., 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2414 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
f' (//, . 
\J 
The coconut industry is a top dollar earner chalking $900 million to about $1 
billion, and a potential annual earner of $2 billion if rehabilitated. As a dollar 
earner, the coconut and all its by-products surpass other export products, as it 
requires no import casts. In fact, the Philippines is one of the world's biggest 
exporters of coconut oil, which is either used for food or other industries. 
Unfortunately, unstable trends in production and world market prices lead 
observers to view the industry as a sunset industry, which will eventually die and 
stop bringing income to those who depend on it for a living. The number one 
problem is the dwindling supply of coconut. 
Coconut trees are cut down for 
lumber, while some cocolands are being converted to avoid the operation of land 
reform. Thus, the marginal coconut farmer is now in quandary. Most of them are 
seriously thinking of selling their cocolands, or of converting it, and leaving 
coconut farming in favor of promising opportunities in other areas of endeavor. 
Hence, it is incumbent upon Congress to address these conditions afflicting the 
coconut industry, which comprises a substantial sector of Philippine agriculture 
and a major source of our export earnings. 
This bill seeks, therefore, to alleviate the present condition of the coconut 
industry and ensure its continuity and substantially by classifying it as last priority 
for coverage in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the government 
so as not to discourage coconut farmers in investing further in coconut farming. 
This measure also provides for a stricter or higher penalty for violations of the 
prohibited acts and omission under Republic Act No. 6657. 
Early approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 2414 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER SIX 
THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN (R.A. 6657), AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM 
LAW OF 1998", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 7 of Republic Act Numbered Six Thousand Six Hundred 
Fifty Seven (R.A 6657), as amended, otherwise known as the "Comprehensive 
Agrarian Reform Law of 1998" is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 7. Priority. - The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in 
coordination with the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) 
shall plan and program the acquisition and distribution of all 
agricultural lands through a period of ten (10) years from effectivity 
of this Act. Land shall be acquired and distributed as follows: 
Phase One: Rice and corn lands under Presidential Decree No. 27; 
All idle or abandoned lands; all private lands voluntarily offered by 
the owners for agrarian reform; all lands foreclosed by government 
financial institutions; all 
lands acquired by the presidential 
Commission on Good Government (PCGG); and all other lands 
owned by the government devoted to or suitable for agriculture, 
which shall be acquired and distributed immediately upon the 
effectivity of this Act, with the implementation to be completed 
within 
the 
period 
of 
not 
more 
than 
four 
(4) 
years. 
Phase Two: all alienable and disposable public agriculture lands; all 
arable public agricultural lands under agro-forest, pasture and 
agricultural leases already cultivated and planted to crop in 
accordance with Article XIII of the Constitution; all public agricultural 
la(lds which are to be opened for new development and 
resettlement; and all private agricultural lands in excess of fifty (50) 
hectares, insofar as the excess hectarage is concerned, to 
. implement prinCipally the rights of farmers and regular farm 
workers, who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands 
they till, which shall be distributed immediately upon the effectivity 
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SEC 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held to be 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act not otherwise be affected and shall 
remain in full force and effect. 
SEC 4. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, rules and regulations, or any part 
thereof i~consistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect thirty (30) days after its 
complete publication in two (2) national newspapers of general circulation or in 
the Official gazette. 
Approved, 
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