and
(o)
Perform such other acts and functions and exercise such other powers
as may be necessarily implied, inherent, incident, or related to the foregoing.
SEC. 21.
National Land Use Office (NLUO). – The National Land Use
Office (NLUO) is hereby created under the Office of the President, which will serve
as technical secretariat to the NLUC.
The NLUO shall be headed by the NLUC
Commissioner with two (2) Deputy Commissioners with the rank of Undersecretary.
The
DHSUD
–
Environmental,
Land
Use
and
Urban
Planning
and
Development Bureau (DHSUD-ELUPDB) shall be converted into a line bureau that
shall serve as the NLUO.
Further, the DHSUD-ELUPDB shall have service units for the planning
and
policy formulation, operations, monitoring and information systems management,
technical assistance, legal, and special land use concerns. The staffing pattern of the
NLUO shall be approved by the Department of Budget and Management.
SEC. 22. Regional Land Use Office. – A Regional Land Use Office (RLUO)
is hereby created in each Region.




CHAPTER V
REGIONAL AND LOCAL LAND USE POLICY BODIES
SEC. 23. Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC). – At the regional
level, the RLUPC shall be institutionalized, replicating the NLUC structure and
composition with DHSUD representative as Chairperson, NEDA representative as
Vice-Chairperson and with a duly authorized representative from the DENR, DA,
DAR, DPWH, DILG, NCCA, and LGU as members. The RLUPC shall have the
following functions:
(a)
Formulate and adopt regional policies on land use and physical
planning;
(b)
Prepare and periodically update an RPFP taking into consideration
national polices and lower-level plans;
(c)
Assist the provinces in preparing and periodically updating its physical
framework plans to ensure consistency with the regional and national plans and
policies and to facilitate its integration with the regional plans;
(d)
Review, prior to adoption by respective Sanggunians, the PPFDP, and
CLUPs of highly urbanized and independent component cities, to ensure consistency
with the RPFP and national policies set forth by the NLUC and compliance with
limits prescribed under RA 7160, as amended, for reclassifying agricultural lands;
(e)
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification,
and allocation that may arise between or among regional line agencies, provinces and
cities or municipalities;
(f)
Monitor changes in land use and other physical resources in the region;
(g)
Evaluate consistency of major programs and projects with the regional
physical framework plans and their impact on land use and the environment;
(h)
Undertake the gathering of regional data for the land resource
information and management system; and
(i)
Perform other related functions as may be directed by the NLUC.
SEC. 24. Provincial Land Use Policy Council. – The Provincial Development
Council, created under Section 106 of RA 7160, shall act as the PLUPC that will
tackle land use concerns whenever necessary. A duly authorized representative from
the DENR, DHSUD, DAR, DA, DILG, and DPWH shall be included in the
composition of the PLUPC. In addition to the functions enumerated in Section 109 of
RA 7160, the PLUPC shall:
(a)
Advise the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on all matters pertaining to
land use and physical planning;
(b)
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for adoption,
the provincial physical framework plans, prepared and periodically updated by the
PPDO and other land use and physical planning-related policies;
(c)
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification,
and allocation that may arise between or among cities or municipalities and any
unresolved land use conflicts at the city or municipal level. The PLUPC may call
upon any local official concerned such as provincial planning and development
coordinator, provincial agriculturist, provincial environment and natural resources
officer, provincial engineer, provincial assessor, or any official of national agencies
and other relevant agencies during discussions on land use and physical planning
concerns; and


(d)
Assist the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in reviewing the CLUPs of
component cities or municipalities to ensure consistency with the provincial physical
framework plans and compliance with the limits prescribed under RA 7160, as
amended, for reclassifying agricultural lands.
SEC. 25. City/Municipal Land Use Policy Council – The City/Municipal
Development Council (C/MDC), created under Section 106 of RA 7160, shall act as
the C/MLUPC that will tackle land use concerns whenever necessary. A duly
authorized representative from the DHSUD, DAR, DA, DENR, DPWH and DILG
shall be included in the composition of the C/MLUPC. In addition to the functions
enumerated in Section 109 of RA 7160, the C/MLUP shall:
(a)
Advise the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod on all
matters pertaining to land use and physical planning;
(b)
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang
Panlungsod for adoption, the CLUP prepared and periodically updated by the
City/Municipal Planning and Development Office and other land use and physical
planning-related policies;
(c)
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification,
and allocation that may arise between and among barangays and any unresolved land
use conflict at the barangay level regarding the violation of zoning ordinances
including opposition to applications for locational clearances, permits or certificates;
and
(d)
Advise the local zoning board of appeals and adjustments on all issues
and conflicts relating to zoning.
For purposes of this Act, the City/Municipal Planning and Development
Coordinator (C/MPDC) shall: (a) act on all applications for locational clearances for
all projects except those of vital and national economic or environmental significance;
and (b) monitor on-going/existing projects within their respective jurisdictions and
issue notices of violation to owners, developers, or managers of projects that are
violative of zoning ordinances.
The C/MLUPC may call upon any local official concerned such as C/MPDC,
city/municipal agriculturist, city/municipal environment and natural resources officer,
city/municipal engineer, city/municipal assessor, or any official of national agencies
during discussions on land use and physical planning concerns. LGUs without
operational C/MPDC as mandated by RA 7160, as amended, shall activate their
respective councils within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.
CHAPTER VI
ADOPTION, APPROVAL AND REVIEW OF LOCAL LAND USE
AND PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK PLANS
SEC. 26.
Approval and Review of PPFDP and CLUPs. – The PPFDP,
CLUPs and zoning ordinances (Zos) of the respective LGUs, including provinces,
highly urbanized cities and independent component cities, shall be submitted by the
local land use committees to the local development councils for transmission to their
respective local Sanggunian for approval.
SEC. 27. Provinces and Independent and Highly Urbanized Cities. –
Provinces and independent and highly urbanized cities shall have the power and
authority to adopt and approve their respective CLUPs, zoning ordinances or


