THLRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
1 
OF THE PHILPPINES 
) 
FIRST REGULAR SESSION 
1 
SENATE 
~ 
~ 
~ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The laws governing the land use and planning are numerous and scattered. These 
are implemented by several government offices at the national, regional, provincial and 
municipal levels, which are geographically distant from each other. This confusing 
situation has not only delayed the implementation of development programs, but has also 
been a rich source of graft and corruption. Hence, the need to codify such existing laws 
into a single code. 
This proposed Land Use Code incorporates inputs from various government 
agencies involved in the development p laming, as w elf a s  those from concerned n on- 
profit organizations. It identifies the various types of land uses, discusses the entire 
process of land use planning and its devolution to local government units, the government 
agencies and officials involved, and the requisite clearances and permits for land 
development. 
Although there have been several proposed drafts of a unified land code pending 
before Congress, this bill is different as it incorporates current policies of effective land 
use policy and management in the United States. 


This bill aims to provide direction to the role land use planning can play in the 
development of our economy and institutions in a manner consistent with the best 
interests of all the people concerned. 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PI-IILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR A NATIONAL LAND USE FRAMEWORK AND ITS IMPLEMENTING 
MECHANISMS 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
cisseinbled: 
TITLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS 
CHAPTER I - Preliminary Chapter 
SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as tlie “Land Use Code of tlie Philippines.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration ofPolicies. - The State shall pursue policies to guide aiid improve 
the allocation, utilization, management and development of the couutry’s laud resouxes including 
water resources, to eiiswe their optimum use, under tlie principles of sustained economic growth the 
efficiency aiid social justice. 
It shall also be the policy of the State to adopt and institutionalize land use and physical 
plaiiiiing as a mechanism for identifying and evaluating alternative land uses. This shall be 
supported by the national land use classification system and a land resource information 
inaiiagemeiit system. 
SECTION 3. Principles. - The State shall ensure the effective sharing of powers, functious 
aiid accountability among tlie national government, local governmeiit units and local coininuuities 
ou land use aud allocation, under the principle of decentralization. 
SECTION 4. Construction ofthe Act. - All doubts in the implementation and interpretation 
of the provision of this Act, including its implementing rules and regulatioiis shall be resolved in 
favor oC 


(1) conservation and protection of land and water resources for sustainable development; 
(2) equitable access and use of land and other natural resources for sustainable livelihood 
particularly of society’s marginalized sectors; 
(3) greater responsibility and authority of the government to regulate the allocation, 
utilization, development and management of land and water; and 
(4) the reconciliation ofprivate interests with the public good. 
CHAPTER 2 - Definition of Terms 
SECTION 5. Dejnitions. - As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean: 
(1) Agricultural Land - land devoted or suitable for cultivation of the soil, planting of 
crops, growing of fruit trees, raising of livestock, poultry, fish or aquaculture production, 
including the harvesting of such farm products, and other farm activities and practices performed 
in conjunction with such farming operations done by persons whether natural or judicial and not 
classified by law as mineral land, forest land, or national park, residential land, commercial land 
or industrial land. 
(2) Ago-Forest Areas - areas allotted to the sustainable simultaneous or sequential 
production of tree, shrub, herbaceous, and domestic animal crops managed compatibly and 
principally with cultural and economic needs of local populations. 
(3) Alienable and Disposable Lands of the Public Domain - lands of the public domain 
classified as such and available for disposition under the Public Land Act. 
(4) Ancestral Domain - refers to all lands and natural resources continuously owned, 
occupied or possessed by indigenous cultural communities, communally, or individually, in 
accordance with their customs and traditions. 
(5) Ancestral Lands - refers to those real properties within or outside the ancestral 
domain which are communally or individually owned, occupied or possessed by indigenous 
cultural communities in accordance with their customs and traditions. 
(6) Carrying Capacity - the measure of the number of individual that can be supported by 
the environment and available resources without deterioration. 


r 
(7) Classified Public Lands - lands classified as forest lands, mineral lands and protected 
areas which are inalienable and agncultural lands of the public domain which are alienable and 
disposable. 
(8) Coastal Zones - strips of land adjacent to a lake or ocean space and seabeds in which 
the land ecology and land use directly affect the lake and ocean space ecology. 
(9) Comprehensive Local Development Plan (CLDP) - a document embodying specific 
proposals for guiding, regulating growth and development at the local level which including 
socio-economic factors, infrastructure, local government administration and land use planning. 
(10) 
Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) - a city or municipal land use plan duly 
approved by the Sungguninng Panlalawigan and enacted through zoning ordinaces. The CLUP 
takes into consideration requirements for food production, human settlements, ecological balance 
and industrial expansion. It is the primary and dominant basis for future use of local resources 
and for reclassification of agricultural lands into other uses. 
(1 1) 
Critical Watershed - is a drainage of a river system which supports or is expected 
to support proposed or on-going hydro-electric plants, irrigation systems, local wateiworks 
system and domestic water facilities in need of immediate rehabilitation and protection due to 
rapid denudation resulting in accelerated siltation and destructive floods. 
(12) 
Development Plan - a document which defines the activities or measures that 
government, in consultation with the people, intends to implement in order to achieve a defined 
set of development goals. A plan may include an analysis of problems and resources, definition 
of goals and objectives, policy guidelines, project and target achievements, and an 
implementation mechanisms which defines the roles and contributions expected from agencies 
and the private sector. This also refers to the socio-economic framework of the national or local 
government unit. 
(13) 
Dominant Land Use - the pervasive utilization of land within a perimeter of 100 
meters from a specific parcel of land. 
(14) 
Ecologically-Fragile Agricultural Lands - lands within the critical watershed, 
brackish and freshwater wetlands and pasture lands whose continued development would 


adversely affect the productivity of lowland agriculture areas and the stability of the upland 
system. 
(15) 
Food Security - a policy objective for meeting present and future food 
requirement, either through local production or importation or both. 
(16) 
Forestlands - refers to those lands of the public domain which have been 
classified into multiple uses such as production forest, agroforestry, rangeland, forestland 
reservations, inland water bodies, protection forests, resettlements and military reservations. 
(17) 
Grazing Lands - lands of public domain set aside, in view of the suitability of 
topography and vegetation, for the raising of livestock. 
(18) 
Government-Owned Lands - alienable lands which are owned by the government 
of the Republic of the Philippines. 
(19) 
Hazard and Disaster Prone Areas and/or Environmentally Critical Areas - areas 
prone to natural hazards due to weather, hydrologic and geologic conditions. These include (a) 
weather and water related hazards such as tropical cyclone rains, storm surge, flood, and 
drought; (b) earthquake induced hazards which are characterized by ground shaking, ground 
rupture, liquefaction and lateral spreading, landslides and tsunami; (c) volcanic hazards which 
include lava and pyroclastic flow, airfall, lahar, and edifice failure; and (d) erosion related 
hazards. 
(20) 
Idle Lands- refers to non-agricultural lands in urban and urbanizable areas on 
which no improvements for the last three (3) years have been made by the owner, as certified by 
the city, municipal or provincial assessor. 
(21) 
Indigenous Cultural Communities - a homogenous society identified by self- 
ascription and ascription by others, who have continually lived as a community on communally 
bounded and defined territory, sharing common language, customs, traditions and other distinct 
cultural traits. 
(22) 
Irrigated Lands - lands where surface or ground water is available to support rice 
and other crop production. 
(23) 
Land Classification - the assessment of land, which includes surveying, 
classifying, studying and mapping of lands under the public domain. 


(24) 
Land Reclassification - a subsequent change in land use of classified lands of the 
public domain for allocation and disposition into specific uses. 
(25) 
Land Subclassification -the act of determining and assigning the specific uses of 
classified lands of the public domain. 
(26) 
Land Use Conversion - the act of changing the current use of land into some 
other use. 
(27) 
Land Use - the manner of utilization of land, including its allocation, 
development and management. 
(28) 
into specific uses. 
(29) 
Land Capability Classification 
~ the act of determining the suitability of the land 
Land Use Planning - the act of defining the allocation, utilization, development 
and management of all lands within a given territory or jurisdiction as an aid to decision-making 
and legislation. 
(30) 
Land Use Plan - a plan which includes a land use map, the factors indicating the 
socially desired mix of land uses and a set of policies to guide future development. 
(3 1) 
Mineral Lands - lands in which minerals exist in sufficient quantity or quality to 
justify the investment necessary for their extraction and/or development. 
(32) 
(33) 
Marginal Lands - lands which cannot yield substantial returns when utilized. 
Non-Government Organization - a private, non-profit organization that is 
committed to the task of socio-economic, physical, cultural and environmental development and 
established primarily to provide service in theses areas. 
(34) 
People's Organization - private, non-profit voluntary and community-based 
organization established primarily to provide service to its members and the community in 
general. 
(35) 
Permanent Forest or Forest Reserves - are lands of the public domain which have 
been subclassified as such and determined to be needed for forest purposes. 
(36) 
Physical Framework Plan - a plan which allocates the most appropriate and 
rational use of land and other physical resources. 


