NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
^ , Senate
wv.-r o( lijp ii-': a rtiirp
■22 NOV -8 A 9 33
RHCEIVlD 8V.
SENATE
S.B. No. 1479
Introduced by Senator JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL LAND USE POLICY, PROVIDING THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines, as an archipelagic nation, has a vast and substantial amount 
of natural resources at its disposal to benefit generations of Filipino people. With a 
total land area of 298,170 km2 (29,817,000 hectares),1 and a total forest cover of 
7,226,394 hectares2 as of 2020, the Philippines has a rich bank of natural resources 
which should be managed properly as an instrument of economic development with 
due regard to environmental sustainability and the realities of climate change.
Because of the unique location in the Philippines, our country is more 
vulnerable to typhoons and devastating earthquakes. In July 2022, a magnitude 7.1 
earthquake struck the northern Philippines, leaving five dead and causing millions in 
damages, including the unquantifiable destruction wrought to historical structures in 
the area.3 More recently in October 2022, typhoon Paeng devastated 16 out of the 17 
regions in the country,4 with four regions (Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and 
BARMM) declared under a state of calamity for a period of six months.5 Indeed, these 
natural calamities continue to result in billions of losses to lives and properties.
1 httDs://data.worldbank.ora/indicator/AG.LND.TOTL.K2?locations=PH (date last accessed on November 5, 2022).
2 Philippine Forestry Statistics. DENR. Available at https://drive.aooale.eom/file/d/1V2JS74-DPvMc4A8r3AJwrMDoAmXptl9f/view 
date last accessed on Novembers, 2022).
3 
July 28, 
2022. Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes 
Philippines; at least 5 
dead. Reuters. 
Available 
at
httDs://www.reuters.com/world/asia-Dacific/maanitude-72-earthauake-strikes-luzon-philippines-emsc-2022-07-27/ (date last 
accessed: November 5, 2022).
4 
October 30, 
2022. ‘Paeng’ leaves '16 of 17 regions at high risk.’ 
Manila Times. 
Available 
at
https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/10/30/news/paenQ-leaves-16-of-17-reaions-at-hiqh-risk/1864337 (date last accessed: 
November 5, 2022).
5 November 2, 2022. Marcos declares state of calamity in 4 regions hardest-hit by Paeng. Rappler. Available at 
https://www.rappler.com/nation/marcos-declares-state-calamitv-reaions-hardest-hit-paena/ (date last accessed: November 5, 
2022).


This alarming development was further emphasized by the latest United 
Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which found that the Philippines is the third 
most vulnerable country in the world to destruction and losses brought about by 
climate change.6 According to the latest studies of the UNEP, between 1997 and 2016, 
an average of 860 Filipinos die every year due to extreme weather-related 
phenomena, translating to one death for every pool of 100,000 Filipinos.7 Further, this 
translates to total losses amounting to $2.89 billion annually.8
The rate and utilization of our land continues to be adversely affected by natural 
occurrences and other unforeseen catastrophes. Thus, it is imperative that the 
Philippines institute a proper system that will fully allow us to determine the propriety 
and viability of how the country makes use of its lands, taking into consideration 
economic, environmental and geological factors.
This bill proposes the institutionalization of a national land use policy, with a 
view towards institutionalizing protections for our country’s agricultural lands and 
critical watersheds. Further, this bill mandates the creation of a National Land Use 
Council (NLUC), which shall serve as the central authority and policy-making body 
concerning utilization and designation of land in the country.
This bill also mandates the crafting of the National Land Use Plan (NLUP), 
which shall serve as the general framework for determining plans and programs of 
the government for land utilization. The NLUP shall provide quantitative and 
qualitative parameters and spatial boundaries for allocation, usage and development 
of the country’s land and other natural resources.
This bill also classifies land into four uses; 1) Protection Land Use; 2) 
Productive Land Use; 3) Settlements Development and 4) Infrastructure 
Development. Further, to incentivize local government units to update their land use 
plans, this bill introduces a system of awards and incentives to LGUs that comply with 
the requisite submission.
In the face of environmental concerns, population growth and dwindling natural 
resources, a comprehensive and well-planned land use administration system is 
essential to protect the future of our people. Land use planning is essential for almost 
all social needs, such as housing, transportation, electricity and other utilities, 
employment opportunities and health care, among others.
Considering the foregoing, and as one of the priority measures of the Marcos 
Administration, the passage of this bill is of utmost importance.
ySENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
6 April 14, 2019. Climate vulnerability of PHL, 19 other nations costs $62B more. Business Mirror. Available at 
https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/04/14/climate-vulnerabilitv-of-Dhl-19-other-nations-costs-62b-more/ (date last accessed on 
November 5, 2022).
7 Id.
6 Id.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
S. B. NO. 1479
'^ujssS'' (©ffitP of fije
72 NOV-8 A 9 33
RECEIVED BV:
Introduced by SENATOR JOEL VILLANUEVA
AN ACT
INSTITUTING A NATIONAL LAND USE POLICY, PROVIDING THE 
IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Title. -This Act shall be known as the “National Land Use Policy
Act.”
SEC. 2. Policies and Principles. - All lands of the public domain, waters, 
minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential energy, 
fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, fora and fauna, and other natural resources are 
owned by the State. With the exception of agricultural lands, all other natural resources 
shall not be alienated.
It is the policy of the State to provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, 
utilization, management, and development of the country's land to ensure their 
optimum use, consistent with the principle of sustainable development.
The State shall recognize the need for rational, optimal and sustainable 
development, consistent with the principles of environmental management and 
equitable access to land and security.
Toward this end, the State shall institutionalize land use and physical planning 
as mechanisms for identifying, determining, and evaluating appropriate land use and 
allocation patterns that promote and ensure;
a) Sustainable management and utilization of natural resources;


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b) 
Maintenance and preservation of environmental integrity and stability, 
specifically the perpetual protection of permanent forests and watershed for the 
attainment of food, water and energy sufficiency:
c) 
Disaster risk-reduction and climate change resiliency;
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) 
Settlements, transportation and infrastructure development in support of urban, 
rural and regional development and inclusive growth;
g) 
Harmony between the rights and the varied interests of every Filipino within the 
framework of people empowerment, decentralization, social justice, and equity:
h) 
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 in compliance with free and prior informed consent of 
ICC/IPs;
i) 
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:
j) 
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:
k) 
Protection, conservation, preservation, and development of the Filipino 
historical, cultural, and built cultural heritage and resources for the deeper 
understanding of our history and culture as a people;
l) 
Attainment of energy security and self-sufficiency through sustainable and 
priority development of indigenous energy resources; and
m) 
Market orientation where the interplay of market forces and fair trade within the 
framework of ecological development and equity consideration is encouraged 
and adopted as the basic parameter in achieving efficiency in land use and 
allocation.
