EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
^
■’ U'Xf f- n(;
'19 
JUL 16 
A 8 59
r 10
rtliCEw'L
Introduced By Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
IN STITUTING  
A 
NATIONAL 
LAND 
USE 
POLICY, 
PROVIDING 
THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The proposed National Land Use Act (NLUA) seeks to bring to fruition the full 
Implementation and strict compliance of the country's national land use policy. It 
aims to institutionalize land use and physical planning for the promotion of 
responsible allocation and proper administration of land resources and our 
environment, in general.
There are already many existing laws and statutes with regard to the proper 
use of land including the utilization of natural resources. However, there are still 
many violations committed by many people due to the lack of strict national policy of 
land use resulting in the devastation of our environment and natural resources.
Many disastrous accidents and tragedies happened in the last few years which 
cost many lives. Most of these were brought about by the improper use of our 
environment and natural resources. It should be noted that if we will continue to do 
this, our children and the succeeding generations will be affected, or worse, become 
the unwitting victims.


With this measure, national and local Comprehensive Land Use plans will be 
formulated following a combined bottom-up and top-down approach, A Land Use 
Policy (LUPC) will be created as a committee under the National Economic 
Development Authority (NEDA) Board. The committee is responsible, among others, 
to prepare, periodically review, and update the national framework for physical 
planning to provide the general framework for the spatial development directions 
and policy guidelines on settlement development, production land use, protection 
land use and infrastructure development for the entire country and sub-national 
levels.
A national land use policy is needed to harmonize the reasonable claims of all 
those who hold interest on land, and to safeguard and promote the general welfare 
of both present and future generations through the proper management of land 
resources.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly urged.
p i a 's . c a ^
a n o


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
5 -l O
ti
•19 
JUL 16 
A 8 59
filXt; ' -
Introduced by Senator PIA S. CAYETANO
AN ACT
INSTITUTING 
A 
NATIONAL 
LAND 
USE 
POLICY, 
PROVIDING 
THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
CHAPTER I
2 
I ntroductory Provisions
3 
Sec. 1. Short Title. -T his Act shall be known and cited as the "National Land
4 
Use Act of the Philippines."
5 
Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policies and Principles. — It is the policy of the State to
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provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, utilization, management, and
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development of the country's land resources to ensure their optimum use is consistent
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with the principle of sustainable development.
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The State recognizes the need for rational, optimal, and sustainable settlements
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development and shall allocate lands for urban uses and new town development,
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consistent with the principles of environmental management and equitable access to
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land and security.
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Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize land use and physical planning as
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a mechanism for identifying, determining, and evaluating alternative land use and
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allocation patterns that promote and ensure:
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a) Sustainable and just management and utilization of natural resources;
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b) Maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and stability;
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c) Food and energy security in basic food commodities with emphasis on self-
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sufficiency in rice and corn production through efficient and sustainable use
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of land resources consistent with the principles of sound agricultural


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development, natural resources development, and agrarian reform;
d) Protection of prime agricultural lands for food production activities and 
highest priority to the completion of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform 
Program (CARP);
e) Sustainable development and management of water resources towards water 
security;
f) Rational population distribution and settlements development that will ensure 
adequate land allocation for government mass housing programs;
g) Spatial integration that links consumption and production areas to achieve 
physical 
and 
economic integration 
through 
appropriate 
infrastructure 
systems;
h) Equitable and sustainable economic growth and balanced and dispersed 
industrial and tourism development guided by the principles of agrarian 
reform, urban land reform, and rural development;
i) 
Private-public partnership where government provides the appropriate policy, 
legal and institutional framework to guide the private sector's management of 
resources;
j) Harmony between the rights and the varied interests of every Filipino within 
the framework of people empowerment, decentralization, social justice, and 
equity;
k) Respect for and protection of the sustainable traditional resource rights of the 
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to their 
ancestral domains to ensure their economic, social, and cultural well-being as 
well as recognition of the applicability of customary laws and sustainable 
traditional resource use and management, knowledge, and practices in 
ancestral domains;
l) Protection of the rights of basic sectors to equitable access to the country's 
land and other resources through State regulation of land valuation to 
prevent uncontrolled land speculation resulting in tremendous increase in 
land pricing;
m) Protection, conservation, and preservation of the Filipino historical, cultural, 
and built heritage and resources for the deeper understanding of our history


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and culture as a people;
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n) Attainment of energy security or energy self-sufficiency through sustainable
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and priority development of indigenous energy resources;
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o) Market orientation where the interplay of market forces within the framework
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of ecological and intergenerational factors is encouraged and adopted as the
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basic parameter in achieving efficiency in land use and allocation.
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It is also the policy of the State to ensure that local government units (LCDs)
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share with the national government the responsibility of managing and maintaining
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ecological balance within their territorial jurisdiction as stated in the 1987 Philippine
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Constitution and the 1991 Local Government Code or Republic Act No. 7160.
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Guided by the principle that the use of land bears a social function and that all
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economic agents shall contribute to the common good, landowners and land tenure
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holders, in the case of forestlands, be it an individual, communal, corporate or group
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shall be held responsible for developing and conserving their lands thereby making their
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lands productive and supportive of environmental stability.
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Sec. 3. Scope. — This Act shall apply to all lands whether public, private,
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government-owned, and/or in the possession of individuals, corporations, communities,
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indigenous peoples, or groups of people, to guide and govern the use, allocation,
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development and management of land resources including such activities that bear
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impact on said resources.
21 
CHAPTER I I
22 
Definitions
23 
Sec. 4. 
Definition o f Terms. -  As used in and for purposes of this Act, the
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following terms shall mean;
25 
a) 
Agricultural Land shall refer to lands devoted to or suitable for the
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cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, raising of
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livestock, poultry, fish or aqua-culture production, 
including the
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harvesting of such farm products, and other farm activities and practices
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performed in conjunction with such farming operations done by persons
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whether natural or juridical and not classified by law as mineral land,
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forest land, residential land, commercial land, or industrial land;
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b) 
Agricultural Land Use Conversion shall refer to the undertaking of any
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development activity which modifies or alters the physical characteristics


•
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of agricultural lands to render them suitable for non-agricultural purposes
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with an approved order of conversion issued exclusively by the
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Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);
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c)
Alienable and Disposable (A8d)) lands shall refer to lands of the public
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domain which have been delineated, classified, and certified as open and
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available for disposition under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No.
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141, otherwise known as the "Public Land Act," as amended;
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d)
Ancestral Domains shall refer to all areas generally belonging to ICCs/IPs
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as defined in Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the "Indigenous
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Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1998;"
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e)
Coastal Area/Zone shall refer to a band of dry land and the adjacent
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ocean space (water and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes
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and uses directly affect oceanic processes and uses, and vice versa. Its
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geographic extent may include areas within a landmark limit of one (1)
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kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include mangrove swamps.
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brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and
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other areas within a seaward limit of two hundred (200) meters isobath
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to include coral reefs, algal flats, seagrass beds, and other soft-bottom
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areas. For purposes of initiating and implementing sustainable coastal
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resources protection and management, it shall include foreshore lands;
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f)
Comprehensive Land Use Plan or CLUP shall refer to a document
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embodying a set of policies, accompanied by maps and similar
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illustrations that serves as principal basis for determining the future land
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use of lands and natural resources for production and protection
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purposes within the territorial jurisdiction of the city or municipality. It
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represents the community-desired pattern of population distribution and
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proposes future allocation of land resources to various land-using
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activities. It identifies the allocation, character, and extent of the areas of
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land resources to be used for different purposes and includes the
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processes and the criteria employed in the determination of the land use.
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It has a long-term perspective, encompassing a minimum of three (3)
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terms of local elective officials.
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g)
Critical Habitats shall refer to areas outside protected areas under the
4


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National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 or 
Republic Act No. 7586 that are known habitats of threatened species and 
designated as such based on scientific data taking into consideration 
species 
endemicity 
and/or 
richness, 
presence 
of 
human-made 
pressures/threats to the survival of wildlife living in the area, among 
others;
h) 
Critical Watershed shall refer to a drainage area of a river system 
supporting existing and proposed hydro-electric power, irrigation works 
or 
existing 
water 
facilities 
needing 
immediate 
protection 
and 
rehabilitation as it is being subjected to fast denudation causing 
accelerated erosion, destructive floods and polluted water;
i) 
Cultural Heritage shall refer to the totality of cultural properties preserved 
and developed through time and passed on for posterity;
j) 
Customary Laws shall refer to a body of written and/or unwritten rules, 
usages, customs and practices traditionally and continually recognized, 
accepted, and observed by respective ICCs/IPs consistent with the IPRA;
k) 
Development Plan shall refer to a document that defines the activities or 
measures that the national government or local government units (LGUs) 
intend to implement in order to achieve a defined set of development 
goals. It Integrates the socio-economic and sectoral plans of the national 
government or its instrumentality or a particular LGU with spatial plans 
such as land use or physical framework plans. It may include an analysis 
of problems and resources, definition of goals and objectives, policy 
guidelines, project and target achievements, and an implementation 
mechanism which defines the roles and contributions expected from the 
government and the private sector;
l) 
Ecologically-fragile Lands shall refer to lands within the critical watershed, 
brackish and freshwater wetlands, pasture lands, and croplands which 
require rehabilitation and whose continued unsustainable use would 
adversely affect the productivity of lowland agricultural areas and the 
stability of the upland ecosystem;
m) Ecotourism shall refer to sustainable tourism or travel to a given natural 
area with exotic or threatened ecosystems or a heritage area to observe