(37) 
Potentially-Irrigable Lands - 1 ands already covered b y  irrigation projects o f the 
National Irrigation Administration, Department of Agriculture or Local government units with 
firm funding commitments at the time of the zoning and/or the application for land use 
conversion. 
(38) 
Prime Agricultural Lands - refer to lands falling under unit class A or B in the 
category of lands formulated by the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) which can 
be highly productive using soil conservation practices. 
(39) 
Productive Land Use - the utilization of land through the following activities; 
agriculture, fishing or aquaculture, timber or agroforestry, grazing and pasture, mining, industry 
and tourism. 
(40) 
Production Forest - forestland managed primarily for the production of timber 
and other tree products. These lands include natural and artificially regenerated forests. 
(41) 
Protection Land Use - the utilization of land primarily for rehabilitation, 
conservation and protection purposes through the preservation of the ecology. 
(42) 
Protection Forest - forest land and public forest maintained primarily for their 
beneficial influence on soil and water in particular and the environment in general. 
(43) 
Public Domain - lands controlled by the national government, and are classified 
either as agricultural, forest or timber, mineral and national parks. 
(44) 
Public Lands - 1 ands which have not been subject to private property rights or 
subject to any mode of acquisition or concession and devoted to public use. 
(45) 
Public Forest - is the mass of land of the public domain which has not been 
classified. 
(46) 
(47) 
Rural Areas- areas not otherwise defined as urban. 
Settlements - the communities or built-up environment where people prefer to 
reside. 
(48) 
Settlements Development - any improvement on existing settlements, or any 
proposed development of certain areas for settlement purposes. It also involves the spatial 
distribution of population, identification of key urban centers and the provision of basic services 
to major settlement areas or growth centers. 


(49) 
Sustainable Development - a development objective to meet the needs of 
Filipinos for a prolonged period of time in accordance with the principles of social equity, 
efficiency and environment integrity. 
(50) 
Tourism Development Areas - specific sites which can be developed into tourism 
estates or integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes and other tourism-related facilities. 
(5 1) 
Tourism Estate - refers to large tracts of land with defined boundaries which are 
suitable for development of integrated resort complexes. 
(52) 
Tourism Spot - shall mean a particular sitehpot, whether man-made or natural 
known for its unique tourist-drawing attributes and activities. It may be classified according to its 
social, cultural, natural, scientific or recreational significance. 
(53) 
Tourist Zones - areas programmed for tourism development on account of their 
unique geological, natural or geographical features. 
(54) 
Urban Areas - refers to all cities regardless of their population density and to 
municipalities with a population density of at least five hundred (500) persons per square 
kilometer. 
(55) Watershed - a water source which contributes to the supply of water in a stream 
or lake, drainage area or catchment area; the catchment area or drainage basin from which the 
waters of a stream or stream system are drawn the area from which a river or lake receives its 
water. 
(56) 
Zoning - a local legislation delineating the specific uses of lands within the 
territorial jurisdiction of a cityimunicipality and specifying the conditions for their regulation 
subject to limitations imposed by law or competent authority. 
(57) 
Zoning Ordinance - is a local legislation which embodies regulations on land use 
in accordance with the comprehensive development and land use plans of the city of 
municipality. 


TITLE I1 - NATIONAL LAND USE PLANNING FRAMEWORK 
CHAPTER 3 -Defining Priorities for Land Utilization and Allocation 
Article One - Priorities for Land Utilization and Allocation 
SECTION 6. Priorities for Land Use. - National, regional, and local development plans 
shall provide for priorities in land use allocation and utilization, such as areas needed for food 
and crop production, settlements development, industry development, tourism development, and 
infrastructure development which promote employment and development. 
The State shall periodically update and revise these development plans in order to 
response effectively to changing demands based on the guidelines set forth in this Act. 
SECTION 7. Sustainability ofLand Use. - In order to achieve sustainable use of land 
resources, these shall be used in accordance with their technical suitability, economic viability, 
social acceptability, and environmental integrity for specific uses, so that production can be 
maximized in the long-term with no significant deterioration of the land resource. 
SECTION 8. Food Security. - Land resources shall be efficiently utilized for the 
production of basic food commodities. The attainment of food security is a shared objective of 
all sectors of the economy and is vital to national development and survival. 
SECTION 9. Completion of Agrarian Reform Program. - Priority shall be given to the 
completion of the Agrarian Reform Program, primarily its land tenure improvement program. 
SECTION 10. Industrial Development. - The State shall allocate land to implement a 
nationwide development program consistent with agricultural development and agrarian reform. 
The identification and selection of areas for industrial development shall be undertaken 
by national government agencies in coordination with concerned development councils and 
affected sectors of society. 


SECTION1 1. Settlements Development. - Lands shall be allocated for settlements 
purposes in both rural and urban areas based on, among others, the population levels of these 
areas, their suitability, accessibility, viability and acceptability to the community. Settlements 
developments programs shall be undertaken by local government units, in coordination with 
national government agencies and the affected communities. 
SECTION12. Tourism Development and Management. - Land shall be allocated for 
tourism development in a manner which promotes the protection, preservation and enhancement 
of the natural and cultural attributes of the country in general and the local community in 
particular. The affected communities shall be consulted and shall participate in the planning and 
implementation of tourism development projects. 
SECTION 13. Infrastructure Development. - Lands shall be allocated for priority 
infrastructure projects subject to the limitation imposed under this Act. 
Article Two - Multiple Uses of Land Resources 
SECTION 14. Adoptiorz of Multiple Uses of Land Resources. - The primary and 
alternative uses of a specific land resource shall be determined and evaluated prior to any 
decision for the assignment of its use. Areas feasible for sustainable land and resource use may 
be considered multiple-use zones wherein settlements, agriculture, agroforestry and extraction 
activities and other income-generating or livelihood activities may be allowed. 
Article Three - Local Autonomy 
SECTION 15. Local and National Priorities. - Local governments shall determine land 
allocation and utilization through their physical framework and land use plans, provided that 
such plans are consistent with the regional priorities set forth by the national government. 


Article Four - Indigenous Cultural Communities 
SECTION 16. Norms and Practices of Indigenous Cultural Communities. - The norms 
and practices of indigenous cultural communities on land tenure and socio-economic activities 
shall be respected in the allocation and utilization of lands in the ancestral domain. 
Article Five - Hazard or Disaster Preparedness and Management 
SECTION 17. IdentEfication of Hazard and Disaster Prone Areas. - The National Land 
Use Coordinating Committee (NLUCC) shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this 
Act, identify hazard and disaster prone areas to guide the establishment of settlements and 
infrastructure. 
SECTION 18. Hazard and Disaster Mapping. - The National Disaster and Coordinating 
Council (NDCC), in coordination with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 
(PHILVOCS) and the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services 
Administration (PAGASA) and other concerned agencies, shall undertake hazard and disaster 
mapping within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 1 9. D isaster Preparedness/Management. - The NDCC shall, within one (1) 
year from the effectivity of this Act, provide the framework for which disaster and their effects 
can be managed and mitigated. The framework shall include the formulation of a multi-hazard 
mitigatiodprotection plan and the capability building program for concerned government 
agencies and local government LI nits i n  the implementation o f d isaster p reparedness m easures 
and policies. 
CHAPTER 4 - General Land Use Classification for Planning Purposes 
SECTION 20. ClassEfication of Land Use Functions for Planning Process. - To guide 
and assist the local government units in planning and making decisions on the allocation and 
utilization of land, the following land use planning categories shall be adopted. 
(1) Protection Land Use; 


(2) Production Land Use; 
(3) Settlements Development; 
(4) Infrastructure Development; 
These land use planning categories shall serve as bases for determining and defining the 
land use requirement of national, regional and local physical framework and land use plans. 
SECTION 21. Basic Land Use Planning Considerations. - In determining various land 
uses as categorized in the preceding section, the following shall be taken - 
(1) principles of multiple use and sustained agricultural productions set forth in this Act 
and other applicable laws. 
(2) systematic interdisciplinary approach to achieve integrated consideration of physical, 
biological, economic and other sciences; 
(3) priority for the designation and protection of areas of critical environmental concern; 
(4) inventory of public lands, their resources and other values; 
(5) present and potential uses of lands and resources under consideration; 
(6) relative scarcity of the values involved and the availability of alternative means 
(including recycling) and sites for realization of those values; 
(7) long-term benefits to the public against short-term benefits; 
(8) compliance with applicable environmental and pollution control laws, including air, 
water, noise and other pollution standards or implementation plans; 
(9) existing government policies on land allocation, utilization, management and 
disposition; and 
(10) coordination of the National Government with local government units on land use 
inventory, planning and management activities and comprehensive development plans. 
SECTION 22. Physical Resource Inventory and Assessment and Land Capability. - The 
Departments of Agrarian Reform (DAR), 
Agriculture (DA), Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Transportation and Communication (DOTC), 
Trade and Industry (DTI), and Tourism (DOT), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the 


