Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS 
REGISTERED IN COOPERATIVE OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES EXERCISING
AUTHORITY OVER FARMERS IN THEIR REGISTRATION AND CADASTRAL 
CASES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Farmers are the foundation of our nation’s economy and are therefore vital to its food 
security. Without their tireless efforts, the country would face severe food shortages, threatening 
the well-being of its population. Despite their invaluable contributions, the majority of farmers 
remain impoverished, with many lacking ownership of the land they cultivate. Alarmingly, a 
significant number of them face legal battles to retain access to the very land that sustains their 
livelihoods and provides food for the nation. Unfortunately, some of them cannot afford to 
engage the services of a lawyer due to prohibitive cost of legal services. 
This proposed legislation aims to address and alleviate the legal challenges confronting 
local farmers. It seeks to safeguard their right to continued land use and protect them from the 
risk of displacement due to legal technicalities or lack of understanding of the law. By securing 
land tenure and production rights, this bill will ensure that farmers can focus on their essential 
role in feeding the nation without fear of losing their livelihood. 
In addition to strengthening food security, the passage of this bill will also affirm and 
protect the rights of farmers, securing their future and the future of their families for generations 
to come. 
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November 4, 2024
1:32 pm


In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is earnestly sought. 
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Batasan Hills, Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Third Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
Introduced by  
HON. ATTY. GERVILLE “JINKY BITRICS” R. LUISTRO 
AN ACT PROVIDING FREE LEGAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS 
REGISTERED IN COOPERATIVE OR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES EXERCISING 
AUTHORITY OVER FARMERS IN THEIR REGISTRATION AND CADASTRAL 
CASES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. Short title. – This Act shall be known as the ―Free Legal Services to Farmers Act of 
2024‖ 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to promote agricultural and 
rural development. In particular, the State shall endeavor to provide security in the agricultural 
lands and provide adequate facilities necessary to remove the doubt and threats to the livelihood 
of those men and women who cultivate and feed the Filipino people. It shall also be the policy of 
the State to encourage and strengthen farmers' organizations and cooperative as partners of the 
government to achieve its agricultural development goals. 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – 
a.
Farmers – Men, women, or entities engaged in the cultivation of land or the raising
of animals for the purpose of food production, fiber, and other agricultural goods.
SEC. 4. Legal Assistant Fund – The Legal Assistance Fund created under this law shall be used 
exclusively to provide legal services to farmers in distress due to cadastral cases and registration 
of their lands. The expenditures to be charged against the Fund shall include registration fees, 
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court fees, and other charges or fees in filing cases; Provided, that the Legal Assistance Fund 
shall, at all times, be made immediately available for farmers facing charges from the time of the 
commencement of the complaint, action, or similar proceedings, all the way to trial proper, until 
the execution of judgment and all levels of appeals; Provided, further, that at the end of every 
year, the Department of Agriculture shall include in its report to Congress, the status and 
accomplishments of the Legal Assistance Fund, including the expenditure from the said funds 
duly audited by the Commission of Audit (COA) 
 
SEC. 5. Creation of Regional Cadastral Legal Office – The Department of Agriculture (DA) 
shall erect legal offices and employ legal representatives to represent the farmers in Regional 
Offices for matters related to this Act.  
 
SEC. 6. Guarantees – The state shall include – but not exclusive – the following services:: 
 
a. Accelerate titling of agricultural land 
b. Provide speedy registration of land 
c. Answer legal question regarding cadastral cases 
d. Determine the legality of the transaction of agricultural land 
  
SEC. 7. Duties of the Legal Department implementing agencies – The Legal Department of 
Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and 
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall monitor and ensure the Legal Officer of the 
Regional Office are performing their cases with utmost accuracy and disposes of the same in a 
speedy manner.  
 
SEC. 8. Implementing Agencies. — The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development 
(DSWD) shall lead in the implementation of this Act.   
 
SEC. 9. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the initial implementation of this Act shall 
be sourced from the budgets of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Agrarian 
Reform (DAR) provided under their current General Appropriations Act (GAA). Thereafter, such 
sums necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in their annual 
GAA.  
  
SEC. 10. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Agriculture (DA) and 
Public Attorney's Office (PAO), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and 
Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in consultation with other government agencies shall 
promulgate the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days from the effectivity 
of this Act. 
   
SEC. 11. Separability Clause. – if any provisions or part thereof, is held invalid, or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting.  
   


SEC. 12. Repealing Clause. – any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, letter of 
instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, or inconsistent with the provision 
of this Act is hereby repealed or amended accordingly.  
   
SEC. 13. Effectivity. – this Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
   
Approved ,