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wildlife or to help preserve nature, in the process providing for 
community 
participation; 
protection 
and 
management of natural 
resources, culture and indigenous knowledge systems and practices; 
environmental education and ethics; as well as economic benefits 
fostered and pursued for the enrichment of host communities and the 
satisfaction of visitors;
n) 
Energy Resource Lands shall refer to lands where naturally occurring or 
indigenous energy resources exist in sufficient quantity or quality as to 
be economically viable for exploration, 
development, 
production, 
utilization, and distribution process;
o) 
Energy Resources shall refer to surface or subsurface substances that 
serve as energy sources. These are traditionally mineral fuel deposits 
such as coal, petroleum, natural gas or renewable resources from 
geothermal, hydro reservoirs, or non-conventional sources such as ocean 
waves, solar, wind, biomass, and other similar resources which serve the 
same purpose;
p) 
Environmentally Critical Areas shall refer to areas declared by law as: (a) 
areas for natural parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves, and 
sanctuaries; (b) areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots; (c) 
areas which constitute the habitat of any endangered or threatened 
species or indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna); (d) areas of 
unique historic, archaeological, or scientific interests; (e) areas which are 
traditionally occupied by ICCs/IPs; (f) areas with critical slopes; (g) areas 
frequently visited and/or hard hit by natural calamities (geologic hazards, 
floods, typhoons and volcanic activities); (h) prime agricultural lands; (i) 
recharge areas of aquifers; (j) water bodies; (k) mangrove areas; (I) 
coral reefs; (m) mossy and virgin forests; (n) rivers and river banks; (o) 
swamp forest and marshlands; and (p) foreshore lands. This term shall 
also include other terrestrial, aquatic and marine areas that need special 
protection and conservation measures because they are ecologically 
fragile or they are needed for food security and food self sufficiency as 
determined by concerned agencies and LCDs in consultation with the 
concerned sectors;


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q) 
Estuary shd\\ refer to a wetland type where the river mouth widens into a 
marine ecosystem, the salinity of which is intermediate between salt and 
freshwater and where tidal action is an important biophysical regulator;
r) 
Exhausted Mineral Resources shall refer to a situation where the mineral
resources in specific sites are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to 
justify additional expenditure for extraction or utilization;
s) 
Food Security shall refer to the policy objective of meeting the food 
availability, accessibility, quality and affordability requirements of the 
present and future generations of Filipinos in a sustainable manner, 
through local production or importation, only when there is a shortage 
established based on a micro level situation, or both, based on the 
country's existing and potential resource endowments and related 
production advantages, 
and consistent with the overall 
national 
development objectives and policies;
t) 
Food Self-sufficiency shall refer to the policy objective of meeting food 
requirements through intensive local food production in a sustainable 
manner based on the country's existing and potential resource 
endowments and related production advantages;
u) 
Forestlands shall refer to lands of the public domain which have been 
classified or declared as such and all unclassified lands of the public 
domain. They include public forest, permanent forest or forest reserves, 
and forest reservations;
v) 
Foreshore Land 
refer to a string of land margining a body of water, 
the part of a seashore between the low-water line usually at the seaward 
margin of a low tide terrace and the upper limit of wave wash at high 
tide usually marked by a beach scarp or berm;
w) 
Framework for Physical Planning shall refer to an indicative plan 
promoting the most appropriate and rational use of land and other 
physical resources. It provides policy guidelines for all decisions relating 
to land use and environmental management to prevent or mitigate the 
adverse effects of inappropriate resource utilization on food security, the 
people's welfare and their environment. It embodies both policies and 
strategies necessary to carry out goals and objectives;


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x) 
Geo-hazards shall refer to natural and human-induced geological 
processes that have potential to cause destruction and pose a threat or 
risk to human's life and property;
y) 
Geo-hazard Areas shall refer to areas frequently visited and/or vulnerable 
or prone to experience weather/climatic, hydrologic, geologic, and other 
natural calamities;
z) 
Illegal Conversion shall refer to any activity that modifies or alters the
physical characteristics of agricultural lands to render them suitable for 
non-agricultural purposes without an approved order of conversion from 
the DAR Secretary;
aa) Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) shall 
refer to groups of people or homogenous societies identified under the 
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act or Republic Act No. 8371;
bb) Indigenous Energy Resources shall refer to energy resources which 
originate or occur naturally in the Philippines;
cc) Inland Waters shall refer to waters which are not coastal and marine 
waters and not subject to acquisitive prescription consistent with the 
provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1067, otherwise known as the 
"Water Code of the Philippines";
dd) Inter-tidal Sand flat shall refer to a juvenile fish-feeding area and habitat 
for crustaceans. The littoral gravel and sand biotopes are also used by 
important wintering ground and roosting/feeding grounds of indigenous 
migratory birds.
ee) Integrated Watershed Management shall refer to a planning strategy or 
program for watershed areas that complement environmentally-sound 
soil and water management practices with mechanisms for ensuring 
greater responsibility, involvement, or participation of individuals, groups, 
communities and other stakeholders benefiting from these areas and 
water-related infrastructure;
ff) 
Key Biodiversity Areas shall refer to sites that are globally significant for 
biodiversity conservation primarily containing species that require site- 
scale conservation to prevent extinction in the short-term and medium- 
term. Such species may be globally threatened, restricted-range and/or


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globally significant congregations of species; 
gg) Lagoon s\\^\\ refer to a semi-enclosed coastal basin with limited freshwater 
input, high salinity and restricted circulation which often lies behind sand 
dunes. It is often highly productive, being a habitat for a variety of plants 
and animals, serving as nurseries of prawns and shrimps and also a site 
for harbor, aquaculture, industry and recreation; 
hh) Land shall refer to resources, both human-made and natural, found on 
the surface, below, and above the ground including inland waters and 
the air therein. In its broadest sense, it shall include all uses, 
improvements and developments of such resources and may be viewed 
as a resource, as space, as location, as property and as factor or 
production or capital;
ii) 
Land Use shall refer to the manner of utilization of land, including its 
allocation, development, and management; 
jj) 
Land Use Classification shall refer to the act of delineating or allocating 
lands according to protection land use, production land use, settlements 
development, and infrastructure development as defined and provided 
for in this Act;
kk) Land Use Sub-classification shall refer to the act of determining and 
assigning specific uses of classified lands of the public domain;
II) 
Land Use Plan shall refer to a document embodying a set of policies 
accompanied by maps and similar illustrations which represent the 
community-desired pattern of population distribution and a proposal for 
the future allocation of land to the various land using activities. It 
identifies the allocation, character and extent of the areas of land 
resources to be used for different purposes and includes the process and 
the criteria employed in the determination of the land use; 
mm) Land Use Planning shall refer to the act of defining the allocation, 
utilization, development, and management of all land within a given 
territory or jurisdiction according to the inherent qualities of the land 
itself and supportive of sustainable economic, demographic, socio­
cultural and environmental objectives as an aid to decision-making and 
legislation;


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nn) Land Use Policy Council shall refer to the highest land use policy-making 
body created under this Act;
oo) Mandatory Public Consultations shall refer to the mechanism to ensure the 
involvement of affected sectors in land use planning from the local to the 
national level. It involves giving notice of hearing/consultation to affected 
sectors through publication or posting in conspicuous places, conduct of 
a reasonable number of hearings, and solicitation of positions and the 
public presentation and validation of the planning results before the final 
adoption of the plans;
pp) Mass Housing shall refer to residential subdivision and condominium 
projects covered by development permits and licenses to sell, catering to 
the homeless population to include socialized, economic/low-cost and 
medium-cost housing beneficiaries with affordabilities as defined from 
time to time by the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating 
Council (HUDCC);
qq) Minerals shall refer to all naturally occurring Inorganic substance in solid, 
gas, liquid or intermediate state excluding energy materials such as coal, 
petroleum, natural gas, radioactive materials and geothermal energy;
rr) Mineral Exploration shall refer to the systematic searching or prospecting 
for mineral resources;
ss) Mineral Lands shall refer to lands in which minerals exist in sufficient 
quantity or quality to justify the investment necessary for their extraction 
and/or development;
tt) 
Mudflat shaW refer to a wetland type that is usually an unvegetated area, 
dominated by muddy substrate which provides rich feeding grounds for 
vertebrates such as fish and water birds and also important in preventing 
soil erosion;
uu) Multiple Use o f Land Resources shall refer to the utilization or 
management strategy for public lands, which allows any activity thereat, 
involving one or more of its resources, depending on the result of prior 
evaluation on its numerous beneficial uses, that will produce the 
optimum benefits to the development and progress of the country and 
the public welfare without impairment or with the least injury to its other
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resources;
w ) National Integrated Protected Areas System or "A'7/345"shall refer to the 
classification and administration of all designated protected areas to 
maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems, to 
preserve genetic diversity, to ensure sustainable use of resources found 
therein, and to maintain their natural conditions to the greatest extent 
possible;
ww) National Parks shaW refer to land of the public domain classified as such in 
the 1987 Philippine Constitution which include all areas under the 
National Integrated Protected Areas System pursuant to Republic Act no. 
7586 or the NIPAS Act of 1992;
xx) Network o f Protected Areas for Agriculture 
and Agro-industrial 
Development or "NPAAAD" shaW refer to agricultural areas identified by 
the Department of Agriculture through the Bureau of Soils and Water 
Management (BSWM) in coordination with the National Mapping and 
Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) in order to ensure the efficient 
utilization of land for agriculture and agro-industrial development and 
promote sustainable growth. The NPAAAD covers all irrigated areas; all 
irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with firm funding 
commitments; all alluvial plains; land highly suitable for agriculture 
whether irrigated or not; agro-industrial croplands or lands planted to 
industrial crops that support the validity of existing agricultural 
infrastructure and agro-based enterprises; highlands or areas located at 
an elevation of five hundred (500) meters or above and have the 
potential for growing semi-temperate and high value crops; all 
agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile the conversion of which will 
result in serious environmental degradation; and all mangrove areas and 
fish sanctuaries;
yy) Non-Government Organization shall refer to a private, nonprofit voluntary 
organization that is committed to the task of political, socio-economic, 
physical, cultural and environmental development and established 
primarily to provide service to marginalized sectors in these areas;
zz) 
People's Organization shall refer to a private, non-profit, voluntary and
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community-based organization established primarily to provide service to 
its members and the community in general; 
aaa) Physical Framework Plans shd\\ refer to the national, regional or provincial 
indicative plans embodying both policies and strategies that are prepared 
by the national, regional and provincial land use policy councils, 
respectively, to guide the desired direction and growth and to promote 
and advance appropriate resource utilization as a way of sustaining food 
security, promoting people's welfare and protection of the environment; 
hbh)Prime Agricultural Land shd\\ refer to all irrigated areas, all irrigable lands 
already covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments; all 
alluvial plain land highly suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not; 
agro-industrial croplands or lands presently planted to industrial crops 
that support the viability of existing agricultural infrastructure and agro- 
based enterprises, highlands, or areas located at elevation of five 
hundred (500) meters or above and have the potential for growing semi­
temperature and high value crops; all agricultural lands that are 
ecologically fragile, the conversion of which will result in serious 
environmental degradation; and mangrove areas and fish sanctuaries; 
ccc) Production Land Use s\\aW refer to the direct and indirect utilization of land 
to generate outputs resulting from the following activities: agricultural, 
fish farming or aquaculture, timber or agro-forestry, grazing and pasture, 
mining, indigenous energy resource development, industry, and tourism;
Protected Areas s\\a\\ refer to portions of land set aside by reason of their 
unique physical and biological significance, managed to enhance 
biological diversity, and protected against destructive human exploitation. 
For purposes of this Act, it shall include agricultural lands identified and 
delineated under Section 29 hereof;
eee) Protection 
Land 
Use 
shall 
refer 
to 
the 
use 
of 
land
primarily for rehabilitation, conservation, and protection purposes and 
the promotion of the country's ecological and life-support systems; 
fff) Public Domain shall refer to lands that belong to the State which may be 
any of the following: agricultural, forest or timber, mineral, or national 
park as provided for in the 1987 Philippine Constitution;
12