National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), the National Statistics 
Office @SO) as well as other concerned agencies, LGUs and NGOs shall, at least once every 
five years, undertake a physical resource inventory and land capability study as inputs to land use 
and physical planning. The activities o f t  hese c oncemed agencies shall b e c oordinated b y the 
NLUCC. 
CHAPTER 5 - Protection Land Use 
SECTION 23. Objectives of Protection Land Use. - The objectives of protection land use 
include; 
(1) Protection, preservation and enhancement of critical ecosystem with potential and 
existing biodiversity from any human encroachment; 
(2) Regeneration and Rehabilitation of degraded land and marine resources; 
(3) Protection of the people from environmental hazards and those areas which are 
subject to unregulated activities; and 
(4) Presemation of benefits derived from maintaining the integrity of the nation’s land 
resources. 
SECTION 2 4. Coverage o fProtection Land Use. - S ubject to prior rights, i f any, the 
areas to be covered under Protection Land Use shall include the following: 
(1) Areas covered by the Republic No. 7586 (NIPAS Law); and 
(2) Areas outside the coverage of the Republic Act. No. 7586 but requiring similar 
rehabilitation and protection measures and those areas prone to natural hazards. 
SECTION 25. Areas Under Republic Act. No. 7586. - Unless otherwise specified in this 
Act, the coverage, identification and management thereof shall be governed by the provision of 
Republic Act. NO. 7586 
SECTION 26. Areas Outside the NZPAS. - The DENR, in consultation with affected 
communities and in coordination with concerned local government units and national 
government agencies shall identify areas to be covered under protection land use. Within one (1) 


year from the effectivity of this Act, said Department shall submit initial list of areas outside 
NPAS to the NLUCC for review and approval. 
The DENR shall promulgate and issue niles and regulations for the i dentification and 
management of these areas. 
SECTION 27. Monitoring and Management of Protected Areas. - The DENR and 
concerned local government units shall be responsible, in close coordination with other national 
government agencies, NGOs, POs and affected communities, for the monitoring and 
management of these protected areas. The DENR, in collaboration with concerned local 
government units, shall submit regular semestral reports to the NLUCC. 
The DENR shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, establish a 
monitoring system, in consultation with the local government units, the private sector and 
concerned national government agencies. 
SECTION 28. Protection Function of the Use of Private Property. - The use of privatley- 
owned land shall take into consideration its effects on the community. Landowners arc 
responsible for the development and conservation of their lands in order to make them 
productive and supportive of environment stability. 
The DENR in collaboration with concerned government agencies, private institutions, 
and local government units shall monitor the utilization of privately-owned lands to ensure that it 
redoands to the common good. 
CHAPTER 6 - Production Land Use 
SECTION 29. Objective of Production Land Use. - The allocation of lands, whether 
private or public, is aimed at determining the most efficient, most effective, most sustainable and 
equitable manner of utilizing, developing and managing land for productive purposes. 
SECTION 30. Coverage ofProduction Land Use. - Production land use shall include the 
following: 


(1) Coastal Marine Zones; 
(2) Production Forests; 
(3) Minerals Lands; 
(4) Industrial Development Areas; 
(5) Tourism Development Areas; 
Article One - Agricultural Lands 
SECTION 3 1. Network of Areas for Agricultural Development. - The DA shall establish 
a network of areas for agricultural development to ensure sustainable food production and 
security. These shall include, among others, the following: 
(1) All irrigated and potentially irrigable areas, including lands with soils suitable for 
agricultural development; 
(2) All alluvial plain lands that are suitable for agricultural production and/or can be 
devoted to food production; 
(3) All sustainable lands that are traditional sources of food; 
(4) All crop lands required to attain a certain scale of production to sustain the economic 
viability of existing agro-based industries in the municipality, city or province; 
(5) All lands in areas not highly prone to natural hazards that are suitable for the 
production of trees and other cash crops; 
(6) All agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and the conversion of which will 
result into serious environmental problems; and 
(7) All lands covered under notice of compulsory acquisition (NCANoluntary Offer to 
Sell (VOS), Stock Distribution Option (SDO), Production of Profit Sharing (PPS) and 
Commercial Farm Deferment under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). 
SECTION 32. Review ofAreas for Agricultural Development. - The DA, in consultation 
with concerned sectors, and the LGUs shall identify and review the areas identified for 
agricultural development at least once every two (2) years or as after as deemed necessary by the 


NLUCC. The DA shall submit its recommendation for any modification thereof to NLUCC for 
approval. 
SECTION 33. Mapping: 
The DA, through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management 
(BSWM), in coordination with NAMRIA shall undertake the mapping of areas for agricultural 
development for all municipalities and cities at the scale of 1:10,000 and for all provinces, at the 
scale of 1:50,000, or in accordance with standards set by the NLUCC. The BSWM may call on 
other agencies to provide technical and other logistical support in this undertaking. 
Article Two - Coastal and Marine Zones 
SECTION 34. Classijkation of Coastal and Marine Zones: All public lands in the 
coastal zones shall be subclassified as fishponds, mangrove, and recreational/tourism areas, in 
particular those indicated in Section 10 of Republic Act 7611, a.1c.a. An Act for the Strategic 
Environment Plan for Palawan. 
SECTION 35. Guidelines for the Allocation and Utilization of Lands Within the Coastal 
and Murine Zones. - The allocation and utilization of lands within the coastal and marine zones 
shaI1 be guided by the following: 
(1) areas vegetated with mangrove species shall preserved for selective production, and 
wildlife sanctuaries will not converted to other uses; 
(2) areas which meet all accepted criteria on elevation, soil type, soil depth topography 
and water supply for successful fishpond development and devoid of any mangrove 
stands may be utilized for aquaculture; 
(3) Areas subclassified as mangrove and still suitable for use or those which have to be 
preserved as mangrove due to environmental conditions, even if there are no 
mangrove stands will not be converted to other uses. DENR shall ensure that these 
lands shall be reforested within a period of 10 years after the effectivity of this Act; 


(4) Areas which are neither subclassified as mangrove nor fishpond may be devoted for 
recreation, tourism purposes, provided such undertaking will not result in 
environmental degradation; 
(5) Areas which are considered as traditional fishing grounds shall be used primarily for 
such purposes; 
(6) Areas which are allocated for small infrastructure needed by fisherfolks. 
SECTION 36. Revision of Fishponds to Mangroves. - Fishponds covered by existing 
fishpond lease agreements but which are not operating efficiently and which are found suitable 
for mangroves shall be allowed to be revegetated into mangrove forests. 
Article Three - Production Forests 
SECTION 37. Coverage of Productive Forests, - Production forests include the residual 
dipterocarp forests; pine forests available for logging; rangelands for grazing; areas under 
industrial forest plantation management; areas for community forest program’s Integrated Social 
Foreshy, watersheds and other forest lands for special uses. Based on slope classification 
production forests are those with slopes ranging between 18 to 50 percent regardless of forests 
covered. 
SECTION 38. Criteria for the SubclassiJication of Public Lands for Timber Production, 
Privately-held Forest Lands, Agroforestty, Grazing and Pasture and Other Purposes. - The sub- 
classification of public lands shall be guided by the following: 
(1) Geology, geomorphology, soil and slope; 
(2) Classified public lands within eighteen (18) to fifty (50) percent slope shall be 
subclassified for timber production, agroforestry, grazing, pasture or agricultural land activities 
provided that the use of such areas shall not results in soil degradation or any adverse ecological 
condition; 
(3) Critical watershed may be subject to multiple uses provided that the area is utilized, 
managed and developed for the primary purpose by which it has been established; 


