Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL LAND USE POLICY, PROVIDING THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines, as an archipelagic nation, has a vast and substantial amount of 
natural resources at its disposal to benefit generations of Filipino people. With a total land 
area of 298,170 km2 (29,817,000 hectares),1 and a total forest cover of 7,226,394 
hectares2 as of 2020, the Philippines has a rich bank of natural resources which should 
be managed properly as an instrument of economic development with due regard to 
environmental sustainability and the realities of climate change.  
Because of the unique location in the Philippines, our country is more vulnerable 
to typhoons and devastating earthquakes. In July 2022, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake 
struck the northern Philippines, leaving five dead and causing millions in damages, 
including the unquantifiable destruction wrought to historical structures in the area.3 More 
recently in October 2022, typhoon Paeng devastated 16 out of the 17 regions in the 
country,4 with four regions (Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and BARMM) declared 
1 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.TOTL.K2?locations=PH (date last accessed on November 5, 2022). 
2 Philippine Forestry Statistics. DENR. Available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V2JS74-DPvMc4A8r3AJwrMDoAmXptI9f/view 
date last accessed on November 5, 2022). 
3 July 28, 2022. Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes Philippines; at least 5 dead. Reuters. Available at https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-
pacific/magnitude-72-earthquake-strikes-luzon-philippines-emsc-2022-07-27/ (date last accessed: November 5, 2022). 
4 
October 
30, 
2022. 
‘Paeng’ 
leaves 
’16 
of 
17 
regions 
at 
high 
risk.’ 
Manila 
Times. 
Available 
at 
https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/10/30/news/paeng-leaves-16-of-17-regions-at-high-risk/1864337 (date last accessed: November 
5, 2022). 
March 29, 2023
11:03 am
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under a state of calamity for a period of six months.5 Indeed, these natural calamities 
continue to result in billions of losses to lives and properties.   
This alarming development was further emphasized by the latest United Nations 
Environment Program (UNEP), which found that the Philippines is the third most vulnerable 
country in the world to destruction and losses brought about by climate change.6 According to the 
latest studies of the UNEP, between 1997 and 2016,  an average of 860 Filipinos die every year 
due to extreme weather-related phenomena, translating to one death for every pool of 100,000 
Filipinos.7  Further, this translates to total losses amounting to $2.89 billion annually.8 
The rate and utilization of our land continues to be adversely affected  by natural 
occurrences and other unforeseen catastrophes. Thus, it is imperative that the 
Philippines institute a proper system that will fully allow us to determine the propriety and 
viability of how the country makes use of its lands, taking into consideration economic, 
environmental and geological factors.  
This bill proposes the institutionalization of a national land use policy, with a view 
towards institutionalizing protections for our country’s agricultural lands and critical 
watersheds. Further, this bill mandates the creation of a National Land Use Council 
(NLUC), which shall serve as the central authority and policy-making body concerning 
utilization and designation of land in the country.  
This bill also mandates the crafting of the National Land Use Plan (NLUP), which 
shall serve as the general framework for determining plans and programs of the 
government for land utilization. The NLUP shall provide quantitative and qualitative 
parameters and spatial boundaries for allocation, usage and development of the 
country’s land and other natural resources.  
This bill also classifies land into four uses: 1) Protection Land Use; 2) Productive 
Land Use; 3) Settlements Development and 4) Infrastructure Development. Further, to 
incentivize local government units to update their land use plans, this bill introduces a 
system of awards and incentives to LGUs that comply with the requisite submission.  
In the face of environmental concerns, population growth and dwindling natural 
resources, a comprehensive and well-planned land use administration system is 
essential to protect the future of our people. Land use planning is essential for almost all 
social needs, such as housing, transportation, electricity and other utilities, employment 
opportunities and health care, among others.  
5
November 2, 2022. Marcos declares state of calamity in 4 regions hardest-hit by Paeng. Rappler. Available at 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-declares-state-calamity-regions-hardest-hit-paeng/ (date last accessed: November 5, 2022). 
6 April 14, 2019. Climate vulnerability of PHL, 19 other nations costs $62B more. Business Mirror. Available at 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/04/14/climate-vulnerability-of-phl-19-other-nations-costs-62b-more/ (date last accessed on 
November 5, 2022). 
7 Id. 
8 Id. 


Considering the foregoing, and as one of the priority measures of the Marcos Administration, 
the passage of this bill is of utmost importance. 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. ___ 
Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representative 
HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA 
AN ACT 
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL LAND USE POLICY, PROVIDING THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. –This Act shall be known as the “National Land Use Policy Act.” 
1 
2 
SEC. 2. Policies and Principles. – All lands of the public domain, waters, 
3 
minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy, fisheries, 
4 
forests or timber, wildlife, fora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the 
5 
State. With the exception of agricultural lands, all other natural resources shall not be 
6 
alienated. 
7 
8 
It is the policy of the State to provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, utilization, 
9 
management, and development of the country's land to ensure their optimum use, 
10 
consistent with the principle of sustainable development. 
11 
12 
The State shall recognize the need for rational, optimal and sustainable development, 
13 
consistent with the principles of environmental management and equitable access to 
14 
land and security. 
15 
16 
Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize land use and physical planning as 
17 
mechanisms for identifying, determining, and evaluating appropriate land use and 
18 
allocation patterns that promote and ensure: 
19 
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1 
a) 
Sustainable management and utilization of natural resources; 
2 
 
3 
b) 
Maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and stability, specifically 
4 
the perpetual protection of permanent forests and watershed for the attainment of 
5 
food, water and energy sufficiency; 
6 
 
7 
c) 
Disaster risk-reduction and climate change resiliency; 
8 
 
9 
d) 
Protection of prime agricultural lands for food production activities and highest 
10 
priority to the completion of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP); 
11 
 
12 
e) 
Sustainable development and management of water resources towards water 
13 
security; 
14 
 
15 
f) 
Settlements, transportation and infrastructure development in support of urban, 
16 
rural and regional development and inclusive growth; 
17 
 
18 
g) 
Harmony between the rights and the varied interests of every Filipino within the 
19 
framework of people empowerment, decentralization, social justice, and equity; 
20 
 
21 
h) 
Respect for and protection of the sustainable traditional resource rights of the 
22 
Indigenous Cultural Communities/lndigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to their ancestral 
23 
domains to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being as well as 
24 
recognition of the applicability of customary laws and sustainable traditional 
25 
resource use and management, knowledge, and practices in ancestral domains in 
26 
compliance with free and prior informed consent of ICC/IPs; 
27 
 
28 
i) 
Protection of the rights of basic sectors to equitable access to the country’s land 
29 
and other resources through State regulation of land valuation to prevent 
30 
uncontrolled land speculation resulting in tremendous increase in land pricing; 
31 
 
32 
j) 
Equitable and sustainable economic growth, and balanced and dispersed 
33 
industrial and tourism development, guided by the principles of agrarian reform, 
34 
urban land reform, and rural development;  
35 
 
36 
k) 
Protection, conservation, preservation, and development of the Filipino historical, 
37 
cultural, and built cultural heritage and resources for the deeper understanding of 
38 
our history and culture as a people; 
39 
 
40 
l) 
Attainment of energy security and self-sufficiency through sustainable and priority 
41 
development of indigenous energy resources; and 
42 
 
43 
m) 
Market orientation where the interplay of market forces and fair trade within the 
44 
framework of ecological development and equity consideration is encouraged and 
45 
adopted as the basic parameter in achieving efficiency in land use and allocation. 
46 


 
1 
 
It is also the policy of the State to ensure that local government units (LGUs) share 
2 
with the national government the responsibility of managing and maintaining ecological 
3 
balance within their territorial jurisdiction as stated in the 1987 Constitution and Republic 
4 
Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991.” 
5 
 
6 
 
Guided by the principle that the use of land bears a social function and that all 
7 
economic agents shall contribute to the common good, landowners, land tenure holders, 
8 
in the case of forestlands, be it an individual, communal, corporate or group shall be held 
9 
responsible for developing and conserving their lands thereby making their lands 
10 
productive and supportive of environmental stability. 
11 
 
12 
 
SEC. 3. Scope. – This Act shall apply to all lands whether public, private, 
13 
government-owned, and/or in the possession of individuals, communities, indigenous 
14 
people, or groups of people, to provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, 
15 
development and management of land including such activities that bear impact on said 
16 
resources. 
17 
CHAPTER II 
18 
DEFINITIONS 
19 
 
20 
 
 SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. – As used in and for purposes of this Act, the 
21 
following terms shall mean: 
22 
 
23 
a) Agricultural land refers to a land devoted to or suitable for the cultivation of the soil, 
24 
planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, raising of livestock, poultry, fish or aqua-culture 
25 
production, including the harvesting of such farm products, and other farm activities and 
26 
practices performed in conjunction with such farming operations done by persons whether 
27 
natural or juridical and not classified by law as mineral land, forest land, residential land, 
28 
commercial land, or industrial land;  
29 
 
30 
b) Agricultural land use conversion refers to the undertaking of any development 
31 
activity which modifies or alters the physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render 
32 
them suitable for non-agricultural purposes with an approved order of conversion issued 
33 
exclusively by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); 
34 
 
35 
c) Alienable and disposable (A&D) lands refers to lands of the public domain which 
36 
have been delineated, classified, and certified as open and available for disposition under 
37 
the provisions of Commonwealth Act No.141, otherwise known as the "Public Land Act," 
38 
as amended; 
39 
 
40 
d) Ancestral domains refers to all areas generally belonging to ICCs/IPs as defined in 
41 
Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) 
42 
of 1998;” 
43 
 
44 
e) Basic Sector refers to a group of people not referring to any organized groups such 
45 
as but not limited to women, youth, elderly, differently-abled, peasants and fisher folk; 
46 


 
1 
f) Basic Shelter refers to any subdivision unit, housing unit or condominium satisfying 
2 
the barest minimum shelter requirements under the minimum design standards of Batas 
3 
Pambansa Blg. 220 or An Act Authorizing the Ministry of Human Settlements to Establish 
4 
and Promulgate Different Levels of Standards and Technical Requirements for Economic 
5 
and Socialized Housing Projects in Urban and Rural Areas from Those Provided Under 
6 
Presidential Decrees Numbered 957, 1216, 1096 and 1185; 
7 
 
8 
g) Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) refers to a document embodying a set of 
9 
policies and guidelines, accompanied by official maps and similar illustrations, that serves 
10 
as principal basis for determining the future land use of lands and natural resources for 
11 
production and protection purpose within the territorial jurisdiction of the city or 
12 
municipality. It represents the community-desired pattern of population distribution and 
13 
proposes future allocation of land resources to various land-using activities. It identifies 
14 
the allocation, character, and extent of the areas of land resources to be used for different 
15 
purposes and includes the processes and the criteria employed in the determination of 
16 
the land use. It has a long-term perspective, encompassing a minimum of ten (10) years 
17 
except if an earlier amendment or revision of the CLUP is authorized by the NLUC due to 
18 
extraordinary causes; 
19 
 
20 
h) Comprehensive land use planning refers to the act of defining the allocation, 
21 
utilization, development and management of all lands within a given territory or jurisdiction 
22 
according to the inherent characteristic of the land itself and supportive of sustainable, 
23 
economic, demographic, socio-cultural and environmental objectives as an aid to 
24 
decision-making and legislation; 
25 
 
26 
i) Coastal area/zone refers to a band of dry land and the adjacent ocean space (water 
27 
and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect oceanic 
28 
processes and uses, and vice versa. Its geographic extent may include areas within a 
29 
landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include mangrove 
30 
swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and other 
31 
areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters isobath to include coral reefs, algal flats, 
32 
seagrass beds, and other soft-bottom areas. For purposes of initiating and implementing 
33 
sustainable coastal resources protection and management, it shall include foreshore 
34 
lands; 
35 
 
36 
j) Critical habitats refer to areas outside protected areas as defined in Republic Act No. 
37 
7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the “Expanded 
38 
National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018”, that are known habitats of 
39 
threatened species and designated as such based on scientific data taking into 
40 
consideration species endemicity and/or richness, presence of human-made 
41 
pressures/threats to the survival of wildlife living in the area, among others; 
42 
 
43 
k) Critical watershed refers to a drainage area of a river system supporting existing and 
44 
proposed hydro-electric power, domestic water consumption, irrigation works or existing 
45 
water facilities needing immediate protection and rehabilitation to minimize erosion and 
46 


improve water yield; 
1 
l) Cultural heritage refers to the totality of cultural properties preserved and developed 
2 
through time and passed on for posterity;  
3 
 
