FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC. ) t(l'fl(;c 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S! No. 109 
I. 
.. ~ 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines has enacted a number of significant laws concerning 
land utilization and management of land resources which include, 
among others the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, the Forestry 
Reform Code, the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act, the 
Indigenous People's Rights Act, and the Agriculture and Fisheries 
Modernization Act. However, there is a basic and urgent need to legislate 
a comprehensive national land use framework in our country, the 
absence of which has created problems and constraints such as the 
inconsistency of laws on land utilization and conflict among different 
sectors due to competing demands of land for economic and commercial 
uses, food production, shelter, environment preservation and indigenous 
people's preservation. 
The proposed measure seeks to institute a national land use policy in the 
country which shall provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, 
utilization, management and development of the Philippines' land 
resources consistent with the principle of sustainable development. It 
intends to institutionalize land use and physical planning thru a bottom-
up and top down approach as mechanisms for identifying, determining, 
and evaluating alternative land use and allocation patterns that promote 
and ensure sustainable and just management and utilization of natural 
resources, maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and 
stability, food and energy security, protection of prime agricultural lands 
for food production activities and the completion of the Comprehensive 
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), among others. 
Under this bill, the Land Us~ Policy Council, as the highest land use 
policy making body, shall formulate and implement a national framework 
for physical planning that shall serve as the general long-term framework 
for the spatial development directions of the entire country. The physical 
framework and land use plans are also prepared and replicated at the 
city, municipal, provincial and regional levels. The Local Development 
Councils shall act as the Local Land Use Po·c Councils. 
In view of the foregOing, I strongly reco 
of this proposed measure. 
the immediate enactment 
Senator 


."-
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Introduced by SENATOR GREGORIO B. HONASAN II 
INSTITUTING A 
IMPLEMENTING 
PURPOSES 
AN ACT 
NATIONAL LAND USE POLICY, PROVIDING THE 
MECHANISMS 
THEREFOR, 
AND 
FOR 
OTHER 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known and cited as the "National 
Land Use Act of the Philippines of 2010". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policies and Principles. - 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 resources to ensure their 
optimum use, consistent with the principle of sustainable development. 
The State shall recognize the need for rational, optimal and sustainable 
settlements development and shall allocate lands for urban uses and new town 
development, consistent with the principles of environmental management and 
equitable access to land and security. 
Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize land use and physical 
planning as mechanisms for identifying, 
determining, and evaluating 
alternative land use and allocation patterns that promote and ensure: 
a) Sustainable and just management and utilization of natural 
resources; 
b) Maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and 
stability; 
c) Food and energy security in basic food commodities with emphasis 
on self-sufficiency in rice and corn prodUction through efficient and 


sustainable use of land resources, consistent with the principles of 
sound agricultural development, natural resources development, and 
agrarian reform; 
d) Protection of prime agricultural lands for food production activities 
and highest priority to the finalization of the Comprehensive Agrarian 
Reform Program (CARP), provided under Republic Act No. 6657 or the 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, as amended by Republic Act 
No. 9700; 
e) Sustainable development and management of water resources 
towards water security; 
1) 
Rational population distribution and settlements development that 
shall ensure adequate land allocation for government mass housing 
programs; 
g) Spatial integration that links consumption and production areas to 
achieve physical and economic integration through appropriate 
infrastructure systems; 
h) Equitable and sustainable economic growth and balanced and 
dispersed industrial and tourism development guided by the 
principles of agrarian reform, urban land reform, and rural 
development; 
i) 
Private-public partnership where government provides the appropriate 
policy, legal and institutional framework to guide the private sector's 
management of resources; 
j) 
Harmony between the rights and the varied interests of every Filipino 
within the framework of people empowerment, decentralization, social 
justice, and equity; 
k) 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; 
1) 
Protection of the rights of basic sectors to equitable access to the 
country's land and other resources through State regulation of land 
valuation to prevent uncontrolled land speculation reSUlting in 
tremendous increase in land pricing; 
m) Protection, conservation and preservation of the Filipino historical, 
cultural and built cultural 
heritage and resources for the deeper 
2 


understanding of our history and culture as a people; 
n) Attainment of energy security or energy self-sufficiency through 
sustainable and priority development of indigenous energy resources; 
and 
0) Market orientation where the interplay of market forces within the 
framework of ecological and intergenerational factors is encouraged 
and adopted as the basic parameter in achieving efficiency in land use 
and allocation. 
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 the 1991 Local 
Government Code (LGC) or Republic Act 7160. 
Guided by the principle that the use of land bears a social function 
and that all 
economic agents shall contribute to the common good, 
landowners, land tenure holders, in the case of forestlands, be it an 
individual, communal, corporate or group shall be held responsible for 
developing and conserving their lands thereby making their lands 
productive and supportive of environmental stability. 
SEC. 3. 
Scope. -
This Act shall apply to all lands whether public, 
private, 
government-owned, and! or in the possession of individuals, 
communities, indigenous people, or groups of people, to guide and govern the 
use, allocation, development and management of land resources including 
such activities that bear impact on said resources. 
CHAPTER II 
DEFINITIONS 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in and for purposes of this Act, 
the following terms shall mean: 
a) 
"Agricultural land" shall refer to land devoted to agricultural 
activity as defined in Republic Act No. 6657, as amended and not classified as 
mineral, forest, residential or commercial land; 
b) 
"Agricultural 
land use 
conversion" shall 
refer 
to 
the 
undertaking of any development activity which modifies or alters the physical 
characteristics of agricultural lands to render them suitable for non-
3 


agricultural purposes with an approved order of conversion issued exclusively 
by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); 
c) 
"Alienable and disposable (A&D) lands" shall refer to lands of 
the public domain which have been delineated, classified, and certified as 
open and available for disposition under the provisions of Commonwealth Act 
No.141, otherwise known as the ':Public Land Act," as amended; 
d) 
"Ancestral domains" shall refer to all areas generally belonging to 
ICCs/IPs as defined in Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the 
"Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1998;" 
e) 
"Basic Sector" shall refer to a group of people not referring to any 
organized groups such as but not limited to women, youth, elderly, differently 
able, peasants and fisherfolk; 
f) 
"Basic Shelter" shall refer to any subdivision unit, housing unit 
or condominium satisfying the barest minimum shelter requirements under 
the minimum design standards of Batas Pambansa BIg. 220; 
g) 
"Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP)" shall refer to a 
document embodying a set of 'policies, accompanied by maps and similar 
illustrations, that serves as principal basis for determining the future land use 
of lands and natural resources for production and protection purpose within 
the territorial jurisdiction of the city or municipality. It represents the 
community-desired pattern of population distribution and proposes future 
allocation of land resources to various land-using activities. It identifies the 
allocation, character, and extent of the areas of land resources to be used for 
different purposes and includes the processes and the criteria employed in the 
determination of the land use. It has a long-term perspective, encompassing a 
minimum of three (3) terms of local elective officials; 
h) 
"Comprehensive land use planning" shall refer to the act of 
defining the allocation, utilization, development and management of all lands 
within a given territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent characteristic 
of the land itself and supportive of sustainable, economic, demographic, socio-
cultural and environmental objectives as an aid to decision-making and 
legislation; 
4 


i) 
"Coastal area/zone" shall refer to a band of dry land and the 
adjacent ocean space (water and submerged land) in which terrestrial 
processes and uses directly affect oceanic processes and uses, and vice versa. 
Its geographic extent may include areas within a landmark limit of one (1) 
kilometer from the shoreline at high tjde to include mangrove swamps, 
brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and other 
areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters isobath to include coral reefs, algal 
flats, seagrass beds, and other soft-bottom areas. For purposes of initiating 
and implementing sustainable coastal resources protection and management, 
it shall include foreshore lands; 
j) "Critical habitats" shall refer to areas outside protected areas as 
defined in Republic Act 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 and/or richness, presence of human-made 
pressures/threats to the survival of wildlife living in the area, among others; 
k) 
"Critical watershed" shall refer to a drainage area of a river 
system supporting existing and proposed hydro-electric power, irrigation works 
or existing water facilities needing immediate protection and rehabilitation as it 
is being subjected to fast denudation causing accelerated erosion, destructive 
floods and polluted water; 
I) 
"Cultural heritage" shall refer to the totality of cultural 
properties preserved and developed through time and passed on for posterity; 
m) "Customary laws" 
shall refer to a body of written and/ or 
unwritten rules, usages, customs and practices traditionally and continually 
recognized, accepted, and observed by respective ICCs/IPs, consistent with the 
rpRA; 
n) 
"Development plan." shall refer to a document that defines the 
activities or measures that the national government or local government units 
(LGU's) intend to implement in .order to achieve a defined set of development 
goals. 
It integrates the socio-economic and sectoral plans of the national 
government or its instrumentality or a particular LGU with spatial plans such 
as land use or physical framework plans. 
It may include an analysis of 
problems and resources, definition of goals and objectives, policy gUidelines, 
5 