It is also the policy of the State to ensure that local government units (LGUs)
share with the national government the responsibility of managing and maintaining
ecological balance within their territorial jurisdiction as stated in the 1987 Constitution


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and Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code (LGC) 
of 1991.”
Guided by the principle that the use of land bears a social function and that all 
economic agents shall contribute to the common good, landowners, land tenure 
holders, in the case of forestlands, be it an individual, communal, corporate or group 
shall be held responsible for developing and conserving their lands thereby making 
their lands productive and supportive of environmental stability.
SEC, 3. Scope. - This Act shall apply to all lands whether public, private, 
government-owned, and/or in the possession of individuals, communities, indigenous 
people, or groups of people, to provide for a rational, holistic, and just allocation, 
development and management of land including such activities that bear impact on 
said resources.
CHAPTER II 
DEFINITIONS
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. - As used in and for purposes of this Act, the 
following terms shall mean:
a) Agricultural land refers to a land devoted to or suitable for the cultivation of the 
soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, raising of livestock, poultry, fish or aqua­
culture production, including the harvesting of such farm products, and other farm 
activities and practices performed in conjunction with such farming operations done 
by persons whether natural or juridical and not classified by law as mineral land, forest 
land, residential land, commercial land, or industrial land;
b) Agricultural land use conversion refers to the undertaking of any development 
activity which modifies or alters the physical characteristics of agricultural lands to 
render them suitable for non-agricultural purposes with an approved order of 
conversion issued exclusively by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);
c) Alienable and disposable (A&D) lands refers to lands of the public domain which 
have been delineated, classified, and certified as open and available for disposition 
under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No.141, otherwise known as the "Public 
Land Act," as amended;
d) Ancestral domains refers to all areas generally belonging to ICCs/IPs as defined 
in Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples Rights Act 
(IPRA) of 1998;”
e) Basic Sector refers to a group of people not referring to any organized groups such 
as but not limited to women, youth, elderly, differently-abled, peasants and fisher folk;
f) Basic Shelter refers to any subdivision unit, housing unit or condominium satisfying 
the barest minimum shelter requirements under the minimum design standards of 
Batas Pambansa Big. 220 or An Act Authorizing the Ministry of Human Settlements to 
Establish and Promulgate Different Levels of Standards and Technical Requirements 
for Economic and Socialized Housing Projects in Urban and Rural Areas from Those 
Provided Under Presidential Decrees Numbered 957, 1216, 1096 and 1185;


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g) Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) refers to a document embodying a set of 
policies and guidelines, accompanied by official maps and similar illustrations, that 
serves as principal basis for determining the future land use of lands and natural 
resources for production and protection purpose within the territorial jurisdiction of the 
city or municipality. It represents the community-desired pattern of population 
distribution and proposes future allocation of land resources to 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 processes and the criteria 
employed in the determination of the land use. It has a long-term perspective, 
encompassing a minimum often (10) years except if an earlier amendment or revision 
of the CLUP is authorized by the NLUC due to extraordinary causes;
h) Comprehensive land use planning refers to the act of defining the allocation, 
utilization, development and management of all lands within a given territory or 
jurisdiction according to the inherent characteristic of the land itself and supportive of 
sustainable, economic, demographic, socio-cultural and environmental objectives as 
an aid to decision-making and legislation;
i) Coastal area/zone refers to a band of dry land and the adjacent ocean space (water 
and submerged land) in which terrestrial processes and uses directly affect oceanic 
processes and uses, and vice versa. Its geographic extent may include areas within a 
landmark limit of one (1) kilometer from the shoreline at high tide to include mangrove 
swamps, brackish water ponds, nipa swamps, estuarine rivers, sandy beaches and 
other areas within a seaward limit of 200 meters isobath to include coral reefs, algal 
flats, seagrass beds, and other soft-bottom areas. For purposes of initiating and 
implementing sustainable coastal resources protection and management, it shall 
include foreshore lands;
j) Critical habitats refer to areas outside protected areas as defined in Republic Act 
No. 7586, as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the “Expanded 
National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018”, 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;
k) Critical watershed refers to a drainage area of a river system supporting existing 
and proposed hydro-electric power, domestic water consumption, irrigation works or 
existing water facilities needing immediate protection and rehabilitation to minimize 
erosion and improve water yield;
l) Cultural heritage refers to the totality of cultural properties preserved and 
developed through time and passed on for posterity;
m) Customary laws refers 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 Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise 
known as “The Indigenous People’s Rights Act of 1997” (IPRA);
n) Development plan refers to a document that defines the activities or measures that 
the national government or local government units (LGUs) intend to implement in order


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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 
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;
o) Ecologically-fragile lands 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;
p) Ecotourism refers to sustainable tourism or travel to a given natural area with exotic 
or threatened ecosystems or a heritage area to observe 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;
q) Energy resource lands 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;
r) Energy resources 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;
s) Environmentally critical areas refers to areas declared by law as;
(i) 
protected areas pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, as amended by the E- 
NIPAS Act of 2018;
(ii) 
areas for natural parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves, and 
sanctuaries;
(iii) 
areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots;
(iv) 
Areas which constitute the habitat of any endangered or threatened species 
or indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna);
(v) 
areas of unique historic, archaeological, or scientific interests;
(vi) 
areas which are traditionally occupied by ICCs/IPs;
(vii) areas with critical slopes;
(viii) areas exposed to geologic and hydro-meteorological hazards;
(ix) 
prime agricultural lands;
(x) 
recharge areas of aquifers;
(xi) 
water bodies;
(xii) mangrove areas;
(xiii) coral reefs;
(xiv) mossy and old- growth forests;
(xv) rivers and river banks;
(xvi) swamp forest and marshlands; and


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(xvii) foreshore lands.
