Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4479

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Based on Republic Act 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of
1988, the Council is composed of the President of the Philippines as Chairman,
the Secretary of Agrarian Reform as Vice-Chairman and the following as
members; Secretaries of the Departments of Agriculture: Environment and
Natural Resources; Budget and Management; Local Government: Public Works
and Highways; Trade and Industry: Finance; Labor and Employment.

Also included in the council are the Director-General of the National Economic
and Development Authority: President, Land Bank of the Philippines:
Administrator, National Irrigation Administration; and three {3} representatives of
affected landowners fo represent Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao; six (6)
representatives of agrarian reform beneficiaries, two (2) each from Luzon,
Visayas and Mindanao, provided that one of them shall be from the cultural
communities.

On the status of ownership of land by farmers, Mariano said nine out of 10
farmers do not own the land that they till.

As of December 2015, the DAR has distributed 4.7 million hectares but this
comprises only ten (10%) percent of the total number of hectares that still have
to be awarded to farmer-beneficiaries.


The problems of farmers, however, does not stop at receiving land because
there are other issues and payments that have to be considered such as land
amortization and real property tax.

There are flaws and loopholes in the existing agrarian reform law, but these will
continue to be implemented.

The state must prioritize the inventory of lands that still have to be distributed,
properties that were already turned over to farmer-beneficiaries, among others.

The state will also initiate a review of resolutions, exemptions, cancellation of
land fitles, emancipation patterns as well as agribusiness venture agreements,

The biggest challenge is the resistance of land owners.
The Department of Agrarian reform (DAR) started distributing government

owned lands, large tracts of private owned lands have yet to be reviewed
under the DAR laws,

Thus. the early passage of this bill is eamesily requested,

‘LL. ROMERO Ph.D


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

44°79

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. Michael L. Romero

AN ACT CREATING THE NATIONAL LAND REFORM AUTHORITY,
DEFINING ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the
Philippines in congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “National Land
Reform Authority Act of 2016."

SECTION 2. Creation of the National Land Reform Authority - There is
hereby created a National Land Reform Authority, hereinafter which shall be

composed of the following:

* Administrator of the Land Authority, who shall act as Chairman;

* Administrator of the Agricultural Credit Administration;

* Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Land Bank of the
Philippines (LBP);

* Commissioner of the Agricultural Productivity Commission;

* Amember appointed by the President upon recommendation; and


* Agrarian Counsel (legal services)

The Chairman shall convoke the Council as its responsibilities are enumerated

herein, and shall preside over its meetings.

SECTION 3. Declaration of Policy - Ii shall be the duty of Ihe members to
attend any meeting of the Council upon the call of the Chairman. In case of
inability, a member may require the officer next in rank in his agency to attend
the meeting on his behalt,

A majority vote of the members present if there is a quorum shall be necessary

for the approval of a resolution. Upon such approval the resolution shall be final
and binding upon all members of the Council and their respective agencies
insofar as their functions, powers and duties required under this Act are

concerned.

The refusal of any member to implement any resolution or part thereof falling
within the scope of the powers granted to his agency shall be sufficient ground
for the President of the Philippines to remove said member from office or to

impose upon him disciplinary or administrative sanctions.

SECTION 4, Powers and Functions of the National Land Reform Authority

It shall be the responsibility of the Council to:

(1) To construct the general program of land reform contemplated by this
Act;


(2) To establish guidelines, plans and policies for ils member-agencies

relative to any particular land reform project:

(3) To formulate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry

out the provisions of this Act for:

(a) the selection of agricultural land to be acquired and distributed

under this Act;

(b) the determination of sizes of family farms as defined;

(c) the selection of beneficiaries to family farms available for

distribution: Provided, That priority shall be given in the following

order:

First, 10 members of the immediate family of the former
owner of the land within the fist degree of
consanguinity who will cultivate the land personally
with the gid of labor available within his farm

household;

Second, to the actual occupants personally c

livating
the land either as agricultural lessees or otherwise wilh

respect to the area under their cultivation;

Third, to farmers falling under the preceding category
who are cultivating uneconomic-size farms with respect
to idle or abandoned lands;


* Fourth, to owner-operators of uneconomic-size farms;

and

* Fifth, to such other categories as may be fixed by virlue
of this Act, taking into consideration the needs and
qualifications of the applicants.

(4) To revise, approve, or reject any land reform proposal or project; and

(5) To proclaim in accordance with the provisions of this Act. which

proclamation shall be considered as having been promulgated
immediately after three successive weekly publications in al least two
newspapers of general circulation in the region or locality affected by the

proclamation, preference being given lo local newspapers,

if any, that all the government machineries and agencies in any region or

locality relating to leasehold envisioned in this Act are operating

Provided, That the conversion to leasehold in the proclaimed area shall
become effective at the beginning of the next succeeding agricultural

year after such promulgation:

Provided, further, That the proclamation shall be made after having
considered factors affecting feasibility and fund requirements and the
other factors.


SECTION 5. Appropriation - There is hereby authorized 10 appropriate the
necessary funds to carry-out into effect the provisions of this act. Therefore the

budget shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. All laws, executive orders, issuances, rules
and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. If, for any reason or reasons, any portion
or provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining

provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,