4 
m) Customary laws refers to a body of written and/ or unwritten rules, usages, customs 
5 
and practices traditionally and continually recognized, accepted, and observed by 
6 
respective ICCs/IPs, consistent with Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as “The 
7 
Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997” (IPRA); 
8 
 
9 
n) Development plan refers to a document that defines the activities or measures that 
10 
the national government or local government units (LGUs) intend to implement in order 
11 
to achieve a defined set of development goals. It integrates the socio-economic and 
12 
sectoral plans of the national government or its instrumentality or a particular LGU with 
13 
land use or physical framework plans. It may include an analysis of problems and 
14 
resources, definition of goals and objectives, policy guidelines, project and target 
15 
achievements, and an implementation mechanism which defines the roles and 
16 
contributions expected from the government and the private sector; 
17 
 
18 
o) Ecologically-fragile lands refer to lands within the critical watershed, brackish and 
19 
freshwater wetlands, pasture lands, and croplands which require rehabilitation and whose 
20 
continued unsustainable use would adversely affect the productivity of lowland 
21 
agricultural areas and the stability of the upland ecosystem; 
22 
 
23 
p) Ecotourism refers to sustainable tourism or travel to a given natural area with exotic 
24 
or threatened ecosystems or a heritage area to observe wildlife or to help preserve nature, 
25 
in the process providing for community participation, protection and management of 
26 
natural resources, culture and indigenous knowledge systems and practices, 
27 
environmental education and ethics, as well as economic benefits fostered and pursued 
28 
for the enrichment of host communities and the satisfaction of visitors; 
29 
 
30 
q) Energy resource lands refer to lands where naturally occurring or indigenous energy 
31 
resources exist in sufficient quantity or quality as to be economically viable for exploration, 
32 
development, production, utilization, and distribution process; 
33 
 
34 
r) Energy resources refer to surface or subsurface substances that serve as energy 
35 
sources. These are traditionally mineral fuel deposits such as coal, petroleum, natural 
36 
gas or renewable resources from geothermal, hydro reservoirs, or non-conventional 
37 
sources such as ocean waves, solar, wind, biomass, and other similar resources which 
38 
serve the same purpose; 
39 
 
40 
s) Environmentally critical areas refers to areas declared by law as:  
41 
 
42 
(i) 
protected areas pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by the E-NIPAS 
43 
Act of 2018; 
44 
(ii) 
areas for natural parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves, and sanctuaries;  
45 
(iii)  areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots;  
46 


(iv) Areas which constitute the habitat of any endangered or threatened species or 
1 
indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna); 
2 
(v) 
areas of unique historic, archaeological, or scientific interests;  
3 
(vi) areas which are traditionally occupied by ICCs/IPs;  
4 
(vii) areas with critical slopes;  
5 
(viii) areas exposed to geologic and hydro-meteorological hazards;  
6 
(ix) prime agricultural lands; 
7 
(x) 
recharge areas of aquifers;  
8 
(xi) water bodies;  
9 
(xii) mangrove areas;  
10 
(xiii) coral reefs;  
11 
(xiv) mossy and old- growth forests;  
12 
(xv) rivers and river banks;  
13 
(xvi) swamp forest and marshlands; and  
14 
(xvii) foreshore lands.  
15 
 
16 
This term shall also include other terrestrial, aquatic and marine areas that need special 
17 
protection and conservation measures because they are ecologically fragile or they are 
18 
needed for food security and food self-sufficiency as determined by concerned agencies 
19 
and LGUs in consultation with the concerned sectors; 
20 
 
21 
t) Estuary refers to a wetland type where the river mouth widens into a marine ecosystem, 
22 
the salinity of which is intermediate between salt and freshwater where tidal action is an 
23 
important biophysical regulator; 
24 
 
25 
u) Exhausted energy resource lands refer to specific energy resource sites whose 
26 
energy reserves of the desired type(s) are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to 
27 
justify additional expenditure for their extraction and utilization as certified by the 
28 
Department of Energy (DOE); 
29 
 
30 
v) Exhausted mineral lands refer to specific sites whose mineral deposits are no longer 
31 
in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure for their extraction and 
32 
utilization as may be determined by the latest technology available; 
33 
 
34 
w) Exhausted mineral resources refer to a situation where the mineral resources in 
35 
specific sites are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify 
36 
additional expenditure for extraction or utilization as determined by the Mines and 
37 
Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and approved by the DENR; 
38 
 
39 
x) Flood plain refers to the portion of a river valley adjacent to a river channel which is 
40 
covered with water when river overflows its banks at flood stages. The plain usually 
41 
consists of silt deposited by the stream; 
42 
 
43 
y) Flood-prone areas refer to low lying areas usually adjacent to large or active water 
44 
bodies and therefore experience regular or seasonal inundation as a result of changes in 
45 
the mean water level of these bodies or because of land reclamation and other artificial 
46 


interference with the natural processes; 
1 
 
2 
z) Food security refers to the policy objective of meeting the food availability, 
3 
accessibility, quality and affordability requirements of the present and future generations 
4 
of Filipinos in a sustainable manner, through local production or importation, only when 
5 
there is shortage established based on a micro level situation, or both, based on the 
6 
country's existing and potential resource endowments and related production 
7 
advantages, and consistent with the overall national development objectives and policies; 
8 
 
9 
aa) Food self-sufficiency refers to the policy objective of meeting the food requirements 
10 
through intensive local food production in a sustainable manner based on the country's 
11 
existing and potential resource endowments and related production advantages; 
12 
 
13 
bb) Forestlands refer to lands of the public domain classified and/or determined as 
14 
needed. They include all permanent forests or forest reserves, forest reservations and all 
15 
remaining unclassified lands of the public domain; 
16 
 
17 
cc) Foreshore land refers to the part of the shore which is alternately covered and 
18 
uncovered by the ebb and flow of the tide; 
19 
 
20 
dd) Free and Prior Informed Consent refers to consensus of all members of the 
21 
ICCs/IPs to be determined in accordance with their respective customary laws and 
22 
practices, free from any external manipulation, interference and coercion, and obtained 
23 
after fully disclosing the intent and scope of the activity, in a language and process 
24 
understandable to the community; 
25 
 
26 
ee) Geo-hazards refer to natural and human-induced geological processes that have 
27 
potential to cause destruction and pose a threat or risk to human life and property; 
28 
 
29 
ff) Geo-hazard prone areas refer to areas frequently visited and/or vulnerable or prone 
30 
to experience weather/climatic, hydrologic, geologic, and other natural calamities; 
31 
 
32 
gg) Heritage Zones refer to historical, anthropological, archaeological and artistic 
33 
geographical areas and settings that are culturally significant to the country as declared 
34 
by the National Museum and/or the National Historical Commission of the Philippines 
35 
(NHCP), pursuant to Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the “National Cultural 
36 
Heritage Act of 2009;” 
37 
 
38 
hh) Illegal agricultural land conversion refers to any activity that modifies or alters the 
39 
physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render them suitable for non-agricultural 
40 
purposes without an approved order of conversion from the DAR Secretary; 
41 
 
42 
ii) Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) refer to groups 
43 
of people or homogenous societies identified under the IPRA;  
44 
 
45 
jj) Indigenous energy resources refer to energy resources, which originate or occur 
46 


naturally in the Philippines; 
1 
 
2 
kk) Inland waters refer to waters, which are not coastal and marine waters not subject to 
3 
acquisitive prescription consistent with the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1067, 
4 
otherwise known as the “Water Code of the Philippines;” 
5 
 
6 
ll) Integrated watershed management refers to a planning strategy or program for 
7 
watershed areas that complement environmentally-sound soil and water management 
8 
practices with mechanisms for ensuring greater responsibility, involvement, or 
9 
participation of individuals, groups, communities and other stakeholders benefiting from 
10 
these areas and water-related infrastructure; 
11 
 
12 
mm) Key biodiversity areas refer to sites that are nationally and globally significant for 
13 
biodiversity conservation primarily containing species that require site-scale conservation 
14 
to prevent extinction in the short-term and medium-term. Such species may be nationally 
15 
and globally threatened, restricted-range and/or nationally and globally significant 
16 
congregations of species; 
17 
 
18 
nn) Lagoon refers to a semi-enclosed coastal basin with limited freshwater input, high 
19 
salinity and restricted circulation which often lies behind sand dunes. It is often highly 
20 
productive, and a habitat for variety of plants and animal, serves as nurseries of prawns 
21 
and shrimps and also site for harbor, aquaculture, industry and recreation; 
22 
 
23 
oo) Land refers to resources, both natural and man-made, found on the surface, below, 
24 
and above the ground including inland waters and the air therein; 
25 
 
26 
pp) Land use refers to the manner of utilization of land, including its allocation, 
27 
development, and management; 
28 
 
29 
qq) Land use classification refers to the act of delineating or allocating lands according 
30 
to protection land use, production land use, settlements development, and infrastructure 
31 
development as defined and provided for in this Act; 
32 
 
33 
rr) Land sub-classification refers to the act of determining and assigning specific uses 
34 
of classified lands of the public domain, such as forest or timber lands, alienable or 
35 
disposable agricultural lands, national parks, and mineral lands in accordance with 
36 
existing laws and this Act; 
37 
 
38 
ss) Mandatory public hearings/consultations refer to the mechanism to ensure the 
39 
active participation of concerned sectors in all affected areas in land use planning from 
40 
the local to the national level. It involves giving effective notice of hearing/consultation to 
41 
concerned sectors within an affected area through direct written invitations, using regular 
42 
mail or electronic means, and publication/posting in conspicuous places, conduct of a 
43 
reasonable number of hearings in or proximate to the specific area affected, and 
44 
solicitation of positions and the public presentation and public confirmation of the planning 
45 
results in the specific area affected before the final adoption of the plans; 
46 


 
1 
tt) Minerals refer to all naturally occurring inorganic substance in solid, gas, liquid or 
2 
intermediate state excluding energy materials such as coal, petroleum, natural gas, 
3 
radioactive materials and geothermal energy; 
4 
 
5 
uu) Mineral exploration refers to the systematic searching or prospecting of mineral 
6 
resources; 
7 
 
8 
vv) Mineral lands refer to lands where mineral resources are found; 
9 
 
10 
ww) Mineral resources refer to any concentration of minerals/rocks with potential 
11 
economic value; 
12 
 
13 
xx) Mudflat refers to a wetland type that is usually an unvegetated area, dominated by 
14 
muddy substrate which provides rich feeding grounds for vertebrates, such as fish and 
15 
water birds and also important in preventing soil erosion; 
16 
 
17 
yy) National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) refers to the classification 
18 
and administration of all designated protected areas to maintain essential ecological 
19 
processes and life-support systems, to preserve genetic diversity, to ensure sustainable 
20 
use of resources found therein, and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest 
21 
extent possible; 
22 
 
23 
zz) National Land Use Commission (NLUC) refers to the highest land use policy making 
24 
body created under Section 14 of this Act; 
25 
 
26 
aaa) National Parks refer to a forest reservation essentially of natural wilderness 
27 
character which has been withdrawn from settlement, occupancy or any form of 
28 
exploitation except in conformity with approved management plan and set aside as such 
29 
exclusively to conserve the area or preserve the scenery, the natural and historic objects, 
30 
wild animals and plants therein and to provide enjoyment of these features in such areas; 
31 
 
32 
bbb) National physical framework plan refers to an indicative plan containing the policy 
33 
areas promoting the most appropriate and rational use of land and other physical 
34 
resources, such as, but not limited to, protection, production, settlement and infrastructure 
35 
land use. It provides policy guidelines for all decisions relating to land use and 
36 
environmental management, to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of inappropriate 
37 
resource utilization on the country's food security and food self-sufficiency on rice and 
38 
corn, the people's welfare and their environment. It embodies both policies and strategies 
39 
necessary to carry out goals and objectives of this Act; 
40 
 
41 
ccc) Network of Protected Areas for Agriculture and Agro-industrial Development 
42 
(NPAAAD) refers to agricultural areas identified by the Department of Agriculture (DA), 
43 
through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), in coordination with the 
44 
National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) in order to ensure the 
45 
efficient utilization of land for agriculture and agro-industrial development and promote 
46 


sustainable growth. The NPAAAD covers all irrigated areas, all irrigable lands already 
1 
covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments, all alluvial plains, land highly 
2 
suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not, agro-industrial croplands or lands planted 
3 
to industrial crops that support the validity of existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-
4 
based enterprises, highlands or areas located at an elevation of five hundred (500) meters 
5 
or above and have the potential for growing semi-temperate and high value crops, all 
6 
agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile the conversion of which will result in serious 
7 
environmental degradation, and all mangrove areas and fish sanctuaries; 
8 
 