provincial physical framework plan, as the case may be, through their
respective
Sanggunian but subject to the review of the RLUPC as provided in Section 23 (d).
CHAPTER VII
MAPPING AND DATA MANAGEMENT FOR LAND USE
PLANNING
SEC. 28. National Base Mapping Program. – A national mapping program
shall be implemented, coordinated, and monitored through the creation of an Inter-
agency Technical Committee (ITC) composed of the NAMRIA, as the lead agency,
BSWM, the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Land Management Bureau
(LMB), the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), the Mines and Geosciences
Bureau
(MGB),
the
Philippine
Institute
of
Volcanology
and
Seismology
(PHIVOLCS), DAR, the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Department of
Energy (DOE), NEDA, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) , University of the
Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI), NCIP, and other concerned government
agencies/bureaus. The ITC shall be constituted, and the mapping program shall be
initiated, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. The agencies
mentioned in this Section shall finish their base mapping program within one (1) year
upon the effectivity of this Act.
For purposes of uniformity and standardization, the LGUs, to be assisted by
the appropriate agencies of the national government, shall likewise prepare their
respective territorial maps using scales, symbols, and other indicators to be prescribed
in accordance with this Act. The completed maps shall be integrated in the NPFP
pursuant to Section 5 of this Act.
SEC. 29. National Geospatial Information Program. – Within one (1) year
upon the effectivity of this Act, the NAMRIA, in coordination with BSWM, FMB,
LMB, BMB, MGB, PHIVOLCS, DAR, NWRB, NCIP, DOE, NEDA, PSA, UPRI,
and other concerned government agencies or bureaus shall complete the updating of
base maps including national disaster risk maps. These base maps and corresponding
geospatial data shall be shared and disseminated to all agencies and LGUs to serve as
reference in plan preparation and other planning activities.
SEC. 30. National Hazard Mapping Program. – Within thirty (30) days from
the effectivity of this Act, a nationwide hazard mapping and probabilistic hazard risk
assessment program shall be initiated jointly through the NLUC by the PHIVOLCS,
the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA), NAMRIA, MGB, BSWM, DOE, and UPRI, in coordination with the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the
Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), NCIP,
NCCA, and other concerned government agencies. The program shall include the
generation of indicative hazard zoning maps that will outline areas in the Philippines
which are prone to liquefaction, landslides, severe flooding, lahar, ground rupturing,
tsunami, river erosion, coastal erosion, sinkhole collapse, earthquake, lava flow,
pyroclastic flow, base surge, and other natural hazards.
For purposes of uniformity and standardization and in order to develop a safe-
built environment, the LGUs shall subsequently incorporate and integrate the
generated hazard zoning maps in their respective CLUPs. Said hazard maps shall


serve as guide for all the LGUs in the preparation of their own hazards-constrained
development plans. The NPFP, pursuant to Section 5 hereof, shall incorporate these
hazard maps.
All infrastructure activities including real estates and subdivision projects and
the development of tourist spots requiring an Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC) shall be required to submit an Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard
Assessment Report (EGGAR).
SEC. 31.
Basic and Applied Research for Science and Technology
Development. – Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act, the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST), in coordination with concerned agencies,
academe, and research organizations, shall formulate a research agenda that will
support physical framework and land use planning.
SEC. 32.
Scope and Nature of Responsibilities of Other National
Government Agencies. – All concerned national government agencies shall
periodically report to the NLUC on the various activities and accomplishments on
land use, including their respective sectoral or development plans. The NLUC may
call upon the agencies for technical and administrative support.
SEC. 33. Monitoring of CLUP Implementation. – The DHSUD shall design
and install an information system for monitoring the actual use of land resources, the
reclassification of agricultural lands authorized by cities and municipalities, and the
implementation of CLUPs of LGUs with a view to ensuring the compliance with
national policies, standards and guidelines: Provided, That the system shall be
developed in coordination with DA, DAR, DILG, DENR, DPWH, NEDA, league of
provinces, league of cities, league of municipalities, other concerned national
government agencies, academe, and research organizations.
SEC. 34. Submission of Annual Report on the Implementation of CLUPs. –
The C/MLUPC shall submit an annual report on the implementation of their land use
plans to the PLUPC, which shall integrate the same for submission to the RLUPC,
which shall in turn integrate the provincial reports for submission to the NLUC.
CHAPTER VIII
SPECIAL AREAS OF CONCERN
Article 1
Forest Lands and Reservation of Watershed
SEC. 35. Reversion of Alienable and Disposable Lands to Forestlands. –
Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the DENR, duly reviewed and endorsed
by the NLUC, and after due consultations with the concerned LGUs and affected
parties, Congress may authorize the reversion of alienable and disposable lands of the
public domain or portion thereof to forestlands, unless they are covered by existing
titles, or actually occupied openly, continuously, adversely, and publicly for a period
required by law: Provided, That, when public interest so requires, steps shall be taken
to expropriate such lands, cancel defective titles, or eject occupants thereof.
Thereafter, said lands shall be included in the preparation of land use plans within
forestlands.