(4) All public lands above fifty (50) percent slope shall be sub-classified into appropriate 
protection or production land uses, provided that such land uses shall not engender significant 
adverse environmental effects; 
( 5 )  The overall carrying capacity of classified public lands, including their existing and 
potentia1 land uses shall serve as the basis for determining their subclassification. 
Article Four - Mineral Lands 
SECTION 39. Guidelines for the Utilization and Allocation of Lunds for Mining 
Purposes. - To ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance and maximizing 
economic returns to m king operations are realized, the allocation and utilization o f 1 ands for 
mining purposes, shall observe the following guidelines consistent with the existing Mining 
Law: 
(1) Large scale mining shall include in their work program appropriate mitigating 
measures on the negative effects of mining activities on the ecology of the area and the use of 
optimum recovery method of extracting minerals and with due consideration to the utilization, 
development and protection of other surface resources. 
(2) Small-scale mining shall be encouraged, strengthened and assisted provided that the 
conditions stipulated in its Environmental Cornpliance Certificate are strictly followed. 
(3) Mineral reservations which had become non-operational for more than five ( 5 )  years 
shall be reviewed and assessed by the DENR and possibly some portion which are not 
economically viable to operate should be released to give way to other important land uses 
except those classified as A&D lands which are covered by the provisions of RA 7942. 
SECTION 40. Reversion of Mineral Lands. - All exhausted mineral lands shall 
automatically revert to the category of forest lands, unless the DENR has classified such areas 
for other purposes; Purposes, however, that in the case of mineral lands with slope below 
eighteen (18) percent and outside the NIF'AS, the DENR shall recommend to Congress their 
further classification as alienable and disposable land of the public domain. Exhausted mineral 
lands shall refer to specific mineral sites whose mineral reserves of the desired type(s) are no 


longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure for their extraction and 
utilization. 
SECTION 41. Criteria for the Classi$cation of Mineval Lands as Alienable and 
Disposable Lands. - Exhausted mineral lands shall be classified as alienable lands upon 
satisfaction of all of the following conditions: 
(1) The slope o f t he exhausted mineral lands shall not be above eighteen (I 8) percent 
provided that other requirements embodied in the PD 705 as amended are met; 
(2) The rehabilitation of exhausted mineral lands can be accelerated if such areas are 
released for other purposes; 
(3) The area can promote and sustain economic activities that would support development 
of settlements, without incumng significant environmental problems. The area shall then be 
subject to an environmental impact assessment, the findings of which shall serve as basis for 
malting any recommendation on its classification; and 
(4) The land is found to be environmentally-safe from natural hazards. 
Article Five - Indnstrial Development Areas 
SECTION 42. Designation of Industrial Development Areas. - The identification and 
establishment of i ndustrial development areas shall conform with the provisions of the PEZA 
Law and shall take into consideration the following; 
(1) Identified network of areas for agricultural development; 
(2) National policies on the regional dispersal of industries and agr-based industrial 
development; 
(3) National integrated protection area system; 
(4) National settlements development plan; and 
(5) National Infrastructure development plan. 
The designated industrial development area shall become an integral part of the land use 
plan and zoning ordinance of he city or municipality where it is located. 


Article Six - Tourism Development Areas 
SECTION 43. Designation of Tourism Development Areas. - The identification, selection 
and development of tourism development areas shall be done in consultation and coordination 
with concerned local government units, national government agencies, concerned NGOs and the 
affected communities. 
Designated areas for tourism development shall form part of the land use plan and zoning 
ordinance of the city or municipality where these are located. 
Prioritization in the development of tourism areas shall be guided by sections 6 and 7 of 
the Act. 
CHAPTER 7 - Settlements Development 
SECTION 44. Objective of Settlements Development. - Land shall be allocated and 
utilized to achieve and promote an orderly and efficient development of human settlements 
responsive to the needs of its inhabitants and the environment. 
SECTION 45. Clusszfication of Settlements. - Settlements can be classified based on the 
predominant economic and socio-cultural activities, as urban or rural; or based on the topography 
and slope of land, as upland, hillside, lowland or coastal. 
SECTION 46. Prescribed Major Uses of Land for Settlements Development. - Land shall 
be allocated for settlement development based on the following: 
(1) Residential, including relocation and settlements sites for socialized housing as 
provided in Republic Act 7279. otherwise known as the Urban Developrnent and Housing Act; 
(2) Commercial; 
(3) Industrial ; 
(4) Institutional, such as sites of government offices, health and education church, 
cemetery and military reservation; 
(5) Tourism; 


(6) Utilities, including sites of public and private utilities such as power substations, 
water reservoirs, etc.; 
(7) Waste disposal; 
(8) Recreational, including parks, urban forests, open or green space; 
(9) Roads, rail and water transportation networks and facilities; 
SECTION 47. Designation of Sites for Socialized Housing. - Each city or municipality 
shall allocate, identify, and designate sites within the lands allocated for residential purposes 
within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as socialized housing sites within one year (1) from 
the effectivity of this Act. The local government units, in coordination with the National Housing 
Authority, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, the National Mapping Resource 
Information Authority, and the Land Management Bureau, and in consultation with local 
communities, concerned non-government organizations and the private sector, shall identify 
lands for socialized housing and resettlements purposes in their respective areas in accordance 
with Section 8 of R. A. No. 7279 or the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992. These 
socialized housing sites shall be designated in the city or municipality’s land use plan and zoning 
ordinance. 
The local government nnits, in accordance with the above-mentioned government 
agencies and in consultation with local communities, non-government organizations and the 
private sector, shall identify and designate additional sites for socialized housing and 
resettlement as the need to do arises. 
SECTION 48. Designation of Waste Disposal Site. - Each city or municipality shall 
identify, designate, and allocate land within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as waste disposal 
site within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The local government units (LGUs), in 
coordination with DENR and/or other competent authority, shall identify Waste Disposal Sites in 
order to fast track the conduct of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)/Study and to facilitate 
processing of the Environment Compliance Certificate. This site or area shall be identified in the 
city or municipality’s land use plan and zoning ordinance. For this purpose, cities and 


municipalities shall establish their solid and wastes management program. Likewise, as provided 
under Section 33 of R.A. No. 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991, cities and 
municipalities may, through appropriate ordinances, bind themselves toward the establishment of 
a rational solid and liquid wastes management program. 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR in coordination with 
concerned agencies, people’s organizations and other private sector groups, shall promulgate the 
necessary guidelines and standards for the formulation and establishment of wastes management 
program by cities and municipalities. 
SECTION 49. Urban Forest. - Each city or highly urbanized municipality shall identify, 
designate and allocate lands owned by the city or municipality as urban forest or green space, 
based on the guidelines and standards to be issued by the DENR and approved by the NLUCC. 
SECTION 50. Settlements in Hazard-Prone Areas. - The establishment of settlements in 
hazard prone areas shall be regulated. In case existing settlements are already established in 
identified hazard prone areas, their continued existence shall be regulated and further expansion 
shall be allowed provided mitigation measures, including disaster mitigation capabilities of local 
government are put in place. 
CHAPTER 8 - Infrastructure Development 
SECTION 5 1. Allocation and Utilization of Land for Injrastructure Development 
Purposes. - Land, whether public or private, shall be allocated and utilized for priority 
infrastructure projects that are supportive of national or local development objectives. 
SECTION 52. Priority Infrastructure Projects. - For purposes of land allocation and 
utilization, priority infrastructure programs and projects of national significance shall include, 
but shall not be limited to the following: 
(1) power plants/stations and major substations; 
(2) irrigation and flood control and drainage facilities; 


(3) water supply system and treatment; 
(4) airports and airlines; 
(5) seaports and waterways; 
(6) fishports; 
(7) farm-to-market roads; 
(8) major road, bridge and railway trunklines; 
(9) waste disposal facilities; 
(1 0) educationallrecreationalisports facilities; 
(1 1) health facilities; 
(1 2) telecommunication stations/other facilities; 
(13) disaster mitigation facilities (short protection, soil erosion control, etc.); and 
(1 4) agricultural research and development f m s  andor stations. 
Prioritizations of the above infrastrncture projects shall consider the safeguards needed to 
protect the concerned sectors. 
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, in consultation with 
the LGUs, NGOs and other private groups shall identify and periodically review, update andor 
revise at least once every four (4) years the list priority infrastructure projects based on national 
development objectives and priorities. 
Local government shall undertake the prioritization of their respective infrastructure 
projects based on their Comprehensive Development Plan. 
SECTION 53. Evaluation and Prioritization of Nationally-Funded Projects. - In 
determining and evaluating the list pf priority infrastructure projects, consideration shall be given 
to those that; 
(1) Provide for the basic requirements of the population for healthy and productive lives; 
(2) Respond to immediate and vital requirements of the regional economy; 
(3) Gradually upgrade existing facilities to international standards; 
(4) Address the need for sustainable settlements development; and 


(5) Help mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing phenomena or those 
that shall serve as alternatives to existing infrastructure found in environmentally-critical areas. 
SECTION 54. Infrastructure Projects Including Those Within Environmentally-Critical 
Areas. - New infrastructure projects may be constructed within protected, hazard prone or 
environmentally critical areas provided, however, that mitigating measures shall be adopted to 
address the environmental impacts that will emanate from them during the pre-construction, 
operation and abandonment stages, subject to the findings and recommendations of the 
environmental impact assessment. 
Existing infrastructure found to be improperly located as well as those posing threats to 
the environment or impinging on critical ecosystem may be terminated immediately, or gradually 
phased out and relocated, or maintained up to their life span, subject however to mitigating 
measures. 
The D PWH and D OTC, in coordination with concerned national g ovemment agencies 
shall identify and assess all major infrastructure p rojects i n  environmentally-critical areas and 
submit their recommendation to the NLUCC within six (6) months from the effectivity of this 
Act. 
SECTION 55. Provision and Implementation of Infrastructure Projects. - The provision 
an implementation of infrastructure projects shall be made compatible with existing 
environmental conditions and the physical, whether natural or man-made, and cultural character 
of the area. 
CHAPTER 9 - National Land Resources Classification, Delineation and Allocation System 
SECTION 56. Provision and Implementation of Infrastructure Projects. The provision 
and implementation of infrastructure projects shall be made compatible with existing 
environmental conditions and the physical, whether natural or man-made, and cultural character 
of the area. 


