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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

435

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to convert into alienable and disposable land that portion within the former
concessional area of Paper Industry Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP Resources, Inc.), in
the City of Bislig and in the Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina, Province of Surigao
del Sur, actually tilled and occupied by farmer-settlers, in preparation of its eventual distribution
to the bona fide and long-term farmers/ occupants.

The subject land is classified as forest land. However, farmers have gradually settled on the land,
planting vegetables, fruit trees, bananas, root crops and raising livestock. These farmers have
developed certain areas of the forest land into an agricultural land. It is high time for these areas
to be formally classified into alienable and disposable agricultural land and its tenant-farmers be
recognized as legitimate owners. It is about time to allow them the gift of ownership over lands
that they have nurtured for so long.

Furthermore, our present constitution recognizes the rights of farmers, who are landless, to own
the lands that they plough pursuant to Section 4, Article XIII of the same.

‘The approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. JOHNNG

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

35
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. JOHNNY T. PIMENTEL

AN ACT
TO RECLASSIFY A DEVELOPED PORTION OF FOREST LAND UNDER CONCESSION
WITH PICOP, LOCATED IN THE CITY OF BISLIG AND THE MUNICIPALITIES OF
HINATUAN, LINGIG, AND TAGBINA, PROVINCE OF SURIGAO DEL SUR. INTO
ALIENABLE AND DISPOSABLE LAND OF THE PUBLIC DOMAIN FOR THE PURPOSE
OF DISTRIBUTING THE SAME TO BONA FIDE AND LONG TERM FARMERS/
OCCUPANTS THEREOF, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled

Section 1. The portion of forest lands within the concessional area of Paper Industry Corporation
of the Philippines (PICOP), in the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina,
Province of Surigao del Sur, which is actually tileld and occupied by farmer-settlers, is hereby
reclassified and declared as alienable and disposable land.

Section 2. The aforementioned lands shall be distributed in ownership to buna fide and long-term
farmers/ occupants thereon, but the existing creeks in the same area shall be given in usufruct to
their respective municipalities; Provided, that the said bona fide and long-term farmers/
occupants may manage and develop the said creeks upon payment by them of reasonable
compensation to the City and/or Municipalities concerned.

Section 3. The scheme of distribution of the land, including the identities of the bona tide and
long-term farmers/ occupants thereon, shall be prepared by a Committee which shall be
composed of the following: a representative of the Department of Environmental and Natural
Resources as Chairperson, a representative of the Department of Agrarian Reform as Vice-
Chairperson, the Mayors of the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina,
the Head of farmers’ organization, and the Provincial Director of the Philippine National Police
as Members. The scheme of distribution shall include the technical description of each lot
pertaining to each of the farmers/ occupants, following the boundaries of existing social forestry
stewardship and/or similar contracts that may have been awarded in their favor: Provided, that
said scheme of distribution shall be equitable as possible without gross disparities among, the
awardees.

Conflicts shall be decided by the Committee after due hearing, appealable to the Department
Secretary under whose jurisdiction the issue involved falls. The Secretary's decision or order on

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appeal may be subject to a petition for review by the Office of the President within fifteen (15)
days from promulgation of notice of the decision appealed from; Provided, that said petition for
review shall be decided within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof; otherwise, the decision or the
order appealed from shall be deemed ratified and final.

Section 4. Once the scheme of distribution is approved by the Committee, the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources shall give the technical descriptions, survey, map and
similar documents to the DAR, which shall undertake the actual distribution of the land under
the principles of agrarian reform and the applicable provisions of the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Law and other related laws.

Section 5. The existing creeks in the area shall be plotted, surveyed and segregated from the other
portions of the area by the DENR, and shall be given in usufruct to the City of Bislig,
Municipalities of Hinatuan, Lingig, and Tagbina. The Mayor of the concerned municipality and
the Head of the organization of the farmer-beneficiaries shall meet to discuss and determine the
reasonable compensation to be paid to the City for the management and development thereof by
said beneficiaries. In case of disagreement, the Head of the DENR Regional Office shall decide.

Section 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazettee
or in at least two (2) national newspaper of the general circulation.

Approved,

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