9 
ddd) Non-agricultural land use conversion refers to the act of changing the current use 
10 
of a piece of non-agricultural land into some other uses; 
11 
 
12 
eee) Non-government organization refers to a private and non-profit voluntary 
13 
organization which is committed to the task of political, socio- economic, physical, cultural 
14 
and environmental development and established primarily to provide service to 
15 
marginalized sectors in these areas; 
16 
 
17 
fff) Patrimonial properties refer to all the properties belonging to the State that are not 
18 
intended for public use or for public service for the development of national wealth; 
19 
 
20 
ggg) People's organization refers to a private, non-profit, voluntary and community-
21 
based organization with membership constituency established primarily to provide 
22 
service to its members and the community in general;  
23 
 
24 
hhh) Physical framework plans refer to indicative plans based on comprehensive land 
25 
use plans (CLUPs) and governmental policies, whether national, regional, or provincial, 
26 
which provide policy guidelines for all decisions relating to land use and environmental 
27 
management to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects of inappropriate resource 
28 
utilization on food security, the people's welfare and their environment. It embodies both 
29 
policies and strategies necessary to carry out development goals and objectives; 
30 
 
31 
iii) Premature or illegal conversion of agricultural lands refer to any activity that 
32 
modifies or alters the physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render them suitable 
33 
for non-agricultural purposes, without an approved order of conversion from the DAR 
34 
Secretary; 
35 
 
36 
jjj) Prime agricultural lands refer to all irrigated areas; all irrigable lands already covered 
37 
by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments; all rain- fed areas planted to rice and 
38 
other crops; all alluvial plain lands highly suitable for agriculture, whether irrigated or not, 
39 
agro-industrial croplands or lands presently planted to industrial crops that support the 
40 
viability of existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises, highlands, or 
41 
areas located at elevation of 500 meters or above and have the potential for growing 
42 
semi-temperate and high value crops; all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile, 
43 
the conversion of which will result in serious environmental degradation, and mangrove 
44 
areas and fish sanctuaries; 
45 
 
46 


kkk) Production land use refers to the direct and indirect utilization of land to generate 
1 
outputs resulting from the following activities, but not limited to: agricultural, fish, farming 
2 
or aquaculture, timber production, agro-forestry, grazing and pasture, mining, indigenous 
3 
energy resource development, industry, and tourism; 
4 
 
5 
lll) Protected areas refer to portions of land set aside by reason of their unique physical 
6 
and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity, and protected 
7 
against destructive human exploitation. For purposes of this Act, it shall include 
8 
agricultural lands identified and delineated under Section 29 hereof; 
9 
 
10 
mmm) Protection land use refers to the utilization of land primarily for rehabilitation, 
11 
conservation, and protection purposes for the promotion of the country's ecological and 
12 
life-support systems; 
13 
 
14 
nnn) Public domain refers to lands that belong to the State which may be any of the 
15 
following: agricultural, forest or timber, mineral, or national park as provided for in the 
16 
Constitution; 
17 
 
18 
ooo) Public lands refer to lands which have not been subject to private property rights 
19 
or subject to sale or other modes of acquisition or concession under the general laws, 
20 
and are devoted to public use; 
21 
 
22 
ppp) Reclassification of agricultural lands refers to the act of specifying how 
23 
agricultural lands shall be utilized for non-agricultural uses such as residential, industrial, 
24 
or commercial purposes through the local planning and zoning processes pursuant to the 
25 
Local Government Code of 1991, and subject to the requirements and procedure for 
26 
conversion. It is equivalent to land sub-classification, as defined in this Act for classified 
27 
lands of the public domain and also includes the reversion of non-agricultural lands to 
28 
agricultural use; 
29 
 
30 
qqq) Resettlement sites refer to areas identified by the appropriate national agency or 
31 
by the local government unit, with respect to areas within its jurisdiction, which shall be 
32 
used for the relocation of the underprivileged and homeless, as defined under Republic 
33 
Act No. 7279 or the “Urban Development and Housing Act” (UDHA) and other related 
34 
laws; 
35 
 
36 
rrr) River basin refers to the portion of land drained by a river and its tributaries. It 
37 
encompasses the entire land surface dissected and drained by many streams and creeks 
38 
that flow downhill into one another, and eventually into one river. The final destination is 
39 
an estuary or an ocean; 
40 
 
41 
sss) Settlements refer to formal and informal communities or built-up residential areas 
42 
where people prefer to live in land areas classified, zoned, or converted for current or 
43 
future residential or housing development purposes, including socialized housing zones 
44 
for the homeless and underprivileged citizens; 
45 
 
46 


ttt) Settlements development refers to any improvement on existing formal or informal 
1 
residential or housing settlements or any proposed development of certain areas for 
2 
residential or mass housing settlement purposes. It also involves the spatial distribution 
3 
of population, identification of the roles and functions of key urban centers, determination 
4 
of relationships among settlement areas, and the provision of basic services and facilities 
5 
of identified major residential or housing settlement areas or growth centers. It is also 
6 
concerned with the interrelationship of settlements as they develop and establish 
7 
functional linkages based on their respective resource endowments and comparative 
8 
advantages; 
9 
 
10 
uuu) Shoreline refers to the line where shore and water meet; 
11 
 
12 
vvv) Significant caves refer to caves which contain materials or possess features that 
13 
have archaeological, cultural, ecological, historical or scientific value as determined by 
14 
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in coordination with the 
15 
scientific community and the academe; 
16 
 
17 
www) Socialized housing refers to housing programs and projects undertaken by the 
18 
government or the private sector for the underprivileged and homeless citizens which 
19 
shall include sites and services development, long-term financing, liberalized terms on 
20 
interest payments, and such other benefits in accordance with the UDHA; 
21 
 
22 
xxx) Socialized housing zones refer to lands identified and designated by LGUs as sites 
23 
for socialized housing, pursuant to the UDHA, and its implementing guidelines. It shall 
24 
include areas that are presently occupied by the urban poor, as well as those identified 
25 
as resettlement areas as defined herein; 
26 
 
27 
yyy) Sustainable development refers to the development objective of meeting the needs 
28 
of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet 
29 
their own needs consistent with the principles of social equity, generations to meet their 
30 
own needs consistent with the principles of social equity, efficiency, and environmental 
31 
integrity; 
32 
 
33 
zzz) Tourism development areas refer to specific sites for tourism development located 
34 
in areas identified as priorities in the national, regional, and inter-regional area specific 
35 
tourism master plans and other sector plans such as eco-tourism and agri-tourism sites, 
36 
including those designated through legislative and executive issuances such as tourist 
37 
spots, tourist zones and tourism ecozones which can be developed into tourism estates 
38 
or integrated resort, leisure, and recreation complexes, and other tourism related facilities; 
39 
 
40 
aaaa) Tourism Enterprise Zone refers to an area designated as tourism enterprise zone 
41 
by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) pursuant to the 
42 
provisions of Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Tourism Act of 2009;” 
43 
 
44 
bbbb) Tourism estates refer to large tracts of land with well-defined boundaries in any 
45 
area identified in the Philippine tourism master plan and regional tourism master plan, by 
46 


proclamation of the President and/or by an act of Congress, including local legislation. 
1 
Such land shall be suitable for the development of an integrated tourism and resort 
2 
complex, including, but not limited, to accommodation facilities, food and beverage 
3 
outlets, convention and meeting areas, sports, recreational and leisure centers and 
4 
commercial outlets among others. It shall be provided with roads, water supply facilities, 
5 
power and utilities, like potable water, drainage sewerage disposal, solid waste disposal 
6 
system, and other necessary infrastructure. The estate shall be under one unified and 
7 
continuous management; 
8 
 
9 
cccc) Tourist spot refers to a particular area/site/spot, human-made or natural, known 
10 
for its unique tourist/visitor-drawing attributes and activities. It may be classified according 
11 
to its social, cultural, natural, historical, scientific, religious, and recreational significance; 
12 
 
13 
dddd) Tourist zone refers to a geographic area with well-defined boundaries proclaimed 
14 
as such by the President of the Philippines and/or by acts of Congress. No development 
15 
projects for any purpose shall be initiated and introduced within the zone prior to the 
16 
formulation of a tourism master development plan, which shall be undertaken in 
17 
coordination with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and TIEZA. A tourist zone is 
18 
established for the enhancement and/or the conservation of cultural and historical 
19 
heritage and for the appreciation and enjoyment of the local population and its visitors; 
20 
 
21 
eeee) Urban areas refer to all cities, regardless of their population density, and to 
22 
municipalities with population density of at least Five hundred (500) persons per square 
23 
kilometer; 
24 
 
25 
ffff) Urbanizable areas refer to sites and lands which, considering present characteristics 
26 
and prevailing conditions, display marked and great potential of becoming urban areas 
27 
within a period of five (5) years; 
28 
 
29 
gggg) Urban forestry or Green Space refers to the establishment and management of 
30 
forest in urban environment for the physiological and psychological well-being of the 
31 
people; 
32 
 
33 
hhhh) Water security refers to the sufficient access throughout the year to the minimum 
34 
daily requirement of clean water to maintain a healthy life; 
35 
 
36 
jjjj) Water use refers to the appropriation of water for domestic, municipal, irrigation, 
37 
power generation, inland fisheries, poultry and livestock raising, industrial and 
38 
commercial, environmental, and recreational use and other purposes; 
39 
 
40 
kkkk) Watershed refers to a land area drained by a stream or fixed body of water and its 
41 
tributaries having a common outlet for surface runoff; 
42 
 
43 
llll) Zoning refers to the process of delineating the specific uses of lands in accordance 
44 
with the approved CLUP within the territorial jurisdiction of a city/municipality and 
45 
specifying the conditions for their regulation, subject to the limitations imposed by law and 
46 


competent authority; and 
1 
 
2 
mmmm) Zoning ordinance or ZO refers to a local law passed by the Sangguniang Bayan 
3 
or Panglunsod approving the development control/zoning plan in accordance with an 
4 
approved or adopted CLUP for the city/municipality, and providing for the regulations and 
5 
other conditions on the uses of land including the limitation on the infrastructure that may 
6 
be placed thereon within the territorial jurisdiction of a city or municipality. It incorporates 
7 
the protected areas under Section 13(a) and the protected agricultural lands under 
8 
Section 29 of this Act. 
9 
 
10 
CHAPTER III 
11 
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK AND LAND USE PLANS 
12 
 
13 
 
SEC. 5. National Land Use Planning Process. – The land use and physical 
14 
planning process shall be formulated following a combined bottom-up and top-down 
15 
approach. The National Land Use Commission (NLUC) shall draft the National Physical 
16 
Framework Plan (NPFP) which shall have a timeframe of thirty (30) years: Provided, 
17 
however, That nothing herein shall prevent the NLUC from reviewing and updating at any 
18 
time the NPFP where public interest so requires. 
19 
 
20 
The NPFP, which guides the planning and management of the country's land and other 
21 
physical resources at the national and sub-national levels, shall indicate broad spatial 
22 
directions and policy guidelines on settlements development, production land use, 
23 
protection land use, social services and utilities, and transportation and communication.  
24 
 
25 
The Regional Physical Framework Plans (RPFPs), Provincial Physical Framework and 
26 
Development Plans (PPFDPs), and CLUPs, which shall also have a 30-year timeframe 
27 
and cover the physical development of their respective territories, shall be consistent with 
28 
the NPFP: Provided, That the integration and harmonization of the physical framework 
29 
plans at all levels shall be frequent to ensure that the concerns of both top and bottom 
30 
levels of government are considered. The physical and land use plans prepared at all 
31 
levels shall have internal consistency specifically on, but not limited to, the development, 
32 
management and conservation of forestlands found within a given territory and the 
33 
linkages of the major land use categories to ensure their complementation in the 
34 
utilization, development and management of resources. 
35 
 
36 
All regional, provincial, city and municipal land use plans and zoning ordinances shall 
37 
only be amended or revised at the earliest after every ten (10) years, except if an earlier 
38 
amendment or revision of the CLUP is authorized by the NLUC due to extraordinary 
39 
causes. 
40 
 