CHAPTER 9 - National Land Resource Classification, Delineation and Allocation System 
SECTION 56. Adoption of the National Land Resource Classification. Delineation, and 
Allocation System. - To ensure the judicious allocation and utilization of land resources, a 
National Land Resource Classification, Delineation and Allocation System, hereinafter referred 
to as System, shall be adopted. The System shall embody the policies, priorities, procedures and 
mechanism for assigning andor changing the uses of land resources and their alienation as 
enunciated in this Act. 
SECTION 57. Components of the National Land Resource Classification, Delineation, 
and Allocation System. - The system shall consist of the following subsystem: land classification, 
land reclassification, land subclassification, zoning and land use conversion. 
Article One - Land Classification 
SECTION 58. Scope pf Laud ClassiJcation. - Land Classification shall include all 
unclassified lands of the public domain. 
SECTION 59. Identification, Delineation and Inventory. - Within a period of one (1) 
year from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in consultation and collaboration with local 
government units, non-government organizations and other private groups, shall submit to 
Congress the inventory of all public lands. Based therefrom, Congress shall within a period of 
one hundred twenty (120) working days, determine by law the specific limits of forest lands and 
national parks. Thereafter, such forest lands and national parks shall be conserved and may not 
be diminished, except by law. 
SECTION 60. Subsequent Land Classijicntion. - The DENR is hereby authorized to 
submit to Congress a proposal for the further delineation of classified public lands as alienable 
and disposable lands, snbject, however to the following conditions: 


(1) That certain parcels of lands are needed for priority infrastructure projects of the 
government, subject however, to an environmental impact assessment and to the concurrence of 
the affected communities; 
(2) That certain parcels of lands are presently being utilized to serve as permanent 
settlements sites, without any alternative for relocation and where the economic opportunities 
available to such existing community do not endanger ecological balance in the area; 
(3) That certain parcels of lands which are terraced and utilized for rice and vegetable 
production prior to the effectivity of this Act shall be classified as alienable and disposable 
regardless of slope and elevation. 
SECTION 61. Conditional Land Titling. - Land titles could be provided with certain 
conditions pertaining to its use. Such conditions shall be set by the DENR. 
Article Two - Land Classification 
SECTION 62. Coverage of Land Reclass$?cation. - Land reclassification covers all 
alienable and disposable lands of the public domain. 
SECTION 63. Prescribed Major Land Uses. - Alienable and disposable lands of the 
public domain shall be reclassified and disposed of according to the following uses: 
(a) agriculture, agroforestry and aquaculture; 
(b) settlements; 
(c) industrial; 
(d) tourism; 
(e) infrastructure; 
(f) instilutional. 
The legal instruments for the disposition of alienable and disposable lands of the public 
domain shall define the specific use thereof 
SECTION 64. Inclusion in Land Use Plans. - Areas already reclassified shall be 
incorporated in the land use plan of the city or municipality concerned. 


SECTION 65. Jurisdiction on Laud Reclassification. - Except for agricultural lands 
turned over to the DAR, the DENR shall be responsible for the survey, titling, and disposition of 
alienable and disposable lands of the public domain. 
SECTION 66. Rules and Regulations on the Disposition and Management of the 
Alienable Lnnds of the Public Domain. - Unless otherwise indicated, the allocations, utilization 
and disposition of the alienable and disposable lands of the public domain shall be governed by 
applicable provisions in the Public Land Act, special acts, other Codes and in this Act. 
SECTION 67. Reversion to Public Lands. - Upon recommendation of the Secretary of the 
DENR, duly reviewed and endorsed by the NLUCC, and after due consultations with the 
concerned LGUs, Congress may authorize the reversion of alienable and disposable lands or 
portion thereof to public lands. 
Article Three - Land Subclassification 
SECTION 68. Coverage of Land SubclassiJication. - Land subclassification shall cover 
all classified public lands and the assignment of their uses according to the following categories: 
(1) Protection Forest; 
(2) Timber Production; 
(3) Agroforestry; 
(4) Grazing or Pasture Lands; 
(5) Watershed; 
(6) Natural Parls; 
(6) State Reservations; 
(7) Other NPAS categories; and 
(8) Such other categories as may be provided by law. 
SECTION 69. Jurisdiction on SubclassiJicntion. - The sub-classification of classified 
public lands shall be undertaken by the DENR, in coordination with the LGUs and concerned 


agencies within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act. Thereafter, the DENR, in 
coordination with the DA shall undertake the monitoring and periodic review of the progress of 
the utilization and development of timber or production forest, and submit a report to the 
NLUCC. 
Article Four - Zoning 
SECTION 70. Coverage ofZoning. - Zoning shall cover all alienable and disposable 
lands, including private lands as well as those declared protected areas within the territorial 
jurisdiction of the city or municipality. 
SECTION 71. Zoning Plan and Ordinance. - Zoning shall be in accordance with a zoning 
plan and implemented by authority of a zoning ordinance. 
(1) A development control plan or zoning plan which identifies and delineates the areas 
or districts and their specific uses; and 
(2) An ordinance which sets the regulations for the development of each area or district 
based on their specific uses and the penal provisions for violations thereof, subject to the 
limitations imposed by law, or competent authority. 
SECTION 72. Basis of City/Municipnl Land Use Plans. - The land use plans of 
component cities and municipalities shall be based on the physical framework plans of their 
respective provinces and in consultation with the various sectors of the community. In the case of 
independent cities, their land use plans shall be based on the physical framework plans of the 
regions to which they are administratively and functionally attached. 
SECTION 73. Basis of Development Control or Zoning Plan. - The city and municipal 
development control plan or zoning plan shall be based on their respective land use plans. 


SECTION 74. Basis of Zoning Ordinance. - All city and municipal zoning ordinances 
shall be based on their respective development control plan duly approved by their respective 
Sanggnnian, subject however to national guidelines and standards. 
SECTION 75. Power and Authority to Undertake Zoning. - Cities and Municipalities 
shall have the power and authority to undertake the zoning of areas within their territorial 
jurisdiction, subject however to national guidelines and standards. 
SECTION 76. Preparation ofLand Use and Zoning Plans. - All cities and municipalities 
must prepare their land use and zoning plans in accordance with their comprehensive 
development plans within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. If the cities/municipalities 
fail to comply with the p reparation o f z oning and 1 and u se p lans, the D ILG shall impose the 
penalty provided under the Local Government Code of 1991. National Agencies shall give 
priority to cities and municipalities with approved development control or zoning plans in terms 
of providing technical assistance and other forms of support as may be deemed necessary. 
SECTION 77. Review and Revision of National Land Use Planning and Zoning 
Guidelines and Standards, - To facilitate the exercise of the land use planning and zoning 
functions of local governments, the NLUCC shall cause the HLURB to undertake, within one (1) 
year from the effectivity of this Act the review and revision, if appropriate, of all existing 
national planning guidelines and standards for land use plans and zoning ordinances of local 
governments, in accordance with national land use policies, guidelines and standards approved 
by the NLUCC. 
Article Five - Conversion of Alienable and Disposal Lands 
SECTION 78. Scope of Land Use Conversion. - Land use conversion covers all alienable 
and disposal lands including all privately-titled lands. Specifically, these conversions shall 
include the following: 
(1) Agricultural Lands to other non-agricultural purposes; 


(2) Lands presently devoted to one type of agricultural activity to another type, such as 
from cropland to fishpond; and 
(3) Lands presently devoted to a particular type of non-agriculture use to another non- 
agriculture purposes, such as from residential to commercial, or from residential to industrial. 
SECTION 79. Approving Authority on Conversion of Agricultural Lands. - The DAR 
shall have the power and authority to approve the conversion of agricultural lands for non- 
agricultural purposes as embodied in Section 79 (a), and conversion of agricultural activity to 
another type as embodied in Section 79 (b). 
SECTION 80. Approving Authority on Conversion of Non-Agricultural Lands. - The city 
or municipal government, through their respective Snnggunian shall have the power and 
authority to approve conversion of non-agricultural lands into other non-agricultural purposes as 
embodied in Section 79 (c), subject to the provision of this Act and national standards and 
guidelines. 
SECTION 81. Authority to Impose Agricultural Land Use Conversion Taxes. - The 
national government an the city or municipal government are hereby authorized to impose, 
individually or collectively taxes on the conversion of agricultural lands for non-agricultural 
purposes provided for in Section 124, Chapter Thirteen (13), Title I11 of this Act. 
TITLE 111 - IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISMS 
CHAPTER 10 - National Government Units 
Article One - National Land Use Coordinating Committee 
SECTION 82. Creation of a National Land Use Coordinating Committee. - The National 
Land Use Coordinating Committee (NLUCC) which was created under Letter of histiuction 
(LOO 1350 on 02 August 1983 shall be reconstituted into the National Land Use Coordinating 
Committee whose powers, functions and composition shall differ from the original NLUCC 
The NLUCC shall be under the NEDA Board as one of its committees. 


