Page 1 of 3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 717
Introduced by REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to convert into alienable and disposable land that portion within the former 
1 
concessional area of Paper Industry Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP Resources, Inc.), in 
2 
the City of Bislig and in the Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina, Province of Surigao 
3 
del Sur, actually tilled and occupied by farmer-settlers, in preparation of its eventual distribution 
4 
to the bona fide and long-term farmers/ occupants. 
5 
6 
The subject land is classified as forest land. However, farmers have gradually settled on the land, 
7 
planting vegetables, fruit trees, bananas, root crops and raising livestock. These farmers have 
8 
developed certain areas of the forest land into an agricultural land. It is high time for these areas 
9 
to be formally classified into alienable and disposable agricultural land and its tenant-farmers be 
10 
recognized as legitimate owners. It is about time to allow them the gift of ownership over lands 
11 
that they have nurtured for so long. 
12 
13 
Furthermore, our present constitution recognizes the rights of farmers, who are landless, to own 
14 
the lands that they plough pursuant to Section 4, Article XIII of the same. 
15 
16 
The approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
17 
REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
July 1, 2025
8:23 am


Page 2 of 3 
Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Constitution Hills, Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 717
Introduced by REP. ALEXANDER T. PIMENTEL 
AN ACT 
TO RECLASSIFY A DEVELOPED PORTION OF FOREST LAND UNDER CONCESSION 
WITH PICOP, LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BISLIG AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF 
HINATUAN, LINGIG, AND TAGBINA, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR INTO 
ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LAND OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN FOR THE PURPOSE 
OF DISTRIBUTING THE SAME TO BONA FIDE AND LONG TERM FARMERS/ 
OCCUPANTS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 
Section 1. The portion of forest lands within the concessional area of Paper Industry Corporation 
1 
of the Philippines (PICOP), in the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina, 
2 
Province of Surigao del Sur, which is actually tileld and occupied by farmer-settlers, is hereby 
3 
reclassified and declared as alienable and disposable land. 
4 
5 
Section 2.  The aforementioned lands shall be distributed in ownership to bona fide and long-term 
6 
farmers/ occupants thereon, but the existing creeks in the same area shall be given in usufruct to 
7 
their respective municipalities; Provided, that the said bona fide and long-term farmers/ 
8 
occupants may manage and develop the said creeks upon payment by them of reasonable 
9 
compensation to the City and/or Municipalities concerned. 
10 
11 
Section 3. The scheme of distribution of the land, including the identities of the bona fide and 
12 
long-term farmers/ occupants thereon, shall be prepared by a Committee which shall be 
13 
composed of the following: a representative of the Department of Environmental and Natural 
14 
Resources as Chairperson, a representative of the Department of Agrarian Reform as Vice-
15 
Chairperson, the Mayors of the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina, 
16 
the Head of farmers’ organization, and the Provincial Director of the Philippine National Police 
17 
as Members. The scheme of distribution shall include the technical description of each lot 
18 
pertaining to each of the farmers/ occupants, following the boundaries of existing social forestry 
19 
stewardship and/or similar contracts that may have been awarded in their favor: Provided, that 
20 
said scheme of distribution shall be equitable as possible without gross disparities among the 
21 
awardees. 
22 
23 
Conflicts shall be decided by the Committee after due hearing, appealable to the Department 
24 
Secretary under whose jurisdiction the issue involved falls. The Secretary’s decision or order on 
25 


Page 3 of 3 
appeal may be subject to a petition for review by the Office of the President within fifteen (15) 
1 
days from promulgation of notice of the decision appealed from; Provided, that said petition for 
2 
review shall be decided within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof; otherwise, the decision or the 
3 
order appealed from shall be deemed ratified and final. 
4 
 
5 
Section 4. Once the scheme of distribution is approved by the Committee, the Department of 
6 
Environment and Natural Resources shall give the technical descriptions, survey, map and 
7 
similar documents to the DAR, which shall undertake the actual distribution of the land under 
8 
the principles of agrarian reform and the applicable provisions of the Comprehensive Agrarian 
9 
Reform Law and other related laws. 
10 
 
11 
Section 5. The existing creeks in the area shall be plotted, surveyed and segregated from the other 
12 
portions of the area by the DENR, and shall be given in usufruct to the City of Bislig, 
13 
Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina. The Mayor of the concerned municipality and 
14 
the Head of the organization of the farmer-beneficiaries shall meet to discuss and determine the 
15 
reasonable compensation to be paid to the City for the management and development thereof by 
16 
said beneficiaries. In case of disagreement, the Head of the DENR Regional Office shall decide. 
17 
 
18 
Section 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazettee 
19 
or in at least two (2) national newspaper of the general circulation. 
20 
 
Approved,