project and target achievements, and an implementation mechanism which 
defines the roles and contributions expected from the government and the 
private sector; 
0) 
"Ecologically-jragile lands" shall refer to lands within the 
critical watershed, brackish and freshwater wetlands, pasture lands, and 
croplands which require rehabilitation and whose continued unsustainable use 
would adversely affect the productivity of lowland agricultural areas and the 
stability of the upland ecosystem; 
p) 
"Ecotourism" shall refer to sustainable tourism or travel to a given 
natural area with exotic or threatened ecosystems or a heritage area to observe 
wildlife or to help preserve nature, in the process providing for community 
participation, protection and management of natural resources, culture and 
indigenous knowledge systems and practices, environmental education and 
ethics, as well as economic benefits fostered and pursued for the enrichment of 
host communities and the satisfa,ction of visitors; 
q) 
Energy resource lands" shall refer to lands where naturally 
occurring or indigenous energy resources exist in sufficient quantity or quality 
as to be economically viable for exploration, development, production, 
utilization, and distribution process; 
r) 
"Energy resources" shall refer to 
surface or subsurface 
substances that serve as energy sources. These are traditionally mineral fuel 
deposits such as coal, 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) 
"Environmentally critical areas" shall refer to areas declared by 
law as: (a) protected areas pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586 or the NIPAS Act 
of 1992; (b) areas for natural parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves, and 
sanctuaries; (c) areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots; (d) areas 
which constitute the habitat of any endangered or threatened species or 
indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna); (e) areas of unique historic, 
archaeological, or scientific interests; (f) areas which are traditionally occupied 
by ICCs/IPs; (g) areas with critical slopes; (h) areas frequently visited and/ or 
6 


hard hit by natural calamities (geologic hazards. floods, typhoons and volcanic 
activities); (i) prime agricultural lands; OJ recharge areas of aquifers; (k) water 
bodies; (1) mangrove areas; (m) coral reefs; (n) mossy and virgin forests; (0) 
rivers and river banks; (p) swamp forest and marshlands; and (q) foreshore 
lands. This term shall also include other terrestrial, aquatic and marine areas 
that need special protection and conservation measures because they are 
ecologically fragile or they are needed for food security and food 'self sufficiency 
as determined by concerned agencies and LGUs in consultation with the 
concerned sectors; 
t) 
"Estuary" shall refer to a wetland type where the river mouth 
widens into a marine ecosystem, the salinity of which is intermediate between 
salt and freshwater where tidal action is an important biophysical regulator; 
u) "Exhausted energy resource lands" shall refer to specific energy 
resource sites whose energy reserves of the desired type(s) are no longer in 
sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure for their 
extraction and utilization; 
v) 
"Exhausted mineral lands" shall refer to specific sites whose 
mineral deposits are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify 
additional expenditure for their extraction and utilization; 
w) "Exhausted mineral resources" shall refer to a situation where 
the mineral resources in specific sites are no longer in sufficient quantity or 
quality to justify additional expenditure for extraction or utilization; 
xl 
"Food security" shall refer to the policy objective of meeting the 
food availability, accessibility, quality and afford ability requirements of the 
present and future generations of Filipinos in a sustainable manner, through 
local production or importation, only when there is shortage established based 
on a micro level situation, or both, based on the country's existing and 
potential resource endowments and related production advantages, and 
consistent with the overall national development objectives and policies; 
y) 
"Food self-SUfficiency" shall refer to the policy objective of 
meeting the food requirements through intensive local food production in a 
sustainable manner based on the country's existing and potential resource 
7 


endowments and related production advantages; 
z) 
"Fo,.estlands"·shall refer to. those lands of the public domain 
which have been subjected to land evaluation and classification and have been 
legally designated as such for production forest and protection/ amenity forest. 
they include the public forest, the permanent forest or forest reserves, and 
forest reservations; 
aa) "Foreshore land" shall refer 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 usually marked by a beach scarp or berm; 
bb) "Framework for physical planning" shall refer to an indicative 
plan promoting the most appropriate and rational use of land and other 
physical resources. It provides policy guidelines for all decisions relating to 
land use and environmental management, to prevent and mitigate the adverse 
effects of inappropriate resource utilization of the country's food security and 
food self-sufficiency on rice and corn, the people's welfare and their 
environment. It embodies both policies and strategies necessary to carry out 
goals and objectives ofthis Act; 
cc) "Geo-hazards" shall refer to natural and human-induced 
geological processes that have potential to cause destruction and pose a threat 
or risk to human's life and property; 
dd) "Geo-hazard areas or disaster-prone areas" shall refer to areas 
frequently visited and/or vulnerable or prone to experience weather/climatic, 
hydrologic, geologic, and other natural calamities; 
eel "Illegal conversion" shall refer to any activity that modifies or 
alters the physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render them suitable 
for non-agricultural purposes without an approved order of converstion from 
the DAR Secretary; 
ff) 
"Improvements" shall refer to all types of buildings and 
residential units, walls, fences, structures or construction of all kinds of fixed 
character or are adhered to the soil but shall not include trees, plants, growing 
8 


fruits, and other fixtures that are mere super impositions on the land, and the 
value of improvements shall not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the assessed 
value of the property; 
gg) "Indigenous 
Cultural 
Communities/Indigenous 
Peoples 
(ICCs/IPs)" shall refer to groups of people or homogenous societies identified 
under Republic Act No. 8371 or the "Indigenious People's Rights Act (IPRA),,; 
hh) "Indigenous energy resources" shall refer to energy resources, 
which originate or occur naturally in the Philippines; 
ii) 
"Inland waters" shall refer to waters, which are not coastal and 
marine waters not subject to acquisitive prescription consistent with the 
provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise known as the "Water 
Code of the Philippines"; 
jj) 
"Inter-tidal sandflat" shall refer to a juvenile fish-feeding area 
and habitat for crustaceans. The littoral gravel and sand biotopes are also used 
by important wintering ground and roosting/feeding grounds of indigenous 
migratory birds; 
kk) "Integrated watershed management" shall refer to a planning 
strategy or program for watershed areas that complement environmentally-
sound soil and water management practices with mechanisms for ensuring 
greater responsibility, involvement, or participation of individuals, groups, 
communities and other stakeholders benefiting from these areas and water-
related infrastructure; 
11) 
"Key biodiversity areas" shall refer to sites that are globally 
significant for biodiversity conservation primarily containing species that 
require site-scale conservation to prevent extinction in the short-term and 
medium-term. Such species may be globally threatened , restricted-range 
and/or globally significant congregations of species; 
mm) 
"Lagoon" shall refer to a semi-enclosed coastal basin with 
limited freshwater input, high salinity and restricted circulation which often 
lies behind sand dunes. It is often highly productive and habitat for variety of 
plants and animal, serves as nurseries of prawns and shrimps and also site for 
9 


