NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE —)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

2076

HOUSE BILL wwo_297

Introduced by Representative JAIME EDUARDO MARC D. COJUANGCO,

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the last few years, we have seen an over reliance on food
importations. The problem is that the bulk of these food imports are
raw agricultural products like rice, fruits, vegetables, meat and

poultry.

Part of the reason for this is the shrinking of agricultural lands.
The country used to have 14.74 million hectares of land devoted to
agriculture back in 1995. It has declined to 13.32 million hectares in
2018, resulting in lower farm output across different commodities.!
Moreover, the more productive agricultural lands are the ones which
have since been converted to other use.

With this, our country’s agricultural production cannot insure
self-reliance. National food security becomes a continuing concern,

This bill seeks to provide stronger measures to preserve
agricultural land and regulate its conversion for non-agricultural
purposes. It tasks the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the
Department of Agriculture (DA) to coordinate with the national
government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs to develop criteria for
identifying the effects of government programs on the conversion
of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes.

For this purpose, the said agencies should undertake identify
the adverse effects of government policies and programs and
programs on the preservation of agricultural land. They should
consider alternative actions, as appropriate, to lessen such adverse
effects, Also, they should 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.

With this proposed measure, the unnecessary and irreversible
conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses will be
minimized. National food security may be ensured.

* httos://mb, com. pl/2020/08/04/lands-devoted-to-farming-shrink-to-13-32-m-hectares/


For the foregoing reasons, the immediate consideration and
approval of this bill, which was House Bill No. 10303 in the previous
Congress, is earnestly urged.

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JAIME EDUARDO MARC D. COJUANGCO
Representative
1" District of Tarlac


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NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE — )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )

~ 2076

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representative JAIME EDUARDO MARC D. COJUANGCO

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
‘Agricultural Land Preservation Act of 2022’.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Itis declared 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).

SECTION 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


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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

(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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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


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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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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
matcrials 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.

SECTION 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



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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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 10. Separability. - If for any reason, any section or
provision of this Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, no other
section, provisions or part thereof shall be affected and the same shall
remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 11. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen
(15) days after its publication in at least two (2) national newspapers

of general circulation.


APPROVED.