SEC. 36. Critical Watershed Areas. – The DENR, in coordination with the
DA, LGUs and other government agencies, including government-owned and
controlled corporation, and after mandatory public hearings or consultations, shall
identify and delineate critical watershed areas that need to be protected, rehabilitated,
enhanced or withdrawn from uses that contribute to their further degradation.
SEC. 37.
Formulation and Implementation of Integrated Watershed
Management Plans. – A Watershed Management Council (WMC), which is a multi-
agency, inter-LGU, and multi-sectoral consortium, chaired by the DENR and co-
chaired by the duly designated representative of the LGUs, shall be created at the
provincial level to ensure effective and sustainable resource management of a
particular watershed and provide the development needs of local communities. in
cases where a watershed transcends more than one province, a WMC at the regional
level shall be created.
The WMC shall prepare the Integrated Watershed Management Plans (IWMP)
consistent with the existing DENR laws, guidelines, and rules and regulations. The
said IWMPS shall be integrated into the CLUPs of the LGUs.
The DENR and the concerned LGUs shall jointly implement the Watershed
Management Plan subject to regular consultations with and involvement of the
community and other stakeholders.
SEC. 38.
Establishment and Management of National Parks. – All areas
proclaimed by the President of the Philippines and Congress of the Philippines to be
under the NIPAS, unless disestablished, including those identified as initial
components of the NIPAS as KBAs, shall comprise the national parks classification
of the public domain. The DENR and concerned LGUs shall ensure that such areas
are integrated in the CLUP and physical framework plans. The preparation of
management plans of protected areas and national parks shall be in accordance with
the provisions of RA 7586, as amended, and other laws establishing or declaring
specific areas as protected areas.
Article 2
Coastal Zones
SEC. 39. Criteria on the Allocation and Utilization of Lands within the
Coastal Zones. – The allocation and utilization of lands within the coastal zones shall
be guided by the following:
(a)
Areas vegetated with mangrove species shall be preserved for
mangrove protection and shall not be converted to other uses;
(b)
Areas which meet all accepted criteria on elevation, soil type, soil
depth, topography, supply for successful fishpond development, and are not identified
as mangrove protection areas, shall be utilized for aquaculture purposes;
(c)
Areas sub-classified as mangrove and still suitable for use as such, or
due to environmental conditions need to be preserved as mangrove, but is devoid of
mangrove stands shall not be converted to other uses. The DENR shall ensure that
these lands shall be reforested within a given period of time;
(d)
Areas accessible to the sea and identified for fisherfolk settlement and
housing shall be allocated to traditional fisherfolk who are inhabitants of the coastal
communities and members of legitimate fisherfolk organizations and/or holders of


stewardship lease contracts or titles to ancestral domains or any form of property right
arrangements who participate in coastal resource management initiatives, subject to
the usual census procedures of the DHSUD.
(e)
Areas which does not fall under (a) to (d) above may be devoted to
recreational or tourism purposes: Provided, That such undertaking will not result in
environmental degradation and displacement of small fishers;
(f)
Areas which are considered as traditional fishing grounds shall be used
primarily for such purpose;
(g)
Areas which have been allocated for small infrastructure needed by
fisherfolk shall be allowed;
(h)
Areas which form part of foreshore lands as defined in this Act
including those which are under lease agreements or arrangements shall undergo
zoning and
evaluation
to
determine
their boundaries
and
actual
sizes
and
corresponding uses: Provided, That vested rights under the lease agreements or
arrangements shall be respected. Evaluation of the said lands shall also consider the
natural, geologic and geomorphic conditions of the coast; and
(i)
The free and prior informed consent of the concerned ICCs/IPs and the
necessary certification from the NCIP shall be secured before any allocation and
utilization of lands within the coastal zones that are found to be within ancestral
domains.
SEC. 40.
Coastal Land Zone Sub-classification. – All public lands in the
coastal zones are sub-classified into any of the following: fishponds, mangroves for
protection from tidal surge and for preservation of biodiversity, habitats and
sanctuaries for endangered wildlife, fisherfolk settlement, or recreational or tourism
areas. No sub-classification of coastal zones to different uses may be done without the
following:
(a)
Conduct of a comprehensive inventory and resource and environmental
assessment by the DENR with the respective LGUs and accredited non-government
organizations (NGOs) or peoples organizations (POs) within their territorial
jurisdiction. The result of the assessment along with a list of all existing applications
and expired foreshore lease agreements must be posted in three (3) conspicuous
places in the affected localities; and
(b)
Prior consultation with the local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource
Management Councils pursuant to RA 8550 as amended.
SEC. 41. Zoning of Foreshore Areas. – LGUs, in coordination with the
DENR, shall conduct zoning of their respective foreshore areas to assist government
and community fishers identify priority areas for conservation and development, and
to enable them to set targets for mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation.
SEC. 42.
Protection of Waterways, Easements and Flood Plains. –
Structures of any kind may not be built in waterways and easements. Pursuant to PD
1067, the banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout
their entire length and within a zone of three (3) meters in urban areas, twenty (20)
meters in agricultural areas and forty (40) meters in forest areas along their margins
are subject to easement of public use only in the interest of recreation, navigation,
floatage, fishing and salvage.
The protection of flood plains shall use the watershed management plan as the
reference framework in formulating flood mitigation plan. Development within flood


plains and other flood-prone areas must be controlled or, if allowed, must be so sited,
constructed and serviced that the lives of occupants are not put at risk and that
disruptions during floods are minimized. The identification and characterization of
flood-prone areas and flood plains must be an integral part of Watershed Management
Plan that shall guide the preparation of CLUPs, local climate change action plans
local disaster risk reduction and management plans
and other prescribed thematic
plans. The LGUs shall establish land use regulations to mitigate flood risks through
the CLUPs and zoning ordinances.
To promote the best interest and coordinated protection of flood plains, the
DPWH, in coordination with the DOST and DENR shall declare flood control areas
as necessary and shall prohibit or control activities that may damage or cause
deterioration of lakes and dikes, obstruct the flow of water, change the natural flow of
rivers, increase flood losses or aggravate flood problems, pursuant to PD 1067.
Article 3
Settlements Development
SEC. 43.
Municipalities, Cities, and Settlements Development. – The
development of municipalities, cities and settlements through CLUP and implemented
by the zoning ordinances of cities and municipalities are guided by the urban zoning
standards designed to maximize existing urban spaces, taking into account the studies
of pertinent government agencies on climate change. The new and existing
government buildings within the cities and municipalities shall comply with the
government energy management program and the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency
and Conservation Committee resolutions.
SEC. 44. Settlements within Hazard Areas. – Settlements, in particular,
housing or residential developments, within hazard areas may be allowed: Provided,
That mitigating or protective measures are adopted to address the potential danger or
risk to lives and property within such settlements. In coordination with the concerned
agencies of the government such as the PHIVOLCS, PAGASA, and MGB, the NLUC
shall provide assistance to concerned LGUs and settlers in instituting safety and
corrective measures to address the potential danger or risk. Residential zones as
designated in the CLUP shall not be considered as outside the hazard areas. However,
for this purpose, housing projects within such areas with less than or equal to one (1)
hectare of project area shall be exempt from the ECC as well as the EGGAR and may
be implemented without the need for any further certificate of exemption from the
DENR or any other government regulatory agency.
SEC. 45. Designation of Waste and Environment Management Site. – Each
city or municipality shall identify, designate and allocate a suitable area as indicated
in the watershed management plan within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as
sanitary landfill or solid waste disposal site as established in its solid waste
management plan pursuant to RA 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act of 2000” within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 46. Network of Settlements. – The framework and policies for the
development of network of settlements shall be provided by the National Physical
Framework Plan formulated by the NLUC. Individual settlements shall be planned as
part of a national network of settlements. The network shall be based on existing and