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qqq)Public Lands shall refer to lands which have not been subject to private 
property rights or subject to sale or other modes of acquisition or 
concession under the general laws, and are devoted to public use; 
hhh) Reclassification/Sub-classification o f Agricultural Lands shall refer to the 
act of specifying how agricultural lands shall be utilized for non- 
agricultural uses such as residential, industrial, or commercial purposes 
through the local planning and zoning processes pursuant to Republic Act 
No. 7160 or the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 and subject to 
the requirements and procedure for conversion;
iii) 
Resettlement Sites shall refer to areas identified by the appropriate 
national agency or by the local government unit, with respect to areas 
within its jurisdiction, which shall be used for the relocation of the 
underprivileged and homeless, as defined under Republic Act No. 7279 or 
the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA);
^)Sett!ements shall refer to formal and informal communities or built-up 
residential areas where people prefer to live in and land areas classified, 
zoned, or converted for current or future residential or housing 
development purposes, including socialized housing zones for the 
homeless and underprivileged;
kkk) Settlements Development shall refer to any improvement on existing 
formal or informal residential or housing settlements or any proposed 
development of certain areas for residential or mass housing settlement 
purposes. It also involves the spatial distribution of population, 
identification of the roles and functions of key urban centers, 
determination of relationships among settlement areas, and the provision 
of basic services and facilities of identified major residential or housing 
settlement areas or growth centers;
III) 
Shoreline shaW refer to a strip of land covering at least one (1) kilometer 
from the point where sea water reaches during the highest high tide; 
mmm) Significant Caves shall refer to caves which contain materials or 
possess features that have archaeological, cultural, ecological, historical 
or scientific value as determined by the Department of Natural Resources 
(DENR) in coordination with the scientific community and the academe;
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nnn) Socialized Housing shall refer to housing programs and projects 
undertaken 
by the 
government or the 
private 
sector for the 
underprivileged and homeless citizens which shall include sites and 
services development, long-term financing, liberalized terms on interest 
payments, and such other benefits in accordance with the UDHA; 
ooo)Socialized Housing Zones shall refer to lands identified and designated by 
local government units as sites for socialized housing pursuant to Article 
IV of Republic Act No. 7279 and its implementing guidelines; these lands 
to be identified and designated shall include areas that are presently 
occupied by the urban poor, as well as those identified as resettlement 
areas as defined herein;
\)p[))Sustainab/e Development shall refer to the development objective of 
meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the 
ability of future generations to meet their own needs consistent with the 
principles of social equity, efficiency, and environmental integrity; 
qqq) Stakeholder shall refer to an individual, social group or institution that 
has a direct or indirect interest in activity, project, resources, or decision; 
rrr) Tourism Development Areas shall refer to specific sites for tourism 
development located in areas identified as priorities in the national, 
regional and inter-regional area specific tourism master plans and other 
sector plans such as eco-tourism and agri-tourism sites, including those 
designated through legislative and executive issuances i.e., tourist spots, 
tourist zones and tourism ecozones which can be developed into tourism 
estates or integrated resort, leisure, and recreation complexes, and other 
tourism related facilities;
sss) Tourism Estates shall refer to large tracts of land with well-defined 
boundaries in any area identified in the Philippine tourism master plan 
and regional tourism master plan, by proclamation of the President 
and/or by an act of Congress including local legislation. Such land shall 
be suitable for the development of an integrated tourism and resort 
complex including but not limited to accommodation facilities, food and 
beverage outlets, convention and meeting areas, sports, recreational and 
leisure centers and commercial outlets among others. It shqll be provided
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with roads, water supply facilities, power and utilities like potable water, 
drainage sewerage disposal, solid waste disposal system and other 
necessary infrastructure. 
The estate shall be under one unified and 
continuous management;
ttt) 
Tourism Ecozone shall refer to tourism development areas which have 
been granted Special Economic Zone status, through Philippine Economic 
Zone Authority (PEZA) registration and issuance of the required 
Presidential Proclamation, with its metes and bounds delineated by said 
Proclamation, pursuant to the Special Economic Zone Act of 1995 or 
Republic Act No. 7916, as amended;
uuu) Tourist Spot shall refer to a particular area/site/spot, human-made or 
natural, known for its unique tourist/visitor-drawing attributes and 
activities. It may be classified according to its social, cultural, natural, 
historical, scientific, religious, and recreational significance; 
vw ) Tourist Zone shall refer to a geographic area with well-defined 
boundaries proclaimed as such by the President of the Philippines and/or 
by acts of Congress. No development projects for any purpose shall be 
initiated and introduced within the zone prior to the formulation of a 
tourism master development plan which shall be undertaken in 
coordination with the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Tourism 
Authority. A tourist zone is established for the enhancement and/or the 
conservation of cultural and historical heritage and for the appreciation 
and enjoyment of the local population and its visitors;
WWW) Urban Areas shall refer to all cities regardless of their population 
density and to municipalities with population density of at least five 
hundred (500) persons per square kilometer; 
xxx) Urbanizabie Areas shall refer to sites and lands which, considering present 
characteristics and prevailing conditions, display marked and great 
potential of becoming urban areas within a period of five (5) years; 
yyy) Urban Forestry or Green Space shall refer to the establishment or setting­
up of areas for mini-forest or small nature parks, lining roads and 
highways with trees, shrubs, or ornamental plants, and ground 
landscaping of schools, hospitals, and other government agencies in
15


1 
order to improve the environment in urban areas;
2 
zzz) Water Security shall refer to the sufficient access throughout the year to
3 
the minimum daily requirement of clean water to maintain a healthy life;
4 
aaaa) Water Use shall refer to the appropriation of water for domestic,
5 
municipal, irrigation, power generation, inland fisheries, poultry and
6 
livestock, industrial and commercial, environmental, and recreational use;
7 
bbbb) Watershed s\\?i\\ refer to a topographically delineated area of land from
8 
which rainwater can drain as surface run-off vis-a-vis di specific stream or
9 
river system to a common outlet point which may be a dam, irrigation
10 
system or urban water supply take-off point, or where the stream
11 
discharges into a river, lake, or the sea;
12 
cccc) Zoning s\\^W refer to the regulatory tool for delineating the specific uses
13 
of lands in accordance with the approved CLUP within the territorial
14 
jurisdiction of a city/municipality and specifying the conditions for their
15 
regulation, subject to the limitations imposed by law and competent
16 
authority; and,
17 
dddd) Zoning ordinance or "ZO" shall refer to a local law passed by the
18 
Sangguniang Pambayan or Pangiunsod approving the development
19 
control/zoning plan in accordance with an approved or adopted CLUP for
20 
the city/municipality, and providing for the regulations and other
21 
conditions on the uses of land including the limitation on the
22 
infrastructure that may be placed thereon within the territorial
23 
jurisdiction of a city or municipality. It incorporates the protected areas
24 
under Section 13(a) and the protected agricultural lands under Section
25 
29 hereof.
26 
CHAPTER I I I
27 
Physical Framework and Land Use Plans
28 
Sec. 5. 
National Land Use Planning Process. -  The land use and physical
29 
planning process shall be formulated following a combined bottom-up and top-down
30 
approach. The national framework for physical planning, which guides the planning and
31 
management of the country's land and other physical resources at the national and sub-
32 
national levels, shall indicate broad spatial directions and policy guidelines on settlement
33 
development, production land use, protection land use and infrastructure developfnent.
16


1 
The regional and provincial framework plans and Comprehensive Land Use Plans
2 
(CLUPs), which cover the physical development of their respective territories, shall be
3 
consistent with the national framework for physical planning; Provided, That the
4 
integration and harmonization of physical framework plans at all levels shall be
5 
imperative to ensure that the concerns of both top and bottom levels of government are
6 
considered in the national, regional and physical framework plans and CLUPs. 
The
7 
physical and land use plans prepared at all levels shall have internal consistency
8 
specifically on, but not limited to, the development, management and conservation of
9 
forestlands found within a given territory and the linkages of the major land use
10 
categories to ensure that they complement in the utilization, development and
11 
management of resources.
12 
Sec. 6. National Framework for Physical Planning. — The Land Use Policy Council
13 
(LUPC) created in Section 14 herein, in consultation with the concerned sectors through
14 
the mandatory conduct of public hearings, shall formulate, periodically update and
15 
ensure the implementation of a national framework for physical planning that shall serve
16 
as the general long-term framework for the spatial development directions of the entire
17 
country. A national framework for physical planning shall be the basis for adopting land
18 
use and physical planning-related guidelines and standards, including zoning and other
19 
land use control standards that will guide the formulation of city/municipal zoning
20 
ordinances.
21 
Sec. 7. 
Regional Physical Framework Plans. -  In consultation with concerned
22 
sectors, the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall define the desired spatial
23 
arrangement of land-using activities in the entire region, consolidating and harmonizing
24 
the provincial physical framework plans of provinces and independent cities within the
25 
territorial jurisdiction of the region. The regional physical framework plan, which depicts
26 
an end-state scenario toward which efforts and activities are directed, shall consist of
27 
spatially-based and area-focused policies, consistent with those in the national
28 
framework for physical planning, to guide detailed physical, socio-economic, sectoral
29 
and investment planning.
30 
Sec. 8. Provincial Physical Framework Plans. -  In consultation with concerned
31 
sectors, the Provincial Planning and Development Office shall prepare a provincial
32 
physical framework plan to determine the physical development of the entire provincial
33 
territory, consolidating and harmonizing the land use plans of component cities and
17