harbor, aquaculture, industry and recreation; 
nn) "Land" shall refer to resources, both human-made and natural, 
found on the surface, below, and above the ground including inland waters 
and the air therein. In its broadest sense, it shall include all uses, 
improvements and developments of such resources and may be viewed as a 
resource, as space, as location, as property and as factor or production or 
capital; 
00) "Land use" shall refer to the manner of utilization of land, including 
its allocation, development, and management; 
pp) 
"Land use classification" shall refer to the act of delineating or 
allocating lands according to protection land use, prodUction land use, 
settlements development, and infrastructure development as defined and 
provided for in this Act; 
qq) "Land sub-classification" shall refer to the act of determining and 
assigning specific uses of classified lands of the public domain, such as forest 
or timber lands, alienable or disposable agricultural lands, national parks, and 
mineral lands in accordance with existing laws and this Act; 
rr) "Land use plan" shall refer to a document embodying a set of 
policies accompanied by maps and similar illustrations which represents the 
community-desired pattern of population distribution and a proposal for the 
future allocation of land to the various land using activities. It identifies the 
allocation, character and extent of the areas of land resources to be used for 
different purposes and includes the process and the criteria employed in the 
determination of the land use; 
ss) "Land use planning" shall refer to the act of defining the 
allocation, utilization, development, and management of all lands within a 
given territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent qualities of the land 
itself and supportive of sustainable economic, demographic, socio-cultural and 
environmental objectives as an aid to decision-making and legislation; 
ttl "Land Use Policy Council" shall refer to the highest land use 
policy making body created under Section 14 of this Act; 
10 


uu) "Mandatory public hearings/consultations" shall refer to the 
mechanism to ensure the involvement of affected sectors in land use planning 
from 
the 
local 
to 
the 
national 
level. 
It involves 
giving 
notice 
of 
hearing/consultation to affected sectors through publication or posting m 
conspicuous places, conduct of a reasonable number of hearings, and 
solicitation of positions and the public presentation and validation of the 
planning results before the final adoption of the plans; 
vv) "Mass 
housing" shall refer to 
residential 
subdivision and 
condominium projects covered by development permits and licenses to sell, 
catering to the homeless popUlation to include socialized, economic/low-cost 
and medium-cost housing beneficiaries with affordabilities as defined from 
time to time by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council 
(HUDCC); 
ww) "Minerals" shall refer to all naturally occurring inorganic 
substance in solid, gas, liquid or intermediate state excluding energy materials 
such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, radioactive materials and geothermal 
energy; 
xx) "Mineral exploration" shall refer to the systematic searching or 
prospecting for mineral resources; 
yy) "Mineral lands" shall refer to lands in which minerals exist in 
sufficient quantity or quality to justify the investment necessary for their 
extraction and/ or development; 
zz) "Mudflat" shall refer to a wetland type that is usually an 
unvegetated area, dominated by muddy substrate which provides rich feeding 
grounds for vertebrates such as fish and water birds and also important in 
preventing soil erosion; 
aaa) "Multiple use of land resources" shall refer to the utilization or 
management strategy of public lands, which allows any activity thereat, 
involving one or more of its resources, depending on the result of prior 
evaluation on its numerous beneficial uses, that will produce the optimum 
benefits to the development and progress of the country and the public welfare 
II 


without impairment or with the least injury to its other resources; 
bbb) "National Parks" shall refer to land of the public domain 
classified as such in the 1987 Philippine Constitution which include all areas 
under the National Integrated Protected Areas System, pursuant to Republic 
Act No. 7586 or the "NIPAS" Act of 1992; 
ccc) "Non-agricultural land use conversion" shall refer to the act of 
changing the current use of a piece of non-agricultural land into some other 
uses; 
ddd)"Non-government organization" shall refer to a private and non-
profit voluntary organization which is committed to the task of political, socio-
economic, physical, cultural and environmental development and established 
primarily to provide service to marginalized sectors in these areas; 
eee) "Network of Protected Areas for Agriculture and Agro-
industrial Development (NPAAAD)" shall refer to agricultural areas identified 
by the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Soils and Water 
Management (BSWM) in coordination with the National Mapping and Resource 
Information Authority (NAMRIA) in order to ensure the efficient utilization of 
land for agriculture and' agro-industrial development and promote sustainable 
growth. 
The NPAAAD ·covers all irrigated areas, all irrigable lands already 
covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments, all alluvial 
plains, land highly suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not, agro-
industrial croplands or lands planted to industrial crops that support the 
validity of existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises, 
highlands or areas located at an elevation of five hundred (500) meters or 
above and have the potential for growing semi-temperate and high value crops, 
all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile the conversion of which will 
result in serious environmental degradation, and all mangrove areas and fish 
sanctuaries; 
fff) "National integrated protected areas system (NIPAS)" shall refer 
to the classification and administration of all designated protected areas to 
maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems, to preserves 
genetics diversity, to ensure sustainable use of resources found therein, and to 
maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent possible; 
12 


ggg) "People's organization" shall refer to a private, non-profit, 
voluntary and community-based, organization established primarily to provide 
service to its members and the community in general; 
hhh) 
"Physical framework plans" shall refer to indicative plans 
based on comprehensive land use plans (CLUPs) and national policies whether 
national, regional, or provincial which provide policy guidelines for all decisions 
relating to land use and environmental management to prevent or mitigate the 
adverse effects of inappropriate resource utilization on food security, the 
people's welfare and their environment. it embodies both policies and strategies 
necessary to carry out development goals and objectives; 
iii) 
"Premature or illegal conversion" shall refer to any activity that 
modifies or alters the physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render 
them suitable for non-agricultural purposes without an approved order of 
conversion from the DAR Secretary; 
jjj) 
"Prime agricultural land" shall refer to all irrigated areas; all 
irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with firm funding 
commitments; all alluvial plain land highly suitable for agriculture whether 
irrigated or not, agro-industrial croplands or lands presently planted to 
industrial crops that support the viability of existing agricultural infrastructure 
and agro-based enterprises, highlands, or areas located at elevation of 500 
meters or above and have the potential for growing semi-temperature and high 
value crops; all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile, the conversion of 
which will result in serious environmental degradation; and mangrove areas 
and fish sanctuaries; 
kkk) "Production land use" shall refer to the direct and indirect 
utilization of land to generate outputs resulting from the following activities: 
agricultural, fish, farming or aquaculture, timber or agro-forestry, grazing and 
pasture, mining, indigenous energy resource development, industry, and 
tourism; 
lll) 
"Protected areas" shall refer to portions of land set aside by 
reason of their unique physical and biological significance, managed to 
enhance biological diversity, and protected against destructive human 
13 


exploitation. For purposes of this Act, it shall include agricultural lands 
identified and delineated under Section 29 hereof; 
mmm) 
"Protection land use" shall refer to the utilization of land 
primarily for rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes and the 
promotion of the country's ecological and life-support systems; 
nnn) 
"Public domain" shall refer to lands that belong to the State 
which may be any of the following: agricultural, forest or timber, mineral, or 
national park as provided for in the Constitution; 
000) "Public lands" shall refer to lands which have not been subject to 
private property rights or subject to sale or other modes of acquisition or 
concession under the general laws, and are devoted to public use; 
ppp)"Reclassification of agricultural lands" shall refer to the act of 
specifying how agricultural lands shall be utilized for non-agricultural uses 
such as residential, industrial, or commercial purposes through the local 
planning and zoning processes pursuant to Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local 
Government Code of 1991 and subject to the requirements and procedure for 
conversion. It is equivalent to land sub-classification, as defined in this Act 
for classified lands of the public domain and also includes the reversion of non-
agricultural lands to agricultural use; 
qqq) "Resettlement sites" shall refer to areas identified by the 
appropriate national agency or by the local government unit, with respect to 
areas within its jurisdiction, which shall be used for the relocation of the 
underprivileged and homeless, as defined under Republic Act No. 7279 or the 
"Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA)"; 
rrr) "Settlements" shall refer to formal and informal communities or 
built-up residential areas where people prefer to live in and land areas 
classified, zoned, or converted for current or future residential or housing 
development purposes, including socialized housing zones for the homeless 
and underprivileged citizens; 
sss) "Settlements development" shall refer to any improvement on 
existing formal or informal residential or housing settlements or any proposed 
14 