41 
The NLUC shall issue procedural guidelines which shall guide the formulation and 
42 
integration/harmonization process: Provided, That the National Economic and 
43 
Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
44 
Development (DHSUD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and 
45 
other agencies shall continue to issue guidelines on the content of the plans consistent 
46 


with their respective agency mandates. 
1 
 
2 
 
SEC. 6. City and Municipal Land Use Plans. – The City/Municipal Planning and 
3 
Development Office (C/MPDO), in consultation with concerned sectors through the 
4 
conduct of mandatory public hearings/consultations, shall prepare the CLUP to determine 
5 
the specific uses of land and other physical resources therein, including areas co-
6 
managed with the national government and, as appropriate, the ancestral domain areas. 
7 
The CLUP shall be consistent with the PPFDP and shall define the city/municipal 
8 
development vision, appropriate economic, environmental and social development 
9 
policies, densities and transportation system. 
10 
 
11 
The CLUP may be formulated as a component of a Comprehensive Land Use and 
12 
Development Plan (CLUDP), which merges the traditionally separate CLUP and 
13 
comprehensive development plan to address the disconnect between spatial and sectoral 
14 
factors and to ensure the complementation between the medium- and long-term 
15 
concerns. 
16 
 
17 
The CLUP shall be translated into a zoning ordinance by the concerned sanggunian to 
18 
regulate the uses of land, including the limitations on height, density and bulk of buildings 
19 
and other infrastructure that may be placed thereon. 
20 
 
21 
 
SEC. 7. Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plans (PPFDP). – 
22 
In consultation with concerned sectors, the Provincial Planning and Development Office 
23 
(PPDO) shall prepare a Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan (PPFDP) 
24 
which shall define the province's development vision, economic and social development 
25 
policies, general land uses, and inter-city/municipal transportation system. The PPFDP 
26 
shall harmonize the land use plans of component cities and municipalities, taking into 
27 
consideration shared resources and planning concerns, and define the uses of land and 
28 
other resources within the province consistent with the policies in the RPFP. The 
29 
programs, projects and activities prescribed in the PPFDP shall be integrated into the 
30 
provincial development investment program. The PPDO shall submit the PPFDP to the 
31 
Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC), created under Section 21 of this Act, for 
32 
review and endorsement to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which shall adopt the same 
33 
pursuant to the Local Government Code of 1991. 
34 
 
35 
 
SEC. 8. Regional Physical Framework Plans. – In consultation with concerned 
36 
sectors, the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall define the desired spatial 
37 
arrangement of land-using activities in the entire region, consolidating and harmonizing 
38 
the provincial physical framework plans of provinces and independent cities within the 
39 
territorial jurisdiction of the region. The regional physical framework plan, which depicts 
40 
an end-state scenario toward which efforts and activities are directed, shall consist of 
41 
spatially-based and area-focused policies, consistent with those in the national framework 
42 
for physical planning, to guide detailed physical, socio-economic, sectoral and investment 
43 
planning. 
44 
 
45 
 
SEC. 9. National Physical Framework Plan. – The NLUC created in Section 14 
46 


herein, in consultation with the concerned sectors through the conduct of mandatory 
1 
public hearings/ consultations, shall formulate, periodically update and ensure the 
2 
implementation of a NPFP that shall prescribe and influence the country's land use and 
3 
physical development. The NPFP shall operationalize the policies provided in this Act and 
4 
will be the basis for adopting land use and physical planning-related guidelines and 
5 
standards, including zoning and other land use control standards that will guide the 
6 
formulation of city/municipal zoning ordinances. 
7 
 
8 
 
The policies prescribed in the NPFP shall be integrated into the MTPDP and 
9 
Medium-Term Philippine Investment Program. 
10 
 
11 
CHAPTER IV 
12 
FRAMEWORK FOR LAND USE PLANNING 
13 
 
14 
 
SEC. 10. Priorities in Land Use Allocation and Planning. – In projecting spatial 
15 
allocation for different land uses, the LGUs shall first exclude areas under protection land 
16 
use of Section 13(a) hereof, national parks, energy resource lands, and prime agricultural 
17 
lands to ensure ecological integrity, energy supply, and promote food security. Areas with 
18 
prior rights and those with site-specific resources for basic services, such as but not 
19 
limited to, water and indigenous energy resources, shall also be excluded. Spatial 
20 
allocation and planning shall then proceed in accordance with Sections 12 and 13 hereof 
21 
with priorities given to integrated watershed management areas, socialized housing sites, 
22 
fisherfolk settlement in coastal areas, and waste disposal sites. 
23 
 
24 
 
SEC. 11. Adoption of Multiple Uses of Land Resources. – The primary and 
25 
alternative uses of a specific land resource shall be determined and evaluated prior to 
26 
any decision for the assignment of its use. Areas feasible for sustainable land resource 
27 
use may be considered multiple-use zones wherein settlements, tourism, agriculture, 
28 
forestry, agro-forestry and extraction activities and other income-generating or livelihood 
29 
activities may be allowed: Provided, That multiple uses of land resources shall be 
30 
excluded in areas identified as protection land use: Provided, further, That such land 
31 
resources shall be in accordance with priorities in land use allocation and planning and 
32 
that no reclassification shall be allowed. 
33 
 
34 
 
SEC. 12. Basic Land Use Planning Considerations. – In determining the various 
35 
land uses, the people and their productive activities and the need for functional open 
36 
spaces and preservation areas, as well as the various interrelationships of the physical 
37 
characteristics of the land and other elements therein shall be considered, among others, 
38 
the following: 
39 
 
40 
a) Availability of natural resources, including indigenous energy resources for energy 
41 
security and self-sufficiency; 
42 
 
43 
b) Geology, geomorphology, geologic hazard, climate, soil, vegetative cover, 
44 
demography and slope;  
45 
 
46 


c) Economic, environmental, cultural, social and related development activities; 
1 
 
 
2 
d) Existing government policies on land and natural resources allocation, utilization, 
3 
management and disposition; 
4 
 
5 
e) Technological changes/advancement; 
6 
 
7 
f) Existing customary rights for the protection of indigenous peoples and vulnerable 
8 
groups, including women and urban poor; and 
9 
 
10 
g) Inventory of prior and existing rights to harmonize determination of land use. 
11 
 
12 
 
SEC 13. Categories of Land Uses for Planning Purposes. – In determining and 
13 
defining the national, regional and provincial framework plans, and CLUPs, land uses 
14 
shall be grouped into four major functional uses as follows: 
15 
 
16 
a) Protection Land Use. Planning for protection land use intends to achieve 
17 
environmental stability and ecological integrity, ensure a balance between resource use 
18 
and the preservation of some areas with environmental, aesthetic, educational, cultural, 
19 
heritage and historical significance, and protect people and human-made structures from 
20 
the ill-effects of natural hazards. All lands, either public or private, under protection land 
21 
use shall be permanently conserved, preserved, rehabilitated and protected from all other 
22 
land uses, disposition, intrusion, utilization and development that is not consistent from 
23 
its existing uses. Areas under this category also include those covered by the NIPAS and 
24 
E-NIPAS Acts and other coastal and marine protected areas, those areas outside NIPAS 
25 
and E-NIPAS, but nonetheless require protection because of their outstanding physical 
26 
and aesthetic features, anthropological significance, and biological diversity, and those 
27 
areas prone to natural hazards. Areas outside the coverage of the NIPAS and E-NIPAS 
28 
Acts include, but are not limited to the following: 
29 
 
30 
1) 
Reserved second growth forests above 1,000 meters in 
31 
elevation and those 50% in slope gradient; 
32 
2) 
Mangrove and fish sanctuaries, pursuant to Republic Act No. 
33 
8435, otherwise known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 
34 
1997” (AFMA) and Republic Act No. 8550, as amended, otherwise known as 
35 
“The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998;” 
36 
3) 
Buffer zones or strips/easements, pursuant to Presidential 
37 
Decree No. 705, amending Presidential Decree No. 389, otherwise known as 
38 
the “Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines” and Presidential Decree No. 
39 
1067 or the “Water Code of the Philippines;” 
40 
4) 
Salvage zones along foreshore areas, freshwater swamps and 
41 
marshes, plazas and heritage/historic sites; 
42 
5) 
Watersheds supporting domestic water supply; 
43 
6) 
Utility easement-like transmission lines of power companies, oil 
44 


and gas facilities, cell sites, and domestic water lines; 
1 
7) 
Amenity areas or those with high aesthetic values; 
2 
8) 
Natural and human-made areas/sites of cultural, historical and 
3 
anthropological significance, which are declared as such by internationally 
4 
recognized organizations and concerned national agencies; 
5 
9) 
Critical habitats as provided in Republic Act No. 9147, otherwise 
6 
known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act;" 
7 
10) 
Significant caves under Republic Act No. 9072, otherwise 
8 
known as the "National Caves and Cave Resources Management and 
9 
Protection Act;" or  
10 
11) 
Key biodiversity areas under Executive Order No. 578, Series 
11 
of 2006, otherwise known as the “National Biodiversity Policy.” 
12 
 
13 
b) Production Land Use. Planning for production land shall determine the most efficient, 
14 
sustainable, and equitable manner of utilizing, developing and managing land for 
15 
productive purposes. Areas included in this category are agricultural lands, fishing 
16 
grounds, coastal and marine zones, production forest which comprise lands 18% to 50% 
17 
in slope gradient such as: residual dipterocarps, rangelands for grazing purposes, 
18 
industrial tree plantation/Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA), community-
19 
based forest management areas and other reforestation projects, mineral lands or mining 
20 
areas and reservations, energy resource lands, industrial development areas, and 
21 
tourism development areas where productive activities could be undertaken to meet the 
22 
country's requirements for food security, economic growth and development; 
23 
 
24 
c) Settlements Development. The settlements development plan ensures for the 
25 
present and future generation the following: (i) effective integration of activities within and 
26 
among settlements, allowing efficient movement of people and production of commodities 
27 
through the provision of appropriate land, infrastructure, and facilities; and (ii) access of 
28 
the population to housing, education, health care, recreation, transportation and 
29 
communication, sanitation, and basic utilities such as water, power, waste disposal, and 
30 
other services. 
31 
 
32 
d) Infrastructure Development refers to the availability or supply of basic services and 
33 
fostering of economic and other forms of integration necessary for producing or obtaining 
34 
the material requirements of Filipinos, in an efficient, responsive, safe and ecologically 
35 
friendly built environment. It covers sub-sectors of transportation, communications, water 
36 
resources, and social infrastructure: Provided, That the determination of functional uses 
37 
of lands within ancestral domains shall consider traditional resource and management 
38 
systems that do not endanger the lives of the people and property of the local community 
39 
and neighboring areas or increase the vulnerability of the natural environment to the 
40 
effects of natural and human- induced geological processes. 
41 
 
42 
CHAPTER V 
43 
IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISMS 
44 
 
45 


Article I 
1 
NATIONAL LAND USE COMMISSION 
2 
 
3 
 
SEC 14. Creation of the National Land Use Commission (NLUC). – The 
4 
National Land Use Commission, hereinafter referred to as NLUC, is hereby created as a 
5 
Commission under the Office of the President. It shall exercise the powers and 
6 
responsibilities of the current NEDA Board-National Land Use Committee which is hereby 
7 
abolished. The NLUC shall act as the highest policy-making body on land use and resolve 
8 
land use policy conflicts between or among agencies, branches, or levels of the 
9 
government. It shall integrate efforts, monitor developments relating to land use and the 
10 
evolution of policies. It may also establish Regional Offices.  
11 
 
12 
 
SEC. 15. Composition of the NLUC. – The NLUC shall be composed of the 
13 
following: 
14 
 
15 
a) 
The Secretary of NEDA as Chairperson; 
16 
b) 
The Secretaries of DENR and DA as Vice-Chairpersons; 
17 
c) 
The Secretaries of DAR, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of 
18 
Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), 
19 
Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government 
20 
(DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Energy (DOE); 
21 
d) 
A representative each from four (4) basic sectors directly involved in land use, 
22 
namely: urban poor, peasants, fisherfolk and indigenous peoples who shall be 
23 
appointed by the President of the Philippines based on nomination and 
24 
recommendation of the respective sectoral councils of the National Anti-Poverty 
25 
Commission (NAPC). Two sectoral representatives shall be women; and 
26 
e) 
A representative each from the Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities; 
27 
 
A consultative body shall likewise be convened by the NLUC at least once a year 
28 
or as often as may be necessary. It shall be composed of representatives from the 
29 
Leagues of Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces, other government agencies not 
30 
represented in the NLUC, and from non-government sectors such as the private sector, 
31 
non-government organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (POs), and the 
32 
academic community.  
33 
 
34 
 
SEC. 16. Powers and Functions. – The NLUC shall have the following powers 
35 
and functions: 
36 
 
37 
a) 
Advise the President of the Philippines and the NEDA Board on all matters 
38 
concerning land use and physical planning; 
39 
 