1 
municipalities, and defining the uses of land and other resources within the province
2 
consistent with the policies in the regional physical framework plan. It shall submit the
3 
provincial physical framework plan to the Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC),
4 
created under Section 20 of this Act, for review and endorsement to the Sangguniang
5 
Panlalawigan, which shall adopt the same pursuant to Section 468(2) (vii) of the LGC.
6 
Sec. 9. 
City/Municipa! Land Use Plans. -  The City/Municipal Planning and
7 
Development Office, in consultation with concerned sectors through mandatory conduct
8 
of public hearings, shall prepare the CLUP to determine the specific uses of land and
9 
other physical resources therein including areas co-managed with the national
10 
government and, as appropriate, the ancestral domain areas. Guided by a provincial
11 
physical framework plan, the CLUP shall 
embody the desired land use patterns and
12 
mixes of the city or municipal territory and provide appropriate policies for each of the
13 
four land use planning categories that shall guide and serve as framework for more
14 
detailed development and sectoral planning.
15 
The CLUP shall be translated into a zoning ordinance by the concerned
16 
Sanggunian to regulate the uses of land, including the limitations on height, density and
17 
bulk of buildings and other infrastructure that may be placed thereon.
18 
CHAPTER IV
19 
Framework for Land Use Planning
20 
Sec. 10. 
Priorities in Land Use Allocation and Planning. -  In projecting spatial
21 
allocation for different land uses, the LGUs shall first exclude areas under protection
22 
land use of Section 13(A) hereof, national parks, energy resource lands, and prime
23 
agricultural lands to ensure ecological integrity, energy supply, and promote food
24 
security. Areas with prior rights and those with site-specific resources for basic services,
25 
such as but not limited to, water and indigenous energy resources, shall also be
26 
excluded. Spatial allocation and planning shall then proceed in accordance with Sections
27 
12 and 13 hereof with priorities given to integrated watershed management areas,
28 
socialized housing sites, fisherfolk settlement in coastal areas, and waste disposal sites.
29 
Sec. 11. Adoption o f Multiple Uses o f Land Resources. -  The primary and
30 
alternative uses of a specific land resource shall be determined and evaluated prior to
31 
any decision for the assignment of its use. Areas feasible for sustainable land resource
32 
use may be considered multiple-use zones wherein settlements, tourism, agriculture,
33 
agro-forestry and extraction activities and other income-generating or livelihood
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activities may be allowed: Provided, That multiple uses of land resources shall be in 
accordance with priorities in land use allocation and planning and that no reclassification 
shall be allowed.
Sec. 12. Basic Land Use Planning Considerations. — In determining the various 
land uses, the people and their productive activities and the need for functional open 
spaces and preservation areas as well as the various interrelationships of the physical 
characteristics of the land and other elements therein shall be considered, among 
others, the following:
(a) 
Availability of natural resources including indigenous energy resources for 
energy security and self-sufficiency;
(b) 
Geology, geomorphology, geologic hazard, climate, soil, vegetative cover, 
demography and slope;
(c) 
Economic, environmental, social and related development activities;
(d) 
Existing government policies on land and natural resources allocation, 
utilization, management and disposition;
(e) 
Technological changes/advancement;
(f) 
Existing customary rights for the protection of indigenous peoples and 
vulnerable groups including women and urban poor;
(g) 
Inventory of prior and existing rights, to harmonize determination of land 
use.
21 
Sec. 13. Categories o f Land Uses for Planning Purposes. — In determining and
22 
defining the national, regional and provincial framework plans, and CLUPs, land uses
23 
shall be grouped into four major functional uses as follows:
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
(a) Protection Land Use - Planning for protection land use intends to achieve 
environmental stability and ecological integrity, ensure a balance between 
resource use and the preservation of some areas with environmental, 
aesthetic, educational, cultural and historical significance, and protect 
people and human-made structures from the ill-effects of natural hazards. 
Areas under this category are those under the coverage of the NIPAS Law 
and other coastal and marine protected areas; those areas outside NIPAS 
but nonetheless require protection because of their outstanding physical 
and aesthetic features, anthropological significance, and biological diversity;
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and those areas prone to natural hazards. Areas outside the coverage of 
the NIPAS Law include, but are not limited to the following: 
a.l. Reserved old-growth forests above 1,000 meters in elevation and 
those 50% in slope gradient;
a.2. Mangrove and fish sanctuaries, pursuant to the Agriculture and 
Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 or RA 8435 and the Philippine 
Fisheries Code of 1998 or RA 8550;
a.3. Buffer zones or strips/easements, pursuant to the Revised Forestry 
Code of the Philippines or P.D. No. 705 and the Water Code of the 
Philippines or P.D. No. 1067;
a.4. Salvage zones along foreshore areas, freshwater swamps and 
marshes, plazas and heritage/historic sites, pursuant to P.D. No. 
2146;
a.5. Watersheds supporting domestic water supply; 
a.6. Utility easement like transmission lines of power companies, oil and 
gas facilities, cell sites, and domestic water lines; 
a.7. Amenity areas or those with high aesthetic values, pursuant to P.D. 
No. 2146;
a.8 Natural and human-made areas/sites of cultural, historical and 
anthropological significance, which are declared as such 
by 
internationally recognized organizations and concerned national 
agencies;
a.9 
Critical habitats as provided in the Wildlife Resources Conservation 
and Protection Act or Republic Act No. 9147; 
a. 10 Significant Caves under the National Caves and Cave Resources 
Management and Protection Act or Republic Act No. 9072; and 
a.11 Key Biodiversity Areas under Executive Order 578 (National 
Biodiversity Policy).
29
30
31
32
(b) Production Land Use - Planning for production land use shall determine the 
most efficient, sustainable, and equitable manner of utilizing, developing 
and managing land for productive purposes. Areas included in this 
category are agricultural lands, fishing grounds, coastal and marine zones,
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production forest which comprise lands 18% to 50% in slope gradient 
such as: residual dipterocarps, rangelands for grazing purposes, industrial 
tree plantation, community-based forest management areas and other 
reforestation projects; mineral lands or mining areas and reservations, 
energy resource lands, industrial development areas, and tourism 
development areas where productive activities could be undertaken to 
meet the country's requirements for food security, economic growth and 
development.
(c) Settlements Development - The settlement development plan ensures for
the present and future generation the following: i) effective integration of 
activities within and among settlements, allowing efficient movement of 
people and production of commodities through the provision of 
appropriate land, infrastructure, and facilities; and ii) access of the 
population to housing, education, health care, recreation, transportation 
and communication, sanitation, and basic utilities such as water, power, 
waste disposal, and other services.
(d) Infrastructure Development -  Infrastructure development seeks to provide
basic services and foster economic and other forms of integration 
necessary for producing or obtaining the material requirements of 
Filipinos, in an efficient, responsive, safe and ecologically friendly built 
environment. It covers these sub-sectors: transportation, communications, 
indigenous energy exploration and development, water resources, and 
social infrastructure: Provided, That the determination of functional uses 
of lands within ancestral domains shall consider traditional resource and 
management systems that do not endanger the lives and property of the 
local community and neighboring areas or increase the vulnerability of the 
natural environment to the effects of natural and human-induced 
geological processes.
CHAPTER V
I mplementing Structure and Mechanism 
A rticle 1
Land Use Policy Council
21


1 
Sec. 14. Creation o f the Land Use Policy Council (LUPC). -  The LUPC is hereby
2 
created as a committee under the National Economic and Development Authority
3 
(NEDA) Board. It shall exercise the powers and responsibilities of the National Land Use
4 
Committee (NLUC). The LUPC shall act as the highest policy-making body on land use
5 
and resolve land use policy conflicts between or among agencies, branches, or levels of
6 
the government. It shall integrate efforts, monitor developments relating to land use
7 
and the evolution of policies.
8 
Sec. 15. Composition o f the LUPC -  The LUPC shall be composed of twenty (20)
9 
members.
10 
a) 
The Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning as Chairperson;
11 
b) 
The Secretaries of Environment and Natural Resources and Agriculture and
12 
the Chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating
13 
Council (HUDCC) as Vice-Chairpersons;
14 
c) 
The Secretaries of Agrarian Reform, Trade and Industry, Public Works and
15 
Highways, Transportation and Communications, Tourism, Interior and Local
16 
Government, Justice, Science and Technology, Finance and Energy;
17 
d) 
A representative each from four (4) basic sectors directly involved in land
18 
use, namely; urban poor, peasants, fisherfolk, and indigenous peoples who
19 
shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines based on the
20 
nomination and recommendation of the respective sectoral councils of the
21 
National 
Anti-Poverty Commission 
(NAPC). 
At least two sectoral
22 
representatives shall be women.
23 
e) 
Two representatives from private subdivision and housing developers.
24 
A consultative body shall likewise be convened by the LUPC at least once a year
25 
or as often as may be necessary. It shall be composed of representatives from the
26 
Leagues of Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces, other government agencies not
27 
represented in the LUPC, and from non-government sectors such as the private sector,
28 
non-government organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (POs), and the
29 
academic community.
30 
Sec. 16. Powers and Functions. -  The LUPC shall have the following powers and
31 
functions;
32 
a) Advise the President of the Philippines and the NEDA Board on all matters
33 
concerning land use and physical planning;
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b) Formulate policies and endorse land use and physical planning-related policies 
that may be formulated by the RLUPC and concerned agencies as well as 
promulgate zoning and other land use control standards and guidelines which 
shall guide the formulation of land use plans and zoning ordinances by local 
governments;
c) Harmonize laws, guidelines and policies relevant to land use and physical 
planning to come up with a rational, cohesive, and comprehensive national 
land use framework;
d) Prepare, periodically review and if necessary, update the national framework 
for physical planning to provide the general framework for the spatial 
development directions for the entire country and sub-national levels;
e) Monitor and coordinate undertaking the gathering of data, the conduct of 
studies pertaining to land use planning including studies on the management of 
identified land uses and such other studies not undertaken by other 
government agencies;
f) Coordinate with and assist other government agencies and LGUs in planning, 
developing, and implementing their land use classification programs, and 
provide, to the extent possible, technical assistance and guidance;
g) Monitor and coordinate the activities of concerned agencies and entities of the 
government, as well as LGUs, in the enforcement and implementation of 
policies and regulations relating to land use and resource management and 
development;
h) Monitor and coordinate activities in the establishment of a national land 
resource information and management system of concerned agencies that shall 
integrate and process information on land use and allocation generated by the 
various national government agencies; define information requirements at 
various levels; and standardize information inputs and outputs including scales 
and symbols used in territorial and sectoral maps;
i) Call on any department, bureau, office, agency, or instrumentality of the 
government, and or private entities and organization for cooperation, support, 
and assistance in the performance of its functions;
j) Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use between or among national 
government agencies and act on unresolved land use policy conflicts at the
23