development of certain areas for residential or mass housing settlement 
purposes. It also involves the spatial distribution of population, identification of 
the roles and functions of key urban centers, determination of relationships 
among settlement areas, and the provision of basic services and facilities of 
identified major residential or housing settlement areas or growth centers. It is 
also concerned with the interrelationship of settlements as they develop and 
establish functional linkages based on their respective resource endowments 
and comparative advantages; 
ttt) "Shoreline" shall refer to the line where shore and water meet. 
"shore" is the narrow strip of land in immediate contact with any body of water, 
including the area between high and low water lines; 
uuu) 
"Significant caves" shall refer to caves which contain 
materials or possess features that have archaeological, cultural, ecological, 
historical or scientific value as determined by the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources (DENR) in coordination with the scientific community 
and the academe; 
vvv) "Socialized housing" shall refer to housing programs and 
projects undertaken by the government or the private sector for the 
underprivileged and homeless citizens which shall include sites and services 
development, long-term financing, liberalized terms on interest payments, and 
such other benefits in accordance with the UDHA; 
www) 
"Socialized housing zones" shall refer to lands identified 
and designated by local government units as sites for socialized housing, 
pursuant to Article IV of Republic Act No. 7279 or the UDHA, and its 
implementing guidelines. It shall include areas that are presently occupied by 
the urban poor, as well as those identified as resettlement areas as defined 
herein; 
xxx) "Sub-classification or reclassification of agricultural lands" 
shall refer to the process undertaken by the LGUs of allocating in their 
respective territorial jurisdictions the declared agricultural land to specific uses 
such as residential, industrial or commercial purposes. It is only one of the 
bases for application for land' conversion by the owners thereof and shall 
constitute the power of LGUs to reclassify lands under Section 20 of Republic 
15 


Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991, consistent with the 
provisions of this Act; 
yyy) "Sustainable development" shall refer to the development 
objective of meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising 
the ability of future generations to meet their own needs consistent with the 
principles of social equity, efficiency, and environmental integrity; 
zzz) "Stakeholder" shall refer to an individual, social group or 
organization that has a direct or indirect interest in 
activity, project, 
resources, or decision; 
aaaa) 
"Tourism development areas" shall refer to specific sites 
for tourism development located in areas identified as priorities in the national, 
regional, and inter-regional area specific tourism master plans and other sector 
plans such as eco-tourism and agri-tourism sites, including those designated 
through legislative and executive issuances such as 
tourist spots, tourist 
zones and tourism ecozones which can be developed into tourism estates or 
integrated resort, leisure, and recreation complexes, and other tourism related 
facilities; 
bbbb) 
"Tourism estates" shall refer to large tracts of land with 
well-defined boundaries in any area identified in the Philippine tourism master 
plan and regional tourism master plan, by proclamation of the President 
and/ or by an act of Congress including local legislation. Such land shall be 
suitable for the development of an integrated tourism and resort complex 
including but not limited to accommodation facilities, food and beverage 
outlets, convention and meeting areas, sports, recreational and leisure centers 
and commercial outlets among others. It shall be provided with roads, water 
supply facilities, power and utilities like potable water, drainage sewerage 
disposal, solid waste disposal system and other necessary infrastructure. The 
estate shall be under one unified and continuous management; 
cccc) 
"Tourism ecozone" shall refer to tourism development areas 
which have been granted Special Economic Zone status, through Philippine 
Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) registration and issuance of the required 
Presidential Proclamation, with its metes and bounds delineated by said 
Proclamation, pursuant to Republic Act No. 7916 or "The Special Economic 
16 


Zone Act of 1995", as amended; 
dddd) 
"Tourist spot" shall refer to a particular area/site/spot, 
human-made or natural, known for its unique tourist/visitor-drawing 
attributes and activities. It may be classified according to its social, cultural, 
natural, historical, scientific, religious, and recreational significance; 
eeee) 
"Tourist zone" shall refer to a geographic area with well-
defined boundaries proclaimed as such by the President of the Philippines 
and/ or by acts of Congress. No development projects for any purpose shall be 
initiated and introduced within the zone prior to the formulation of a tourism 
master development plan which shall be undertaken in coordination with the 
Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA). A 
tourist zone is established for the enhancement and/or the conservation of 
cultural and historical heritage and for the appreciation and enjoyment of the 
local population and its visitors; 
ffff) "Urban areas" shall refer to all cities regardless of their 
population density and to municipalities with population density of at least 
Five hundred (500) persons per square kilometer; 
gggg) 
"Urbanizable areas" shall refer to sites and lands which, 
considering present characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked 
and great potential of becoming urban areas within a period of five (5) years; 
hhhh) 
"Urban forestry or green space" shall refer to the 
establishment or setting-up of areas for mini-forest or small nature parks, 
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; 
iiii) "Water security" shall refer to the sufficient access throughout 
the year to the minimum daily requirement of clean water to maintain a 
healthy life; 
jjjj) "Water use" shall refer to the appropriation of water for domestic, 
municipal, irrigation, power generation, inland fisheries, poultry and livestock, 
industrial and commercial, environmental, and recreational use; 
17 


kkkk) 
"Watershed" shall refer to a topographically delineated area 
of land from which rainwater can drain as surface run-off vis-d-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; 
llll) 
"Zoning" shall refer to the regulatory tool for delineating the 
specific uses of lands in accordance with the approved Comprehensive Land 
Use Plan (CLUP) within the territorial jurisdiction of a city/municipality and 
specifying the conditions for their regulation; subject to the limitations imposed 
by law and competent authority; and, 
mmmm) 
"Zoning ordinance or ZO" shall refer to a local law passed 
by the sangguniang pambayan or panglunsod approving the development 
control/zoning plan in accordance with an approved or adopted CLUP for the 
city /municipality, and providing for the regulations and other conditions on 
the uses of land including the limitation on the infrastructure that may be 
placed thereon within the territorial jurisdiction of a city or municipality. It 
incorporates the protected areas under Section 13(a) and the protected 
agricultural lands under Section 29 of this Act. 
CHAPTER III 
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK AND LAND USE PLANS 
SEC. 5. National Framework for Physical Planning.-
The Land Use 
Policy Council (LUPC) created in Section 14 herein, in consultation with the 
concerned sectors through the mandatory conduct of public hearings, shall 
formulate, periodically update and ensure the implementation of a national 
framework for physical planning that shall serve as the general long-term 
framework for the spatial development directions of the entire country. A NFPP 
shall be the basis for adopting land use and physical planning-related 
guidelines and standards, including zoning and other land use control 
standards that will guide the formulation of city/municipal zoning ordinances. 
SEC. 6. National Land Use Planning Process. -
The land use and 
physical planning process shall be formulated following a combined bottom-up 
and top-down approach. The national framework for physical planning, which 
guides the planning and management of the country's land and other physical 
18 


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 and infrastructure development. The regional and 
provincial framework plans and Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs), 
which cover the physical development of their respective territories, shall be 
consistent with the national framework for physical planning: Provided, That 
the integration and harmonization of physical framework plans at all levels 
shall be iterative to ensure that the concerns of both top and bottom levels of 
government are considered in the national, regional and physical framework 
plans and CLUPs. 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 found within a given territory and 
the linkages of the major land use categories to ensure their complementation 
in the utilization, development and management of resources. 
SEC. 7. 
City and Municipal Land Use Plans.- The City/Municipal 
Planning and Development Office (C/MPPDO), in consultation with concerned 
sectors through mandatory conduct of public hearings, shall prepare the 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. Guided by a provincial physical framework plan, 
the CLUP shall embody the desired land use patterns and mixes of the city. or 
municipal territory and provide appropriate policies for each of the four land 
use planning categories that shall guide and serve as framework for more 
detailed development and sectoral planning. 
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. 8. Provincial Physical Framework Plans. - In consultation with 
concerned sectors, the PrQvincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO) 
shall prepare a provincial physical framework plan to determine the physical 
development of the entire provincial territory, consolidating and harmonizing 
the land use plans of component cities and municipalities, and defining the 
uses of land and other resources within the province consistent with the 
policies in the regional physical framework plan. It shall submit the provincial 
physical framework plan to the Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC), 
19 


created under Section 20 of this Act, for review and endorsement to the 
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which shall adopt the same pursuant to Section 
468 (2) (vii) of the LGC. 
SEC. 9. Regional Physical Framework Plans.-
In consultation with 
concerned sectors, the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall define 
the desired spatial arrangement of land-using activities in the entire region, 
consolidating and harmonizing the provincial physical framework plans of 
provinces and independent cities within the territorial jurisdiction of the 
region. The regional physical framework plan, 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. 
SEC. 10. 
CHAPTER IV 
FRAMEWORK FOR LAND USE PLANNING 
Priorities 
in 
Land 
Use Allocation 
and 
Planning.-
In projecting spatial allocation for different land uses, the LGUs shall first 
exclude areas under protection land use of Section 13(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. 
Spatial 
allocation and planning shall then proceed in accordance with Sections 12 and 
13 hereof with priorities given to integrated watershed management areas, 
socialized housing sites, fisherfolk settlement in coastal areas, and waste 
disposal sites. 
SEC. 11. 
Adoption of Multiple Uses of Land Resources. -
The 
primary and alternative uses of a specific land resource 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, agro-forestry and extraction 
activities and other income-generating or livelihood activities may be allowed: 
Provided, That multiple uses of land resources shall be in accordance with 
priorities in land use allocation and planning and that no reclassification shall 
be allowed. 
20 


