SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SE
S. No.
m
o
S e n a te
'16 
OEC-1 
A10 ’47
R i C £ i V L O  B V ;
Introduced by Senator Richard “ D ick” J. Gordon
AN ACT REMOVING THE RESTRICTIONS IN THE REGISTRATION OF LAND 
TITLES UNDER SECTIONS 118 AND 119 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 141 OR 
THE PUBLIC LAND ACT, AS AMENDED, ON FREE PATENTS ISSUED UNDER
SECTION 44 THEREOF
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The majority of the poor in rural areas depend on agriculture for their primary 
livelihood and source of income. Agriculture can play a key role in reducing poverty. Yet 
in 2015, agriculture barely grew at 0.2%. To create more jobs in rural areas and 
enhance agricultural productivity, reforms need to be put in place, such as improving the 
security of property rights in a constricted rural land market.
An estimate of 2,000,000 agricultural free patents have been issued in the last 25 
years. Agricultural free patents are land grants to Filipino farmers who are in possession 
or cultivation of such land and have paid taxes thereon for at least 30 years under 
Commonwealth Act No. 141 or the Public Land Act, as amended.
Those who hold agricultural free patents are farmer entrepreneurs and they are 
restricted from mortgaging or selling their land within five years from the issuance of the 
patent. Another restriction on agricultural free patents is that upon conveyance, the 
original owner is allowed to repurchase the land within five years. Due to the restrictions 
on agricultural free patents under the Public Land Act, these agricultural land titles 
become non-tradeable and non-bankable.
This bill thus proposes to remove the restrictions on agricultural free patents 
under the Public Land Act to make these agricultural land titles immediately tradeable 
and bankable, provide farmer entrepreneurs much-needed access to credit, and create 
capital to make investments, create jobs, increase productivity, and reduce poverty in 
rural areas.
ICHARCn^DICK” J. GORDON
Senator


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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S. No. 
1260
of tlif fertrrt«rj»
'16 
OEC-1 
A10 *17
H£C£1Vl0  B*.';
Introduced by Senator Richard “ D ick” J. G ordon
AN ACT REMOVING THE RESTRICTIONS IN THE REGISTRATION OF LAND 
TITLES UNDER SECTIONS 118 AND 119 OF COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 141 OR 
THE PUBLIC LAND ACT, AS AMENDED, ON FREE PATENTS ISSUED UNDER
SECTION 44 THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. -  This Act shall be known as the “Agricultural Free 
Patent Reform Act.”
Sec. 2. Removal o f Restrictions. -  Agricultural public lands alienated or disposed 
in favor of qualified public land applicants under Section 44 of Commonwealth Act No. 
141 or the Public Land Act, as amended, shall not be subject to restrictions regarding 
encumbrances, conveyances, transfers, or dispositions imposed under Sections 118 
and 119 of Commonwealth Act No. 141 or the Public Land Act, as amended.
Sec. 3. Retroactive Effect. -  This Act shall have retroactive effect and restrictions 
regarding encumbrances, conveyances, transfers, or dispositions imposed under 
Sections 118 and 119 of Commonwealth Act No. 141 or the Public Land Act, as 
amended, on free patents issued under Section 44 thereof before the effectivity of this 
Act shall likewise be removed and are hereby immediately lifted.
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. -  All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or 
other issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. -  If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
Sec. 6. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following the 
completion of its publication either in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general 
circulation in the Philippines.
Approved,