1 
regional level;
2 
k) Adopt rules of procedures for the orderly and expeditious conduct of meetings
3 
and other business of the Council; and
4 
I) Perform such other acts and functions and exercise such other powers as may
5 
be necessarily implied, inherent, incident, or related to the foregoing.
6 
Sec. 17. LUPC Technical Board (LUPC-TB). -  A Technical Board shall be created
7 
to provide technical support to the LUPC. It shall be composed of:
8 
a. 
NEDA Deputy Director-General for Regional Development as Chairperson;
9 
b. 
Representatives of the member agencies/institutions of the LUPC, who
10 
shall have a rank not lower than Director level; and
11 
c. 
The representatives of the four (4) basic sectors as enumerated in Section
12 
15 (d) of this Act.
13 
Sec. 18. 
Offices, Units and Staff Support. -  The NEDA Regional Development
14 
Office shall continue to provide core secretariat services to LUPC, its Technical Board
15 
and RLUPC. Other government agencies may also be called upon for staff support.
16 
Article 2
17 
Local Developm ent Councils as Local Land Use Policy Councils
18 
Sec. 19. Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC). -  At the regional level, the
19 
RLUPC will be institutionalized, replicating the LUPC structure and composition. A
20 
representative from the Department of Agriculture (DA), DAR and DENR shall be
21 
included in the composition of the RLUPC. The RLUPC shall have the following functions:
22 
a. 
Formulate and adopt regional policies on land use and physical planning;
23 
b. 
Prepare and periodically update a regional physical framework plan, taking
24 
into consideration national polices and lower level plans;
25 
c. 
Assist the provinces in preparing and periodically updating its physical
26 
framework plans to ensure consistency with the regional and national
27 
plans and policies and to facilitate its integration to the regional plans;
28 
d. 
Review, prior to adoption by respective Sanggunian bodies, the provincial
29 
physical framework plan and CLUPs of highly urbanized and independent
30 
component cities to ensure consistency with the regional physical
31 
framework plan and national policies set forth by LUPC and compliance
32 
with limits prescribed under the 1991 LGC for reclassifying agricultural
33 
lands;
24


1 
e. 
Resolve 
and 
recommend 
policy conflicts on 
land 
use 
planning,
2 
classification, and allocation that may arise between or among regional
3 
line agencies;
4 
f. 
Monitor changes in land use and other physical resources in the region;
5 
g. 
Evaluate consistency of major programs and projects with the regional
6 
physical framework plans and their impact on land use and the
7 
environment;
8 
h. 
Undertake the gathering of regional data for the Land Resource
9 
Information and Management System; and
10 
i. 
Perform other related functions as may be directed by the LUPC.
11
12 
Sec. 20. 
Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC). 
— The Provincial
13 
Development Council (PDC), created under Section 106 of the LGC, shall act as the
14 
PLUPC that will tackle land use concerns whenever necessary. A representative from the
15 
DAR and DENR shall be included in the composition of the PLUPC.
16 
In addition to the functions enumerated in Section 109 of the LGC, the PLUPC
17 
shall:
18 
a. 
Advise the Sangguniang Paniaiawigan on all matters pertaining to land
19 
use and physical planning;
20 
b. 
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Paniaiawigan for adoption, the
21 
provincial physical framework plan prepared and periodically updated by
22 
the Provincial Planning and Development Office and other land use and
23 
physical planning-related policies;
24 
c. 
Assist the Sangguniang Paniaiawigan in reviewing the CLUPs of
25 
component cities/municipalities to ensure consistency with the provincial
26 
physical framework plans and compliance with the limits prescribed under
27 
the 1991 LGC for reclassifying agricultural lands; and
28 
d. 
Resolve 
and 
recommend 
policy conflicts on 
land 
use 
planning,
29 
classification, 
and, 
allocation that may arise between or among
30 
cities/municipalities and any unresolved land use conflicts at the
31 
city/municipal level.
32 
The PLUPC may call upon any local official concerned such as Provincial Planning
33 
and Development Coordinator, Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Environment and
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Natural Resources Officer, Provincial Engineer, Provincial Assessor, or any official of 
national agencies and other relevant agencies during discussions on land use and 
physical planning concerns.
Sec. 21. City/Municipa! Land Use Policy Council (C/MLUPC). -  The City/Municipal 
Development Council (C/MDC), created under Section 106 of the LGC, shall act as the 
C/MLUPC that will tackle land use concerns whenever necessary. A representative from 
the DAR and DENR shall be included in the composition of the C/MLUPC.
In addition to the functions enumerated in Section 109 of the LGC, the C/MLUPC
shall:
a.
b.
c.
Advise the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Paniungsod ox\ all matters 
pertaining to land use and physical planning;
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang 
Paniungsod for adoption, the CLUP prepared and periodically updated by 
the City/Municipal Planning and Development Office and other land use 
and physical planning-related policies; and
Resolve and recommend policy conflicts on land use planning and 
allocation that may arise between and among barangays and any 
unresolved land use conflicts at the barangay level regarding the violation 
of zoning ordinances including opposition to applications for locational 
clearances, permits or certificates.
For purposes of this Act, the City/Municipal Planning and Development 
Coordinator (C/MPDC) shall (a) act on all applications for locational clearances for all 
projects except those of vital and national economic or environmental significance, and 
(b) monitor on-going/existing projects within their respective jurisdictions and issue 
notices of violation to owners, developers, or managers of projects that are violative of 
zoning ordinances.
The C/MLUPC may call upon any local official concerned such as C/MPDC, 
City/Municipal Agriculturist, City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, 
City/Municipal Engineer, City/Municipal Assessor, or any official of national agencies 
during discussions on land use and physical planning concerns.
Local government units without operational C/MDCs as mandated by the 1991 
LGC shall activate their respective Councils within six (6) months from the effectivity of 
this Act.
26


1 
A rticle 3
2 
Adoption, Approval and Review o f Land Use Plans
3 
Sec. 22. 
Component Cities and Municipalities. -  Component cities and
4 
municipalities shall have the power and authority to adopt and approve their respective
5 
CLUPs and ZOs through their respective Sanggunian bodies subject to the power of
6 
review of their respective provinces only with respect to the consistency of the CLUPs
7 
and ZOs with Section 9 hereof on the preparation of the provincial physical framework
8 
plan.
9 
Sec. 23, 
Provinces and Independent and Highly Urbanized Cities. — Provinces
10 
and independent and highly urbanized cities shall have the power and authority to adopt
11 
and approve their respective CLUPs, ZOs or provincial physical framework plan, as the
12 
case may be, through their respective Sanggunian but subject to the review of the
13 
RLUPC as provided in Section 19 hereof.
14 
A rticle 4
15 
Responsibilities o f the National Governm ent Agencies and LGUs
16 
Sec. 24. National Base Mapping Program. -  A national mapping program shall be
17 
implemented, coordinated, and monitored through the creation of an Inter-agency
18 
Technical Committee (UC) composed of the NAMRIA as the lead agency, the BSWM,
19 
the Forest Management Bureau (FMB), the Land Management Bureau (LMB), the
20 
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB),
21 
the Philippine Institute of Volcanology And Seismology (PHIVOLCS), DAR, the National
22 
Water Resources Board (NWRB), the Department of Energy (DOE), NEDA and other
23 
concerned government agencies/bureaus. The ITC shall be constituted, and the
24 
mapping program initiated, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act.
25 
For purposes of uniformity and standardization, the LGUs, to be assisted by the
26 
appropriate agencies of the national government, shall likewise prepare their respective
27 
territorial maps using scales, symbols, and other indicators to be prescribed in
28 
accordance with this Act. The completed maps shall be integrated in the national
29 
framework for physical planning pursuant to Section 6 hereof.
30 
Sec. 25. National Geo-hazard Mapping Program. — Within thirty (30) days from
31 
the effectivity of this Act, a nationwide geo-hazard mapping program shall be initiated
32 
jointly thru the LUPC by the PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
33 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the NAMRIA, MGB, BSWM, and DOE, in
27


1 
coordination with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), the Regional
2 
Disaster Coordinating Councils, and other concerned government agencies. The
3 
program shall include the generation of indicative geo-hazard zoning maps that will
4 
outline areas in the Philippines which are prone to liquefaction, land slides, severe flash
5 
flooding, lahar, ground rupturing, tsunami, river erosion, coastal erosion, sinkhole
6 
collapse, earthquake, hazardous volcanic products, and other disastrous natural
7 
hazards.
8 
For purposes of uniformity and standardization and in order to develop a safe-
9 
built environment, the LGUs shall subsequently incorporate and integrate the generated
10 
geo-hazard zoning maps in their respective CLUPs. Said geo-hazard maps shall serve as
11 
guide for all the LGUs in the preparation of their own hazards-constrained development
12 
plans. The national framework for physical planning, pursuant to Section 6 hereof, shall
13 
incorporate these geo-hazard maps.
14 
All infrastructure activities including real estate and subdivision projects and the
15 
development of tourist spots requiring an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)
16 
shall be required to submit an Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessment
17 
Report (EGGAR).
18 
Sec. 26. 
Scope and Nature o f Responsibilities o f Other National Government
19 
Agencies. -  All concerned national government agencies/bodies shall periodically report
20 
to the LUPC on the various activities and accomplishments relative to land use. Likewise,
21 
they shall provide their respective sectoral/development plans and render technical and
22 
administrative support if called upon by the LUPC relative to the implementation of the
23 
provisions of this Act.
24 
Sec. 27. Submission o f Annual Report on the Implementation o f CLUPs. -  The
25 
C/MLUPC shall submit an annual report on the implementation of their land use plans to
26 
the PLUPC, which shall integrate the same for submission to the RLUPC, which shall in
27 
turn integrate the provincial reports for submission to the LUPC.
28 
CHAPTER V I
29 
Special Areas of Concern
30 
A rticle 1
31 
A gricultural Lands
32
Sec. 28. 
Priority Areas for Agricultural Development. 
-  Priority areas for
28