40 
b) 
Integrate and harmonize all laws, guidelines and policies relevant to land use and 
41 
physical planning to come up with a rational, cohesive, and comprehensive 
42 
national land use framework; 
43 
 
44 
c) 
Formulate policies and endorse land use and physical planning-related policies 
45 


that may be formulated by the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) created 
1 
under Section 22 of this Act, and concerned agencies, as well as promulgate 
2 
zoning and other land use control standards and guidelines which shall guide the 
3 
formulation of land use plans and zoning ordinances by LGUs; 
4 
 
5 
d) 
Prepare, periodically review, and if necessary, update the national framework for 
6 
physical planning to provide the general framework for the spatial development 
7 
directions for the entire country and sub-national levels; 
8 
 
9 
e) 
Review and endorse all land use and physical planning related guidelines; 
10 
 
11 
f) 
Monitor and coordinate the gathering of data, the conduct of studies pertaining to 
12 
land use planning, including studies on the management of identified land uses 
13 
and such other studies not undertaken by other government agencies; 
14 
 
15 
g) 
Recommend to the President of the Philippines the adoption, passage, or 
16 
amendment of laws to ensure that sectoral programs, plans, projects, and  
17 
activities, including local government initiatives affecting land use are consistent 
18 
with national development objectives; 
19 
 
20 
h) 
Coordinate with and assist other government agencies and LGUs in planning, 
21 
developing, and implementing their land use classification programs, and provide, 
22 
to the extent possible, technical assistance and guidance; 
23 
 
24 
i) 
Monitor and coordinate the activities of concerned agencies and entities of the 
25 
government, as well as LGUs, in the enforcement and implementation of policies 
26 
and regulations relating to land use and resource management and development; 
27 
 
28 
j) 
Monitor and coordinate activities in the establishment of a national land resource 
29 
information and management system of concerned agencies that shall integrate 
30 
and process information on land use and allocation generated by the various 
31 
national government agencies; define information requirements at various levels; 
32 
and standardize information inputs and outputs, including scales and symbols 
33 
used in territorial and sectoral maps; 
34 
 
35 
k) 
Be the repository of all RPFPs, PPFDPs and CLUPs and all data and information 
36 
pertaining to land and land use; 
37 
 
38 
l) 
Call on any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the 
39 
government, and or private entities and organization for cooperation, support, and 
40 
assistance in the performance of its functions; 
41 
 
42 
m) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts and territorial jurisdiction on land use between 
43 
or among agencies, branches, or levels of the government and act  on unresolved 
44 
land use policy conflicts at the regional level elevated by the Regional Land Use 
45 
Policy Council (RLUPC); 
46 


 
1 
n) 
Adopt  rules of procedures for  the orderly  and  expeditious  conduct of meetings 
2 
and other business of the Council; and 
3 
 
4 
o) 
Perform such other acts and functions and exercise such other powers as may be 
5 
necessarily implied, inherent, incident, or related to the foregoing.  
6 
 
7 
 
SEC. 17. NLUC Technical Secretariat (NLUC-TS). – A Technical Secretariat 
8 
shall be created to provide technical support to the NLUC. It shall be composed of: 
9 
 
10 
a) 
NEDA Deputy Director-General for Regional Development as Chairperson;  
11 
 
12 
b) 
Representatives of the member agencies/institutions of the NLUC, who shall have 
13 
a rank not lower than Director level; and 
14 
 
15 
c) 
The representatives the four (4) basic sectors as enumerated in Section 15(d) of 
16 
this Act.  
17 
 
18 
 
SEC. 18. Offices, Units and Staff Support. – The NEDA Regional Development 
19 
Office shall continue to provide core secretariat services of NLUC, its Technical Board 
20 
and the RLUPCs. Other government agencies may also be called upon for staff support. 
21 
 
22 
ARTICLE 2 
23 
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AS LOCAL LAND USE POLICY COUNCILS 
24 
 
25 
 
SEC. 19. City/Municipal Land Use Policy Council (C/MLUPC). – The 
26 
City/Municipal Development Council (C/MDC), created under the Local Government 
27 
Code of 1991, shall act as the City/Municipal Land Use Policy Council (C/MLUPC) that 
28 
will tackle land use concerns, whenever necessary. A duly authorized representative from 
29 
the DAR, the DENR and the DA shall be included in the composition of the C/MLUPC. 
30 
 
31 
 
In addition to the functions enumerated in the Local Government Code of 1991, 
32 
the C/MLUP shall: 
33 
 
34 
a) 
Advise the Sangguniang Bayan or the Sangguniang Panlungsod on all matters 
35 
pertaining to land use and physical planning; 
36 
 
37 
b) 
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod, for 
38 
adoption, the CLUP prepared and periodically updated by the City/Municipal 
39 
Planning and Development Office and other land use and physical planning-
40 
related policies; 
41 
 
42 
c) 
Decide  and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and 
43 
allocation that may arise between and among barangays and any unresolved land 
44 
use conflict at the barangay level regarding the violation of zoning ordinances, 
45 
including opposition to applications for locational clearances, permits or 
46 


certificates; and 
1 
 
2 
d) 
The C/MLUPC may call upon any local official concerned, such as the C/MPDC, 
3 
City/Municipal Agriculturist, City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources 
4 
Officer, City/Municipal Engineer, City/Municipal Assessor, or any official of national 
5 
agencies during discussions on land use and physical planning concerns. 
6 
 
7 
 
For purposes of this Act, the City/Municipal Planning and Development 
8 
Coordinator (C/MPDC) shall: 
9 
 
10 
a) 
Act on all applications for locational clearances for all projects except those of vital 
11 
and national economic or environmental significance; automate, modernize and 
12 
integrate all spatial and non-spatial data related to land within the LGU for a more 
13 
effective and efficient use of land information for land use and physical planning 
14 
and such other public and private uses; 
15 
 
16 
b) 
Monitor on-going/existing projects within their respective jurisdictions and issue 
17 
notices of violation to owners, developers, or managers of projects that are 
18 
violative of zoning ordinances; and 
19 
 
20 
c) 
Convene a Technical Working Group composed of City/Municipal Agriculturist, 
21 
City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, City/Municipal 
22 
Engineer, City/Municipal Assessor and  such  other LGU officials  with land related 
23 
functions in the preparation of the CLUP. The TWG may request any field officials 
24 
of National Government Agencies with land administration function to assist for the 
25 
same purpose. 
26 
 
27 
 
LGUs without operational C/MDCs, as mandated by the Local Government Code 
28 
of 1991, shall activate their respective Councils within six (6) months from the effectivity 
29 
of this Act. 
30 
 
31 
 
SEC 20. Provincial  Land  Use  Policy  Council  (PLUPC).  – The  Provincial 
32 
Development Council (PDC), created under the Local Government Code of 1991, shall 
33 
act as the Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC)  that will  tackle  land  use 
34 
concerns,  whenever necessary. A duly authorized representative from the DENR, DAR 
35 
and the DA shall be included in the composition of the PLUPC. In addition to the functions 
36 
enumerated in the Local Government Code of 1991, the PLUPC shall: 
37 
 
38 
a) 
Advise the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on all matters pertaining to land use and 
39 
physical planning; 
40 
 
41 
b) 
Review  and  endorse to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, for adoption, the 
42 
provincial physical framework plans, prepared and  periodically updated by the 
43 
Provincial Planning and Development Office and other land use and physical 
44 
planning- related policies; 
45 
 
46 


c) 
Assist the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in reviewing the CLUPs of component 
1 
cities/municipalities to ensure consistency with the provincial physical  framework 
2 
plans and compliance with the limits prescribed under the Local Government Code 
3 
of 1991 for reclassifying agricultural lands; and 
4 
 
5 
d) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and 
6 
allocation that may arise between or among cities/municipalities, and any 
7 
unresolved land use conflicts at the city /municipal level. 
8 
 
9 
The PLUPC may call upon any local official concerned, such as the Provincial Planning 
10 
and Development Coordinator, Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Environment and 
11 
Natural Resources Officer, Provincial Engineer, Provincial Assessor, or any official of 
12 
national agencies and other relevant agencies  during discussions on land use and 
13 
physical planning concerns. 
14 
 
15 
 
SEC. 21. Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC). – At the regional level, 
16 
the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall be institutionalized, replicating the 
17 
NLUC structure and composition. The RLUPC shall have the following functions: 
18 
 
19 
a) 
Formulate and adopt regional policies on land use and physical planning; 
20 
 
21 
b) 
Prepare and periodically update a regional physical framework plan, taking into 
22 
consideration national policies and lower level plans; 
23 
 
24 
c) 
Assist the provinces in preparing and periodically updating its physical framework 
25 
plans to ensure consistency with the regional and national plans  and policies and 
26 
to facilitate its integration to the regional plans; 
27 
 
28 
d) 
Review, prior to adoption by respective sanggunians, the provincial physical 
29 
framework plan and CLUPs of highly urbanized and independent component cities 
30 
to ensure consistency with the regional physical framework plan and national 
31 
policies set forth by the NLUC and compliance with limits  prescribed under the 
32 
Local Government Code of 1991 for reclassifying agricultural lands; 
33 
 
34 
e) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and 
35 
allocation that may arise between or among regional line agencies, provinces and 
36 
cities/municipalities; 
37 
 
38 
f) 
Monitor changes in land use and other physical resources in the region; 
39 
 
40 
g) 
Evaluate  consistency  of major programs and  projects  with  the RPFPs and their 
41 
impact on land use and the environment; 
42 
 
43 
h) 
Undertake the gathering of regional data for the Land Resource Information and 
44 
Management System; and 
45 
 
46 


i) 
Perform other related functions as may be directed by the NLUC. 
1 
 
2 
Article 3 
3 
ADOPTION, APPROVAL AND REVIEW OF LAND USE PLANS 
4 
 
5 
 
SEC. 22. Component Cities and Municipalities. – Component cities and 
6 
municipalities shall have the power and authority to adopt and approve their respective 
7 
CLUPs and ZOs through their respective sanggunians, subject to the power of review of 
8 
their respective provinces only with respect to the consistency of the CLUPs and ZOs 
9 
with this Act on the preparation of the provincial physical framework plan. Upon adoption 
10 
and approval of the CLUP and ZO by the Sanggunian, all land areas zoned for residential 
11 
purposes or for settlements development shall cease to be covered by the 
12 
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and therefore, shall not be required 
13 
to secure further order of land conversion or exemption certificates from the DAR, except 
14 
for the payment of disturbance compensation if applicable, as well as the requirements 
15 
pertaining to the issuance of environmental compliance certificate (ECC) by the DENR. 
16 
 
17 
 
SEC. 23. Provinces and Independent and Highly Urbanized Cities. – Provinces 
18 
and independent and highly urbanized cities shall have the power and authority to adopt 
19 
and approve their respective CLUPs, ZOs or provincial physical framework plan, as the 
20 
case may be, through their respective sanggunian, but subject to the review of the RLUPC 
21 
as provided in Section 21 of this Act. 
22 
 
23 
Article 4 
24 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LGUS 
25 
 
26 
 
SEC. 24. National Base Mapping Program. – A national mapping program shall 
27 
be implemented, coordinated, and monitored through the creation of an Inter-agency 
28 
Technical Committee (ITC) composed of the NAMRIA, as the lead agency, the Bureau of 
29 
Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Land 
30 
Management Bureau (LMB), the Land Registration Authority (LRA), the Protected Areas 
31 
and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), the Philippine 
32 
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHlVOLCS), DAR,  the  National  Water 
33 
Resources Board (NWRB), DOE, NEDA and other concerned government 
34 
agencies/bureaus. The ITC shall be constituted, and the  mapping program shall be 
35 
initiated, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. The agencies mentioned in 
36 
this Section shall endeavor to finish their base mapping program within two (2) years from 
37 
the effectivity of this Act. 
38 
 
39 
 
The spatial and non-spatial data generated by these activities shall be downloaded 
40 
to the LGU as soon as practicable. On the other hand, existing land information data 
41 
available to the national government agencies as of the effectivity of this Act shall be 
42 
immediately downloaded to the LGU. 
43 
 
44 
 
For purposes of uniformity and standardization, the LGUs, to be assisted by the 
45 
appropriate agencies of the national government, shall likewise prepare their respective 
46 


territorial maps using scales, symbols, and other indicators to be prescribed in 
1 
accordance with this Act. The completed maps shall be integrated in the national physical 
2 
framework plan pursuant to this Act. 
3 
 
