Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session

7425

House Bill No.

Introduced by the Honorable RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program, was legislated primarily to institute a Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program 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. 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.

The same law also limits all persons to own or retain a total of five (5) hectares
of land only, while allowing the landowner to award three (3) hectares to each child.
This provision has led to much confusion regarding the implementation of the law
upon the matter. Numerous conflicts as well as differing interpretations have arisen
as a result of misunderstanding the letter of the law. In any case, the land retained
will be used for agricultural purposes, mainly for bolstering national food security;
and will also protect the interest of small landowners who are able to purchase the
land through their own blood, sweat, and tears, or through their own savings,
investment, or retirement money as the case may be.

This House Bill seeks to simplify Republic Act No. 6657 by deleting the
qualifications for the transfer of awarded land to other persons. This is to ensure
uniformity in owning and retaining land for persons, while still protecting the
interests of agrarian reform beneficiaries.

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

na.
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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Seventeenth Congress
Second Regular Session
7425

House Bill No.

Introduced by the Honorable RENE L. RELAMPAGOS
First District, Bohol

AN ACT
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 6 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6657, AS
AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE COMPREHENSIVE
AGRARIAN REFORM LAW OF 1988

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to espouse a
more equitable distribution and ownership of land, with due regard to the rights of
landowners to just compensation, retention rights under Section 6 of Republic Act
No. 6657, as amended, and to the ecological needs of the nation, to provide farmers
and farmworkers with the opportunity to enhance their dignity and improve the
quality of their lives through greater productivity of agricultural lands.

To this end, the State is likewise guided by the principles that land has a social
function and land ownership has a social responsibility.

SEC. 2. Section 6 of Republic Act No. 6657, as amended, otherwise known as the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, is hereby further amended to read as
follows:

“Section 6. Retention Limits. - Except as otherwise provided in this
Act, no person may own or retain, directly or indirectly, any public or
private agricultural land, the size of which shall vary according to
factors governing a viable family-size farm, such as commodity
produced, terrain, infrastructure, and soil fertility as determined by the
Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) created hereunder, but
in no case shall retention by the landowner exceed five (5) hectares. A
MAXIMUM OF [T] three (3) hectares may be awarded to each child
of the landowner [subject to the following qualifications: (1)
that he is at least fifteen (15) years of age; | and (2) that he is
actually tilling the land or directly managing the farm:] ON
THE CONDITION THAT THE LAND SHALL BE USED FOR
AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES ONLY, provided, that landowners
whose lands have been covered by Presidential Decree No. 27 shall be
allowed to keep the areas originally retained by them thereunder:
provided, further, that original homestead grantees or their direct
compulsory heirs who still own the original homestead at the time of
the approval of this Act shall retain the same areas as long as they
continue to cultivate said homestead.


be a 4

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within thirty (30) days from
the approval of this Act, the Department of Agrarian Reform shall issue the necessary
Implementing Rules and Regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Repeating Clause. - All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, issuances,
and rules and regulations or parts thereof which are contrary to and inconsistent with
this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 5. 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. 6. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or the Official
Gazette.

Approved,