potential settlements; production activities, particularly those that involve highly
competitive industries and services and generate local employment; environmental
constraints and sustainability considerations.
Individual cities and municipalities
shall be integrated through transportation and other infrastructure support facilities.
SEC. 47. Criteria for Settlement Sites. – The following shall be the criteria for
identifying settlement areas:
(a)
Within A&D lands but not in environmentally-critical, hazard-prone or
other protection areas as assessed, identified and indicated in the Watershed
Management Plans;
(b)
Along established urban growth directions;
(c)
Are already or can be provided with basic services and utilities;
(d)
Ideally within the 0-8% slope range, but with mitigating measures
from slope 9-17%;
(e)
Reasonably accessible
from existing built up
areas
and other
employment centers through existing or proposed roads and other transportation
facilities; and
(f)
Identified ICCs/IPs settlement areas shall be located within ancestral
domains.
Hazard-prone areas shall be defined, delineated and mapped by the DENR and
other the mandated government agencies, together with LGUs during the preparation
of management plans of the watersheds that are partially or wholly inside the
jurisdiction of municipality or city. As such, new settlements within high-risk areas
shall not be allowed. In cases where there are existing settlements within geo-hazard
areas or high-risk areas, mitigating or protective measures shall be adopted to address
the potential danger or risk to lives and property within such settlements.
In
coordination with the concerned agencies of the government, the NLUC, through the
RLUPC and PLUPC, shall provide assistance to concerned LGUs and settlers in
instituting safety and corrective measures to address the potential danger or risk. New
developments within geo-hazard areas shall be required to submit an ECC and
EGGAR consistent with the Revised Procedural Manual for DENR Administrative
Order (DAO) No. 2003-30 otherwise known as the “Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) for the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System”
and DAO No. 2000-28 otherwise known as the “Implementing Guidelines on
Engineering Geological and Geohazard Assessment as Additional Requirement for
ECC Applications covering Subdivision, Housing and other Land Development and
Infrastructure Projects”.
SEC. 48. Sustainable Communities. – Each city or municipality or cluster of
cities or municipalities, as appropriate, shall seek to follow the basic features of
sustainable communities, as guided by the National Urban Development and Housing
Framework: transit-oriented, pedestrian-biased, and multiple use, with systems and
practices that promote water use efficiency, energy efficiency, waste segregation,
recycling, and adequate community facilities.
Cities and municipalities or clusters
thereof shall identify, designate and allocate areas within their territorial jurisdiction
to serve as waste disposal site following the provisions of RA 9003.
For energy efficiency, cities and municipalities or clusters thereof shall utilize
energy consuming products which comply with the DOE’s efficiency rating and
energy labeling system pursuant to the provision of RA 11285 or the “Energy
Efficiency and Conservation Act”.


SEC. 49. Designation and Zoning of Socialized Housing Zones. – Each city
or municipality in urban, urbanizable and rural areas shall designate through the
CLUP adequate lands for housing or residential purposes, including socialized
housing and resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the local
population as well as the underprivileged and homeless in their territory, pursuant to
existing laws and regulations. In order to ensure adequate availability of lands for the
housing needs of the local population, the CLUP shall be updated, at maximum, every
twelve (12) years for provinces, cities and municipalities.
The designated sites for socialized housing shall be located in residential zones,
and shall be zoned as socialized housing zones that are integrated in the city or
municipality’s zoning ordinance, pursuant to existing laws and regulations.
Fisherfolk settlements and housing in coastal municipalities shall be zoned
near the sea for easy access to their livelihood as provided under Section 39 (d) of this
Act.
The housing or residential lands designated in the CLUPs and zoning
ordinances of cities and municipalities shall, on one hand, not be subject to further
land reclassification by the LGU or land conversion procedure under DAR. On the
other hand, agricultural lands as designated in the CLUP which are no longer
economically feasible for agricultural use may be subject to land reclassification or
land use conversion to housing or residential purposes and such land use conversion,
as the case may be, shall be exempt from the coverage of any moratorium on land use
conversion, provided such conversion shall not conflict with the prescriptions of
watershed management plans and shall not result in serious environmental and
ecological problems.
SEC. 50. Urban Forest or Green Space. – Each city or highly urbanizing
municipality shall identify, designate, and allocate lands owned by the city or
municipality as urban forest or green space based on the guidelines and standards to
be issued by the DENR and approved by the NLUC.
Article 4
NIPAS Areas
SEC. 51. Integrated Management Strategy. – For a more effective planning,
management, and protection of protected areas at the provincial, city or municipal
levels, the Protected Area Management Plan referred to in RA 7586, as amended,
must be incorporated in the provincial physical framework plan and CLUPs, if
applicable, wherein the protected area zoning must be reflected.
Article 5
Agricultural Lands
SEC. 52. Priority Areas for Agricultural Development. – Priority areas for
agricultural development shall be those agricultural areas covered under RA 6657 and
those covered under NPAAAD and SAFDZ, defined in Section 4 of this Act and in
RA 8435 or the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act”.
SEC. 53. Conversion of Agricultural Lands. – Prime agricultural lands and
specific types of lands to the extent necessary for attaining food self-sufficiency in