SECTION 83. Powers and Functions of the NLUCC. - The NLUCC shall be vested with 
the following powers and functions to: 
(1) Prescribe, amend and enforce rules and regulations for carrying out the provisions of 
the Act; 
(2) Promulgate standards and guidelines to enforce the provisions of this Act; 
(3) Coordinate, integrate, harmonize and oversee all land use and physical planning 
activities of national line government agencies and bodies, including government-owned and 
controlled corporations and local government units; 
(4) Ensure and monitor compliance with the policies, plans, standards and guidelines to 
implement this Act; 
(5) Coordinate and establish a single and coordinated land use information system, and 
monitor its implementation; 
(6) Coordinate and undertake the formulation of a National Physical Framework Plan 
(NPFP) and its regional components, consistent with and supportive of the National 
Development Plan; and their periodic review and updating; 
(7) Coordinate, integrate and undertake, through concerned national government 
agencies, as may be deemed appropriate, technical assistance on land use and physical planning 
at all levels; 
(8) Review, formulate and recommend to the President and the NEDA Board on matters 
concerning policies on land use, and improvements in land use planning and land resource 
classification and information system. 
(9) Perform such other functions as may be necessaty to implement the policies contained 
in this Act, or as may be assigned by the President. 
The NLUCC shall be empowered to enjoin the support of any national government 
agencies and bodies and local government units in the performance of its functions. 
SECTIONS 84. Composition. - The NLUCC shall be composed of the following: 
(1) Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning and Director-General of the NEDA Secretariat 
as Chairman; 


(2) Secretary of the DENR as Co-Chairman; 
(3) Secretaries of the DA, DAR, DILG, DOTC, DTI, DOT, DPWH, DOE, DOST, and 
DOJ; 
(4) Chairman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) 
and the Chief Executive Officer of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board 
(HLURB); 
(5) Presidents of the Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities; and 
(6) Six (6) Representatives from sectoral groups, private business sector, the academic 
community; and the Indigenous Cultural Communities. 
SECTION 85. Executive Committee. - To assist the NLUCC, there shall be created an 
Executive Committee which shall he composed of the Deputy Director-General of the NEDA 
Secretariat and an Undersecretary of the DENR as Chairman and Co-Chairman, respectively and 
the Undersecretaries of the member agencies, the Secretary-General of the HUDCC, the 
Administrator of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, the Executive Director of the National 
Water Resources Board, the Executive Director of the Commission on Population and the 
representatives of the Leagues of Provinces, Cities, and Municipalities, non-government 
organization, people’s organization, private business sector, the academic community and 
indigenous cultural communities. 
The Executive Committee may create technical committee as it may deem necessary to 
undertake the various activities of the NLUCC. 
SECTION 86. Committee Secretariat. - The Director-General of the NEDA Secretariat 
shall propose an appropriate organizational structure or arrangement for the NLUC Secretariat. 
Article Two - Regional Land Use Coordinating Committee 
SECTION 87. Regional Land Use Coordinating Committee. - The Regional Land Use 
Committees (RLUCs) shall be reorganized and shall be renamed Regional Land Use 


Coordinating Committee, hereinafter referred to as RLUCC. In the case of the National Capital 
Region (NCR), the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and the Autonomous Region of 
Muslin Mindanao (ARMM), their RLIJCC shall be created. The RLUCC shall be lodged under 
the Regional Development Council of the various agencies, or in the case of the NCR, CAR, and 
ARMM, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Cordillera Executive 
Board (CEB), and the Regional Planning Development Board (RPDB), respective, as one of their 
regular Committees. 
SECTION 88. Powers and Functions ojthe ILLUCC. - The RLUCC shall undertake the 
following: 
(1) Coordination and formulation of the Regional Physical Framework Plans for the 
regions, and their periodic review and updating; 
(2) Review, evaluation and ratification of the land use and physical framework plans of 
provinces and independent component cities to ensure their consistency with the Regional 
Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) and national planning guidelines and standards; 
(3) Submission o frecommendation on the evaluation o f p  rionty d evelopment areas as 
may be identified by c oncemed n ational government agencies and 1 oca1 g overnment units for 
land use conversion; 
(4) Monitoring of the implementation of the Regional Physical Framework Plan and the 
national land use policies, guidelines and standards in the region; 
(5) Coordination of land use and other physical planning activities, including technical 
assistance of national government agencies and their regional and field offices in the region; 
(6) Submission of semi-annual report to the NLUCC of its activities, accomplishments 
and other matters relative to the performance of its functions; 
(7) Performance of other functions as may be directed by the NLUCC. 
SECTION 89. Composition of the RLUCCs. - The RLUCCs shall be headed by the 
Regional Director of the NEDA Secretariat and the Regional Executive Director of the DENR as 
Chairman and Co-Chairman respectively. In the case of the NCR, CAR and ARMM, the 


Chairman of the RLUCC shall be designated by the respective Heads of the MMDA, CEB and 
WDB, while the Co-Chairman shall be the Regional Executive Director of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources, or its equivalent office in said regions. The members of the 
RLUCC shall consist of the DirectorsiE-Ieads of the regional offices of the member agencies 
comprising the Executive Committee of the NLUC, or their equivalent in the MMDA, CEB, or 
RF'DB; and the regional representatives of the League of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities, 
sectoral representatives, private business sector, the academic community and indigenous 
cultural communities. 
SECTION 90. Technical Secretariat. - The NEDA Regional Office shall serve as the 
principal technical secretariat of the RLUCC. The MMDA, CAR, and ARMM shall designate 
from among their member-agencies those that shall comprise the secretariat of the RLUCC. The 
other member agencies may be called upon to provide support, including manpower, to the 
technical secretariat. 
Article Three - Responsibilities of Other National Government Agencies 
SECTION 91. Scope and Nature of Responsibilities of Other National Government 
Agencies. - All concerned national government agenciesibodies shall periodically report to the 
NLUCC on their various activities and accomplishments relative to land use. Likewise, they 
shall provide technical and administrative support, if called upon by the NLUCC relative to the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 92. The National Economic and Development Authority - The NEDA shall be 
responsible for ensuring the consistency of the National Development Plan and the National 
Physical Framework Plan, including their regional counterpart plans. For this purpose, it shall 
periodically review and update appropriate planning guidelines and standards for the national 
and regional physical framework plans. It shall also provide technical assistance to the regions 
and the provinces, in coordination with the NLUCC. 


SECTION 93. Department of Agriculture. - The DA shall be responsible for the 
identification, delineation and mapping of the network of areas for agricultural development as 
defined in Section 32 of this Act. For this purpose, it shall formulate the National Agricultural 
Development Framework Plan for the proposed utilization, conservation and development of 
these areas. It shall also propose the necessary support infrastructure such as irrigation and post 
harvest facilities, farm-to-market roads, and ago-industrial complexes. 
SECTION 94. Department ofAgrarian Reform. - The DAR shall be primarily responsible 
for the review, evaluation and approval of applications for conversion of agricultural lands into 
non-agricultural purposes, in coordination with other national government agencies and the local 
government units. 
SECTION 95. Department of Environment and Natural Resources. - The DENR shall be 
primarily responsible for the legal classification, and sub-classification of classified public lands, 
and the land reclassification of alienable and disposable lands of the public domain. 
The Department, through the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority, 
shall be responsible for the production of topographic base maps at various scales needed for 
land use planning at all levels. 
The Department shall be responsible for preparing the National Environment and Natural 
Resources Development Plan, as inputs to the national, regional and provincial physical 
framework plans. 
SECTION 96. Department of Interior and Local Government. - The DILG shall be 
responsible for the general supervision of the local government units to ensure that the provincial 
physical framework plans, the city and municipal land use plans and zoning ordinances are 
prepared in accordance with appropriate national guidelines and standards. 
SECTION 97’. Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Energy, and 
Department of Transportation and Communication. - The DPWH, DOE and DOTC shall be 
jointly responsible, in coordination and consultation with concerned national government 