1 
agricultural development are the CARP, CARPable areas, and the NPAAAD.
2 
Sec 29. Conversion o f Agricultural Lands. -  Agricultural lands are deemed
3 
converted 
to 
non-agricultural 
uses 
upon 
the 
recommendation 
of appropriate
4 
government agencies and the approval by the DAR of the application for conversion.
5 
Prime agricultural lands and specific types of lands to the extent necessary for attaining
6 
food self-sufficiency in rice and com and food security in other basic commodities, as
7 
determined by the DA, subject to mandatory consultation with the LGUs, the private
8 
sector, the NGOs, and POs, shall be protected from conversion, which shall include but
9 
not limited to areas under the NPAAAD: Provided, That all irrigated and irrigable lands,
10 
all lands developed or possessing the potential for development of high value crops,
11 
and all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in
12 
serious environmental problems shall be given full protection from conversion, the areas
13 
under which are subject to review every six (6) years by the DA, DAR and DENR, with
14 
the mandatory public consultations: Provided, further. That consistent with the State
15 
policy on giving priority to the completion of CARP, all lands subject to CARP including
16 
those lands covered under the notice of compulsory acquisition/voluntary offer to sell,
17 
production or profit-sharing, or commercial farm deferment shall also be protected from
18 
conversion pending the distribution and installation of the farmer beneficiaries, but
19 
thereafter. Section 65 of Republic Act No. 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
20 
Law (CARL) shall apply.
21 
Lands defined under Section 10 of CARL shall remain exempted and excluded
22 
from the coverage of CARP.
23 
Sec. 30. Re-dassification/Sub-dassification o f Agricultural Lands by LGUs. -Sub-
24 
classification or re-classification of agricultural lands to other uses under Section 20 of
25 
the LGC of 1991 shall exclude the prime agricultural lands as stated in the preceding
26 
section. 
Moreover, such sub-classification/reclassification is not synonymous to
27 
conversion. The DA and DAR shall provide the LGUs with a complete list and maps of
28 
prime agricultural lands within their territorial jurisdictions.
29 
Article 2
30 
Forestlands and W atershed Management
31 
Sec. 31. Reversion o f Alienable and Disposable Lands to Forestlands. -  Upon the
32 
recommendation of the Secretary of the DENR, duly reviewed and endorsed by the
33 
LUPC, and after due consultations with the concerned LGUs and affected parties.
29


1 
Congress may authorize the reversion of alienable and disposable lands of the public
2 
domain or portion thereof to forestlands. Thereafter, said lands shall be included in the
3 
preparation of land use plans within forestlands.
4 
Sec. 32. 
Critical Watershed Areas. -  The DENR, in coordination with the DA,
5 
LCDs, and other government agencies, including government-owned and-controlled
6 
corporations, and with mandatory public consultations, shall identify and delineate
7 
critical watershed areas that need to be protected, rehabilitated, enhanced, and/or
8 
withdrawn from uses that contribute to their further degradation.
9 
Sec. 33. Formulation and Implementation o f Integrated Watershed Management
10 
Plans. -  With the assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory consultations with the
11 
concerned sectors, the LCDs through their local land use committees shall prepare their
12 
watershed management plans which shall be integrated with their respective CLUPs.
13 
The formulation and integration of the plan shall be guided, among others, by the
14 
principle that the management and development of inland water resources shall be at
15 
the watershed level. A nationwide mapping of watersheds in the country shall be
16 
implemented.
17 
In cases where the watershed areas transcend the boundaries of a particular
18 
municipality, an inter-LGU committee composed of representatives from local land use
19 
committees of the LGUs where the watershed area is located shall be formed. With the
20 
assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory consultations with the concerned sectors,
21 
the inter-LGU committee shall formulate the watershed management plan for the said
22 
watershed area.
23 
The DENR and the concerned LGUs shall jointly implement the watershed
24 
management plan subject to regular consultations with and involvement of the
25 
community and other stakeholders in the implementation of the plan.
26 
The preparation of Forest Land Use Plans shall make use of the watershed as the
27 
basic planning unit.
28 
Article 3
29 
Coastal Zones
30 
Sec. 34. 
Criteria on the Allocation and Utilization o f Lands within the Coastal
31 
Zones. -  The allocation and utilization of lands within the coastal zones shall be guided
32 
by the following:
33 
a) Areas vegetated with mangrove species shall be preserved for mangrove
30


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
production and shall not be converted to other uses;
b) Areas that meet all accepted criteria on elevation, soil type, soil depth, 
topography, supply for successful fishpond development, and are not 
identified as mangrove protected areas, shall be utilized for aquaculture 
purposes;
c) Areas sub-classified as mangrove and still suitable for use as such, or due 
to environmental conditions need to be preserved as mangrove, but is 
devoid of mangrove stands shall not be converted to other uses. The DENR 
shall ensure that these lands shall be reforested within a given period of 
time;
d) Areas accessible to the sea and identified for fisherfolk settlement and 
housing shall be allocated to traditional fisherfolk who are inhabitants of the 
coastal communities and members of legitimate fisherfolk organizations 
and/or holders of stewardship lease contracts or titles to ancestral domains 
or any form of property right arrangements who participate in coastal 
resource management initiatives, subject to the usual census procedures of 
the HUDCC.
e) Areas that are neither sub-classified as mangrove, fisherfolk settlement nor 
fishpond may be devoted to recreational or tourism purposes: Provided, 
That such undertaking will not result in environmental degradation and 
displacement of small fishers; Provided further, That any fees or charges to 
be imposed on the use of such areas used for recreational or tourism 
purposes shall be used for their maintenance and preservation, and shall 
benefit nearby local communities;
f) Areas which are considered as traditional fishing grounds shall be used 
primarily for such purpose;
g) Areas which have been allocated for small infrastructure needed by 
fisherfolk shall be allowed; and
h) Areas which form part of foreshore lands as defined in this Act including 
those that are under lease agreements or arrangements shall undergo 
zoning and evaluation to determine their boundaries and actual sizes and 
corresponding uses.
Sec. 35. 
Coastal Land Zone Sub-classification. -  All public lands in the coastal
31


1 
zones shall be subclassified into any of the following: estuaries, lagoons, inter-tidal flats,
2 
mudflats, fishponds, mangroves, protection from tidal surge, for preservation of
3 
biodiversity, habitats and sanctuaries for endangered wildlife, fisherfolk settlement, or
4 
recreational/tourism areas. No sub-classification of coastal zones to different uses shall
5 
be done without the following:
6 
a) Conduct of a comprehensive resource and environmental assessment by the
7 
DENR and respective LGUs and accredited NGOs and POs within their
8 
jurisdiction; and
9 
b) Prior consultation with local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Management
10 
Councils (FARMCs) formed under Republic Act No. 8550 or the Fisheries
11 
Code.
12 
Sec. 36. 
Zoning o f Foreshore Areas. — LGUs, in coordination with the DENR,
13 
shall conduct zoning of their respective foreshore areas to assist government and
14 
community fishers identify priority areas for conservation and development, and to
15 
enable them to set targets for mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation.
16 
A rticle 4
17 
Mineral Lands
18 
Sec. 37. Criteria for the Utilization and Allocation o f Land for Mining Purposes. -
19 
Consistent with Section 5 of this Act and the provisions of Republic Act No. 7942 or the
20 
Mining Act of 1995, and to ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance
21 
and maximizing economic returns to mining operations are realized, the allocation and
22 
utilization of lands for mining purposes shall be guided by the following:
23 
a) The principles of sustainable development and responsible mining, which shall
24 
include respecting the rights and customs of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral
25 
domains pursuant to the provisions of IPRA;
26 
b) In case of small-scale mining, adequate and acceptable safeguards shall be
27 
instituted by the holders of mining rights or permits to prevent environmental
28 
degradation of the mining sites and adjacent areas;
29 
c) Mineral reservations which have become non-operational for more than ten
30 
(10) years as determined by the MGB shall be placed under appropriate
31 
surface management by the DENR;
32 
d) Consistent with the Mining Act of 1995, existing mineral reservations shall be
33 
periodically reviewed by the DENR for the purpose of determining whether
32


1 
their continued existence is consistent with the national interest and, if
2 
warranted, recommend the alteration or modification of its boundaries or
3 
revert the same to public domain without prejudice to prior existing rights; and
4 
e) Protection forest lands and agricultural lands shall be exempt from mining
5 
activities to minimize the effect of natural calamities and to protect food
6 
security, respectively. Small to large scale mining operations should yield and
7 
recognize the tenurial instrument given by the government such as Original
8 
Certificate of Title, Transfer Certificate of Title, Certificate of Ancestral Domain
9 
Title, Emancipation Patent/Certificate of Land Ownership Award, and other
10 
instruments. If these be present, no mining activity should be conducted.
11 
Sec. 38. Reversion o f Mineral Lands. — All mineral lands with exhausted mineral
12 
resources, as determined by the MGB upon the recommendation of the DENR, shall
13 
revert to its original land classification, that is, as forest land or agricultural land. In the
14 
case of forestlands, the DENR may classify such areas for other purposes in consultation
15 
with concerned LGUs, the DOT, and other national government agencies. Exhausted
16 
mineral lands shall refer to specific sites whose mineral deposits are no longer in
17 
sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure for their extraction and
18 
utilization.
19 
A rtic le s
20 
Energy Resource Lands
21 
Sec. 39. Guidelines for the Utiiization and Allocation o f Lands for Energy Resource
22 
Exploration, Development, Production, Utilization, and Distribution Purposes. — To
23 
ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance and maximizing the power
24 
potential 
from 
indigenous 
energy 
resources 
in 
the 
most 
economical 
and
25 
environmentally-acceptable means are realized, the allocation and utilization of lands for
26 
said purposes shall be guided by the following, consistent with existing regulations and
27 
laws on energy resources:
28 
a) Indigenous energy resource exploration and development for the purpose of a
29 
National Energy Resource Inventory and Data Base as well as Energy
30 
Resource Block Map shall be allowed subject to the implementation of
31 
complementary watershed and other land management plans;
32 
b) Indigenous energy resource exploration, development, production, utilization,
33 
and distribution shall be subject to the appropriate requirements and
33