SEC. 12. 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, the following: 
(a) 
Availability of natural resources including indigenous energy 
resources for energy security and self-sufficiency; 
(b) 
Geology, geomorphology, geologic hazard, climate, soil, vegetative 
cover, demography and slope; 
(c) 
Economic, 
environmental, 
social 
and 
related 
development 
activities; 
(d) 
Existing government policies on land and natural resources 
allocation, utilization, management and disposition; 
(e) 
Technological changes/ advancement; 
(f) 
Existing customary rights for the protection of indigenous peoples 
and vulnerable groups including women and urban poor; and 
(g) 
Inventory of prior and existing rights, to harmonize determination 
of land use. 
SEC. 13. 
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: 
ta) Protection Land Use shall refer to the use of land primarily for 
rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes and the 
promotion of the country's ecological and life-support systems. 
Planning for protection land use intends to achieve environmental 
stability and ecological integrity, ensure a balance between resource 
use and the preservation of some areas with environmental, 
aesthetic, educational, cultural and historical significance, and 
protect people and human-made structures from the ill-effects of 
natural hazards. Areas under this category are those covered by 
Republic Act No. 7586 or the NIPAS Law and other coastal and 
marine protected areas, those areas outside NIPAS but nonetheless 
require protection because of their outstanding physical and 
aesthetic features, anthropological significance, and biological 
diversity, and those areas prone to natural hazards. Areas outside 
21 


the coverage of the NIPAS law include, but are not limited to the 
following: 
a.!. Reserved old-growth forests above 1,000 meters in elevation 
and those 50% in slope gradient; 
a.2. Mangrove and fish sanctuaries, pursuant to Republic Act No. 
8435 or the "Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 
1997." and Republic Act No. 8550 or "The Philippine Fisheries 
Code of 1998; 
a.3. Buffer zones or strips/easements, pursuant to Presidential 
Decree No. 705, amending Presidential Decree No. 389, 
otherwise known as the "Forestry Refonn Code of the 
Philippines" and. Presidential Decree No. 1067 or the "Water 
Code of the Philippines"; 
aA. Salvage zones along foreshore areas, freshwater swamps and 
marshes, plazas and heritage/historic sites, pursuant to 
Presidential Decree No. 2146; 
a.5. Watersheds supporting domestic water supply; 
a.6. Utility easement like transmission lines of power companies, 
oil and gas facilities, cell sites, and domestic water lines; 
a.7. Amenity areas or those with high aesthetic values, pursuant to 
Presidential Decree No. 2146; 
a.S 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; 
a.9 Critical habitats as provided in Republic Act No. 9147 or the 
"Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act"; 
a.l0 Significant caves under Republic Act 9072 or the "National 
Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act"; 
or 
a.II Key biodiversity areas under Executive Order 578 or the 
"N ational Biodiversity Policy". 
(bJ 
Production Land Use shall refer to the direct and indirect 
22 


utilization of land resources for crop, fishery, livestock and poultry 
production, agroforestry, mining, industry, energy development, 
and tourism. Planning for production land shall determine 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 comprise lands 
18% to 50% in slope gradient such as: 
residual dipterocarps, 
rangelands 
for 
grazing 
purposes, 
industrial 
tree 
plantation/Integrated Forest Management Agreement 
(IFMA), 
community based forest management areas and other reforestation 
projects, mineral lands or mining areas and reservations, energy 
resource lands, industrial development areas, and tourism 
development areas where productive activities could be undertaken 
to meet the country's requirements for food security, economic 
growth and development. 
(c) 
Settlements Development shall refer to any improvement on 
existing settlements in urban and rural areas 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 to such settlement. The settlements development plan 
ensures for the present and future generation the following: i) 
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; and ii) 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. 
(d) 
Infrastructure Development shall refer to 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, indigenous energy exploration 
23 


and development, 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 V 
IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISM 
ARTICLE I 
LAND USE POLICY COUNCIL 
SEC. 14. 
Creation of the Land Use Policy Council (LUPC). -
The 
LUPC is hereby created as a committee under National Economic Development 
Authority (NEDA) Board. It shall exercise the powers and responsibilities of the 
National Land Use Committee (NLUC). 
The LUPC 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 integrate 
efforts, monitor developments relating to land use and the evolution of policies. 
SEC. 15. Composition of the LUPC. - The LUPC shall be composed of 
the following. 
a) 
The Secretary-General of the National Economic and Development 
Authority (NEDA) as Chairperson; 
b) 
The Secretaries of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the 
Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating 
Council (HUDCC) as Vice-Chairpersons; 
The members shall be: 
c) 
The Secretaries of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the 
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Public 
Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Transportation and 
Communications (DOTC), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the 
Department 
of Interior and 
Local 
Government 
(DILG), 
the 
Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Science and 
Technology (DOST), the Department of Finance (DOF) and the 
Department of Energy (DOE); 
d) 
A representative each, from four (4) basic sectors directly involved in 
24 


land use, namely: urban poor, peasants, fisherfolk, and indigenous 
peoples who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines 
based on the nomination and recommendation of the respective 
sectoral councils of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). 
At least two (2) sectoral representatives shall be women; 
e) 
Two (2) representatives from private subdivision, and housing 
developers; and 
f) 
A representative from the indigenous peoples through the National 
Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP.) 
A consultative body shall likewise be convened by the LUPC at least once 
a year or as often as may be necessary. It shall be composed of representatives 
from the Leagues of Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces, other government 
agencies not represented in the LUPC, and from non-government sectors such 
as the private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs) and people's 
organizations (POs), and the academic community. 
SEC. 16. Powers and Functions. The LUPC shall have the following 
powers and functions: 
a) Advise the President of the Philippines and the NEDA Board 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 Regional Land use Policy 
Council (RLUPC), created under Section 21 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 
25 


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 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) 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; 
1) 
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 Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC); 
m) Adopt rules of procedures for the orderly and expeditious conduct of 
meetings and other busir:ess of the Council; and 
n) Perform such other acts and functions and exercise such other powers 
as may be necessarily implied, inherent, incident, or related to the 
foregoing. 
SEC. 17. LUPC-Technical Board (LUPC-TB). A Technical Board shall 
be created to provide technical support to the LUPC. It shall be composed of: 
a. 
NEDA Deputy Director-General for Regional Development as 
26 


Chairperson; 
b. 
Representatives of the member agencies/institutions of the LUPC, 
who shall have a rank not lower than Director level; and 
c. 
The representatives of the four (4) basic sectors as enumerated in 
Section 15 (d) of this Act. 
SEC. 18. 
Offices, Units and Staff Support. 
The NEDA Regional 
Development Office shall continue to provide core secretariat services to LUPC, 
its Technical Board and RLUPC. Other government agencies may also be called 
upon for staff support. 
ARTICLE 2 
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AS LOCAL LAND USE POLICY 
COUNCILS 
SEC. 19. 
City/Municipal Land Use Policy Council (C/MLUPC). 
The 
City/Municipal Development Council (C/MDC), created under Section 106 of 
the Local Government Code, shall act as the City/Municipal Land use Policy 
Council (C/MLUPC) that will tackle land use concerns whenever necessary. A 
duly authorized representative from the DAR, the DENR and the DA shall be 
included in the composition of the C /MLUPC. 
In addition to the functions enumerated in Section 109 of the LGC, 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; and 
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. 
For purposes of this Act, the City/Municipal Planning and Development 
27 