This ternn 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 LGUs in consultation with the concerned sectors;
t) Estuary refers to a wetland type where the river mouth widens into a marine 
ecosystem, the salinity of which is intermediate between salt and freshwater where 
tidal action is an important biophysical regulator;
u) Exhausted energy resource lands refer to specific energy resource sites whose 
energy reserves of the desired type(s) are no longer in sufficient quantity or quality to 
justify additional expenditure for their extraction and utilization as certified by the 
Department of Energy (DOE);
v) Exhausted mineral lands refer to specific sites whose mineral deposits are no 
longer in sufficient quantity or quality to justify additional expenditure for their 
extraction and utilization as may be determined by the latest technology available;
w) Exhausted mineral resources 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 as determined by the Mines and 
Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and approved by the DENR;
x) Flood plain refers to the portion of a river valley adjacent to a river channel which 
is covered with water when river overflows its banks at flood stages. The plain usually 
consists of silt deposited by the stream;
y) Flood-prone areas refer to low lying areas usually adjacent to large or active water 
bodies and therefore experience regular or seasonal inundation as a result of changes 
in the mean water level of these bodies or because of land reclamation and other 
artificial interference with the natural processes;
z) Food security refers 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 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;
aa) Food self-sufficiency refers to the policy objective of meeting the 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;
bb) Forestlands refer to lands of the public domain classified and/or determined as 
needed. They include all permanent forests or forest reserves, forest reservations and 
all remaining unclassified lands of the public domain;


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cc) Foreshore land refers to the part of the shore which is alternately covered and 
uncovered by the ebb and flow of the tide;
dd) Free and Prior Informed Consent refers to consensus of all members of the 
ICCs/IPs to be determined in accordance with their respective customary laws and 
practices, free from any external manipulation, interference and coercion, and 
obtained after fully disclosing the intent and scope of the activity, in a language and 
process understandable to the community:
ee) Geo-hazards refer to natural and human-induced geological processes that have 
potential to cause destruction and pose a threat or risk to human life and property;
ff) Geo-hazard prone areas refer to areas frequently visited and/or vulnerable or 
prone to experience weather/climatic, hydrologic, geologic, and other natural 
calamities;
gg) Heritage Zones refer to historical, anthropological, archaeological and artistic 
geographical areas and settings that are culturally significant to the country as 
declared by the National Museum and/or the National Historical Commission of the 
Philippines (NHCP), pursuant to Republic Act No. 10066, otherwise known as the 
“National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009;”
hh) Illegal agricultural land conversion refers 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;
ii) Indigenous Cultural Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) refer to 
groups of people or homogenous societies identified under the IPRA;
jj) Indigenous energy resources refer to energy resources, which originate or occur 
naturally in the Philippines;
kk) Inland waters refer to waters, which are not coastal and marine waters not subject 
to acquisitive prescription consistent with the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 
1067, otherwise known as the “Water Code of the Philippines;”
II) Integrated watershed management refers 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;
mm) Key biodiversity areas refer to sites that are nationally and 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 nationally and globally threatened, restricted-range and/or nationally and 
globally significant congregations of species;


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nn) Lagoon refers 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, and a habitat for variety of plants and animal, serves as nurseries of 
prawns and shrimps and also site for harbor, aquaculture, industry and recreation;
00) Land refers to resources, both natural and man-made, found on the surface, 
below, and above the ground including inland waters and the air therein;
pp) Land use refers to the manner of utilization of land, including its allocation, 
development, and management;
qq) Land use classification refers 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;
rr) Land sub-ciassification refers to the act of determining and assigning specific 
uses of classified lands of the public domain, such as forest or timber lands, alienable 
or disposable agricultural lands, national parks, and mineral lands in accordance with 
existing laws and this Act;
ss) Mandatory pubiic hearings/consultations refer to the mechanism to ensure the 
active participation of concerned sectors in all affected areas in land use planning from 
the local to the national level. It involves giving effective notice of hearing/consultation 
to concerned sectors within an affected area through direct written invitations, using 
regular mail or electronic means, and publication/posting in conspicuous places, 
conduct of a reasonable number of hearings in or proximate to the specific area 
affected, and solicitation of positions and the public presentation and public 
confirmation of the planning results in the specific area affected before the final 
adoption of the plans;
tt) Minerais 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;
uu) Mineral exploration refers to the systematic searching or prospecting of mineral 
resources;
vv) Minerai lands refer to lands where mineral resources are found;
ww) Mineral resources refer to any concentration of minerals/rocks with potential 
economic value;
xx) Mudflat refers 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;
yy) National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) refers 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


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the greatest extent possible;
zz) National Land Use Commission (NLUC) refers to the highest land use policy 
making body created under Section 14 of this Act;
aaa) National Parks refer to a forest reservation essentially of natural wilderness 
character which has been withdrawn from settlement, occupancy or any form of 
exploitation except in conformity with approved management plan and set aside as 
such exclusively to conserve the area or preserve the scenery, the natural and historic 
objects, wild animals and plants therein and to provide enjoyment of these features in 
such areas;
bbb) National physical framework plan refers to an indicative plan containing the 
policy areas promoting the most appropriate and rational use of land and other 
physical resources, such as, but not limited to, protection, production, settlement and 
infrastructure land use. It provides policy guidelines for all decisions relating to land 
use and environmental management, to prevent and mitigate the adverse effects of 
inappropriate resource utilization on the country's food security and food self- 
sufficiency on rice and corn, the people's welfare and their environment. It embodies 
both policies and strategies necessary to carry out goals and objectives of this Act;
ccc) Network of Protected Areas for Agriculture and Agro-industrial 
Development (NPAAAD) refers to agricultural areas identified by the Department of 
Agriculture (DA), 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;
ddd) Non-agricultural land use conversion refers to the act of changing the current 
use of a piece of non-agricultural land into some other uses;
eee) Non-government organization refers to a private and non-profit voluntary 
organization which 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;
fff) Patrimonial properties refer to all the properties belonging to the State that are 
not intended for public use or for public service for the development of national wealth;
ggg) People's organization refers to a private, non-profit, voluntary and community- 
based organization with membership constituency established primarily to provide 
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hhh) Physical framework plans refer to indicative plans based on comprehensive 
land use plans (CLUPs) and governmental policies, whether national, regional, or 
provincial, which provide 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 development goals and 
objectives:
iii) Premature or illegal conversion of agricultural lands 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;
jjj) Prime agricultural lands refer to all irrigated areas; all irrigable lands already 
covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments; all rain- fed areas planted 
to rice and other crops; all alluvial plain lands 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 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 mangrove areas and fish sanctuaries;
kkk) Production land use refers to the direct and indirect utilization of land to generate 
outputs resulting from the following activities, but not limited to; agricultural, fish, 
farming or aquaculture, timber production, agro-forestry, grazing and pasture, mining, 
indigenous energy resource development, industry, and tourism;
III) Protected areas 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;
mmm) Protection land use refers to the utilization of land primarily for rehabilitation, 
conservation, and protection purposes for the promotion of the country's ecological 
and life-support systems;
nnn) Public domain refers 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 
Constitution;
ooo) Public lands 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;
ppp) Reclassification of agricultural lands refers 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 the Local Government Code of 1991, and subject to the requirements and
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procedure for conversion. It is equivalent to land sub-classification, as defined in this 
Act for classified lands of the public domain and also includes the reversion of non- 
agricultural lands to agricultural use;
qqq) Resettlement sites 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) and 
other related laws;
rrr) River basin refers to the portion of land drained by a river and its tributaries. It 
encompasses the entire land surface dissected and drained by many streams and 
creeks that flow downhill into one another, and eventually into one river. The final 
destination is an estuary or an ocean;
sss) Settlements refer to formal and informal communities or built-up residential areas 
where people prefer to live in land areas classified, zoned, or converted for current or 
future residential or housing development purposes, including socialized housing 
zones for the homeless and underprivileged citizens;
ttt) Settlements development refers 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. It is also concerned with the interrelationship of settlements as they 
develop and establish functional linkages based on their respective resource 
endowments and comparative advantages;
uuu) Shoreline refers to the line where shore and water meet;
vvv) Significant caves refer to caves which contain materials or possess features that 
have archaeological, cultural, ecological, historical or scientific value as determined by 
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in coordination with 
the scientific community and the academe;
WWW) Socialized housing refers 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;
xxx) Socialized housing zones refer to lands identified and designated by LGUs as 
sites for socialized housing, pursuant to the UDHA, and its implementing guidelines. 
