Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound 
agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full 
and efficient use of human and natural resources, and which are competitive in 
both domestic and foreign markets. In pursuit of these goals, all sectors of the 
economy and all regions of the country shall be given optimum opportunity to 
develop. 
Thus, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to enable those who belong to 
the agriculture and fisheries sectors to participate and share in the fruits of 
development and growth in a manner that utilizes the nations resources in the 
most efficient and sustainable way possible by establishing a more equitable 
access to assets, income, basic and support services and infrastructure. 
This House Bill seeks to promote food security, including sufficiency in cur staple 
food shall be optimized to meet our local consumption and shall be given adequate 
support by the State. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO Ph.D.   
July 1, 2022 
10:57 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____
 
Introduced by Honorable Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 11 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO.8345 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES 
MODERNIZATION ACT OF 1997", INCREASING ITS PENALTIES 
AND SANCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress 
Assembled: 
SECTION 1. DECLARATION OF POLICY 
Section 11 of Republic Act No. 8345 is hereby amended to read: 
Section 11. Penalty for Agricultural Inactivity and Premature 
Conversion. Any person or juridical entity who knowingly or 
deliberately causes any irrigated agricultural lands seven (7) 
hectares or larger, whether contiguous for not, within the protected 
areas for agricultural development, as specified under Section 6 in 
relation to Section 9 of this Act, to lie idle and unproductive for a 
period exceeding one (1) year, unless due to force majeure, shall be 
subject to an idle land tax of One hundred thousand Pesos 
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(P100,000.00) per hectare per year. In addition, the violator, shall 
be required to put back such lands to productive agricultural use. 
Should the continued agricultural inactivity, unless due to force 
majeure, exceed a period of two (2) years, the land shall be subject 
to escheat proceedings. 
Any person found guilty of premature or illegal conversion shall be 
penalized with imprisonment of two (2) to six (6) years, or a fine 
equivalent to one hundred percent (100%) of the government's 
investment cost, or both, at the discretion of the court, and an 
accessory penalty of forfeiture of the land and any improvement 
thereon. 
SECTION 2. MISCELLANEOUS SANCTIONS 
In addition, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall impose the following 
penalties, after determining, in an administrative proceeding, that violation of 
this law has been committed: 
a. 
Consolation or withdrawal of the authorization for land use 
conversion; and 
b. 
Blacklisting, or automatic disapproval of pending and 
subsequent conversion applications that they may file with the DAR. 
SECTION 3. REPEALING CLAUSE. All laws, executive orders, issuances, 
rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 4. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. If, for any reason or reasons, any 
portion or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the 


remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
effect. 
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) 
days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,