FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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SE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Each year, a large amount of the country's agricultural land is irrevocably converted from 
actual or potential agricultural use to non-agricultural use. This i s  further aggravated by 
conflicting government programs and policies regarding land use and development. 
The continued decrease in the country's agricultural land base threatens the ability of the 
country to produce food and fiber in su€ficient quantities to meet domestic needs. In addition, the 
extensive use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes undermines the economic base of 
many rural areas. Yet there is no law which requires the Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the 
Secretary of Agriculture to report to Congress data relative to the conversion of agricultural land 
to non-agricultural uses. 
This bill provides for a reporting requirement on the rate at which agricultural land is 
converted to non-agricultural uses, and a review of existing government policies and procedures 
on agricultural land conversion, including an evaluation of the compatibility of government 
policies on land conversion with development plans at the national and local levels. The ultimate 
objective of this bill is not only to protect agricultural land, but to minimize grafr and corruption 
in agricultural land conversion due lo conflicting laws, policies and administrative activities of 
goveinment agencies.* 
This bill was originally filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
SE 
S. No. 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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PROCEDURES. 
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM AND THE DEPARTMENT 
OF AGRICULTURE TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON 
AGRICULTURAL USES INCLUDING A REVIEW OF EXISTING POLICIES AND 
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STATISTICS RELATING TO THE CONVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO NON- 
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Congress assembled: 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Agricultural Land Protection 
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Act of 2007.” 
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SECTION 2. Declaration ofPolicy. - It is the policy of the State to minimize the extent 
lo which government programs and policies contribute to the unnecessary and irreversible 
conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, and to assure that national government 
programs are administered and policies are implemented for the protection of agricultural land 
compatible with development plans of local government units. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Agricultural Land. - For purposes of this Act, “agricultural 
land” refers to land devoted to the cultivation of tlie soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, 
raising of livestocli, poultry or fish, including the harvesting of such farm products, and other 
farm activities and practices performed by a farmer in conjunction with such farming operations 
done by persons whether natural or juridical. 
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SECTION 4. Development of Criteria to IdentiJj, Esfeects of Government Programs on 
Conversion of Agricultural Land to Non-Agricultural Uses. - The Department o f  Agrarian 
Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with other departments, agencies and 
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local government units, shall develop criteria for identifying the effects of government programs 
on the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses. 
SECTION 5. Use of Criteria. - Departments, agencies, and local government units shall 
use the criteria established under the preceding paragraph to identify and take into account the 
adverse effects of government programs and policies on the preservation of agricultural land; 
consider alternative actions, as appropriate, that could lessen such adverse effects; and assure 
that programs and policies of the government at the national level for the protection of 
agricultural land are, to the extent practicable, compatible with development plans of local 
government units. 
SECTION 6. Availability of Restorative Information. - The Department of Agrarian 
Reform and the Department of Agriculture shall make available to other departments and 
agencies of the government, local govermnent units, individuals, and organizations information 
useful in restoring, maintaining, and improving the quantity and quality of agricultural land. 
SECTION 7. Review of Exhting Policies and Procedures. - The Department of Agrarian 
Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other departments and agencies 
of the government and local government units, shall review current provisions of law, 
administrative rules and regulations, policies and procedures to determine whether any provision 
prevents full compliance with the provisions of this Act. Whenever necessary, they shall develop 
proposals for action to bring government programs, policies and administrative activities into 
conformity with the purpose of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Techizical Assistance. -The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the Secretary 
of Agriculture and other department secretaries, whenever appropriate, shall provide technical 
assistance to local government units which intend to develop programs or policies to limit the 
conversion of productive agricultural land to non-agricultural uses. 
SECTION 9. Agricultural Land Resource Information. - The Secretary of Agrarian 
Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with other departments and agencies of 
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the government, shall design and implement educational programs and materials emphasizing the 
importance of productive agricultural land to the country’s well-being and distribute educational 
materials through the mass media, schools, organizations, and other government agencies. 
SECTION 10. Reporting Requirements. - At the beginning of each calendar year, the 
Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to the Committees on 
Agrarian Reform, Agriculture and Food, Economic Affairs, Constitutional Amendments, 
Revision of Codes and Laws, Environment, Local Government, Natural Resources, and Rural 
Development of the House of Representatives, on the progress made in implementing the 
provisions of this Act. The report shall include information on- 
(A) The effects, if any, of government programs and administrative activities with respect 
to the protection of agricultural land; and 
(E) The results of the reviews on existing policies and procedures required under Section 
7 of this Act. 
SECTION 11. Limitations. - 
(A) This Act does not authorize the government in any way to regulate the use of private 
agricultural land, or in any way affect the property rights of owners of such land. 
(B) None of the provisions or other requirements of this Act shall apply to the acquisition 
or use of agxicultural land for national defense purposes. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. -If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and snbsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. -Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Efectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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