It shall include areas that are presently occupied by the urban poor, as well as those 
identified as resettlement areas as defined herein;
yyy) Sustainable development refers 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, generations to
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meet their own needs consistent with the principles of social equity, efficiency, and 
environmental integrity;
zzz) Tourism development areas 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 
such as 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;
aaaa) Tourism Enterprise Zone refers to an area designated as tourism enterprise 
zone by the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) pursuant to 
the provisions of Republic Act No. 9593, otherwise known as the “Tourism Act of 
2009;”
bbbb) Tourism estates 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 shall be provided 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;
cccc) Tourist spot reters 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;
dddd) Tourist zone refers 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 (DOT) and TIEZA. 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;
eeee) Urban areas 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;
ffff) Urbanizable areas 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;
9999) Urban forestry or Green Space refers to the establishment and management
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of forest in urban environment for the physiological and psychological well-being of the 
people;
hhhh) Water security refers to the sufficient access throughout the year to the 
minimum daily requirement of clean water to maintain a healthy life;
jjjj) Water use refers to the appropriation of water for domestic, municipal, irrigation, 
power generation, inland fisheries, poultry and livestock raising, industrial and 
commercial, environmental, and recreational use and other purposes;
kkkk) Watershed refers to a land area drained by a stream or fixed body of water and 
its tributaries having a common outlet for surface runoff;
III!) Zoning refers to the process of delineating the specific uses of lands in accordance 
with the approved CLUP within the territorial jurisdiction of a city/municipality and 
specifying the conditions for their regulation, subject to the limitations imposed by law 
and competent authority; and
mmmm) Zoning ordinance or ZO refers to a local law passed by the Sangguniang 
Bayan or Panglunsod approving the development control/zoning plan in accordance 
with an approved or adopted CLUP for the city/municipality, and providing for the 
regulations and other conditions on the uses of land including the limitation on the 
infrastructure that may be placed thereon within the territorial jurisdiction of a city or 
municipality. It incorporates the protected areas under Section 13(a) and the protected 
agricultural lands under Section 29 of this Act.
CHAPTER III
PHYSICAL FRAMEWORK AND LAND USE PLANS
SEC. 5. National Land Use Planning Process. - The land use and physical 
planning process shall be formulated following a combined bottom-up and top-down 
approach. The National Land Use Commission (NLUC) shall draft the ISIational 
Physical Framework Plan (NPFP) which shall have a timeframe of thirty (30) years: 
Provided, however. That nothing herein shall prevent the NLUC from reviewing and 
updating at any time the NPFP where public interest so requires.
The NPFP, which guides the planning and management of the country's land 
and other physical resources at the national and sub-national levels, shall indicate 
broad spatial directions and policy guidelines on settlements development, production 
land use, protection land use, social services and utilities, and transportation and 
communication.
The Regional Physical Framework Plans (RPFPs), Provincial Physical 
Framework and Development Plans (PPFDPs), and CLUPs, which shall also have a 
30-year timeframe and cover the physical development of their respective territories, 
shall be consistent with the NPFP: Provided, That the integration and harmonization 
of the physical framework plans at all levels shall be frequent to ensure that the 
concerns of both top and bottom levels of government are considered. The physical 
and land use plans prepared at all levels shall have internal consistency specifically 
on, but not limited to, the development, management and conservation of forestlands
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found within a given territory and the linkages of the major land use categories to 
ensure their complementation in the utilization, development and management of 
resources.
All regional, provincial, city and municipal land use plans and zoning ordinances 
shall only be amended or revised at the earliest after every ten (10) years, except if an 
earlier amendment or revision of the CLUP is authorized by the NLUC due to 
extraordinary causes.
The NLUC shall issue procedural guidelines which shall guide the formulation 
and integration/harmonization process: Provided, That the National Economic and 
Development Authority (NEDA), the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
Development (DHSUD), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
and other agencies shall continue to issue guidelines on the content of the plans 
consistent with their respective agency mandates.
SEC. 6. City and Municipal Land Use Plans. - The City/Municipal Planning 
and Development Office (C/MPDO), in consultation with concerned sectors through 
the conduct of mandatory public hearings/consultations, shall prepare the CLUP to 
determine the specific uses of land and other physical resources therein, including 
areas co-managed with the national government and, as appropriate, the ancestral 
domain areas. The CLUP shall be consistent with the PPFDP and shall define the 
city/municipal development vision, appropriate economic, environmental and social 
development policies, densities and transportation system.
The CLUP may be formulated as a component of a Comprehensive Land Use 
and Development Plan (CLUDP), which merges the traditionally separate CLUP and 
comprehensive development plan to address the disconnect between spatial and 
sectoral factors and to ensure the complementation between the medium- and long­
term concerns.
The CLUP shall be translated into a zoning ordinance by the concerned 
sanggunian to regulate the uses of land, including the limitations on height, density 
and bulk of buildings and other infrastructure that may be placed thereon.