rice and food security in other basic commodities, as determined by the DA, subject to
mandatory consultation with the LGUs, the private sector, the NGOs, and POs, shall
be protected from conversion, which shall include but not limited to areas under the
NPAAAD and SAFDZ: Provided, That all irrigated and irrigable lands, all lands
developed or possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all
agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in
serious environmental problems shall be given full protection from conversion, the
areas under which are subject to review every
six (6) years by the DA, with the
mandatory public consultations: Provided, further, That consistent with the State
policy on giving priority to the completion of the comprehensive agrarian reform
program, all lands subject to the comprehensive agrarian reform program including
those lands covered under notice of compulsory acquisition or voluntary offer to sell,
production or profit-sharing, or commercial farm deferment shall also be protected
from conversion pending the distribution and installation of the farmer beneficiaries,
but thereafter, Section 22 of RA 9700 shall apply: Provided, furthermore, That the
conversion of prime agricultural lands for use in priority government projects for
basic services such as, but not limited to, irrigation and power shall be allowed only
upon the recommendation of the Secretaries of the DA and the DAR: Provided,
finally, That the mapping of the NPAAAD under the RA 8435 shall be completed
within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. Lands defined under Section 10 of
RA
6657 shall
remain
exempted and excluded
from the
coverage of the
comprehensive agrarian reform program. With due consideration of the above-
mentioned conditions that provides for the full protection of prime agricultural land,
only then, upon approval by the DAR of the application for conversion, agricultural
lands are deemed converted to non-agricultural uses.
SEC. 54. Sub-classification or Re- classification of Agricultural Lands by
LGUs. – Sub-classification or re-classification of agricultural lands to other uses
under Section 20 of RA 7160 shall exclude the protected agricultural lands as stated in
the preceding section. Moreover, such sub-classification or reclassification is not
synonymous to conversion. Further, such sub-classification or re-classification shall
not result to land uses that are in conflict with the prescriptions of the watershed
management plans. The DA and DAR shall provide the LGUs with complete list and
maps of protected agricultural lands within their territorial jurisdictions.
SEC. 55. Criteria for the Utilization and Allocation of Land for Mining
Purposes. – Consistent with this Act and the provisions of RA 7942, otherwise known
as the “Philippine Mining Act of 1995”, and to ensure that the objectives of
maintaining ecological balance and maximizing economic returns to mining
operations are realized, the allocation and utilization of lands for mining purposes
shall be guided by the following:
(a)
The principles of sustainable development and responsible mining;
(b)
In case of small-scale mining, adequate and acceptable safeguards shall
be instituted by the holders of mining rights or permits to prevent environmental
degradation of the mining sites and adjacent areas;
(c)
Mineral
reservations
which
have
become
non-operational
as
determined by the MGB shall be placed under appropriate surface management by the
DENR
after
conducting
scientific,
geological,
and
environmental
studies
in
accordance with relevant laws
on mineral reservation establishment and de-
establishment;


(d)
Natural forests, proclaimed watershed forest reserves, mangrove
forests, and mossy forests are closed to mining operations pursuant to RA 7942, and
other pertinent laws;
(e)
Consistent with RA 7942, areas closed to mining operations like
natural forests, proclaimed watershed forest reserves, mangrove forests, and mossy
forests shall be periodically reviewed through mineral exploration to be undertaken by
the DENR for the purpose of determining whether or not their continued closure is
consistent with the national interest and with the prescriptions of watershed
management plans and, if warranted, recommend their reclassification as mineral
lands; and
(f)
Protection forestlands and agricultural lands shall be exempt from
mining activities to minimize the effect of natural calamities and to protect food
security respectively. The small to large scale mining operations shall yield from and
recognize the tenurial instrument given by the government such as original certificate
of title, transfer certificate of title, certificate of ancestral domain title, emancipation
patent-certificate of land ownership award and other instruments. If these be present,
mining activity shall be allowed subject to clearances and consent, and: Provided,
That mining activity shall not conflict with the prescriptions of watershed
management plans and shall not have serious environmental and ecological problems.
SEC. 56. Reversion of Mineral Lands. – All mineral lands with exhausted
mineral resources, as determined by the MGB upon the recommendation of the
DENR, shall revert to its original land classification, that is, as forestland or
agricultural land. In the case of forestlands, the DENR may classify such areas for
other purposes in consultation with concerned LGUs, DOT, and other national
government agencies, and consistent with the prescriptions of the watershed
management plans.
Article 6
Energy Resources
SEC. 57. Guidelines for the Utilization and Allocation of Lands for Energy
Resource Exploration, Development, Production, Utilization, and Distribution
Purposes. – To ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance and
maximizing the power potential from indigenous energy resources in the most
economical and environmentally-acceptable means are realized, the allocation and
utilization of lands are be guided by the following, consistent with the existing laws,
rules and regulations on energy resources:
(a)
Indigenous energy resource exploration and development for the
purpose of creating a national energy resource inventory and data base as well as an
energy resource block map are allowed, subject to the prescriptions of watershed
management plans and other land management plans;
(b)
Indigenous energy resource exploration, development, production,
utilization, and distribution are subject to the appropriate requirements and processes
of the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) system. Each project must secure an
ECC prior to project implementation to ensure that adequate and appropriate
environmental management measures and optimum methods for resource access and
recovery are used;
(c)
Protected areas defined in Section 17 of this Act are closed to any kind
of energy resource development except for installation or erection of power lines