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. 
Local government units without operational C/MDC as mandated by the 
1991 LGC shall activate their respective Councils within six (6) months from 
the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 20. Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC). The Provincial 
Development Council (PDC), created under Section 106 of the LGC, shall act as 
the Provincial Land Use Policy Council that will tackle land use concerns 
whenever necessary. 
A duly authorized representative from the DAR, the 
DENR and the DA shall be included in the composition of the PLUPC. 
In addition to the functions enumerated in Section 109 of the LGC, 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 physioal framework plans, prepared and periodically 
updated by the Provincial Planning and Development Office and 
other land use and physical planning-related policies; 
c. 
Assist the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in reviewing the CLUPs of 
component cities/municipalities to ensure consistency with the 
provincial physical framework plans and compliance with the 
limits prescribed under the 1991 LGC for reclassifying agricultural 
lands; and 
d. 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, 
classification, and, allocation that may arise between or among 
cities/municipalities and any unresolved land use conflicts at the 
28 


city /municipallevel. 
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. 
21. Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC). At the regional level, 
the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall be institutionalized, 
replicating the LUPC structure and composition which shall include a duly 
authorized representative from the DA, the DENR and the DA. 
The RLUPC 
shall have the following functions: 
a. 
Formulate and adopt regional policies on land use and physical 
planning; 
b. 
Prepare and periodically update a regional physical framework 
plan, taking into consideration national polices and lower level 
plans; 
C. 
Assist the provinces m preparing and periodically updating its 
physical framework plans to ensure consistency with the regional 
and national plans and policies and to facilitate its integration to 
the regional plans; 
d. 
Review, prior to adoption by respective Sanggunians, the provincial 
physical framework plan and CLUPs of highly urbanized and 
independent component cities to ensure consistency with the 
regional physical framework plan and national policies set forth by 
LUPC and compliance with limits prescribed under the 1991 LGC 
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/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 
29 


i. 
Perform other related functions as may be directed by the LUPC. 
ARTICLE 3 
ADOPTION, APPROVAL AND REVIEW OF LAND USE PLANS 
SEC. 22. Component Cities and Municipalities.- Component cities and 
municipalities shall have the power and authority to adopt and approve their 
respective CLUPs and ZOs through their respective sanggunians subject to the 
power of review of their respective provinces only with respect to the 
consistency of the CLUPs and ZOs with Section 7 hereof on the preparation of 
the provincial physical framework plan. Upon adoption and approval of the 
CLUP and zoning ordinance by the Sanggunian, all land areas zoned for 
residential purposes or for settlements development shall cease to be covered 
by the CARP and therefore, shall not be required to secure further order of 
land conversion or exemption certificates from the DAR, except for the payment 
of disturbance compensation if applicable, as well as the requirements 
pertaining to the issuance of environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the 
DENR. 
SEC. 23. 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, ZOs or provincial 
physical framework plan, as the case may be, through their respective 
sanggunian but subject to the reyiew of the RLUPC as provided in Section 21 of 
this Act. 
ARTICLE 4 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND 
LGUs 
SEC. 24. 
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 
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), as the lead 
agency, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the Forest 
Management Bureau (FMB), the Land Management Bureau (LMB), the 
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), the Mines and Geosciences 
Bureau (MGB), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology And Seismology 
(PHIVOLCS), DAR, the National Water Resources Board (NSWRB), DOE, NEDA 
30 


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. 
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 national framework for physical planning pursuant to Section 
5 of this Act. 
SEC. 25. National Geo-hazard Mapping Program.-
Within thirty (30) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, a nationwide geo-hazard mapping program 
shall be initiated jointly thru the LUPC by the PHIVOLCS, the Philippine 
Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), 
the NAMRIA, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), BSWM, and DOE, in 
coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council (NDRRMC), the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
Council (RDRRMC), and other concerned government agencies. The program 
shall include the generation of indicative geo-hazard zoning maps that will 
outline areas in the Philippines which are prone to liquefaction, land slides, 
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 geo-hazard zoning maps in their respective CLUPs. 
Said geo-hazard maps shall serve as guide for all the LGUs in the preparation 
of their own hazards-constrained development plans. The national framework 
physical planning, pursuant to Section 5 hereof, shall incorporate these geo-
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. 26. 
Scope and Nature of Responsibilities of Other National 
Government Agencies.-
All concerned national government agencies/bodies 
shall periodically report to the LUPC on the various activities and 
31 


accomplishments relative to land use.. Likewise, they shall provide their 
respective sectoral/ development plans and render technical and administrative 
support if called upon by the Lupe relative to the implementation of the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC, 27. 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 LUPC. 
CHAPTER VI 
SPECIAL AREAS OF CONCERN 
ARTICLE I 
AGRICULTURAL LANDS 
SEC. 28. Priority Areas for Agricultural Development.- Priority areas 
for agricultural development shall be those agricultural areas covered under 
Republic Act No. 6657 or the CARL, as amended, and those covered under 
Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development 
(NPAAAD), defined in Section 4 of this Act and in Republic Act No. 8435 or the 
"Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act". 
SEC 29. Conversion of Agricultural Lands.- Agricultural lands are 
deemed converted to non-agricultural uses upon approval by the DAR of the 
application for conversion. Prime agricultural lands and specific types of lands 
to the extent necessary for attaining food self-sufficiency in rice and corn 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: 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 
seven (7) 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 CARP, all lands subject to CARP including those lands 
32 


covered under the notice of compulsory acquisition/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 65 of Republic Act No. 6657 or the 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) shall apply: Provided, furthermore, 
That the conversion of agricultural lands for use of 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 
AFMA shall be completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act. 
Lands defined under Section 10 of RA. No. 6657 shall remain exempted 
and excluded from the coverage of CARP. 
SEC. 30. 
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 the LGC of 1991 shall exclude the protected 
agricultural lands as stated in the preceding section. 
Moreover, such sub-
classification/reclassification is not synonymous to conversion. The DA and 
DAR shall provide the LGUs with complete list and maps of protected 
agricultural lands within their territorial jurisdictions. 
ARTILE 2 
FOREST LANDS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 
SEC. 
31. Reversion of Alienable and Disposable Lands to 
Forestlands.- Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the DENR, duly 
reviewed and endorsed by the LUPC, 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. Thereafter, said lanqs shall be included in the preparation of land 
use plans within forestlands. 
SEC. 32. Critical Watershed Areas.-
The DENR, in coordination with 
the DA, LGUs, and other government agencies, including government-owned 
and-controlled corporations, and with mandatory public consultations, shall 
identify and delineate critical watershed areas that need to be protected, 
rehabilitated, enhanced, and/or withdrawn from uses that contribute to their 
33 


further degradation. 
SEC. 33. Formulation and Implementation of Integrated Watershed 
Management Plans.-
With the assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory 
consultations with the concerned sectors, the LOUs through their local land 
use committees shall prepare their watershed management plans which shall 
be integrated with their respective CLUPs. The formulation and integration of 
the plan shall be guided, among others, by the principle that the management 
and development of inland water resources shall be at the watershed level. A 
nationwide mapping of watersheds in the country shall be implemented. 
In cases where the watershed areas transcend the boundaries of a 
particular municipality, an inter-LOU committee composed of representatives 
from local land use committees of the LOUs where the watershed area is 
located shall be formed. With the assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory 
consultations with the concerned sectors, the inter-LOU committee shall 
formulate the watershed management plan for the said watershed area. 
The DENR and the concerned LOUs shall jointly implement the 
watershed management plan subject to regular conSUltations with and 
involvement of the community and other stakeholders in the implementation of 
the plan. 
The preparation of forest land use plans shall make use of the watershed 
as the basic planning unit. 
ARTICLE 3 
COASTAL ZONE 
SEC. 34. 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 production 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 protected areas, shall be utilized for 
aquaculture purposes; 
34 