SEC. 7. Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plans (PPFDP). 
- In consultation with concerned sectors, the Provincial Planning and Development 
Office (PPDO) shall prepare a Provincial Physical Framework and Development Plan 
(PPFDP) which shall define the province's development vision, economic and social 
development policies, general land uses, and inter-city/municipal transportation 
system. The PPFDP shall harmonize the land use plans of component cities and 
municipalities, taking into consideration shared resources and planning concerns, and 
define the uses of land and other resources within the province consistent with the 
policies in the RPFP. The programs, projects and activities prescribed in the PPFDP 
shall be integrated into the provincial development investment program. The PPDO 
shall submit the PPFDP to the Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC), created 
under Section 21 of this Act, for review and endorsement to the Sangguniang 
Panlalawigan, which shall adopt the same pursuant to the Local Government Code of 
1991.
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SEC. 8. Regional Physical Framework Plans. - In consultation with 
concerned sectors, the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall define the 
desired spatial arrangement of land-using activities in the entire region, consolidating 
and harmonizing the provincial physical framework plans of provinces and 
independent cities within the territorial jurisdiction of the region. The regional physical 
framework plan, which depicts an end-state scenario toward which efforts and 
activities are directed, shall consist of spatially-based and area-focused policies, 
consistent with those in the national framework for physical planning, to guide detailed 
physical, socio-economic, sectoral and investment planning.
SEC. 9. National Physical Framework Plan. - The NLUC created in Section 
14 herein, in consultation with the concerned sectors through the conduct of 
mandatory public hearings/ consultations, shall formulate, periodically update and 
ensure the implementation of a NPFP that shall prescribe and influence the country's 
land use and physical development. The NPFP shall operationalize the policies 
provided in this Act and will be the basis for adopting land use and physical planning- 
related guidelines and standards, including zoning and other land use control 
standards that will guide the formulation of city/municipal zoning ordinances.
The policies prescribed in the NPFP shall be integrated into the MTPDP and 
Medium-Term Philippine Investment Program.
CHAPTER IV
FRAMEWORK FOR LAND USE PLANNING
SEC. 10. Priorities in Land Use Ailocation and Planning. - In projecting 
spatial allocation for different land uses, the LGUs shall first exclude areas under 
protection land use of Section 13(a) hereof, national parks, energy resource lands, 
and prime agricultural lands to ensure ecological integrity, energy supply, and promote 
food security. Areas with prior rights and those with site-specific resources for basic 
services, such as but not limited to, water and indigenous energy resources, shall also 
be excluded. Spatial allocation and planning shall then proceed in accordance with 
Sections 12 and 13 hereof with priorities given to integrated watershed management 
areas, socialized housing sites, fisherfolk settlement in coastal areas, and waste 
disposal sites.
SEC. 11. Adoption of Multiple Uses of Land Resources. - The primary and 
alternative uses of a specific land resource shall be determined and evaluated prior to 
any decision for the assignment of its use. Areas feasible for sustainable land resource 
use may be considered multiple-use zones wherein settlements, tourism, agriculture, 
forestry, agro-forestry and extraction activities and other income-generating or 
livelihood activities may be allowed: Provided, That multiple uses of land resources 
shall be excluded in areas identified as protection land use: Provided, further, That 
such 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.
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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, cultural, 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; and
g) Inventory of prior and existing rights to harmonize determination of land use.
SEC 13. Categories of Land Uses for Planning Purposes. - In determining 
and defining the national, regional and provincial framework plans, and CLUPs, land 
uses shall be grouped into four major functional uses as follows:
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, heritage and historical significance, and protect people and human-made 
structures from the ill-effects of natural hazards. All lands, either public or private, 
under protection land use shall be permanently conserved, preserved, rehabilitated 
and protected from all other land uses, disposition, intrusion, utilization and 
development that is not consistent from its existing uses. Areas under this category 
also include those covered by the NIPAS and E-NIPAS Acts and other coastal and 
marine protected areas, those areas outside NIPAS and E-NIPAS, but nonetheless 
require protection because of their outstanding physical and aesthetic features, 
anthropological significance, and biological diversity, and those areas prone to natural 
hazards. Areas outside the coverage of the NIPAS and E-NIPAS Acts include, but are 
not limited to the following:
1) 
Reserved second growth forests above 1,000 meters in 
elevation and those 50% in slope gradient;
2) 
Mangrove and fish sanctuaries, pursuant to Republic Act No. 
8435, otherwise known as the “Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization 
Act of 1997” (AFMA) and Republic Act No. 8550, as amended, otherwise 
known as “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998;”
3) 
Buffer zones or strips/easements, pursuant to Presidential 
Decree No. 705, amending Presidential Decree No. 389, otherwise known 
as the “Forestry Reform Code of the Philippines” and Presidential Decree 
No. 1067 or the “Water Code of the Philippines;”
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4) 
Salvage zones along foreshore areas, freshwater swamps 
and marshes, plazas and heritage/historic sites;
5) 
Watersheds supporting domestic water supply;
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Utility easement-like transmission lines of power companies, 
oil and gas facilities, cell sites, and domestic water lines;
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Amenity areas or those with high aesthetic values;
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;
9) 
Critical habitats as provided in Republic Act No. 9147, 
otherwise known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection 
Act;"
10) 
Significant caves under Republic Act No. 9072, otherwise 
known as the "National Caves and Cave Resources Management and 
Protection Act;" or
11) 
Key biodiversity areas under Executive Order No. 578, 
Series of 2006, otherwise known as the “National Biodiversity Policy.”
b) Production Land Use. Planning for production land 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, production forest which comprise 
lands 18% to 50% in slope gradient such as: residual dipterocarps, rangelands for 
grazing purposes, industrial tree plantation/integrated Forest Management Agreement 
(IFMA), 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 settlements 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 refers to the availability or supply of basic 
services and fostering of 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 sub-sectors of 
transportation, communications, 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 
of the people and property of the local community and neighboring areas or increase 
the vulnerability of the natural environment to the effects of natural and human-
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induced geological processes.
CHAPTER V
IMPLEMENTING STRUCTURE AND MECHANISMS
Article I
NATIONAL LAND USE COMMISSION
SEC 14. Creation of the National Land Use Commission (NLUC). - The
National Land Use Commission, hereinafter referred to as NLUC, is hereby created 
as a Commission under the Office of the President. It shall exercise the powers and 
responsibilities of the current NEDA Board-National Land Use Committee which is 
hereby abolished. The NLUC shall act as the highest policy-making body on land use 
and resolve land use policy conflicts between or among agencies, branches, or levels 
of the government. It shall integrate efforts, monitor developments relating to land use 
and the evolution of policies. It may also establish Regional Offices.