therein Provided, That vested rights granted through the Special Use Agreements in
Protected Areas as granted by the DENR are respected;
(d)
Energy reservations or portions thereof which have become or have
been established to be non-economically viable to operate or are no longer used for
energy purposes must be reclassified to other land uses, subject to existing laws
covering energy reservations and to prescriptions of watershed management plans;
and
(e)
Renewable energy is preferred over other energy resource.
SEC. 58. Reversion of Energy Resource Lands. – All exhausted indigenous
energy resource lands, as determined by the DOE, which are not covered by
proclamations must automatically revert to the category of forestlands or agricultural
lands, open to disposition, whichever is appropriate, unless the DENR classifies such
areas for other purposes consistent with the prescriptions of watershed management
plans.
Exhausted energy resource lands are specific energy resource sites that the
energy reserves of the desired type or types are no longer in sufficient quantity or
quality to justify additional expenditure for its extraction and utilization.
Article 7
Industrial Development Areas or Sites
SEC. 59.
Criteria for Designating Industrial Development Areas. – The
identification and establishment of industrial development areas shall conform to the
provisions of RAs 7916, 6657, 8371, 7279, 8550, and 8435, taking into consideration
the following:
(a)
Identified network of areas for agricultural development and protected
agricultural areas pursuant to the RA 8435;
(b)
National policies on the regional dispersal of industries and agri-based
industrial development;
(c)
Identified growth areas and corridors in the National Development
Plan;
(d)
NIPAS and non-NIPAS areas such as KBAs and restored areas that
require protection;
(e)
National and Urban Development and Housing Framework;
(f)
Identified socialized housing zones;
(g)
National framework for physical planning and other existing national
programs and policies; and
(h)
Prescriptions of watershed management plans.
The designated industrial development areas must be located only in
production land uses areas and shall form an integral part of the land use plan and
zoning ordinance of the city or municipality where these areas are located pursuant to
RAs 6657, 8371, 7279, 855, 8435, and 7160, as amended.
Article 8
Tourism Development Areas
SEC. 60.
Designating Tourism Development Areas. – The identification,
selection, and development of tourism development areas, and Tourism Enterprise
Zones shall be done in consultation and coordination with the LGUs, TIEZA, DOT
and other national government agencies, the private sector and the affected


communities subject to the provisions of RA 9593, otherwise known as “The Tourism
Act of 2009.” Tourism development areas include those covered by legislative and
executive issuances such as tourist spots, tourist zones and tourism ecozones which
can be developed into tourism estates or integrated resort, or integrated resort leisure
and recreation complexes. Other tourism-related facilities and those identified in the
national, regional and area-specific tourism master plans and other sector plans, such
as ecotourism and agri-tourism sites are also considered as tourism development areas.
The sites designated for tourism development must be outside of the areas identified
for protection land use. As much as practicable, community-based tourism shall be
the principal mode of tourist spot operation. RAs 6657, 8371, 7279, 8435, 7160,
and EO 111, series of 1999, which provided for the national ecotourism strategy, shall
apply to all tourist zones and tourist development areas.
Designated areas for tourism development form part of the CLUPs and zoning
ordinances of the cities or municipalities where these areas are located.
SEC.
61.
Identification
and
Declaration
of
Areas
for
Protection,
Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Heritage. – Pursuant to RA 10066 or the
“National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009”, the NHCP or the National Museum, the
NCCA, in coordination with NCIP, DHSUD and other concerned agencies, local
communities, and the private sector, shall identify declared areas and structures which
shall be protected and preserved as part of the Philippine cultural heritage.
The LGUs in coordination with the NHCP, the NCCA and the Cultural Center
of the Philippines (CCP) shall designate historical zones to protect the historical
integrity of said geographical areas and cultural space of intangible cultural properties.
Declared and known archaeological sites shall likewise be protected by the
NCCA, the DHSUD, NCIP, other concerned government agencies, and LGUs against
modification, alteration, or destruction.
Article 9
Infrastructure Development
SEC. 62. Strategic Transport Network. – The national government, through
the Department of Transportation, shall establish a strategic and sustainable
multimodal transport network that provides connectivity within the national network
of settlements. Such connectivity shall include linkages among existing and proposed
priority urban centers, rural areas, production hubs and tourism zones, distribution
centers and markets, and key international points of entry. It shall be developed to
promote network efficiency and social service delivery, to catalyze areas identified
critical for economic growth, while minimizing negative impacts to environmentally-
critical and protected areas as identified in the watershed management plans.
The national network of settlements, as defined in the NPFP, shall guide the
development of a multi-modal transportation network. The network shall be designed
and implemented to provide seamless connectivity among the various modes of
transportation. The RPFPs, PPFDPs and city or municipal CLUPs shall focus on the
transportation network that corresponds to their respective jurisdictions while
maintaining consistency with the overall national networks.
SEC. 63.
Allocation and Use of Land for Infrastructure Development. –
Land, whether public or private, shall be allocated and utilized for priority
infrastructure projects that are supportive of national or local development objectives.


The NEDA, in consultation with the national government agencies, LGUs and the
private sector, shall identify and periodically review, update or revise the list of
priority infrastructure projects under an over-all national strategic infrastructure
development plan subject to the provisions of this Act, RA 8435 and RA 8371. The
national strategic infrastructure development plan must be consistent and integrated in
the objectives and directions of the NPFP.
In determining and evaluating the list of priority infrastructure projects,
consideration shall be given to those that:
(a)
Respond to immediate and vital requirements of the national and
regional economy with priority to improving production-market integration, inter-
modal transport, conveyance and logistics linkages, rural infrastructure and the
development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors;
(b)
Upgrade existing facilities to international public safety standards;
(c)
Address the need for sustainable settlement development; and
(d)
Mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing phenomena
or serve as alternatives to existing infrastructure found in natural hazard-prone areas.
The provision and implementation of infrastructure support must be made
compatible with existing environmental conditions and the physical, whether natural
or human-made, and cultural character of the area. Mandatory public consultations
pursuant to existing laws and regulations must be held prior to the conduct of all
infrastructure projects that necessarily involve dislocation or displacement of people
in the area.
The proponent of the infrastructure project shall follow the rules on just and
humane eviction or demolition under Section 28 of RA 7279 as a last resort,
notwithstanding the provisions of RA 8975, prohibiting lower courts from issuing
temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions or preliminary mandatory
injunctions. The proponent shall also follow the provisions of RA 8371, particularly
those pertaining to the rights of IPs or ICCs in case of displacement. The national
government infrastructure projects shall, after determining that displacement is
unavoidable, include the budgetary requirements for the adequate relocation of
displaced communities.
SEC. 64. Infrastructure Projects within Geo-hazard Areas. – Construction of
priority infrastructure projects within hazard-prone areas are allowed.
However,
mitigating or preventive measures must be adopted and implemented to address the
potential adverse economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts that emanate
from these infrastructure projects, subject to the findings and recommendations of a
feasibility study or environment impact assessment in accordance with PD 1586 and
RA 4846, otherwise known as the “Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection
Act.”
Existing projects that were undertaken without the required environmental
impact assessment and which pose a threat to the environment, or to the integrity of
historic, archeological or scientifically significant areas, or impinge on critical
ecosystems, and other areas identified in the watershed management plans may be
terminated immediately or gradually phased-out and relocated. If the existing project
is to be maintained within their life span, mitigating measures must be adopted and
implemented. The rules on mandatory public hearings or consultations and just and
humane eviction or demolition shall also be observed prior to the termination, gradual
phase-out, or relocation of projects that necessarily involve dislocations or
displacement of the people in the area.