4 
 
SEC. 25. National Geo-hazard Mapping Program. – Within thirty (30) days from 
5 
the effectivity of this Act, a nationwide geo-hazard mapping program shall be initiated 
6 
jointly thru the NLUC by the PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and 
7 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the NAMRIA, the MGB, the BSWM, 
8 
and the DOE, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management 
9 
Council (NDRRMC), the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council 
10 
(RDRRMC), and other concerned government agencies. The program shall include the 
11 
generation of indicative geo-hazard zoning maps that will outline areas in the Philippines 
12 
which are prone to liquefaction, landslides, severe flooding, lahar, ground rupturing, 
13 
tsunami, river erosion, coastal erosion, sinkhole collapse, earthquake, lava flow, 
14 
pyroclastic flow, base surge, and other natural hazards. 
15 
 
16 
 
For purposes of uniformity and standardization and in order to develop a safe-built 
17 
environment, the LGUs shall subsequently incorporate and integrate the generated geo-
18 
hazard zoning maps in their respective CLUPs. These geo-hazard maps shall serve as 
19 
guides for all the LGUs in the preparation of their own hazards-constrained development 
20 
plans. The national physical framework planning, pursuant to Section 5 hereof, shall 
21 
incorporate these geo-hazard maps. 
22 
 
23 
 
All infrastructure activities including real estate and subdivision projects and the 
24 
development of tourist spots requiring an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) 
25 
shall be required to submit an Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessment 
26 
Report (EGGAR). 
27 
 
28 
 
SEC. 26. Scope and Nature of Responsibilities of Other National Government 
29 
Agencies. – All concerned national government agencies/bodies shall periodically report 
30 
to the NLUC on the various activities and accomplishments relative to land use. 
31 
 
32 
 
They shall also provide their respective sectoral/development plans and render 
33 
technical and administrative support if called  upon  by the  NLUC relative to the 
34 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
35 
 
36 
 
SEC. 27. Submission of Annual Report on the Implementation of CLUPs. – 
37 
The C/MLUPC shall submit an annual report on the implementation of their land use plans 
38 
to the PLUPC, which shall integrate the same for submission to the RLUPC, which shall 
39 
in turn integrate the provincial reports for submission to the NLUC. 
40 
 
41 
CHAPTER VI 
42 
SPECIAL AREAS OF CONCERN 
43 
 
44 
Article I 
45 
AGRICULTURAL LANDS 
46 


 
1 
 
SEC. 28. Priority Areas for Agricultural Development. – Priority areas for 
2 
agricultural development shall be those agricultural areas covered under the CARP, as 
3 
amended, and those covered under the Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and 
4 
Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD), defined in Section 4 of this Act and in the 
5 
"Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act." 
6 
 
7 
 
SEC. 29. Conversion of Agricultural Lands. – Agricultural lands are deemed 
8 
converted to non-agricultural uses upon approval by the DAR of the application for 
9 
conversion. Prime agricultural lands and specific types of lands to the extent necessary 
10 
for attaining food self-sufficiency in rice and corn and food security in other basic 
11 
commodities, 
as 
determined 
by 
the 
DA, 
subject 
to 
mandatory 
public 
12 
hearings/consultations with the LGUs, the private sector, the NGOs, and POs, shall be 
13 
protected from conversion, which shall include but not limited to areas under the 
14 
NPAAAD: Provided, That all irrigated and  irrigable lands, all lands developed or 
15 
possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all agricultural lands 
16 
that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in serious environmental 
17 
problems shall be given full protection from conversion, the areas under which are subject 
18 
to review every seven (7) years by the DA, with the mandatory public 
19 
hearings/consultations: Provided, further, That consistent with the State policy on giving 
20 
priority to the completion of the CARP, all lands subject to CARP, including those lands 
21 
covered under the notice of compulsory acquisition/voluntary offer to sell, production or 
22 
profit-sharing, or commercial farm deferment shall also be protected from conversion 
23 
pending the distribution and installation of the farmer beneficiaries: Provided, furthermore, 
24 
That the conversion of agricultural lands for use of priority government projects for basic 
25 
services, such as, but not limited, to irrigation and power shall be allowed only upon the 
26 
recommendation of the Secretaries of the DA and the DAR: Provided, finally, That the 
27 
mapping of the NPAAAD under the AFMA shall be completed within two (2) years from 
28 
the effectivity of this Act.  
29 
 
30 
 
Lands defined under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 6657, as amended, otherwise 
31 
known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) shall remain exempted and 
32 
excluded from the coverage of CARP. 
33 
 
34 
 
SEC. 30. Sub-classification or Re-classification of Agricultural Lands by 
35 
LGUs. – Sub-classification or re-classification of agricultural lands to other uses under 
36 
the Local Government Code of 1991 shall exclude the protected agricultural lands as 
37 
stated in the preceding section. Moreover, such sub- classification/reclassification is not 
38 
synonymous to conversion. The DA and DAR shall provide the LGUs with complete list 
39 
and maps of protected agricultural lands within their territorial jurisdictions. 
40 
 
41 
Article 2 
42 
FOREST LANDS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT 
43 
 
44 
 
SEC. 31. Reversion of Alienable and Disposable Lands to Forestlands. – 
45 
Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the DENR, duly reviewed and endorsed by 
46 


the NLUC, and after due consultations with the concerned LGUs and affected  parties, 
1 
Congress may authorize the reversion of alienable and disposable lands of the public 
2 
domain or portion thereof to forestlands. Thereafter, said lands shall be included in the 
3 
preparation of land use plans within forestlands.  
4 
 
5 
 
SEC. 32. Critical Watershed Areas. – The DENR, in coordination with the DA, 
6 
the LGUs, and other government agencies, including government-owned and-controlled 
7 
corporations (GOCCs), and with mandatory public hearings/consultations, shall identify 
8 
and delineate critical watershed areas that need to be protected, rehabilitated, enhanced, 
9 
and/or withdrawn from uses that contribute to their further degradation. 
10 
 
11 
 
SEC. 33. Formulation and Implementation of Integrated Watershed 
12 
Management Plans. – In the absence of a law on the protection and sustainable 
13 
management of forests, the LGUs through their local land use councils and upon 
14 
mandatory public hearings/consultations with the concerned sectors, and with the 
15 
assistance of the DENR, shall prepare their watershed management plans, which shall 
16 
be integrated with their respective CLUPs. The formulation and integration of the plan 
17 
shall be guided, among others, by the  principle that the  management and development 
18 
of inland water resources shall be at the watershed level. A nationwide mapping of 
19 
watersheds in the country shall be implemented. 
20 
 
21 
 
In cases where the watershed areas transcend the boundaries of a particular 
22 
municipality, an inter-LGU committee composed of representatives from local land use 
23 
councils of the LGUs where the watershed area is located shall be formed. With the 
24 
assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory public hearings/consultations with the 
25 
concerned sectors, the inter-LGU committee shall formulate the watershed management 
26 
plan for the said watershed area. 
27 
 
28 
 
The DENR and the concerned LGUs shall jointly implement the watershed 
29 
management plan, subject to regular consultations with and involvement of the 
30 
community and other stakeholders in the implementation of the plan. 
31 
 
32 
 
The preparation of forest land use plans shall make use of the watershed as the 
33 
basic planning unit. 
34 
    
35 
    Article 3 
36 
COASTAL ZONE 
37 
 
38 
 
SEC. 34. Criteria on the Allocation and Utilization of Lands within the Coastal 
39 
Zones. – The allocation and utilization of lands within the coastal zones shall be guided 
40 
by the following: 
41 
 
42 
a) 
Areas vegetated with mangrove species shall be preserved for mangrove 
43 
production and shall not be converted to other uses; 
44 
 
45 
b) 
Areas which meet all accepted criteria on elevation, soil type, soil depth, 
46 


topography, supply for successful fishpond development, and are not identified as 
1 
mangrove protected areas, shall be utilized for aquaculture purposes; 
2 
 
3 
c) 
Areas sub-classified as mangrove and still suitable for use as such, or due to 
4 
environmental conditions need to be preserved as mangrove, but is devoid of mangrove 
5 
stands shall not be converted to other uses. The DENR shall ensure that these lands shall 
6 
be reforested within a given period of time; 
7 
 
8 
d) 
Areas accessible to the sea and identified for fisherfolk settlement and housing 
9 
shall be allocated to traditional fisherfolk who are inhabitants of the coastal communities 
10 
and members of legitimate fisherfolk organizations and/or holders of stewardship lease 
11 
contracts or titles to ancestral domains or any form of property right arrangements who 
12 
participate in coastal resource management initiatives, subject to the usual census 
13 
procedures of the relevant housing agency; 
14 
 
15 
e) 
Areas which are neither sub-classified as mangrove, fisherfolk settlement nor 
16 
fishpond may be devoted to recreational or tourism purposes: Provided, That such 
17 
undertaking will not result in environmental degradation and displacement of small 
18 
fishers; 
19 
 
20 
f) 
Areas which are considered as traditional fishing grounds shall be used primarily 
21 
for such purpose; 
22 
 
23 
g)  
Areas which have been allocated for small infrastructure needed by fisherfolk shall 
24 
be allowed; and 
25 
 
26 
h)  
Areas which form part of foreshore lands as defined in this Act including those 
27 
which are under lease agreements or arrangements shall undergo zoning and evaluation 
28 
to determine their boundaries and actual sizes and corresponding uses. 
29 
 
30 
 
SEC. 35. Coastal Land Zone Sub-classification. – All public lands in the coastal 
31 
zones shall be sub-classified into any of the following: estuaries, lagoons,  inter-tidal flats, 
32 
mudflats, fishponds, and mangroves, for protection from tidal surge, and preservation of 
33 
biodiversity, habitats and sanctuaries for endangered wildlife, fisherfolk settlement, or 
34 
recreational/tourism areas. No sub-classification of coastal zones to different uses shall 
35 
be done without the following: 
36 
 
37 
a) Conduct of a comprehensive resource and environmental assessment by the DENR 
38 
and respective LGUs and accredited NGOs and POs within their jurisdiction; and 
39 
 
40 
b) Prior consultation with the Local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management 
41 
Councils (FARMCs) formed under the Philippine Fisheries Code. 
42 
 
43 
 
SEC. 36. Zoning of Foreshore Areas. – LGUs, in coordination with the DENR, 
44 
shall conduct zoning of their respective foreshore areas to assist government and 
45 
community fishers identify priority areas for conservation and development, and to  enable 
46 


them to set targets for mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation. 
1 
 
2 
 
SEC. 37. Protection of Waterways Easements and Flood Plains. –Structures 
3 
of any kind shall not be built in waterways easements. Pursuant to the Water Code, the 
4 
banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes throughout their entire 
5 
length and within a zone of three (3) meters in urban areas, twenty (20) meters in 
6 
agricultural areas and forty (40) meters in forest areas, along their margins, are subject 
7 
to the easement of public use only in the interest of recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing 
8 
and salvage. 
9 
 
10 
 
The protection of flood plains shall adopt a river basin management approach in 
11 
order to come up with integrated flood mitigation interventions. Development within flood 
12 
plains and other flood-prone areas must be controlled or, if allowed, must be so sited, 
13 
constructed and serviced that the lives of the occupants are not put at risk and that 
14 
disruptions during floods are minimal. The identification and characterization of flood-
15 
prone areas and flood plains shall be an integral part of CLUP preparation. Through the 
16 
CLUPs and zoning ordinances, LGUs shall establish land use regulations to mitigate flood 
17 
risks . 
18 
 
19 
 
The DPWH, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology 
20 
(DOST) and the DENR, shall declare flood control areas, as necessary, and prohibit or 
21 
control activities that could damage or cause deterioration of lakes and dikes, obstruct 
22 
the flow of water, change the natural flow of rivers, increase flood losses or aggravate 
23 
flood problems pursuant to the Water Code. 
24 
 
25 
Article 4 
26 
MINERAL LANDS 
27 
 
28 
 
SEC. 38. Criteria for the Utilization and Allocation of Land for Mining 
29 
Purposes. – Consistent with Section 6 of this Act and the provisions of Republic Act No. 
30 
7942, otherwise known as the Mining Act of 1995, and to ensure that the objectives of 
31 
maintaining ecological balance and maximizing economic returns to mining operations 
32 
are realized, the allocation and utilization of lands for mining purposes shall be guided by 
33 
the following: 
34 
 
35 
a) The principles of sustainable development and responsible mining; 
36 
 
37 
b) In case of small-scale mining, adequate and acceptable safeguards shall be instituted 
38 
by the  holders of mining  rights or permits to  prevent environmental degradation of the 
39 
mining sites and adjacent areas; 
40 
 