SEC. 15. Composition of the NLUC. - The NLUC shall be composed of the 
following:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The Secretary of NEDA as Chairperson;
The Secretaries of DENR and DA as Vice-Chairpersons;
The Secretaries of DAR, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department 
of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), 
Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government 
(DILG), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Energy (DOE);
A representative each from four (4) basic sectors directly involved in land use, 
namely: urban poor, peasants, fisherfolk and indigenous peoples who shall be 
appointed by the President of the Philippines based on nomination and 
recommendation of the respective sectoral councils of the National Anti-Poverty 
Commission (NAPC). Two sectoral representatives shall be women; and 
A representative each from the Leagues of Provinces, Cities and Municipalities;
A consultative body shall likewise be convened by the NLUC at least once a 
year or as often as may be necessary. It shall be composed of representatives from 
the Leagues of Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces, other government agencies not 
represented in the NLUC, and from non-government sectors such as the private 
sector, non-government organizations (NGOs) and people's organizations (POs), and 
the academic community.
SEC. 16. Powers and Functions. - The NLUC shall have the following powers 
and functions:
a) 
Advise the President of the Philippines and the NEDA Board on all matters 
concerning land use and physical planning;
b) 
Integrate and harmonize all laws, guidelines and policies relevant to land use 
and physical planning to come up with a rational, cohesive, and comprehensive 
national land use framework;
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c) 
Formulate policies and endorse land use and physical planning-related policies 
that may be formulated by the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) 
created under Section 22 of this Act, 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 LGUs;
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) 
Review and endorse all land use and physical planning related guidelines;
f) 
Monitor and coordinate 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;
g) 
Recommend to the President of the Philippines the adoption, passage, or 
amendment of laws to ensure that sectoral programs, plans, projects, and 
activities, including local government initiatives affecting land use are 
consistent with national development objectives;
h) 
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;
i) 
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;
j) 
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;
k) 
Be the repository of all RPFPs, PPFDPs and CLUPs and all data and 
information pertaining to land and land use;
l) 
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;
m) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts and territorial jurisdiction on land use 
between or among agencies, branches, or levels of the government and act on 
unresolved land use policy conflicts at the regional level elevated by the 
Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC);
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n) 
Adopt rules of procedures for the orderly and expeditious conduct of 
meetings and other business of the Council; and
o) 
Perform such other acts and functions and exercise such other powers as may 
be necessarily implied, inherent, incident, or related to the foregoing.
SEC. 17. NLUC Technical Secretariat (NLUC-TS). - A Technical Secretariat 
shall be created to provide technical support to the NLUC. It shall be composed of:
a) 
NEDA Deputy Director-General for Regional Development as Chairperson;
b) 
Representatives of the member agencies/institutions of the NLUC, who shall 
have a rank not lower than Director level; and
c) 
The representatives the four (4) basic sectors as enumerated in Section 15(d) 
of this Act.
SEC. 18. Offices, Units and Staff Support. - The NEDA Regional 
Development Office shall continue to provide core secretariat services of NLUC, its 
Technical Board and the RLUPCs. Other government agencies may also be called 
upon for staff support.
ARTICLE 2
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS AS LOCAL LAND USE POLICY COUNCILS
SEC. 19. City/Municipal Land Use Policy Council (C/MLUPC). - The 
City/Municipal Development Council (C/MDC), created under the Local Government 
Code of 1991, shall act as the City/Municipal Land Use Policy Council (C/MLUPC) that 
will tackle land use concerns, whenever necessary. A duly authorized representative 
from the DAR, the DENR and the DA shall be included in the composition of the 
C/MLUPC.
In addition to the functions enumerated in the Local Government Code of 1991, 
the C/MLUP shall:
a) 
Advise the Sangguniang Bayan or the Sangguniang Panlungsod on all matters 
pertaining to land use and physical planning;
b) 
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod, 
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;
c) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and 
allocation that may arise between and among barangays and any unresolved 
land use conflict at the barangay level regarding the violation of zoning 
ordinances, including opposition to applications for locational clearances, 
permits or certificates; and
d) 
The C/MLUPC may call upon any local official concerned, such as the C/MPDC,
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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.
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: automate, 
modernize and integrate all spatial and non-spatial data related to land within 
the LGU for a more effective and efficient use of land information for land use 
and physical planning and such other public and private uses;
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; and
c) 
Convene a Technical Working Group composed of City/Municipal Agriculturist, 
City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer, City/Municipal 
Engineer, City/Municipal Assessor and such other LGU officials with land 
related functions in the preparation of the CLUP. The TWG may request any 
field officials of National Government Agencies with land administration function 
to assist for the same purpose.
LGUs without operational C/MDCs, as mandated by the Local Government 
Code of 1991, shall activate their respective Councils within six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act.
SEC 20. Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC). -The Provincial 
Development Council (PDC), created under the Local Government Code of 1991, shall 
act as the Provincial Land Use Policy Council (PLUPC) that will tackle land use 
concerns, whenever necessary. A duly authorized representative from the DENR, 
DAR and the DA shall be included in the composition of the PLUPC. In addition to the 
functions enumerated in the Local Government Code of 1991, the PLUPC shall:
a) 
Advise the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on all matters pertaining to land use and 
physical planning;
b) 
Review and endorse to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, for adoption, the 
provincial physical framework plans, prepared and periodically updated by the 
Provincial Planning and Development Office and other land use and physical 
planning- related policies;
c) 
Assist the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in reviewing the CLUPs of component 
cities/municipalities to ensure consistency with the provincial physical 
framework plans and compliance with the limits prescribed under the Local 
Government Code of 1991 for reclassifying agricultural lands; and
d) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and
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allocation that may arise between or among cities/municipalities, and any 
unresolved land use conflicts at the city /municipal level.
