HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BillNo.__ 4813

Introduced by: REP. JOSELITO “JONJON” R. MENDOZA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In these fast changing times, it is highly noticeable that both commercial and
industrial developments vastly plague the rural areas. In Luzon alone, these are evident
in the provinces of Laguna, Batangas, Bulacan and Pampanga, wherein residential
subdivisions, industrial parks and commercial areas co-exist with competing land users
~the residents, farmers and fishermen.

While these changes and developments are adopted by the people, priority
programs for food production, reforestation, and overall rural development are put in the
shadow.

Currently, the power to reclassify land solely rests on the discretion of the city or
municipality through an ordinance passed by the Sanggunian. However, this power was
never subject to review or ratification. When in fact, Memorandum Circular No. 54!
provides for the review and approval of the province on all ordinances authorizing
reclassification of agricultural lands in the case of component city or municipality, and
that of the HLURB in case of highly urbanized or independent city. This bill seeks to
amend Section 20 of the Local Government Code of the Philippines, by providing for the
review and ratification of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan or that of the HLURB on the
approved ordinance of a municipality or city authorizing land reclassification,
respectively. The required ratification shall be the key to the province’s check and
balance in ensuring the true intent and purpose of land reclassification, weeding away
irresponsible and unscrupulous conversion of irrigated and irrigable agricultural lands. It
shall also be the safeguarding measure on our country’s food production and natural
resources. This bill also intends to uphold the province's overall rural development.
After all, it is the provincial government that creates and shapes the identity of its
province and of its people

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

‘epresentative
Third District, Province of Bulacan

* Signed by Pres. Fidel V. Ramos on June 8, 1993.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES }
3S.
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. B. No. 48143

BY REPRESENTATIVE JOSELITO “JONJON” R. MENDOZA

AN ACT TO PROTECT ALL AGRICULTURAL LANDS FROM IRRESPONSIBLE,
NEGLIGENT AND ARBITRARY LAND RECLASSIFICATION, AMENDING SECTION
20 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CODE, FOR THIS PURPOSE.

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

SECTION 1. Short
Ratification Act of 2011.

- This Act shall be known as the “Land Reclassification

SECTION 2. Amendments to Republic Act No. 7160. - Section 20 of Republic Act
No.7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code, is hereby amended to read
as follows:

Section 20. Reclassification of Lands. - (a) A city or municipality may,
through an ordinance passed by the sanggunian after conducting public
hearings for the purpose, authorize the reclassification of agricultural lands
and provide for the manner of their utilization or disposition in the following
cases: (1) when the land ceases to be economically feasible and sound
for agricultural purposes as determined by the Department of Agriculture
or (2) where the land shall have substantially greater economic value for
residential, commercial, or industrial purposes, as determined by the
sanggunian concerned: Provided, That such reclassification shall be
limited to the following percentage of the total agricultural land area at the
time of the passage of the ordinance:

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

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

(3) (3) For fourth to sixth class municipalities, five percent (5%):
Provided, further, That agricultural lands distributed to agrarian
reform beneficiaries pursuant to Republic Act Numbered Sixty-six
hundred fifty-seven (R.A. No. 6657), otherwise known as “The
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law", shall not be affected by the
said reclassification and the conversion of such lands into other
purposes shall be governed by Section 65 of said Act.


PROVIDED FURTHER, THAT THE APPROVED ORDINANCE OF THE
SANGGUNIAN OF THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY GRANTING SUCH
RECLASSIFICATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW AND
RATIFICATION OF THE PROVINCE IN THE CASE OF COMPONENT
CITY OR MUNICIPALITY, OR BY THE HOUSING AND LAND USE
REGULATORY BOARD (HLURB) IN THE CASE OF HIGHLY
URBANIZED OR INDEPENDENT COMPONENT CITY.

SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended
or modified accordingly.

SECTION 4. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days

following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,