1 
processes of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) system.
2 
Each project shall secure an ECC prior to project implementation to ensure
3 
adequate and 
appropriate environmental 
management measures and
4 
optimum methods for resource access and recovery are utilized; and
5 
c) Energy reservations or portions thereof which have become or have been
6 
established to be non-economically viable to operate or are no longer used
7 
for energy purposes shall be released to give way to other land uses, subject
8 
to existing laws covering energy reservations.
9 
Sec. 40. Reversion o f Energy Resource Lands. — All exhausted indigenous energy
10 
resource lands not covered by proclamations shall automatically revert to the category
11 
of forestlands or agricultural lands open to disposition, whichever is appropriate.
12 
Exhausted energy resource lands shall refer to specific energy resource sites whose
13 
energy reserves of the desired type/s are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to
14 
justify additional expenditure for their extraction and utilization.
15 
CHAPTER V II
16 
Settlements Development
17 
Sec. 41. Town, City, and Settlements Development -  The development of town,
18 
city, and settlements through the zoning ordinances of cities and municipalities shall be
19 
guided by urban zoning standards designed to maximize existing urban spaces.
20 
Socialized housing and settlement areas should be established only on alienable and
21 
disposable lands in order to avoid further degradation of forestlands.
22 
Sec. 42. Settlements within Geo-hazard Areas. -  Settlements, in particular
23 
housing or residential developments, within geo-hazard areas may be allowed provided
24 
that mitigating and/or protective measures are adopted to address the potential danger
25 
or risk to lives and property within such settlements. In coordination with the concerned
26 
agencies of the government, the LUPC shall provide assistance to concerned LCDs and
27 
settlers in instituting safety and corrective measures to address the potential danger or
28 
risk.
29 
Residential zones as designated in the CLUP shall be considered as outside the
30 
geo-hazard areas. For this purpose, housing projects within such areas shall be exempt
31 
from the ECC as well as the EGGAR and maybe implemented without the need for any
32 
further certificate of exemption from the DENR or any other government regulatory
33 
agency.
34


1 
Sec. 43. 
Designation o f Sanitary Landfill. -  Each city or municipality shall
2 
identify, designate and allocate an area within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as
3 
sanitary landfill within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The LCDs, in
4 
coordination with the DENR or any other competent authority, shall identify sanitary
5 
landfill sites in order to fast-track the conduct of environmental impact assessment
6 
study and to facilitate processing of the ECC. The site or area shall be identified in the
7 
city or municipality's CLUP. For this purpose, cities and municipalities shall establish their
8 
solid waste management program pursuant to the Ecological Solid Waste Management
9 
Act or Republic Act No. 9003. Likewise, as provided under Section 33 of the LGC, cities
10 
and municipalities may, through appropriate ordinances, bind themselves towards the
11 
establishment of a common solid waste management program.
12 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in coordination
13 
with concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary guidelines and standards for
14 
the formulation and establishment of solid waste management programs by cities and
15 
municipalities, and shall submit the same to the LUPC for review and approval.
16 
Sec. 44. 
Designation and Zoning o f Socialized Housing Zones. — Each city or
17 
municipality in urban, urbanizable and rural areas shall designate through the CLUP
18 
adequate lands for housing or residential purposes, including socialized housing and
19 
resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the local population as well as
20 
the underprivileged and homeless in their territory, pursuant to existing laws and
21 
regulations. In order to ensure adequate availability of land for the housing needs of the
22 
local population, the CLUP shall be updated, at maximum, every nine (9) years for
23 
provinces, cities and municipalities.
24 
The designated sites for socialized housing shall be located in residential zones,
25 
and shall be zoned as socialized housing zones that are integrated in the city or
26 
municipality's zoning ordinance, pursuant to existing laws and regulations.
27 
Fisherfolk settlements and housing in coastal municipalities shall be zoned near
28 
the sea for easy access to their livelihood as provided under Section 35(d) of this Act.
29 
The housing or residential lands designated in the CLUPs and ZOs of cities and
30 
municipalities shall, on one hand, not be subject to further land reclassification by the
31 
LGU or land conversion procedure under DAR. On the other hand, agricultural lands as
32 
designated in the CLUP which are no longer economically feasible for agricultural use
33 
may be subject to land reclassification or conversion to housing/residential purposes and
35


1 
such conversion, as the case may be, shall be exempt from the coverage of any
2 
moratorium on land conversion.
3 
Sec. 45. 
Urban Forest or Green Space. -  Each city or highly urbanizing
4 
municipality shall identify, designate, and allocate lands owned by the city or
5 
municipality as urban forest or green space based on the guidelines and standards to be
6 
issued by the DENR and approved by the LUPC.
7 
CHAPTER V III
8 
Industrial Development Areas
9 
SEC. 46. 
C riteria fo r Designating Industrial Developm ent Areas. -  The
10 
identification and establishment of industrial development areas shall conform to the
11 
provisions of Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as the Philippine Economic Zone
12 
Authority (PEZA) Law; the CARL, IPRA, UDHA, and the AFMA, taking into consideration
13 
the following:
14 
a) Identified network of areas for agricultural development and protected
15 
agricultural areas pursuant to the AFMA;
16 
b) National policies on the regional dispersal of industries and agri-based industrial
17 
development;
18 
c) Identified growth areas and corridors in the National Development Plan;
19 
d) NIPAS and non-NIPAS areas that require protection;
20 
e) National and Urban Development and Housing Framework;
21 
f) Identified Socialized Housing Zones;
22 
g) National framework for physical planning and other existing national programs
23 
and policies.
24 
The designated industrial development areas shall become an integral part of the
25 
land use plan and zoning ordinance of the city or municipality where these areas are
26 
located.
27 
CHAPTER IX
28 
Tourism Development Areas
29 
Sec. 47. 
Criteria for Designating Tourism Development Areas. — The
30 
identification, selection, and development of tourism development areas and tourism
31 
estates shall be done in consultation and coordination with the concerned LGUs,
32 
national government agencies, the private sector, and the affected communities.
33 
Tourism development areas shall likewise include those covered by legislative and
36


1 
executive issuances as tourist spots, tourist zones and tourism ecozones which can be
2 
developed into tourism estates or integrated resort, leisure and recreation complexes
3 
and other tourism-related facilities as well as those identified in the national, regional
4 
and inter-regional tourism, and area specific tourism master plans and other sector
5 
plans such as ecotourism and agri-tourism sites.
6 
Designated areas for tourism development shall become part of the CLUPs of the
7 
cities or municipalities where these are located.
8 
Sec. 48. Identification and Declaration o f Areas for Protection, Conservation and
9 
Preservation o f Cultural Heritage. -  The National Historical Institute (NHI) and/or the
10 
National Museum in coordination with other concerned agencies, local communities, and
11 
the private sector, shall identify declared areas and structures which shall be protected
12 
and/or preserved as part of the Philippine cultural heritage.
13 
The LGUs in coordination with the NHI, the National Commission for Culture and
14 
Arts (NCCA) and the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) shall designate historical
15 
zones to protect the historical integrity of said geographical areas and cultural space of
16 
intangible cultural properties, which are significant to a city/ municipality and the
17 
community.
18 
CHAPTER X
19 
Infrastructure Development
20 
Sec. 49. 
Allocation and Use o f Land for Infrastructure Development -  Land,
21 
whether public or private, shall be allocated and utilized for priority infrastructure
22 
projects that are supportive of national or local development objectives. The NEDA, in
23 
consultation with the concerned national government agencies, LGUs, and the private
24 
sector shall identify and periodically review, update and/or revise the list of priority
25 
infrastructure projects subject to Sections 5 and 29 hereof, and Section 47 of the AFMA.
26 
In determining and evaluating the list of priority infrastructure projects, consideration
27 
shall be given to those that:
28 
(a) 
Respond to immediate and vital requirements of the national economy with
29 
priority on improving rural infrastructure and the development of the
30 
agriculture and fisheries sectors;
31 
(b) 
Upgrade existing facilities to international standards;
32 
(c) 
Address the need for sustainable settlements development; and,
33 
(d) 
Help mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing phenomena
37


1 
or those that shall serve as alternatives to existing infrastructures found in
2 
natural hazard-prone areas:
3 
Provided, That the provision and implementation of infrastructure support shall
4 
be made compatible with existing environmental conditions and the physical, whether
5 
natural or human-made, and cultural character of the area. 
Mandatory public
6 
consultations pursuant to existing laws and regulations shall be held prior to the
7 
conduct of all infrastructure projects that will necessarily involve dislocation or
8 
displacement of people in the area: Provided, further. That the proponent of the
9 
infrastructure project shall follow the rules on just and humane eviction or demolition
10 
under Section 28 of the UDHA, notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act No.
11 
8975, prohibiting lower courts from issuing temporary restraining orders, preliminary
12 
injunctions, or preliminary mandatory injunctions, and proponent shall follow IPRA:
13 
Provided finally. That national government infrastructure projects shall allocate budget
14 
for the adequate relocation of displaced communities.
15 
Sec. 50. 
Infrastructure Projects Within Geo-hazard Areas. — Construction of
16 
priority infrastructure projects within hazard-prone areas shall be allowed: Provided,
17 
That mitigating and/or preventive measures are adopted to address the potential
18 
adverse economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts that will emanate from
19 
these infrastructure projects, subject to the findings and recommendations of a
20 
feasibility study/environmental impact assessment in accordance with Presidential
21 
Decree No. 1586 and Republic Act No. 4846.
22 
Existing projects that did not go through the process of an environmental impact
23 
assessment and pose threats to the environment, integrity of historic, archeological, or
24 
scientifically significant areas or are impinging on critical ecosystems, may be: (a)
25 
terminated immediately; (b) required to implement an Environmental Management Plan;
26 
(c) gradually phased-out and relocated; or (d) maintained up to their life span, subject,
27 
however, to mitigating measures: Provided, That the rules on mandatory public
28 
consultations and just and humane eviction or demolition shall also be observed prior to
29 
the termination, gradual phase-out, or relocation of projects that will necessarily involve
30 
dislocation or displacement of people in the area.
38