Article 10
Agro-Industrial Development
SEC. 65. Land Consolidation for Agro-industrial Development. - The
consolidation of small-scale agricultural landholdings shall be promoted to take
advantage of economies of scale in agricultural production, to promote value chain
development, and to increase farm incomes and improve the quality of life of farmers.
A Land Consolidation and Utilization Program under the DA shall be established. The
program shall implement the following:
(a)
Consolidation
of
small
contiguous
landholdings
into
bigger
agricultural estates for farm operations and agro-industries;
(b)
Crafting of a comprehensive plan and study of the optimum utilization
and long-term productivity of bigger landholdings;
(c)
Private sector participation in agricultural production and management
through adequate security, incentives and reasonable return on investments, within
limits set by existing laws;
(d)
Development and adoption of cooperative systems that will increase
the participation and protection of small farmers; and
(e)
Provision of support to consolidated farms in such forms as
farm-
to-market roads, irrigation, utilities, logistics, processing facilities, upgrading of basic
social amenities, and marketing assistance to farmers.
CHAPTER IX
TRAINING, EDUCATION AND VALUES FORMATION
SEC. 66.
Values Formation. – In order to develop a well-informed,
responsible and committed citizenry, who value the protection, conservation and
development of the limited land and other physical resources of the country, the
CHED, with prior consultation with concerned stakeholders, may include a subject or
topic on sustainable land use in the general education curriculum of higher education
institutions.
SEC. 67.
Information or Education Campaign and Capacity Building. –
The NLUC shall spearhead a nationwide information or education campaign on land
use and physical planning together with the local and national government agencies.
The DHSUD, in coordination with DILG, CHED and other concerned agencies shall
formulate and implement a land use management capability building program for
national and local government officials, community leaders, representatives of NGOs,
POs, the religious sector and the general public.
CHAPTER X
INCENTIVES, SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES
Article 1
INCENTIVES
SEC. 68. Formulation of a System of Incentives and Awards. –
The
NLUC shall come out with a system of incentives and awards to
LGUs that
regularly update their CLUPs within the prescribed period,
as follows:


(a)
Provinces, highly urbanized cities, and independent component cities
once every twelve (12) years; and
(b)
Component cities and municipalities once every twelve (12) years.
SEC. 69. Priority in Giving Technical Assistance to LGUs. – In providing
technical assistance and other forms of support related to land use management and
the implementation of development plans, the national government agencies shall
give priority to cities and municipalities with approved CLUPs. The same assistance
and support shall also be provided to the
fifth (5th) and sixth (6th) class
municipalities: Provided, That the lack of technical assistance shall not exempt said
municipalities from the provisions of Section 70.
Article 2
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES
SEC. 70. Failure to Formulate, Enforce, or Implement the CLUPs.
– Within three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act, all LGUs shall complete the
formulation of their CLUPs.
Failure to formulate, enforce or implement the CLUPs shall be subject to the
penalties and sanctions to be imposed by DHSUD pursuant to RA 11201, otherwise
known as the “Department of Human Settlement and Development Act” and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DILG, consistent with due process, shall
investigate, review, and impose appropriate action regarding local chief executives
and other local officials and employees responsible for the formulation, enforcement,
and/or implementation of the CLUPs in case of any of the following:
(a)
Failure to implement and enforce the CLUP due to negligence of duty;
(b)
Failure to provide
appropriate budgetary allocation to effect its
implementation; and
(c)
Failure to complete the preparation and undergo review and approval
process of the CLUP despite the availability of funds, resources, and support by the
Sanggunian concerned.
SEC. 71. Causing Irrigated Agricultural Lands to be Idle. – Any person or
juridical entity who shall cause any irrigated lands whether contiguous or not, within
the protected areas for agricultural development, to lie idle and unproductive for a
period exceeding one (1) year, unless due to force majeure, shall be subject to an idle
land tax equivalent to five percent (5%) of the value of the agricultural land as
appearing in its real property tax declaration. In addition, the violator shall be required
to put back such lands to productive agricultural use. Should the continued
agricultural inactivity, unless due to force majeure, exceed period of two (2) years, the
land shall be subject to escheat proceedings.
SEC. 72. Person Abetting Illegal Conversion. – Any person initiating,
causing, inducing, or abetting illegal conversion as defined in Section 73(c) of RA
6657, as amended, and Section 4(cc) of this Act
shall, upon conviction, be
imprisoned from seven (7) to twelve (12) years and imposed a fine of not less than
One hundred thousand (Pl00,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of the court:
Provided, That if the offender is a public official or employee, whether elected or
appointed, the penalty shall, in addition thereto, include dismissal through permanent