agencies, local governments and the private sector for the preparation of an integrated National 
Infrastructure D evelopment P Ian, which shall s erve as the basis for the national, regional and 
provincial physical framework plans. 
SECTION 98. Department of Trude and Industry. - The DTI shall be responsible for the 
formulation of a National Trade and Industry Development Plan which shall be subject to 
periodic review. This shall be the basis of national, regional and provincial physical framework 
plans. 
SECTION 99. Department of Tourism. - The DOT shall be responsible for the 
formulation of a National Tourism Development Plan and Regional Development Plan its 
periodic review and updating. It shall likewise continue to accredit tourism facilities as well as 
review, update and prescribe national and regional guidelines and standards for tourism 
development. 
SECTION 100. Department of Science and Technology. - The DOST shall advise the 
NLUCC on technical matters related to the utilization and management of land and other 
physical resources in terms of their limitations and constraints. Among others, it shall identify 
hazard and disaster prone and provide assistance in the formulation of disaster and management 
formulation. 
SECTION 101, Housing and Urban Development Coordination Council. - Under the 
direction of the HUDCC, the Housing and Land Use Regulatoly Board shall be responsible for 
the formulation of a National Urban Development and Housing Framework and its periodic 
review and updating. This shall serve as the basis for national, regional and provincial physical 
framework plans. It shall, though the HLURB, continue to review and formulate the national 
guidelines and standards for land use plans, and zoning ordinances of cities and municipalities. 


SECTION 102. Department of Justice. - The DOJ shall be responsible for the settlements 
of disputes including boundary disputes and other land related issuesicase. 
CHAPTER I1 - Local Government Units 
Article One - Local Land Use Coordinating Committee 
SECTION 103. Local Development Council. - The Local Development Council (LDCs) 
created under Section 106 of Republic Act No. 7160 shall act as the counterpart of the NLUCC 
at the local levels; Provided, that when performing as such, sectoral representatives from the 
peasants, farmers, fisherfolks, among others shall be invited. 
Article Two - Provincial Land Use Coordinating Committee 
SECTION 104. Functions of the Provincial Land Use Coordinating Committee. - In 
addition to those provided under Section 109 of Republic Act No. 7160, the Provincial 
Development Council (PDC), as Provincial Land Use Coordinating Committee, hereinafter 
referred to as PLUCC, shall undertake the following: 
(1) Coordinate and undertake the formulation of the Provincial Physical Framework 
plans (PPFPs) consistent with the Regional Physical Framework Plan and providing the basis for 
the formulation of the land use and comprehensive development plans of its component cities 
and municipalities; 
(2) Review and evaluate the land use plans and zoning ordinances of component cities 
and municipalities, and submit its recommendation for their ratification to the Sanggunian 
Panlalawigan; 
(3) Monitor the implementation of the PPFPs and the land use plans and zoning 
ordinances of component cities and municipalities. 
(4) Submit periodic report to the RLUCC on matters relative to land use; and 
(5) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law, or competent authority. 
The PLUCC shall be empowered to call on any local government officials, or any 
national government agencies to assist it in the performance of its functions. 


SECTION 105. PLUCC Technical Working Committee. - There shall be created a 
PLUCC Technical Working Committee, hereinafter referred to as PLUCC-TWC to serve as the 
technical arm of the PLUCC. 
The PLUCC-TWC shall be composed of the Provincial Planning and Development 
Coordinator as Chairman and shall include, but not limited to, the following as members; 
(1) Provincial Agriculturist; 
(2) Representatives of the regional agencies with field offices, namely: DA, DAR, DILG, 
DPWH, DTI, DENR, DOT, Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB); and 
(3) Five (5) representatives from the non-government organizations, and the private 
business sector and academic community in the province; and from the indigenous cultural 
communities in the province, if applicable. 
Article Three - City/Municipality Land Use Coordinating Committee 
SECTION 106. Functions ofthe City and Municipal Land Use Coordinating Committee. 
- Further to those provided under section 109 of Republic Act No. 7160, the city and municipal 
development councils (C/MDCs) as City and Municipal Land Use Coordinating Committee 
(C/MLUCC), shall exercise the following functions: 
(1) Formulate and periodically update the city or municipality land use plan consistent 
with the PPFPs and based on national and regional guidelines and standards; except, however, in 
the case of highly urbanized cities and independent component cities, their land use plans shall 
be made consistent with the RPFPs. This shall be done with due notice to and public 
consultation with the affected barangays; 
(2) Transform the general land use plan into smaller zoning plans with the accompanying 
zoning ordinances and submit for approval to the local sanggunian; 
(3) Monitor the implementation of the zoning plan and ordinance; and 
(4) Perform other functions as may be provided by law, or competent authority. 
SECTION 107. C/MLUC Technical Working Committee. - The city and municipal 
development council shall create their respective multi-sectoral CIMLUCC Technical Working 


Committee, hereinafter referred to as CMLUCC-TWC, to assist them in the performance of 
their functions. The chairmanship and the members of the CMLUCC-TWC may be patterned 
after that of the provincial land use committee, or its equivalent provided however, that there will 
be a representative from the non-government organization, people' organization, the private 
business sector, and if, applicable, the academic community and the indigenous cultural 
communities in the city or municipality which shall constitute not less than one-fourth (1/4) of 
the entire membership. 
CHAPTER 12 - Land Use and Physical Planning and Development 
Article One - Hierarchy of Physical Framework and Land Use Plans 
SECTION 108. National Physical Framework Plan. - The NLUCC shall prepare and 
periodically update a National Physical Framework Plan or the NPFP which shall define the 
objectives, policies and strategies on the uses of land and other physical resources of the country 
to guide and support the implementation of the National Development Plan. 
SECTION 109. 
Regional Physical Framework Plans. - The Regional Physical 
Framework Plans or the FU'FPs shall define the objective, strategies and the uses of land and 
other physical resources within the region. 
SECTION 110. Provincial Physical Framework Plan. - The provinces shall prepare 
their provincial Physical Frameork Plans or PPFPs, which shall define in greater detail the uses 
of laud and other physical resources therein including an effort to delineate actual boundaries on 
the ground within the temtorial jurisdiction of the province. 
SECTION 11 1. City and Municipality Land Use Plans. - The cities and municipalities 
shall prepare their respective land use plans to determine the specific uses of laud and other 
physical resources. Actual boundaries on the ground within the territorial jurisdiction of the city 
or municipality shall be delineated. 
SECTION 112. Relationships among National, Regional and Local Physical and Land 
use Plans. - The physical framework and land use plans shall have the following relationships: 
(1) The RF'FP shall define the objectives, policies and strategies outlined in the NPFP 
within the context of the region, and shall provide the basis for the preparation of the land use 
plans of its component cities and municipalities. 


(2) The PPFP shall define the objectives, strategies and indicative uses of land and other 
physical resources within the context of the province, consistent with the regional objectives and 
strategies. It shall serve as basis for the preparation of the land use plans of its component cities 
and municipalities. 
(3) The city or municipal land use plans shall translate the objectives, strategies and uses 
of land and other physical resources proposed in the PPFP into specific uses and shall serve as 
the basis for the preparation of the zoning plan to include embodiment of local aspirations 
concerning desirable physical development and growth of the locality. 
SECTION 113. Sectoral and Special Plans. - The NLUCC shall direct, or cause 
concerned agencyhes to undertake the formulation of sectoral and other special plans at the 
national and regional levels, or as it may determine, to wit: 
(1) Environment and natural resources development plan; 
(2) Agricultural development plan; 
(3) Industrial development plan; 
(4) Settlements development plan; 
(5) Infrastructure development plan; 
(6) Tourism development plan; 
(7) Energy development plan; 
(8) Disaster mitigation plan; and 
(9) Watershed management plan. 
SECTION 114. Relation of Land Use Plan with the Comprehensive Local Development 
Plan. - The land use plan shall serve as an integral component of the comprehensive local 
development plan to provide the latter with spatial and physical dimension. 
SECTION 115. Authority to Issue National Planning Guidelines and Standards. - The 
NLUCC shall review existing planning guidelines, and cause the agencies concerned to 
undertake their version, if necessary, to ensure their consistency with the plans, policies and 
strategies approved by the Committee. The NLUCC shall he the final authority on the issuance 
of all national guidelines and standards on land use and physical planning. 
Article Two - Plan Formulation, Review and Adoption 
SECTION 116. Preparation of Physical Framework and Land Use Plans. - The 
concerned regional and local development councils and boards shall initiate the preparation of 
their respective physical framework and land use plans. 
The preparation of the physical 
framework and land use plans shall conform with the planning guidelines to be issued by the 
NLUCC. 