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 .mangrovestands 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 HUDCC. 
e) Areas which are neither sub-classified as mangrove, fisherfolk 
settlement nor fishpond may be devoted to recreational or tourism 
purposes: Provided, That such undertaking will not result III 
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; and 
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. 
SEC. 35. Coastal Land Zone Sub-c1assification.-
All public lands in 
the coastal zones shall be sub-classified into any of the following: estuaries, 
lagoons, inter-tidal flats, mudflats, fishponds, mangroves, protection from tidal 
surge, for preservation of biodiversity, habitats and sanctuaries for endangered 
wildlife, fisherfolk settlement,. or 
recreational/tourism areas. 
No sub-
classification of coastal zones to different uses shall be done without the 
following: 
a) Conduct 
of 
a 
comprehensive 
resource 
and 
environmental 
assessment by the DENR and respective LGUs and accredited NGOs 
and POs within their jurisdiction; and 
b) Prior consultation with the Local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource 
Management Councils (FARMCs) formed under Republic Act No. 
8550 or the Philippine Fisheries Code. 
35 


, 
SEC. 36. Zoning of Foreshore Areas.-
Local government units, 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. 
ARTICLE 4 
MINERAL LANDS 
SEC. 37. 
Criteria for the Utilization and Allocation of Land for 
Mining Purposes.- Consistent with Section 6 of this Act and the provisions of 
Republic Act No. 7942 or the 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 for more than 
ten (10) years as determined by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau 
(MGB) shall be placed under appropriate surface management by the 
DENR; and 
d) Consistent with the Mining Act of 1995, areas closed to mining 
operations 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, if warranted, recommend their reclassification as mineral lands. 
e) 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 (OCT), transfer 
certificate of title (TCT), certificate of ancestral domain title (CADT), 
emancipation patent-certificate of land ownership award (EP-CLOA) 
and other instruments. If these be present, no mining activity shall be 
conducted. 
36 


SEC. 38. 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 LGU's, the Department of 
Tourism (DOT), and other national government agencies. 
ARTCILE 5 
ENERGY RESOURCE LANDS 
SEC. 39. 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 for said purposes shall be 
guided by the following, consistent with existing regulations and laws on 
energy resources: 
a) Indigenous energy resource exploration and development for the 
purpose of a National Energy Resource Inventory and Data Base as 
well as Energy Resource Block Map shall be allowed subject to the 
implementation of complementary watershed and other land 
management plans; 
b) Indigenous energy resource exploration, development, production, 
utilization, and distribution shall be subject to the appropriate 
requirements and processes of the Philippine Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) system. Each project shall secure an Environmental 
Compliance Certificate (ECC) prior to project implementation to 
ensure 
adequate and 
appropriate 
environmental 
management 
measures and optimum methods for resource access and recovery are 
utilized; and 
c) Energy reservations or portions thereof which have become or have 
been established to 
~e non-economically viable to operate or are no 
longer used for energy purposes shall be released to give way to other 
land uses, subject to existing laws covering energy reservations. 
37 


SEC. 40. 
Reversion of Energy Resource Lands.-
All exhausted 
indigenous energy resource lands not covered by proclamations shall 
automatically revert to the category of forestlands or agricultural lands open to 
disposition, whichever is appropriate. Exhausted energy resource lands shall 
refer to specific energy resource sites whose energy reserves of the desired 
type/s are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional 
expenditure for their extraction and utilization. 
CHAPTER VII 
SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 41. 
Town, City, and Settlements Development. -
The 
development of town, city, and settlements through the zoning ordinances of 
cities and municipalities shall be guided by urban zoning standards designed 
to maximize existing urban spaces. Socialized housing and settlement areas 
shall be established only on alienable and disposable lands in order to avoid 
further degradation of forestlands. 
SEC. 42. Settlements within Geo-hazard Areas.-
Settlements, in 
particular housing or residential developments, within geo-hazard areas may 
be allowed provided that mitigating and/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, 
the LUPC 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 be considered as 
outside the geo-hazard areas. For this purpose, housing projects within such 
areas shall be exempt from the ECC as well as the Engineering Geological and 
Geohazard Assessment Report (EGGAR) and maybe implemented without the 
need for any further certificate of exemption from the DENR or any other 
government regulatory agency. 
SEC. 43. Designation of Sanitary Landfill.- Each city or municipality 
shall identify, designate and allocate an area within their territorial jurisdiction 
to serve as sanitary landfill within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. 
The LGUs, in coordination with the DENR or any other competent authority, 
38 


shall identify sanitary landfill m 
order to fast-track the conduct of 
environmental impact assessment study and to facilitate processing of the 
environmental compliance certificate. The site or area shall be identified in the 
city or municipality's CLUP. For this purpose, cities and municipalities shall 
establish their solid waste management program, pursuant to Republic Act No. 
9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 
2000". Likewise, as provided under Section 33 of the LGC, cities and 
municipalities may, through appropriate ordinances, bind themselves towards 
the establishment of a common solid waste management program. 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in 
coordination with concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary 
guidelines and standards for the formulation and establishment of solid waste 
management programs by cities and municipalities, and shall submit the same 
to the LUPC for review and approval. 
SEC. 44. 
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 land for the housing 
needs of the local population, the CLUP shall be updated, at maximum, every 
nine (9) 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 
35 (b) of this Act. 
The housing or residential lands designated in the CLUPS and ZOs 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 
39 


economically 
feasible 
for 
agricultural use 
may 
be 
subject 
to 
land 
reclassification or conversion to housing/residential purposes and such 
conversion, as the case may be, shall be exempt from the coverage of any 
moratorium on land conversion. 
SEC. 45. 
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 LUPC. 
CHAPTER VIII 
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS 
SEC. 46. Criteria for Designating Industrial Development Areas.- The 
identification and establishment of industrial development areas shall conform 
with the provisions of Republic Act No.7916, or the Philippine Economic Zone 
Authority (PEZA) Act, Republic Act No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian 
Reform Program, (CARP) Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 9700 or the 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms Act 
(CARPER), Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), 
Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA), and 
Republic Act No. 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act 
(AFMA), taking into consideration the following: 
a) Identified network of areas for agricultural development and protected 
agricultural areas pursuant to the AFMA; 
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) National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) and non-NIPAS areas that 
require protection; 
e) National and Urban Development and Housing Framework; 
f) Identified Socialized Housing Zones; and 
g) 
National framework for physical planning and other existing national 
programs and policies. 
The designated industrial development areas shall become an integral part 
of the land use plan and zoning ordinance of the city or municipality where 
these areas are located. 
CHAPTER IX 
40 


TOURSIM DEVELOPMENT AREAS 
SEC. 47. Criteria for Designating Tourism Development Areas.- The 
identification, selection, and development of tourism development areas and 
tourism estates 
shall be done in consultation and coordination with the 
concerned LGUs, national government agencies, the private sector, and the 
affected communities. Tourism development areas shall likewise include those 
covered by legislative and executive issuances as tourist spots, tourist zones 
and tourism ecozones which can be developed into tourism estates or 
integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes and other tourism-related 
facilities as well as those identified in the national, regional and inter-regional 
tourism, and area specific tourism master plans and other sector plans such 
as ecotourism and agri-tourism sites. 
Designated areas for tourism development shall become part of the 
CLUPs of the cities or municipalities where these are located. 
SEC. 48. 
Identification and Declaration of Areas for Protection, 
Conservation and Preservation of Cultural Heritage.-
The National 
Historical Institute (NHI) and! or the National Museum in coordination with 
other concerned agencies, local communities, and the private sector, shall 
identify declared areas and structures which shall be protected and/ or 
preserved as part of the Philippine cultural heritage. 
The LGUs in coordination with the NHI, the National Commission for 
Cult1:lre and Arts (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, which are significant 
to a city / municipality and the community. 
CHAPTER X 
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 
49. 
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 concerned 
national government agencies, LGUs, and the private sector shall identify and 
41 