1 
CHAPTER X I
2 
Training, Education, and Value Formation
3 
Sec. 51. 
Value Formation. -  In order to create a well-informed, responsible and
4 
committed citizenry who values the protection, conservation and development of the
5 
country's limited land and other physical resources, the State shall mandate the
6 
inclusion of sustainable land use education or any subject related thereto in the curricula
7 
of primary, secondary and tertiary education.
8 
Sec. 52. Information and Education Campaign. — The LUPC shall undertake a
9 
nationwide education information campaign in land use and physical planning to be
10 
implemented by local and national government agencies. The DILG and concerned
11 
agencies shall formulate and implement a land use management capability-building
12 
program for national and local government officials, community leaders, NGOs, POs,
13 
religious sector, and the general public.
14 
CHAPTER X II
15 
Incentives, Sanctions, and Penalties
16 
Article 1
17 
Incentives and Awards
18 
Sec. 53. Formulation o f a System o f Incentives and Awards. — The LUPC shall
19 
come out with a system of incentives and awards to LGUs that regularly update their
20 
CLUPs within the prescribed period, as follows:
21 
(a) 
Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities, and Independent Component Cities -
22 
once every nine (9) years; and
23 
(b) 
Component cities and municipalities once every nine (9) years.
24 
Sec. 54. Priority in Giving Technical Assistance to LGUs. — In providing technical
25 
assistance and other forms of support related to land use management and the
26 
implementation of development plans, national government agencies shall give priority
27 
to cities and municipalities with approved CLUPs.
28 
A rticle 2
29 
Sanctions and Penalties
30 
Sec. 55. Fine for Non-Compietion and Non-Commencement o f Development o f
31 
Agricultural Lands with Approved Order o f Conversion. -  A landowner and his/her
32 
designated developer or duly authorized representative who fails to commence and/or
33 
complete the development of agricultural lands with approved order of conversion shall
39


1 
be penalized, jointly or severally, with any of the following fines based on the zonal
2 
value of the land at the time the fine is imposed:
3 
a. 
On failure to commence within one year from the date of conversion
4 
order:
5 
(1) Six percent (6%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the first
6 
three (3) hectares,
7 
(2) Fifteen percent (15%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the
8 
next three hectares, and
9 
(3) Thirty percent (30%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the
10 
remaining area.
11 
Provided, That the order of conversion shall be deemed revoked
12 
automatically and the land shall revert to its original agricultural use and
13 
covered by the DLR through compulsory acquisition for distribution to
14 
qualified beneficiaries.
15 
b. 
On failure to complete fifty percent (50%) of the approved conversion
16 
plan within a specified time frame: Fifty percent (50%) of the zonal value
17 
of the subject land and the revocation of the conversion plan on the
18 
undeveloped portion which shall automatically revert to its original use as
19 
agricultural land. The same shall be covered under the CARP and
20 
processed for land distribution as soon as possible.
21 
Sec. 56. Authority to Impose Fine. — The DAR shall impose the penalty provided
22 
for under the preceding section.
23 
Sec. 57. 
Withdrawal o f Local Development Permits or Licenses. — Upon receipt
24 
of notice from the DAR, the concerned agencies and the city or municipality shall
25 
withdraw or revoke any development permit and other licenses that may be necessary
26 
to develop the agricultural land subject of conversion.
27 
Sec. 58. Utilization o f Fines. -  The fines collected under Sections 55, 60, 61, and
28 
62 hereof shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund consistent with the
29 
provisions of the CARL, as amended.
30 
Sec. 59. 
Failure to Formulate, Enforce, and/or Implement the CLUPs. —
31 
Consistent with due process, the DILG shall investigate, review, and impose appropriate
32 
action regarding local chief executives and other local officials and employees
33 
responsible for the formulation, enforcement, and/or implementation of the CLUPs in
40


1 
case of any of the following:
2 
(a) 
Failure to implement and enforce the CLUP due to negligence of duty;
3 
(b) 
Failure to provide appropriate 
budgetary allocation to effect 
its
4 
implementation; and
5 
(c) 
Failure to complete the preparation of the CLUP despite the availability of
6 
funds, resources, and support by the Sanggunian concerned.
7 
Any public official or employee, regardless of whether elected or appointed or
8 
holding office or employment in a casual, temporary, holdover, permanent, or regular
9 
capacity, found to be responsible for any of the foregoing acts, after due notice and
10 
hearing by the appropriate body or agency, shall be punished with forfeiture of salaries
11 
and allowances and suspension from:
12 
1. 
Six (6) to nine (9) months, in case of non-implementation of CLUP; or
13 
2. Three (3) to six (6) months, in case of non-completion of the CLUP.
14 
Sec. 60. Person(s) Abetting Illegal Conversion. — Any person initiating, causing,
15 
inducing, or abetting illegal conversion shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned from seven
16 
(7) to twelve (12) years and imposed a fine of not less than one hundred thousand
17 
(Phpl00,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of the court: Provided, That if the
18 
offender is a public official or employee, whether elected or appointed, the penalty shall,
19 
in addition thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the service
20 
and forfeiture of all benefits and entitlements accruing to the public position and
21 
perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or appointive public office:
22 
Provided, further, That if the offender is a juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment
23 
shall be imposed on the president, chief executive officer, manager, the Chairperson
24 
and all the members of the board, and other responsible officers thereof, and the fine
25 
shall be equivalent to the zonal value of the land or forty percent (40%) of the
26 
shareholders equity, as determined at the time of judgment whichever is higher, plus
27 
forfeiture of the land in favor of the State for sale though public auction, the proceeds
28 
of which shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund as provided for in
29 
Section 58 of this Act.
30 
Sec. 61. 
Penalty for Reclassification o f Protected Agricultural Lands and
31 
Exceeding the Limit o f Areas Allowed for Reclassification. — Any person initiating,
32 
causing, inducing, or abetting the reclassification of protected agricultural areas into
33 
non-agricultural uses and exceeding the limits set forth under Section 20 of the LGC of
41


1 
1991, shall be penalized with imprisonment of twelve (12) years and a fine of not less
2 
than One hundred thousand (PhplOO,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of the
3 
Court: Provided, That if the offender is a public official or employee, the penalty shall, in
4 
addition thereto, include 
dismissal through permanent separation from the service
5 
whether elected or appointed and forfeiture of entitlements accruing to the public
6 
position, and perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or appointive
7 
public position: Provided, further. That if the offender is a juridical person, the penalty
8 
shall be imposed on the president, chief executive officer, manager, the Chairperson
9 
and all the members of the board, and other responsible officers thereof.
10 
Sec. 62. Payment o f Disturbance Compensation. -  Following the order of priority
11 
such as agricultural lessees and share tenants, regular farm workers, seasonal farm
12 
workers, other farm workers, actual tillers or occupants of public lands, collective, or
13 
cooperative of the above beneficiaries, and others directly working on the land affected
14 
by agricultural land use conversion shall be entitled to the payment of disturbance
15 
compensation equivalent to five (5) times the average of the gross harvests on the
16 
landholding during the last five (5) preceding calendar years or a certain percentage of
17 
the converted land, whichever is higher, as determined by the DAR.
18 
CHAPTER X III
19 
Transitory and Final Provisions
20 
Sec. 63. Convening o f the LUPC — Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of
21 
this Act, the Secretary of Socio-Economic Planning shall convene the LUPC.
22 
Sec. 64. Impiementing Rules and Regulations, -  Within sixty (60) days from the
23 
effectivity of this Act, the LUPC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement
24 
the provisions of this Act. 
Said rules and regulations shall be submitted to the
25 
Congressional Oversight Committee for approval.
26 
Sec. 65. 
Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Use Act -  There is
27 
hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee composed of seven (7) members
28 
from the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and seven (7)
29 
members from the House of Representatives Committees on Natural Resources and
30 
Housing and Urban Development. The members from the Senate shall be appointed by
31 
the Senate President based on proportional representation of the parties or coalitions
32 
therein with at least two (2) senators representing the minority. The members from the
33 
House of Representatives shall be appointed by the Speaker also based on proportional
42


1 
representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least two (2) members
2 
representing the minority.
3 
The secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the existing
4 
secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight and the funding shall
5 
be taken from the appropriations of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
6 
Sec. 66. 
Appropriations. — The appropriations for the National Land Use
7 
Committee under the National Economic and Development Authority under the current
8 
General Appropriations Act shall be used to carry out the initial operations of the Land
9 
Use Policy Council. Thereafter, additional sums as may be necessary for the full
10 
implementation of LUPC's functions shall be included in the annual General
11 
Appropriations Act.
12 
Sec. 67. 
Review o f Existing Land Use Rians. -  Provinces, cities, and
13 
municipalities with existing land use plans shall review, revise, reconcile, and harmonize
14 
the same with the guidelines and standards set forth under this Act within one (1) year
15 
from the effectivity of this Act.
16 
Sec. 68. 
Repeating Clause. -  All republic acts, executive orders, rules and
17 
regulations, and 
other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the
18 
provisions of this Republic Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
19 
Sec. 69. Non-impairment Clause. — Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to
20 
diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or available to marginalized or
21 
basic sectors under existing laws including but not limited to Republic Act Nos. 7279,
22 
6657, 8371, and 8550.
23 
Sec. 70. 
Separability Clause. — If for any reason or reasons, any part or
24 
provision of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid other
25 
parts or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
26 
force and effect.
27 
Sec. 71. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
28 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
29 
circulation.
Approved,
43