41 
c) Mineral reservations which have become non-operational for more than five (5) years 
42 
as determined by the  MGB shall be placed under appropriate surface management by 
43 
the DENR;  
44 
 
45 
d) Consistent with the Mining Act of 1995, areas closed to mining operations shall be 
46 


periodically reviewed through mineral exploration to be undertaken by the DENR for the 
1 
purpose of determining whether or not their continued closure is consistent with the 
2 
national interest and, if warranted, recommend their reclassification as mineral lands;  
3 
 
4 
e) Protection forestlands and agricultural lands shall be exempt from mining activities to 
5 
minimize the effect of natural calamities and to protect food security, respectively. The 
6 
small to large scale mining operations shall yield from and recognize the tenurial 
7 
instrument given by the government, such as the Original Certificate of Title (OCT), 
8 
Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT), Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT), 
9 
Emancipation Patent - Certificate of Land Ownership Award (EP-CLOA), and other 
10 
instruments. If these are present, no mining activity shall be conducted. 
11 
 
12 
 
SEC. 39. Reversion of Mineral Lands. – All mineral lands with exhausted mineral 
13 
resources, as determined by the MGB upon the recommendation of the DENR, shall 
14 
revert to its original land classification, that is, as forestland or agricultural land. In the 
15 
case of forestlands, the DENR may classify such areas for other purposes, in consultation 
16 
with concerned LGUs, the DOT, and other national government agencies. 
17 
 
18 
Article 5 
19 
ENERGY RESOURCE LANDS 
20 
 
21 
 
SEC. 40. Guidelines for the Utilization and Allocation of Lands for Energy 
22 
Resource Exploration, Development, Production, Utilization, and Distribution 
23 
Purposes. – To ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance and  
24 
maximizing the power potential from indigenous energy resources in the most economical 
25 
and environmentally-acceptable means are realized, the allocation and utilization of lands 
26 
for said purposes shall be guided by the following, consistent with existing regulations 
27 
and laws on energy resources: 
28 
 
29 
a) Indigenous energy resource exploration and development for the purpose of a National 
30 
Energy Resource Inventory and Data Base, as well as Energy Resource Block Map shall 
31 
be allowed, subject to the implementation of complementary watershed and other land 
32 
management plans; 
33 
 
34 
b) Indigenous energy resource exploration, development, production, utilization, and  
35 
distribution shall be subject to the appropriate requirements and processes of the 
36 
Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. Each project shall secure  an 
37 
ECC prior to project implementation to ensure adequate and appropriate environmental 
38 
management measures and optimum methods for resource access and recovery are 
39 
utilized; and  
40 
 
41 
c) Energy reservations or portions thereof which have become or have been established 
42 
to be non-economically viable to operate or are no longer used for energy purposes shall 
43 
be released to give way to other land uses, subject to existing laws covering energy 
44 
reservations. 
45 
 
46 


 
SEC. 41. Reversion of Energy Resource Lands. – All exhausted indigenous 
1 
energy resource lands not covered by proclamations shall automatically revert to the 
2 
category of forestlands or agricultural lands open to disposition, whichever is appropriate. 
3 
Exhausted energy resource lands shall refer to specific energy resource sites whose 
4 
energy reserves of the desired type/s are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify 
5 
additional expenditure for their extraction and utilization. 
6 
 
7 
CHAPTER VII 
8 
SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPMENT 
9 
 
10 
 
SEC. 42. Town, City, and Settlements Development. – The development of 
11 
town, city, and settlements through the zoning ordinances of cities and municipalities shall 
12 
be guided by CLUPs and urban zoning standards designed to maximize existing urban 
13 
spaces. Socialized housing and settlement areas shall be established only on alienable 
14 
and disposable lands in order to avoid further degradation of forestlands. 
15 
 
16 
 
SEC. 43. Settlements Within Geo-hazard Areas. – Settlements, in particular 
17 
housing or residential developments, within geo-hazard areas may be allowed provided 
18 
that mitigating and/or protective measures are adopted to address the potential danger 
19 
or risk to lives and property within such settlements. In coordination with the concerned 
20 
agencies of the government, the NLUC shall provide assistance to concerned LGUs and 
21 
settlers in instituting safety and corrective measures to address the potential danger or 
22 
risk. 
23 
 
24 
 
Residential zones as designated in the CLUP shall be considered as outside the 
25 
geo-hazard areas. For this purpose, housing  projects within such areas shall be 
26 
exempted from the ECC, as well as the EGGAR and may be implemented without the 
27 
need for any further certificate of exemption from the DENR or any other government 
28 
regulatory agency. 
29 
 
30 
 
SEC. 44. Designation of Sanitary Landfill. – Each  city or  municipality  shall 
31 
identify, designate and allocate an area within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as 
32 
sanitary landfill within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The LGUs, in 
33 
coordination with the DENR or any other competent authority, shall identify sanitary 
34 
landfills in order to fast-track the conduct of EIS study and to facilitate processing of the 
35 
ECC. The site or area shall be identified in the city or municipality's CLUP. For this 
36 
purpose, cities and municipalities shall establish their solid waste management program, 
37 
pursuant to Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste 
38 
Management Act of 2000." In addition, cities and municipalities may, through appropriate 
39 
ordinances, bind themselves towards the establishment of a common solid waste 
40 
management program. 
41 
 
42 
 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in coordination 
43 
with concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary guidelines and standards for 
44 
the formulation and establishment of solid waste management programs by cities and 
45 
municipalities, and shall submit the same to the NLUC for review and approval. 
46 


 
1 
 
SEC. 45. Designation and Zoning of Socialized Housing Zones. – Each city or 
2 
municipality in urban, urbanizable and rural areas shall designate through the CLUP 
3 
adequate lands for housing or residential purposes, including socialized housing and 
4 
resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the local population, as well as 
5 
the underprivileged and homeless in their territory, pursuant to existing laws and 
6 
regulations. In order to ensure adequate availability of land for the housing needs of the 
7 
local population, the CLUP shall be updated, at maximum, every ten (10) years for 
8 
provinces, cities and municipalities, except if an earlier amendment or revision of the 
9 
CLUP is authorized by the NLUC due to extraordinary causes. 
10 
 
11 
 
The designated sites for socialized housing shall be located in residential zones, 
12 
and shall be zoned as socialized housing zones that are integrated in the city or 
13 
municipality's zoning ordinance, pursuant to existing laws and regulations.  
14 
 
15 
 
Fisherfolk settlements and housing in coastal municipalities shall be zoned near 
16 
the sea for easy access to their livelihood as provided under this Act. 
17 
 
18 
 
The housing or residential lands designated in the CLUPS and ZOs of cities and 
19 
municipalities shall not be subject to further land reclassification by the LGU or land 
20 
conversion procedure under DAR. However, agricultural lands as designated in the CLUP 
21 
which are no longer economically feasible for agricultural use may be subject to land 
22 
reclassification or conversion to housing/residential purposes and such conversion, as 
23 
the case may be, shall be exempt from the coverage of any moratorium on land 
24 
conversion. 
25 
 
26 
 
SEC. 46. Urban Forest or Green Space. – Each  city  or  highly  urbanizing 
27 
municipality shall identify, designate, and allocate lands owned by the city or municipality 
28 
as urban forest or green space based on the guidelines and standards to be issued by 
29 
the DENR and approved by the NLUC. 
30 
 
31 
CHAPTER VIII 
32 
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS 
33 
 
34 
 
SEC. 47. Criteria for Designating Industrial Development Areas. – The 
35 
identification and establishment of industrial development areas shall conform with the 
36 
provisions of Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as the “Philippine Economic Zone 
37 
Authority (PEZA) Act,” CARL, as amended by Republic Act No. 9700, otherwise known 
38 
as the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms Act” 
39 
(CARPER), IPRA, UDHA, and AFMA, taking into consideration the following: 
40 
 
41 
a) Identified network of areas for agricultural development and protected agricultural 
42 
areas pursuant to the AFMA; 
43 
 
44 
b) National policies on the regional dispersal of industries and agri-based industrial 
45 
development; 
46 


 
1 
c) Identified growth areas and corridors in the National Development Plan; 
2 
 
3 
d) NIPAS, E-NIPAS and non-NIPAS areas that require protection; 
4 
 
5 
e) National and Urban Development and Housing Framework; 
6 
 
7 
f) Identified Socialized Housing Zones; and 
8 
 
9 
g) National framework for physical planning and other existing national programs and 
10 
policies. 
11 
 
12 
 
The designated industrial development areas shall become an integral part of the 
13 
land use plan and zoning ordinance of the city or municipality where these areas are 
14 
located. 
15 
 
16 
CHAPTER IX 
17 
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND HERITAGE AREAS 
18 
 
19 
 
SEC. 48. Designating Tourism Development Areas. – The identification, 
20 
selection, and development of tourism development areas, tourism estates and  tourism 
21 
enterprise zones (TEZs) shall be done in consultation and coordination with the 
22 
concerned LGUs, the TIEZA and concerned national government agencies, the private 
23 
sector, and the affected communities, subject to the provisions of the Tourism Act of 2009. 
24 
Tourism development areas shall likewise include those covered by legislative and 
25 
executive issuances as tourist spots, tourist zones and tourism ecozones which can be 
26 
developed into tourism estates or integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes and 
27 
other tourism-related facilities, as well as those identified in the national, regional and 
28 
inter-regional tourism, and area-specific tourism master plans and other sector plans such 
29 
as ecotourism and agri-tourism sites. 
30 
 
31 
 
Designated areas for tourism development shall become part of the CLUPs of the 
32 
cities or municipalities where these are located. 
33 
 
34 
 
Lands identified as part of a TEZ shall qualify for exemption from the coverage of 
35 
the UDHA and CARL, as amended by CARPER, subject to rules and regulations to be 
36 
crafted by the TIEZA, DHUSD, DAR and DA: Provided, That a certificate shall be obtained 
37 
from the DA that said lands are no longer economically feasible and sound for agricultural 
38 
purposes, consistent with the provisions of this Act. 
39 
 
40 
 
SEC. 49. Identification and Declaration of Areas for Protection, Conservation 
41 
and Preservation of Cultural Heritage. – Pursuant to the National Cultural Heritage Act 
42 
of 2009, the NHCP and/or the National Museum, in coordination with National 
43 
Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), DHSUD, and  other concerned agencies, 
44 
local communities, and the private sector, shall identify declared areas and structures 
45 
which shall be protected and/or preserved as part of the Philippine cultural heritage. 
46 


 
1 
 
The LGUs, in coordination with the NHCP, the NCCA and the Cultural Center of 
2 
the Philippines (CCP) shall designate historical zones to protect the historical integrity of 
3 
said geographical areas and cultural space of intangible cultural properties. 
4 
 
5 
CHAPTER X 
6 
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT 
7 
 
8 
 
SEC. 50. Allocation and Use of Land for Infrastructure Development. –Land, 
9 
whether public or private, shall be allocated and utilized for priority infrastructure projects 
10 
that are supportive of national or local development objectives. The NEDA, in consultation 
11 
with the concerned national government agencies, LGUs, and the private sector shall 
12 
identify and periodically review, update and/or revise the list of priority infrastructure 
13 
projects, subject to the provisions of this Act, and the AFMA. In determining and 
14 
evaluating the list of priority infrastructure projects, consideration shall be given to those 
15 
that: 
16 
 
17 
a)  
Respond to immediate and vital requirements of the national economy with priority 
18 
on improving rural infrastructure and the development of the agriculture and fisheries 
19 
sectors; 
20 
 
21 
b)  
Upgrade existing facilities to international standards; 
22 
 
23 
c)  
Address the need for sustainable settlements development; and 
24 
 
25 
d)  
Help mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing phenomena or 
26 
those  that shall serve as alternatives to existing infrastructures found in natural hazard-
27 
prone areas: Provided, That the provision and implementation of infrastructure support 
28 
shall be made compatible with existing environmental conditions and the physical, 
29 
whether natural or human-made, and cultural character of the area.  Mandatory public 
30 
hearings/consultations pursuant to existing laws and regulations shall be held prior to the 
31 
conduct of all infrastructure projects that will necessarily involve dislocation or 
32 
displacement of people in the area: Provided, further, That the  proponent of the 
33 
infrastructure project shall follow the rules on just and humane eviction or demolition 
34 
under the UDHA, notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No. 8975, prohibiting 
35 
lower courts from issuing temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, or 
36 
preliminary mandatory injunctions, and proponent shall follow IPRA: Provided. finally, 
37 
That national government infrastructure projects shall allocate budget for the adequate 
38 
relocation of displaced communities. 
39 
 