periodically review, update and/ or revise the list of priority infrastructure 
projects subject to Sections 6 and 29 of this Act, and Section 47 of the AFMA. 
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 
economy with priority on improving rural infrastructure and the 
development of the agriculture and fisheries sectors; 
(b) 
Upgrade existing facilities to international standards; 
(c) 
Address the need for sustainable settlements development; and, 
(d) 
Help mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing 
phenomena or those that shall serve as alternatives to existing 
infrastructures found in natural hazard-prone areas: 
Provided, That the provision and implementation of infrastructure 
support shall 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 shall be held prior to the conduct of all infrastructure projects that 
will necessarily involve dislocation or displacement of people in the area: 
Provided, further, That the proponent of the infrastructure project shall follow 
the rules on just and humane eviction or demolition under Section 28 of 
Republic Act No. 7279 or the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA), 
notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 8975, prohibiting lower 
courts from issuing temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, or 
preliminary mandatory injunctions, and proponent shall follow IPRA: Provided 
Finally, That national government infrastructure projects shall allocate budget 
for the adequate relocation of displaced communities. 
SEC. 
50. 
Infrastructure Projects Within Geo-hazard Areas.-
Construction of priority infrastructure projects within hazard-prone areas shall 
be allowed: Provided, That mitigating and/or preventive measures are adopted 
to address the potential adverse economic, socio-cultural, and environmental 
impacts that will emanate from these infrastructure projects, subject to the 
findings and recommendations of a feasibility study/environmental impact 
assessment in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 1586, Establishing An 
Environmental Impact Statement System, Including Other Environmental 
Management Related Measures, and Republic Act No. 4846 or the Cultural 
Properties Preservation and Protection Act, as amended by Presidential Decree 
374. 
42 


Existing projects that did not go through the process of an environmental 
impact assessment and pose threats to the environment, integrity of historic, 
archeological, or scientifically significant areas; or are impinging on critical 
ecosystems, may be: (a) terminated immediately, (b) required to implement an 
Environmental Management Plan; (c) gradually phased-out and relocated, or 
(d) maintained up to their life span, subject, however, to mitigating measures: 
Provided, That the rules on mandatory public consultations and just and 
humane eviction or demolition shall also be observed prior to the termination, 
gradual phase-out, or relocation of projects that will necessarily involve 
dislocation or displacement of people in the area. 
CHAPTER XI 
TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND VALUE FORMATION 
SEC. 51. 
Value Formation.-
In order to create a well informed, 
responsible and committed citizenry who values the protection, conservation 
and development of the country's limited land, and other physical resources, 
the State shall mandate the inclusion of sustainable land use education or any 
subject related thereto in the curricula of primary, secondary and tertiary 
education. 
SEC. 52. 
Information and Education Campaign.-
The LUPC shall 
undertake a nationwide education information campaign in land use and 
physical planning to be implemented by local and national government 
agencies. The DILG and concerned agencies shall formulate and implement a 
land use management capability-building program for national and local 
government officials, community leaders, NGOs, POs, religious sector, and the 
general public. 
CHAPTER XII 
INCENTIVES, SANCTIONS, AND PENALTIES 
ARTICLE 1 
INCENTIVES AND AWARDS 
SEC. 53. Formulation of a System of Incentives and Awards.-
The 
LUPC shall come out with a system of incentives and awards to LGUs that 
regularly update their CLUPs within the prescribed period, as follows: 
43 


(a) 
Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities, and Independent Component 
Cities once every nine (9) years; and 
(b) 
Component cities and municipalities once every nine (9) years. 
SEC. 54. 
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. 
ARTICLE 2 
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES 
SEC. 55. 
Fine for Non-Completion and Non-Commencement of 
Development of Agricultural Lands with Approved Order of Conversion.- A 
landowner and his/her designated developer or duly authorized representative 
who fails to commence and/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 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 by the DAR through compulsory acquisition for 
distribution to qualified beneficiaries. 
44 


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. 56. 
Authority to Impose Fine.-
The DAR shall impose the 
penalty provided for under the preceding section. 
SEC. 57. Withdrawal of Local Development Permits or Licenses.-
Upon receipt of notice from the DAR, the concerned agencies and the city or 
municipality shall withdraw or revoke any development permit and other 
licenses that may be necessary to develop the agricultural land subject of 
conversion. 
SEC. 58. Utilization of Fines.-
The fines collected under Sections 55, 
60, 61, and 62 hereof shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund 
consistent with the provisions of the CARL, as amended. 
SEC. 59. 
Failure to Formulate, Enforce, and/or Implement the 
CLUPs.-
Consistent with due process, the DILG 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: 
duty; 
(a) 
Failure to implement and enforce the CLUP due to negligence of 
(b) 
Failure to provide appropriate budgetary allocation to effect its 
implementation; and, 
(c) 
Failure to complete the preparation of the CLUP despite the 
availability of funds, resources, and support by the Sanggunian 
concerned. 
Any public official or employee, regardless of whether elected or 
appointed or holding office or employment in a casual, temporary, holdover, 
45 


permanent, or regular capacity, found to be responsible for any of the foregoing 
acts, after due notice and hearing by the appropriate body or agency, shall be 
punished with forfeiture of salaries and allowances and suspension from: 
1. 
Six (6) to nine (9) months, in case of non-implementation of CLUP; or 
2. Three (3) to six (6) months, in case of non-completion of the CLUP. 
SEC. 60. 
Person{s) Abetting Illegal Conversion.-
Any person 
initiating, causing, inducing, or abetting illegal conversion shall, upon 
conviction, be imprisoned from seven (7) to twelve (12) years and imposed a 
fine of not less than one hundred thousand (100,000.00) 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 
58 of this Act. 
SEC. 61. 
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 of 
protected agricultural areas into non-agricultural uses and exceeding the limits 
set forth under Section 20 of' the LGC of 1991, shall be penalized with 
imprisonment of twelve (12) years and a fine of not less than One hundred 
thousand (P100,000.OO) pesos, or both at the discretion of the Court: Provided, 
That if the offender is a public official or employee, the penalty shall, in 
addition thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the 
service, whether elected or appointed, and forfeiture of entitlements accruing to 
the public position, and perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any 
elective or appointive public position: Provided, further, That if the offender is a 
46 


juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed on the president, chief executive 
officer, manager, chairperson and all the members of the board, and other 
responsible officers thereof. 
SEC. 62. 
Payment of Disturbance-~Compensation.~~FollowiIlg~the 
order of priority as enumerateq in Section 22 of the CARL, 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. 
CHAPTER XIII 
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 63. Convening of the LUPC.-
Within thirty (30) days from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning shall convene 
the LUPC. 
SEC. 64. Implementing Rules and Regulations.-
Within sixty (60) 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the LUPC shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations to implement the provisions of this Act. Said rules and regulations 
shall be submitted to the Congressional Oversight Committee for approval. 
SEC. 65. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Use Act.-
There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of 
seven (7) members from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural 
Resources and seven (7) members from the House of Representatives 
Committees on Natural Resources and Housing and Urban Development. The 
members from the Senate shall be appointed by the Senate President based on 
proportional representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least two 
(2) senators representing the minority. The members from the House of 
Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker also based on proportional 
representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least two (2) members 
representing the minority. 
47 


The secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the 
existing secretariat personnel o(the committees comprising the oversight and 
the funding shall be taken from the appropriations of both the House of 
Representatives and the Senate. 
SEC. 66. Appropriations.-
The appropriations for the National Land 
Use Committee under the National Economic and Development Authority in the 
General Appropriations Act shall be used to carry out the initial operations of 
the Land Use Policy Council. Thereafter, additional sums as may be necessary 
for the full implementation of LUPC's functions shall be included in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 67. Review of Existing Land Use Plans.-
Provinces, cities, and 
municipalities with existing land use plans shall review, revise, reconcile, and 
harmonize the same with the guidelines and standards set forth under this Act 
within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. 
SEC. 68. Repealing Clause.- All republic acts, executive orders, rules 
and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Republic Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 69. 
Non-impairment Clause.-
Nothing in this Act shall be 
construed as to diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or 
available to marginalized or basic sectors under existing laws including but not 
limited to Republic Act Nos. 7279, 6657, 8371, and 8550. 
SEC. 70. Separability Clause.- If for any reason or reasons, any part 
or provision of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or 
invalid other parts or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 71. Effectivity Clause.-
This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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