SECTION 11 I .  Review and Approval of Physical Framework and Land Use Plans. - 
(1) The NPFP shall be reviewed and endorsed by the NLUCC for approval by the 
President and the Cabinet. 
(2) The RPFP shall be approved and adopted by the RDCs; in the case of the CAR and 
the ARMM, by their respective legislative bodies; and in the case of the NCR, by the MMDA. 
(3) The PPFP shall be endorsed, through a resolution by the PDCiPLUCC to the 
RDC/RLUCC for review, approval and adoption to ensure their consistency with the RPFP and 
national policies set forth by the NLUCC. 
(4) Through a resolution, the city or municipal land use plans shall be endorsed by the 
CiMDC or C/MLUCC to the PDC for approval and adoption of the comprehensive land use 
plans of provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities, and land use plans 
of Metro Manila cities and municipalities shall be reviewed and ratified by the HLURB to ensure 
compliance with national standards and guidelines. Upon arrival, the city or municipal 
development council shall pass a sanggunian resolution adopting the approved land use plan. 
SECTION 11 8. Monitoring. - The concerned regional and local development 
councildboardsiauthorities shall regularly monitor the implementation of their plans. In 
particular, the city or municipal development council shall submit a semestral report to the 
Sanggunian Panlalawigan, or in the case of independent cities, to the Regional Land Use 
Coordinating Council on the implementation of their land use plans and zoning ordinances. 
SECTION 119. Public Consultation. - The concerned regional and local development 
councilslboardsiauthorities and their respective legislative bodies shall ensure adequate and 
widespread participation of the community in all phases of the planning process. 
SECTION 120. Inter-Local Government Planning. - The local governments may group 
themselves for the purpose of planning the allocation of land and other physical resources for 
their common use. 


CHAPTER 18 - Land Use Information Management and Dissemination 
Article One - Ecological Education and Value Formation 
SECTION 121. Mandatov Curriculum. - Ecological education shall form part of 
primary, secondary and tertiary school curricula. A subject shall be included in all years in the 
primary and secondary schools. 
SECTION 122. Curriculum Development. - The Department of Education shall, within 
one year from the effectivity of this Act, formulate the curricula for all levels in close 
consultation and coordination with other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, 
academic community, p arent-teacher associations, and other sectors of society. These shall be 
implemented in the next school year. 
Article Two - Land Resource Information and Management System 
SECTION 123. Coordination, Development and Implementation of Land Resource 
Information System. - The NLUCC shall coordinate the establishment, development and 
implementation of a land resource information and management system that will, among others, 
integrate existing as well as proposed information units of concerned national government 
agencies, standardize information inputs/outputs, and define information requirements at various 
levels. 
Article Three -National Base Mapping Program 
SECTION 124. Coordination and Monitoring the Implementation of a National Base 
Mapping Program. - The NLUCC shall coordinate and monitor the implementation of a National 
Mapping Program, For this purpose, the NLUCC shall create an interagency technical committee 
composed of the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), the Bureau 
of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the Land Management Bureau (LMB), the Housing 
and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLRB), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 
(PHIVOLCS) and other concerned government agencieshureaus. 


?- 
SECTION 125. Generation of Sources of Information on Land Use. - The NLUCC shall 
cause the generation of sources of information on land use such as aerial photographs and 
satellite imageries through the NAMRIA covering specific areas and eventually the whole 
country. Such sources shall be updated every ten (10) years or as often as may be deemed 
necessary. 
TITLE Iv - MISCELLANEOUS, TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS 
CHAPTER 19 - Mandatory Review 
SECTION 126. Mandatory Review Every Seven Years. - Congress shall undertake a 
mandatory review of this Act once every seven (7) years from the effectivity of this Act, or as 
often as may deem necessary to ensure that land use policies and guidelines remain responsive to 
changing circumstances. For this purpose, Congress may call on the NLUCC to undertake 
research and consultation. 
CHAPTER 20 - Penal Provision 
SECTION 127. Penal Provision. - Any person who knowingly, or deliberately causes 
agricultural lands within the priority areas for agricultural development as specific under Section 
32 of this Act to become economically unproductive and inutile for continued agricultural 
activities, and not due to any natural causes so as to satisfy the provision o f S ection 1 35 (a) 
thereof and/or undertakes premature conversion of any agricultural lands shall be punished by 
imprisonment of not less than (3) months to not more than six (6) months; not less than one (I) 
year to not more than five (5) years or a fine based on the following schedule: 
(I) 
One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PlOO,OOO.OO), or ten (10) percent of the zonal value of 
the proposed use, or adjusted fair market value thereof as defined in Section 146 of this Act, 
whichever is the highest, for the first three (3) hectares; and 
(b) Fifty Thousand Pesos (SO,OOO.OO), or seven (7) percent of the zonal value of the 
proposed use, or adjusted fair market value as determined based on the preceding paragraph, 
whichever is highest, for each additional hectare or fraction thereof, or both at the discretion of 
the court. 


Furthermore, such actions would c ause the t emination o f t he p roject or activity to b e 
undertaken and suspension of the project proponent from undertaking any land development 
activity in the city or municipality. 
CHAPTER 21 - Transitory Provisions 
SECTION 128. Implementing Guidelines for the Organization and the Convening of the 
National, Regional and Local Land Use Coordinating Committees. - Within forty-five (45) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, the NEDA Secretariat shall promulgate the implementing 
guidelines for the organization of the NLUCC, including the selection of representatives from the 
non-government organization, people’s organization, the academic community and the 
indigenous cultural community. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
Director-General of the NEDA shall convene the members of the NLUCC. 
SECTION 129. Review, Formulation and Issuance of Implementing Rules and 
Regulations. - The NLUCC shall initially review existing rules and regulations on land use, and 
based therefrom, revise such rules and regulations, or cause concerned agencies to revise them 
for the efficient and effective implementation of the provisions of this Act, within one (1) year 
from the effectivity thereof. All concerned national government agencies and bodies shall inform 
the NLUCC of the status of the implementation of such rules and regulations. 
Unless provided in this Act, the NLUCC shall be primarily responsible for the 
promulgation and issuance of all implementing rules and regulations, including planning 
guidelines and standards of different regionsilocalities. These rules and regulations shall become 
effective fifteen (15) days after their publication in the Official Gazette and announcement of 
their adoption in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation. 
All existing niles and regulations shall be in force and effect unless revoked by the 
NLUCC, or competent authority. 
SECTION 130. Review of City and Municipal Land Use Plans and Zoning Ordinance. - 
All existing cities and municipal land use plans and zoning ordinances shall be reviewed by the 


=Us 
in the case of provinces, highly urbanized cities and independent component cities, and by 
the PLUCCs, for component cities and municipalities, within a period of two (2) years from the 
effectivity of this Act for affirmation and modification in accordance with the provisions of this 
Act. All cities and municipalities which have not completed or formulated their respective land 
use plans shall complete the s ame and prepare and enact the corresponding zoning ordinance 
within this prescribed period i n  accordance with the provisions of this Act. The Housing and 
Land Use Regulatory Board shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of 
this Act formulate guidelines to implement this Section and submit the same to the NLUCC for 
review and approval. 
All municipal land use plans prepared and approved by the SB prior to the effectivity of 
this Act shall be revised in accordance to existing review guidelines promulgated by HLURB. 
SECTION 13 1. Intevim Secretariat of the NLUCC. - Until such time that the Director- 
General of the NEDA Secretariat is able to establish a permanent secretariat of the NLUCC, each 
member agency shall then provide two qualified technical staff, or as determined by the NLUCC, 
on secondment of the NEDA Secretariat. 
Likewise, within ninety (90) days from the approval of this Act, the Director-General of 
the NEDA shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) the organizational 
structure and plantilla positions for the secretariat, including its operational budget for the 
incoming 
SECTION 132. Funding. - To fund the initial activities, personnel and other operating 
expenditures of the NLUCC and its Secretariat, the sum of twenty-five million pesos 
(P25,000,000.00) is hereby allotted out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise 
appropriated. Thereafter, the NLUCC and its Secretariat shall be included in the general 
appropriation. 


All member-agencies of the NLUCC and its Executive Committee shall allocate specific 
amount from their agency budgets to fund activities, personnel and other operating expenditures 
relative to their participation in the Committee. 
Correspondingly, all agencies concerned shall allocate funds to the special activities that 
the Act directs them to undertake such as resource inventory, revision of implementing rules and 
regulations. 
CHAPTER 22 - Final Provisions 
SECTION 133. Repealing Clause. - All general and special laws, acts, decrees, executive 
orders, proclamations and administrative regulations, or any parts thereof which are inconsistent 
with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly, except Executive Order 72, Republic 
Act 7279, Executive Order 124 and Letter of Instructions 1350. 
SECTION 134. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any parts or 
provisions of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or 
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 135. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect within fifteen (15) days 
after its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,