The PLUPC may call upon any local official concerned, such as the Provincial 
Planning and Development Coordinator, Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial 
Environment and 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. Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC). - At the regional level, 
the Regional Land Use Policy Council (RLUPC) shall be institutionalized, replicating 
the NLUC structure and composition. The RLUPC shall have the following functions:
a) 
Formulate and adopt regional policies on land use and physical planning;
b) 
Prepare and periodically update a regional physical framework plan, taking into 
consideration national policies and lower level plans;
c) 
Assist the provinces in preparing and periodically updating its physical 
framework plans to ensure consistency with the regional and national plans 
and policies and to facilitate its integration to the regional plans;
d) 
Review, prior to adoption by respective sanggunians, the provincial physical 
framework plan and CLUPs of highly urbanized and independent component 
cities to ensure consistency with the regional physical framework plan and 
national policies set forth by the NLUC and compliance with limits prescribed 
under the Local Government Code of 1991 for reclassifying agricultural lands;
e) 
Decide and resolve policy conflicts on land use planning, classification, and 
allocation that may arise between or among regional line agencies, provinces 
and cities/municipalities;
f) 
Monitor changes in land use and other physical resources in the region;
g) 
Evaluate consistency of major programs and projects with the RPFPs and 
their impact on land use and the environment;
h) 
Undertake the gathering of regional data for the Land Resource Information 
and Management System; and
i) 
Perform other related functions as may be directed by the NLUC.
Article 3
ADOPTION, APPROVAL AND REVIEW OF LAND USE PLANS
SEC. 22. Component Cities and Municipalities. - Component cities and 
municipalities shall have the power and authority to adopt and approve their respective 
CLUPs and ZOs through their respective sanggunians, subject to the power of review 
of their respective provinces only with respect to the consistency of the CLUPs and 
ZOs with this Act on the preparation of the provincial physical framework plan. Upon
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adoption and approval of the CLUP and ZO by the Sanggunian, all land areas zoned 
for residential purposes or for settlements development shall cease to be covered by 
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and therefore, shall not be 
required to secure further order of land conversion or exemption certificates from the 
DAR, except for the payment of disturbance compensation if applicable, as well as the 
requirements pertaining to the issuance of environmental compliance certificate (ECC) 
by the DENR.
SEC. 23. Provinces and Independent and Highly Urbanized Cities. -
Provinces and independent and highly urbanized cities shall have the power and 
authority to adopt and approve their respective CLUPs, ZOs or provincial physical 
framework plan, as the case may be, through their respective sanggunian, but subject 
to the review of the RLUPC as provided in Section 21 of this Act.
Article 4
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND LGUS
SEC. 24. National Base Mapping Program. - A national mapping program 
shall be implemented, coordinated, and monitored through the creation of an Inter­
agency Technical Committee (ITC) composed of the NAMRIA, as the lead agency, the 
Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the Forest Management Bureau 
(FMB), the Land Management Bureau (LMB), the Land Registration Authority (LRA), 
the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau 
(MGB), the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), DAR, 
the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), DOE, NEDA and other concerned 
government agencies/bureaus. The ITC shall be constituted, and the mapping 
program shall be initiated, within thirty (30) days from the effectivity of this Act. The 
agencies mentioned in this Section shall endeavor to finish their base mapping 
program within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act.
The spatial and non-spatial data generated by these activities shall be 
downloaded to the LGU as soon as practicable. On the other hand, existing land 
information data available to the national government agencies as of the effectivity of 
this Act shall be immediately downloaded to the LGU.
For purposes of uniformity and standardization, the LGUs, to be assisted by the 
appropriate agencies of the national government, shall likewise prepare their 
respective territorial maps using scales, symbols, and other indicators to be prescribed 
in accordance with this Act. The completed maps shall be integrated in the national 
physical framework plan pursuant to this Act.
SEC. 25. National Geo-hazard Mapping Program. - Within thirty (30) days 
from the effectivity of this Act, a nationwide geo-hazard mapping program shall be 
initiated jointly thru the NLUC by the PHIVOLCS, the Philippine Atmospheric 
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the NAMRIA, the 
MGB, the BSWM, and the DOE, in coordination with the National Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the Regional Disaster Risk 
Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), and other concerned government 
agencies. The program shall include the generation of indicative geo-hazard zoning 
maps that will outline areas in the Philippines which are prone to liquefaction.
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landslides, severe flooding, lahar, ground rupturing, tsunami, river erosion, coastal 
erosion, sinkhole collapse, earthquake, lava flow, pyroclastic flow, base surge, and 
other natural hazards.
For purposes of uniformity and standardization and in order to develop a safe- 
built environment, the LGUs shall subsequently incorporate and integrate the 
generated geo-hazard zoning maps in their respective CLUPs. These geo-hazard 
maps shall serve as guides for all the LGUs in the preparation of their own hazards- 
constrained development plans. The national physical framework planning, pursuant 
to Section 5 hereof, shall incorporate these geo-hazard maps.
All infrastructure activities including real estate and subdivision projects and the 
development of tourist spots requiring an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) 
shall be required to submit an Engineering Geological and Geo-hazard Assessment 
Report (EGGAR).
SEC. 26. Scope and Nature of Responsibilities of Other National 
Government Agencies. - All concerned national government agencies/bodies shall 
periodically report to the NLUC on the various activities and accomplishments relative 
to land use.
They shall also provide their respective sectoral/development plans and render 
technical and administrative support if called upon by the NLUC relative to the 
implementation of the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 27. Submission of Annual Report on the Implementation of CLUPs. 
- The C/MLUPC shall submit an annual report on the implementation of their land use 
plans to the PLUPC, which shall integrate the same for submission to the RLUPC, 
which shall in turn integrate the provincial reports for submission to the NLUC.
CHAPTER VI
SPECIAL AREAS OF CONCERN 
Article I
AGRICULTURAL LANDS
SEC. 28. Priority Areas for Agricultural Development. - Priority areas for 
agricultural development shall be those agricultural areas covered under the CARP, 
as amended, and those covered under the Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural 
and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD), defined in Section 4 of this Act and in 
the "Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act."
SEC. 29. Conversion of Agricultural Lands. - Agricultural lands are deemed 
converted to non-agricultural uses upon approval by the DAR of the application for 
conversion. Prime agricultural lands and specific types of lands to the extent 
necessary for attaining food self-sufficiency in rice and corn and food security in other 
basic commodities, as determined by the DA, subject to mandatory public 
hearings/consultations with the LGUs, the private sector, the NGOs, and POs, shall 
be protected from conversion, which shall include but not limited to areas under the 
NPAAAD: Provided, That all irrigated and irrigable lands, all lands developed or
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possessing the potential for development of high value crops, and all agricultural lands 
that are ecologically fragile and whose conversion will result in serious environmental 
problems shall be given full protection from conversion, the areas under which are 
subject to review every seven (7) years by the DA, with the mandatory public 
hearings/consultations: Provided, further, That consistent with the State policy on 
giving priority to the completion of the CARP, all lands subject to CARP, including 
those lands covered under the notice of compulsory acquisition/voluntary offer to sell, 
production or profit-sharing, or commercial farm deferment shall also be protected 
from conversion pending the distribution and installation of the farmer beneficiaries: 
Provided, furthermore. That the conversion of agricultural lands for use of priority 
government projects for basic services, such as, but not limited, to irrigation and power 
shall be allowed only upon the recommendation of the Secretaries of the DA and the 
DAR: Provided, finally, That the mapping of the NPAAAD under the AFMA shall be 
completed within two (2) years from the effectivity of this Act.