separation from the service and forfeiture of all benefits and entitlements accruing to
the public position and perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or
appointive public office: Provided, further, That if the offender is a juridical person,
the penalty of imprisonment shall be imposed on the president, chief executive officer,
manager, chairperson and all the members of the board, and other responsible officers
thereof, and the fine shall be equivalent to the zonal value of the land or forty percent
(40%) of the shareholders equity, as determined at the time of judgment whichever is
higher, plus forfeiture of the land in favor of the State for sale though public auction,
the proceeds of which shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund as
provided for in Section 79 of this Act.
SEC.
73.
Fine
for
Non-Completion
and
Non-Commencement
of
Development of Agricultural Lands with Approved Order of Conversion. – A
landowner and designated developer or duly authorized representative who, without
justifiable cause, fails to commence or complete the development of agricultural lands
with approved order of conversion shall be penalized, jointly or severally, with any of
the following fines based on the zonal value of the land at the time the fine is imposed:
(a)
On failure to commence within one (1) year from the date of
conversion order:
(1)
Six percent (6%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the
first three (3) hectares;
(2)
Fifteen percent (15%) of the zonal value of the subject land for
the next three hectares, and
(3)
Thirty percent (30%) of the zonal value of the subject land for
the remaining area: Provided, That the order of conversion shall be deemed
revoked automatically and the land shall revert to its original agricultural use
and covered automatically and the land shall revert to its original agricultural
use and covered.
(b)
On failure to complete fifty percent (50%) of the approved conversion
plan within a specified time frame. Fifty percent (50%) of the zonal value of the
subject land and the revocation of the conversion plan on the undeveloped portion
which shall automatically revert to its original use as agricultural land. The same shall
be covered under the CARP and processed for land distribution as soon as possible.
SEC. 74. Change of Use from the Previously Authorized Conversion Order.
– The landowner and future landowners of the property approved for conversion shall
not change its use to another use not authorized under the Conversion Order without
prior consent from the DAR.
This prohibition extends to changes in housing
standards, changes in selling schemes, changes from social housing to open market
housing or vice-versa, and all other similar changes. Violation of which shall be
penalized with revocation of Conversion Order and forfeiture of cash bond.
SEC. 75. Payment of Disturbance Compensation. – Following the order of
priority as enumerated in Section 22 of RA 6657, as amended, qualified beneficiaries
such as agricultural lessees and share tenants, regular farm workers, seasonal farm
workers, other farm workers, actual tillers or occupants of public lands, collective, or
cooperative of the above-mentioned beneficiaries, and others directly working on the
land affected by agricultural land use conversion shall be entitled to the payment of
disturbance compensation equivalent to five (5) times the average of the gross
harvests on the landholding during the last five (5) preceding calendar years or a


certain percentage of the converted land, whichever is higher, as determined by the
DAR.
SEC. 76.
Authority to Impose Fine. – The DAR shall impose the penalty
provided for under the preceding section.
SEC. 77. Withdrawal of Local Development Permits or Licenses. – Upon
receipt of notice from the DAR of illegal conversion, the concerned agencies, city or
municipality shall withdraw or revoke any development permit or license issued to
illegally converted agricultural lands.
SEC. 78. Penalty for Reclassification of Protected Agricultural Lands and
Exceeding the Limit of Areas Allowed for Reclassification. – Any person initiating,
causing, inducing or abetting the reclassification to non-agricultural uses of protected
agricultural areas as defined in this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of
twelve (12) years or a fine of not less than One hundred thousand Pesos
(P100,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
If the offender is a public official or employee, whether elected or appointed,
the penalty includes dismissal from the service, forfeiture of entitlements accruing to
the public position, and perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or
appointive position.
If the offender is a juridical person, the president, chief executive officer,
manager, chairperson, members of the board and other officers who directly
participated in the violation of this Section shall be held liable.
The same penalty is applicable to persons who are responsible for exceeding
the limits set forth under Section 20 of RA 7160 pertaining to reclassification of lands.
SEC. 79. Utilization of Fines. – The fines collected under Sections 72, 73 and
78 of this Act shall accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund and shall be used for the
purpose for which the fund is established.
CHAPTER XI
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 80. Convening of the NLUC. – Within thirty (30) days from the
effectivity of this Act, the chairperson shall convene the NLUC.
SEC. 81. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within six (6) months from
the effectivity of this Act, the NLUC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to
implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 82. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Use Act. – There
is hereby created a joint congressional oversight committee to monitor the
implementation of this Act. The committee shall be composed of seven (7) senators
and seven (7) representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, respectively. The members from the Senate shall be
appointed based on proportional representation of the parties or coalitions therein,
with at least two (2) senators representing the minority. Likewise, the representatives
from the House of Representatives shall be appointed based on proportional


representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least two (2) Members
representing the minority.
The mandate given to the joint congressional oversight committee under this
Act shall be without prejudice to the performance of the duties and functions by the
respective
existing
oversight
committees
of
the
Senate
and
the
House
of
Representatives. The secretariat of the committee shall be drawn from the existing
secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight.
SEC.
83.
Appropriations.
–
The
amount
necessary
for
the
initial
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations
of the departments and agencies concerned.
Thereafter, such amount shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 84. Review of the Existing Land Use Plans. – Provinces, cities, and
municipalities with existing land use plans shall review, revise, reconcile, and
harmonize their respective land use plans in accordance with the guidelines and
standards issued by the National Land Use Commission (NLUC) within one (1) year
from the effectivity of this Act.
All other laws, orders issuance, rules and regulations inconsistent herewith are
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 85. Non-impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be construed as
to diminish or impair the rights recognized granted, or available to marginalized or the
basic sectors under existing laws or to diminish or impair vested rights generally,
including the rights of indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples as
provided under RA 8371.
SEC. 86.
Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affected thereby shall
remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 87. Repealing Clause. – Sections 10 and 11 of RA 8435, Sections 447
(a2vii) and 458 (a2viii) of RA 7160, the pertinent provisions of EO 648, series of
1991, EO 72, series of 1993, EO 770, series of 2008, Letter of Instruction No. 1350,
series of 1983, PP 2282, series of 1983 are hereby repealed, amended or modified
accordingly.
SEC. 88. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,