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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5501

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ACCEPTANCE, PROCESSING, AND
APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR LAND USE CONVERSION OF
AGRICULTURAL LANDS, IRRIGATED LANDS, AND IRRIGABLE
LANDS TO NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In 1996, the World Food Summit defined food security as the state
“when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to
sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and
food preferences for an active and healthy life.”! To achieve this goal, it is
indispensable that sufficient land resources are protected and available in
order to produce sufficient food for the nation.

One of the legal instruments designed to achieve food security is
Republic Act No. 6657 (hereinafter referred to as “CARP”). Further, it was
instituted to promote social justice and to move the nation toward sound
rural development and industrialization, and the establishment of owner
cultivatorship of economic-size farms as the basis of Philippine
agriculture.

Rodriguez, Fritzie. (2015, September 01) “How food security threatens us.” Retrieved
from _http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/51726-food-security-philippines; last
accessed on 10 January 2016.



With this program, farmers are expected to own land which they
can till to uplift their socio-economic status in life, while providing
adequate food for our countrymen. However, the same law allows for the
reclassification or conversion of agricultural land and its disposition
should the land cease to be economically feasible and sound for
agricultural purposes after the lapse of five (5) years, or if the same has
become more urbanized and will be more economically valuable for
residential, commercial, or industrial purposes.

Asa result, prime agricultural lands, as well as irrigated or irrigable
lands, have been adversely affected by rampant and unchecked
conversions. This has led to a disturbing threat not only against our
country’s food security, but to the whole agrarian reform program as well.

The obligation of the State is to ensure food security and to promote
social justice. This House Bill is being filed to protect our remaining prime
agricultural lands and irrigated and irrigable lands, while maintaining,
and hopefully strengthening, our present level of food security.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this Bill isfearnestly sought.

PANTALEON

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5501

Introduced by
REPRESENTATIVE PANTALEON D. ALVAREZ

AN ACT
PROHIBITING THE ACCEPTANCE, PROCESSING, AND
APPROVAL OF APPLICATIONS FOR LAND USE CONVERSION OF
AGRICULTURAL LANDS, IRRIGATED LANDS, AND IRRIGABLE
LANDS TO NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES

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

SEC. 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to
promote industrialization, full employment based on sound agricultural
development and agrarian reform, and to achieve food security for the
people. To this end, the State shall protect irrigated and irrigable land
resources from rampant and reckless reclassification into non-agricultural
processes. Further, the State shall likewise protect the welfare of the
farmers and fisherfolk who are valuable elements toward food security
and sufficiency of the country.

SEC. 2. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the
following terms shall be defined as:

(2.1.) Irrigated Land - Refers to land serviced by natural

irrigation or irrigation facilities. This includes lands where water is
not readily available because existing irrigation facilities need

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rehabilitation or upgrading or where irrigation water is not
available year-round.

(2.2.) Inrigable Land - Refers to land displaying marked
characteristics justifying the operation of an irrigation system.

(2.3.) Prime Agricultural Land - Refers to land that can be
used for various or specific agricultural activities and can provide
optimum and sustainable yield with minimum inputs and
development costs.

(2.4.) Processing and Approval - Refers to the processing and
approval of the application for land use conversion with the
Department of Agrarian Reform for conversion of agricultural land
to non-agricultural purposes.

SEC. 3. Prohibition on Conversion of Prime Agricultural Lands,
Irrigated Lands, and Irrigable Lands. - A prohibition is herein imposed
on the acceptance, processing, and approval of application for conversion
of irrigated, irrigable, and prime agricultural lands to non-agricultural
uses, such as: residential, commercial, or industrial in the entire
Philippines upon the effectivity of this Act.

SEC. 4. Effect of the Prohibition. - No application for conversion
shall be accepted, processed, and approved by the Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR) or any of its offices nationwide during the effect
of the prohibition. Conversions made within the period referred to in Sec.
3 of this Act shall be null and void.

SEC. 7. Penalty Provision. - Public officials or employees who
violate the provisions of this Act shall be punished with imprisonment of
not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of
not less than Three Hundred Thousand Pesos (P300,000.00) but not more
than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00)

Further, they shall be removed from service and shall suffer the
penalty of perpetual absolute disqualification. Private persons who act in
conspiracy with public officers and/or employees shall likewise be
punished under this Section.

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SEC. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations, decrees,
and issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this Act is
held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions which are not affected
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DAR shall
promulgate the rules and regulations for the implementation of this Act
after its effectivity.

SEC. 11. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
days after its publication in the Official Gazette or at least two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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