Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1270

Introduced by Honora

joy M. Loyola

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is a policy of the State to provide for rational, holistic, and just
allocation, utilization, management and development of the country’s land and
water resources so that their use is consistent with the principles of equity,
social justice, environmental integrity, and sustainable development for the
common good.

It is becoming evident that the Metro Manila Area is increasingly being
too congested. According to Demographia World Urban Areas in 2021, the
Manila urban area is estimated to have a population of 24.0 million. This makes
it the fourth largest urban area in the world (only Tokyo, Jakarta, and Delhi have
larger urban populations) and the home of less than a fourth of the Philippine’s
total population.

But rapid urbanization and development pushed for further expansion of
the Metro Manila Area. It follows the general world trend of urbanization
common throughout the rich West, Japan, and South Korea namely
suburbanization.

This means that as Metro Manila Area welcomes migrants who seek
better lives coming from other parts of the nation, suburban areas (or those
areas from urban peripheries where cost of living is more affordable) expand
and in the process need development of amenities and areas that will provide
both social services and economic opportunities.

Now, as the Greater Manila Area continues to expand to the National
Capital Region's (NCR's) adjacent provinces namely Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Rizal, Bulacan, and Pampanga, there is also a need for the
government to aid in the creation or further expansion of existing metropolitan
areas.

Section 20 of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991
provides an authority for a city or municipality to reclassify agricultural lands, as
well as the manner of its utilization or disposition provided that either of these
two conditions is present:



1.) When the land ceases to be economically feasible and sound for
agricultural purposes as determined by the Department of Agriculture; or,

2.) Where the land shall have substantially greater economic value for
residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, as determined by the
‘Sanggunian concemed

The same section also imposed limits on the percentage of the total
agricultural land that can be reclassified based on the income classification of
the local government unit, to wit:

a. Highly urbanized cities and independent component cities - 15%
b. Component cities and first to third class municipalities — 10%
c. Fourth to sixth class municipalities — 5%

This bill seeks to amend the above-mentioned provision of the LGC by
providing for an exemption to the limit on the percentage of total agricultural
land that can be reclassified to further aid in the suburbanization of the urban
peripheries not only of the Greater Manila Area but also of other metropolitan
areas in the country.

Thus, immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

ROY M. LOYOLA
Representative
Fifth District, Cavite


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No._1270

Introduced by Honorable Roy M. Loyola

EXPLANATORY NOTE

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 BY PROVIDING AN
EXEMPTION TO THE LIMIT ON THE PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL
AGRICULTURAL LAND THAT CAN BE RECLASSIFIED, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Section 20 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise
known as the “Local Government Code of 1991” is hereby amended to
read as follows:

Section 20. Reclassification of Lands. -

(a) A city or municipality may, through an ordinance passed by
the Sanggunian after conducting public hearings for the purpose,
authorize the reclassification of agricultural lands and provide for the
manner of their utilization or disposition in the following cases: (1) when
the land ceases to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural
purposes as determined by the Department of Agriculture: or, (2) where
the land shall have substantially greater economic value for residential,
commercial, or industrial purposes, as determined by the Sanggunian
concerned: Provided, That such reclassification shall be limited to the
following percentage of the total agricultural land area at the time of the
passage of the ordinance:


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[1] For highly urbanized and independent component cities,
fifteen percent (15%);

[2] For component cities; and first and third class municipalities,
ten percent (10%);

[3] For fourth to sixth class municipalities, five percent (5%) xxx;

HOWEVER, MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES WITHIN THE
THIRTY KILOMETER (30KM) RADIUS FROM THE OUTERMOST
POINT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION SHALL BE EXEMPT
FROM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED RECLASSIFICATION LIMITS,
PROVIDED THAT THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT:
(1) WHEN THE LAND CEASES TO BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE
AND SOUND FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES; (2) WHEN THE
LAND IS NOT IRRIGATED; (3) WHERE THE LAND SHALL HAVE
SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER ECONOMIC VALUE FOR
RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL, OR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES; AND
(4) THAT AGRICULTURAL LANDS DISTRIBUTED TO AGRARIAN
REFORM BENEFICIARIES PURSUANT TO REPUBLIC ACT NO.
6657, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE COMPREHENSIVE
AGRARIAN REFORM LAW", SHALL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE
SAID RECLASSIFICATION.

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SEC. 2. Separability Clause. — If any provision or part of this Act
is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions
hereof, not otherwise affected, shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or
issuance, executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule
or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 4. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general
circulation.

Approved,