40 
 
SEC. 51. Infrastructure Projects Within Geo-hazard Areas. – Construction of 
41 
priority infrastructure projects within hazard-prone areas shall be allowed: Provided, That 
42 
mitigating and/or preventive measures are adopted to address the potential adverse 
43 
economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts that will emanate from these 
44 
infrastructure projects, subject to the findings and recommendations of a feasibility 
45 
study/environmental impact assessment in accordance with Presidential Decree No. 
46 


1586 otherwise known as “Establishing An Environmental Impact Statement System, 
1 
Including Other Environmental Management Related  Measures,” and Republic Act No. 
2 
4846, otherwise known as the “Cultural Properties Preservation and Protection Act, as 
3 
amended. 
4 
 
5 
 
Existing projects that did not go through the process of an environmental impact 
6 
assessment and pose threats to the environment, integrity of historic, archeological, or 
7 
scientifically significant areas; or are impinging on critical ecosystems, may be: a) 
8 
terminated immediately; b) required to implement an Environmental Management Plan; 
9 
c) gradually be phased-out and relocated; or d) maintained up to their life span, subject, 
10 
however, to mitigating measures: Provided, That the rules on mandatory public 
11 
hearings/consultations and just and humane eviction or  demolition shall also be observed 
12 
prior to the termination, gradual phase-out, or relocation of projects that will necessarily 
13 
involve dislocation or displacement of people in the area. 
14 
 
15 
CHAPTER XI 
16 
TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND VALUE FORMATION 
17 
 
18 
 
SEC. 52. Value Formation. – In order to create a well-informed, responsible and 
19 
committed citizenry who values the protection, conservation and development of the 
20 
country's limited land, and other physical resources, the State shall mandate the inclusion 
21 
of sustainable land use education or any subject related thereto in the curricula of primary, 
22 
secondary and tertiary education. 
23 
 
24 
 
SEC. 53. Information and Education Campaign. – The NLUC shall undertake a 
25 
nationwide education information campaign in land use and  physical planning to be 
26 
implemented by local and national government agencies. The DILG and concerned 
27 
agencies shall formulate and implement a land use management capability-building 
28 
program for national and local government officials, community leaders, NGOs, POs, 
29 
religious sector, and the general public: Provided, That it shall be mandatory for local 
30 
government officials involved in the preparation of CLUPS and PPFDP, including the 
31 
municipal, city and provincial development officer to attend the Land Use Management 
32 
Capability-Building Program. 
33 
 
34 
 
SEC. 54. Skills Training. – The agencies involved in the implementation of this 
35 
Act shall coordinate and partner with the Technical Education and Skills Development 
36 
Authority (TESDA) in the development, delivery, review and improvement of relevant 
37 
training regulations related to the implementation of this Act to ensure that that the 
38 
necessary skilled personnel are available to meet the job demands of this Act.   
39 
 
40 
CHAPTER XII 
41 
INCENTIVES, SANCTIONS, AND PENALTIES 
42 
 
43 
Article 1 
44 
INCENTIVES AND AWARDS 
45 
 
46 


 
SEC. 55.  Formulation of a System of Incentives and Awards. – The NLUC 
1 
shall draft and devise a system of incentives and awards to LGUs that regularly update 
2 
their CLUPs within the prescribed period, as follows: 
3 
 
4 
a) Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities, and Independent Component Cities once every 
5 
nine (9) years; and 
6 
 
7 
b) Component cities and municipalities once every nine (9) years. 
8 
 
9 
 
SEC. 56. Priority in Giving Technical Assistance to LGUs. – In providing 
10 
technical assistance and other forms of support related to land use management and the 
11 
implementation of development plans, the national government agencies shall give 
12 
priority to cities and municipalities with approved CLUPs. 
13 
 
14 
Article 2 
15 
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES 
16 
 
17 
 
SEC. 57. Fine for Non-Completion and Non-Commencement of Development 
18 
of Agricultural Lands with Approved Order of Conversion. – A landowner and his/her 
19 
designated developer or duly authorized representative who fails to commence and/or 
20 
complete the development of agricultural lands with approved order of conversion shall 
21 
be penalized, jointly or severally, with any of the following fines based on the zonal value 
22 
of the land at the time the fine is imposed: 
23 
 
24 
a) On failure to commence within one year from the date of conversion order: 
25 
 
26 
1) Six percent (6%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the first three (3) hectares; 
27 
2) Fifteen percent (15%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the next three (3) 
28 
hectares; and  
29 
3) Thirty percent (30%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the remaining area: 
30 
Provided, That the order of conversion shall be deemed revoked automatically and the 
31 
land shall revert to its original agricultural use and covered by the DAR through 
32 
compulsory acquisition for distribution to qualified beneficiaries. 
33 
 
34 
b) On failure to complete fifty percent (50%) of the approved conversion plan within a 
35 
specified time frame: Fifty percent (50%) of the zonal value of the subject land and  the 
36 
revocation of the conversion plan on the undeveloped portion which shall automatically 
37 
revert to its original use as agricultural land. The same shall be covered under the CARP 
38 
and processed for land distribution as soon as possible. 
39 
 
40 
 
SEC. 58. Authority to Impose Fine. – The DAR shall impose the penalty provided 
41 
for under the preceding section. 
42 
 
43 
 
SEC. 59. Withdrawal of Local Development Permits or Licenses. – Upon 
44 
receipt of notice from the DAR, the concerned agencies and the city or municipality shall 
45 
withdraw or revoke any development permit and other licenses that may be necessary to 
46 


develop the agricultural land subject of conversion. 
1 
 
2 
 
SEC. 60. Utilization of Fines. – The fines collected under this Act shall 
3 
automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund, consistent with the provisions of the 
4 
CARL, as amended by CARPER. 
5 
 
6 
 
SEC. 61. Failure to Formulate, Enforce, and/or Implement the CLUPs. – 
7 
Consistent with due process, the DILG shall investigate, review, and impose appropriate 
8 
action, regarding local chief executives and other local officials and employees 
9 
responsible for the formulation, enforcement, and/or implementation of the CLUPs in case 
10 
of any of the following: 
11 
 
12 
a) Failure to implement and enforce the CLUP due to negligence of duty; 
13 
 
14 
b) Failure to provide appropriate budgetary allocation to effect its implementation; and 
15 
 
16 
c) Failure to complete the preparation of the CLUP, despite the availability of funds, 
17 
resources, and support by the sanggunian concerned. 
18 
 
19 
 
Any public official or employee, regardless of whether elected or appointed or 
20 
holding office or employment in a casual, temporary, holdover, permanent, or regular 
21 
capacity, found to be responsible for any of the foregoing acts, after due notice and 
22 
hearing by the appropriate body or agency, shall be punished with forfeiture of salaries 
23 
and allowances and suspension ranging from: 
24 
 
25 
a) Six (6) to nine (9) months, in case of non-implementation of CLUP; or 
 
26 
 
27 
b) Three (3) to six (6) months, in case of non-completion of the CLUP. 
28 
 
29 
 
SEC. 62. Person(s) Abetting Illegal Conversion. – Any person initiating, 
30 
causing, inducing, or abetting illegal conversion shall, upon conviction, be  imprisoned 
31 
from seven (7) to twelve (12) years, and imposed a fine of not less than One hundred 
32 
thousand (Pl00,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of the court: Provided, That if the 
33 
offender is a public official or employee, whether elected or appointed, the penalty shall, 
34 
in addition thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the service and 
35 
forfeiture of all benefits and entitlements accruing to the public  position and perpetual 
36 
disqualification to run or apply for any elective or appointive public office: Provided, 
37 
further, That if the offender is a juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment shall be 
38 
imposed on the president, chief executive officer, manager, chairperson, and all the 
39 
members of the board, and other responsible officers thereof. The fine shall be equivalent 
40 
to the zonal value of the land or forty percent (40%) of the shareholders equity, as 
41 
determined at the time of judgment, whichever is higher. In addition, such violation shall 
42 
result in the forfeiture of the land in favor of the State for sale though public auction, the 
43 
proceeds of which shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund as provided 
44 
for in Section 60 of this Act. 
45 
 
46 


 
SEC. 63. Penalty for Reclassification of Protected Agricultural Lands and 
1 
Exceeding the Limit of Areas Allowed for Reclassification. – Any person initiating, 
2 
causing, inducing, or abetting the reclassification of protected agricultural areas into non-
3 
agricultural uses and exceeding the limits set forth under the Local Government Code of 
4 
1991, shall be penalized with imprisonment of twelve (12) years and a fine of not less 
5 
than One hundred thousand (Pl00,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of the court: 
6 
Provided, That if the offender is a public official or employee, the penalty shall, in addition 
7 
thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the service, whether 
8 
elected or appointed, and forfeiture of entitlements accruing to the public position, and 
9 
perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or appointive public position: 
10 
Provided, further, That if the offender is a juridical person, the penalty shall be imposed 
11 
on the president, chief executive officer, manager, chairperson and all the members of 
12 
the board, and other responsible officers thereof. 
13 
 
14 
 
SEC. 64. Payment of Disturbance Compensation. – Following the order of 
15 
priority as enumerated in Section 22 of the CARL, as amended, qualified beneficiaries 
16 
such as agricultural lessees and share tenants, regular farm workers, seasonal farm 
17 
workers, other farm workers, actual tillers or occupants of public lands, collective, or 
18 
cooperative of the above-mentioned beneficiaries, and others directly working on the land 
19 
affected by agricultural land use conversion shall be entitled to the payment of 
20 
disturbance compensation equivalent to five (5) times the average of the gross harvests 
21 
on the landholding during the last five (5) preceding calendar years or a certain 
22 
percentage of the converted land, whichever is higher, as determined by the DAR. 
23 
 
24 
CHAPTER XIII 
25 
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
26 
 
27 
 
SEC. 65.  Convening of the NLUC. – Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of 
28 
this Act, the President shall convene the NLUC. 
29 
 
30 
 
SEC. 66. DAR Conversion of Agricultural Lands. – This Act shall not, in any 
31 
way, derogate from the mandate of DAR to facilitate the conversion of agricultural land 
32 
under any existing comprehensive agrarian reform policy, directive or law.  
33 
 
34 
 
SEC. 67. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – Within six (6) months from the 
35 
effectivity of this Act, the NLUC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement 
36 
the provisions of this Act.  
37 
 
38 
 
SEC. 68. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Use Act. – There 
39 
is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee which shall monitor  the 
40 
implementation of this Act. It shall be composed of seven (7) members from the Senate 
41 
and seven (7) members from the House of Representatives. The Chairpersons of the 
42 
Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the House of 
43 
Representatives Committee on Natural Resources shall be the Chair and Co-Chair of the 
44 
Congressional Oversight Committee, respectively. The other members from the Senate 
45 
shall be appointed by the Senate President based on proportional representation of the 
46 


parties or coalitions therein with at least one (1) senator representing the minority. The 
1 
other members from the House of Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker 
2 
also based on proportional representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least 
3 
one (1) member representing the minority. 
4 
  
5 
 
The secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the existing 
6 
secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight and the funding shall 
7 
be taken from the appropriations of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
8 
 
9 
 
SEC. 69. Appropriations. – The  appropriations for the NLUC shall be taken from 
10 
the budget of the Office of the President in the General Appropriations Act in the year 
11 
following the effectivity of this Act shall be used to carry out the initial operations of the 
12 
National Land Use Commission. Thereafter, additional sums as may be necessary for the 
13 
full implementation of NLUC's functions shall be included in the annual General 
14 
Appropriations Act. 
15 
 
16 
 
SEC. 70. Review of Existing Land Use Plans. – Provinces, cities, and 
17 
municipalities with existing land use plans shall review, revise, reconcile, and harmonize 
18 
the same with the guidelines and standards set forth under this Act within three (3) years 
19 
from the effectivity of this Act. 
20 
 
21 
 
SEC. 71. Repealing Clause. – All republic  acts,  executive  orders,  rules  and 
22 
regulations, and  other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the 
23 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
24 
 
25 
 
SEC. 72. Non-impairment Clause. – Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
26 
diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or available to marginalized or basic 
27 
sectors under existing laws , including, but not limited, to the UDHA, CARL, IPRA, and 
28 
the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.  
29 
 
30 
 
SEC. 73. Separability Clause. – If for any reason or reasons, any part or provision 
31 
of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or 
32 
provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
33 
effect. 
34 
 
35 
 
SEC. 74. Effectivity Clause. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
36 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general 
37 
circulation. 
38 
 
39 
Approved, 
40 
 
41