Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Each year, a large amount of the country’s agricultural land is irrevocably converted from 
actual or potential agricultural use to non-agricultural use.  This is further aggravated by 
conflicting government programs and policies regarding land use and development.  
The continued decrease in the country’s agricultural land base threatens the ability of the 
country to produce food and fiber in sufficient quantities to meet domestic needs.  In addition, 
the extensive use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes undermines the economic 
base of many rural areas.  Yet there is no law which requires the Secretary of Agrarian Reform 
and the Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress data relative to the conversion of 
agricultural land to non-agricultural uses.  
This bill provides for a reporting requirement on the rate at which agricultural land is converted 
to non-agricultural uses, and a review of existing government policies and procedures on 
agricultural land conversion, including an evaluation of the compatibility of government policies 
on land conversion with development plans at the national and local levels.  The ultimate 
objective of this bill is not only to protect agricultural land, but to minimize graft and corruption 
in agricultural land conversion due to conflicting laws, policies and administrative activities of 
government agencies. 
LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR. 
MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE 
TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. HORIBATA 
NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
August 31, 2022
10:50 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ____ 
Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,  
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G. 
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS “NICK” C. ENCISO VIII 
AN ACT  
PROVIDING STRONGER MEASURES TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND 
AND REGULATE ITS CONVERSION FOR NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Agricultural Land 
Preservation Act.” 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to minimize the 
unnecessary and irreversible conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, 
and ensure that national government policies and programs administered and 
implemented for the protection of agricultural land  are compatible with the 
development plans of the local government units (LGUs). 
SEC. 3. Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-Agricultural Uses. – The 
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) shall, 
in coordination with the national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs, develop 
criteria for identifying the effects of government programs on the conversion of 
agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes and undertake the following measures: 
(a)
Identify the adverse effects of government policies and programs and programs
on the preservation of agricultural land;
(b)
Consider alternative actions, as appropriate, to lessen such adverse effects; and
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(c)  Ensure that the policies  and programs of the National Government for the 
preservation of agricultural lands are practicable and compatible with the 
development plans of the LGUs.  
For purposes of this Act, agricultural land refers to land devoted to the cultivation of 
the soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, raising of livestock, poultry or fish, and 
other farm activities and practices performed by a farmer in conjunction with farming 
operations done by persons whether natural or juridical. 
 
SEC. 4. Availability of Restorative Information. – The DAR and the DA shall provide 
other NGAs, LGUs, organizations, and individuals all the necessary and available 
information that are pertinent to the restoration, maintenance and improvement of the 
quantity and quality of agricultural land.  
 
SEC. 5. Review of Existing Policies and Procedures. – The DAR and the DA shall, 
in coordination with the NGAs and LGUs, conduct a regular review of existing laws 
and policies, administrative rules and regulations to determine whether the existing 
provisions are in accordance with the provisions of this Act and, whenever necessary, 
develop proposals and take appropriate action to bring government policies, programs 
and administrative activities into conformity to the purpose of this Act.  
 
SEC. 6. Technical Assistance. – The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the 
Secretary of Agriculture and other department secretaries shall, whenever 
appropriate, provide technical assistance to LGUs which intend to develop policies or 
programs that regulate the conversion of prime agricultural land to non-agricultural 
uses. 
 
SEC. 7. Agricultural Land Resource Information. – The Secretary of Agrarian 
Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, in cooperation with other departments 
and agencies of the government, design and implement educational programs and 
materials emphasizing the importance of prime agricultural land to the country’s well-
being and distribute educational materials through mass media, schools, 
organizations, and other government agencies.  
 


 
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SEC. 8. Reportorial Requirement. – The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall submit an annual report to the Congress of the 
Philippines, through the Committee on Agrarian Reform of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform of the 
Senate of the Philippines, on the progress and its compliance with the provisions of 
this Act on or before January 31 of every year.  
The annual report shall include an update and information on the effects, if any, of 
government programs and administrative activities relevant to the preservation of 
agricultural land; results of the reviews on existing policies and procedures required 
under Section 5 of this Act and action taken to ensure its observance; and statistical 
data on agricultural land conversion to non-agricultural uses.  
 
SEC. 9. Limitations. – This Act does not authorize the government to regulate the 
use of private agricultural land and affect the property rights of owners of such land; 
none of the provisions or other requirements of this Act shall apply to the acquisition 
or use of agricultural land for national defense purposes.  
 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. – If any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force 
and effect. 
   
SEC. 11.  Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
Approved,