Lands defined under Section 10 of Republic Act No. 6657, as amended, 
otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) shall remain 
exempted and excluded from the coverage of CARP.
SEC. 30. Sub-classification or Re-classification of Agricultural Lands by 
LCDs. - Sub-classification or re-classification of agricultural lands to other uses under 
the Local Government Code of 1991 shall exclude the protected agricultural lands as 
stated in the preceding section. Moreover, such sub- classification/reclassification is 
not synonymous to conversion. The DA and DAR shall provide the LGUs with 
complete list and maps of protected agricultural lands within their territorial 
jurisdictions.
Article 2
FOREST LANDS AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
SEC. 31. Reversion of Alienable and Disposable Lands to Forestlands. -
Upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the DENR, duly reviewed and endorsed 
by the NLUC, and after due consultations with the concerned LGUs and affected 
parties, Congress may authorize the reversion of alienable and disposable lands of 
the public domain or portion thereof to forestlands. Thereafter, said lands shall be 
included in the preparation of land use plans within forestlands.
SEC. 32. Critical Watershed Areas. - The DENR, in coordination with the DA, 
the LGUs, and other government agencies, including government-owned and- 
controlled corporations (GOCCs), and with mandatory public hearings/consultations, 
shall identify and delineate critical watershed areas that need to be protected, 
rehabilitated, enhanced, and/or withdrawn from uses that contribute to their further 
degradation.
SEC. 33. Formulation and Implementation of Integrated Watershed 
Management Plans. - In the absence of a law on the protection and sustainable 
management of forests, the LGUs through their local land use councils and upon 
mandatory public hearings/consultations with the concerned sectors, and with the 
assistance of the DENR, shall prepare their watershed management plans, which shall 
be integrated with their respective CLUPs. The formulation and integration of the plan
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shall be guided, among others, by the principle that the management and 
development of inland water resources shall be at the watershed level. A nationwide 
mapping of watersheds in the country shall be implemented.
In cases where the watershed areas transcend the boundaries of a particular 
municipality, an inter-LGU committee composed of representatives from local land use 
councils of the LGUs where the watershed area is located shall be formed. With the 
assistance of the DENR and upon mandatory public hearings/consultations with the 
concerned sectors, the inter-LGU committee shall formulate the watershed 
management plan for the said watershed area.
The DENR and the concerned LGUs shall jointly implement the watershed 
management plan, subject to regular consultations with and involvement of the 
community and other stakeholders in the implementation of the plan.
The preparation of forest land use plans shall make use of the watershed as 
the basic planning unit.
Article 3 
COASTAL ZONE
SEC. 34. Criteria on the Allocation and Utilization of Lands within the 
Coastal Zones. - The allocation and utilization of lands within the coastal zones shall 
be guided by the following:
a) 
Areas vegetated with mangrove species shall be preserved for mangrove 
production and shall not be converted to other uses;
b) 
Areas which 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 relevant housing 
agency;
e) 
Areas which 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;
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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 
which 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 zones shall be sub-classified into any of the following: estuaries, lagoons, 
inter-tidal flats, mudflats, fishponds, and mangroves, for protection from tidal surge, 
and preservation of biodiversity, habitats and sanctuaries for endangered wildlife, 
fisherfolk settlement, or recreational/tourism areas. No sub-classification of coastal 
zones to different uses shall be done without the following:
a) Conduct of a comprehensive resource and environmental assessment by the 
DENR and respective LCDs and accredited NGOs and POs within their jurisdiction: 
and
b) Prior consultation with the Local Fisheries and Aquatic Resource 
Management Councils (FARMCs) formed under the Philippine Fisheries Code.
SEC. 36. Zoning of Foreshore Areas. - LGUs, in coordination with the DENR, 
shall conduct zoning of their respective foreshore areas to assist government and 
community fishers identify priority areas for conservation and development, and to 
enable them to set targets for mangrove reforestation and rehabilitation.
SEC. 37. Protection of Waterways Easements and Flood Plains. -
Structures of any kind shall not be built in waterways easements. Pursuant to the 
Water Code, the banks of rivers and streams and the shores of the seas and lakes 
throughout their entire length and within a zone of three (3) meters in urban areas, 
twenty (20) meters in agricultural areas and forty (40) meters in forest areas, along 
their margins, are subject to the easement of public use only in the interest of 
recreation, navigation, floatage, fishing and salvage.
The protection of flood plains shall adopt a river basin management approach 
in order to come up with integrated flood mitigation interventions. Development within 
flood plains and other flood-prone areas must be controlled or, if allowed, must be so 
sited, constructed and serviced that the lives of the occupants are not put at risk and 
that disruptions during floods are minimal. The identification and characterization of 
flood-prone areas and flood plains shall be an integral part of CLUP preparation. 
Through the CLUPs and zoning ordinances, LGUs shall establish land use regulations 
to mitigate flood risks .
The DPWH, in coordination with the Department of Science and Technology 
(DOST) and the DENR, shall declare flood control areas, as necessary, and prohibit 
or control activities that could damage or cause deterioration of lakes and dikes,
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obstruct the flow of water, change the natural flow of rivers, increase flood losses or 
aggravate flood problems pursuant to the Water Code.
Article 4
MINERAL LANDS
SEC. 38. Criteria for the Utilization and Allocation of Land for Mining 
Purposes. - Consistent with Section 6 of this Act and the provisions of Republic Act 
No. 7942, otherwise known as the Mining Act of 1995, and to ensure that the objectives 
of maintaining ecological balance and maximizing economic returns to mining 
operations are realized, the allocation and utilization of lands for mining purposes shall 
be guided by the following:
a) The principles of sustainable development and responsible mining:
b) In case of small-scale mining, adequate and acceptable safeguards shall be 
instituted by the holders of mining rights or permits to prevent environmental 
degradation of the mining sites and adjacent areas;
c) Mineral reservations which have become non-operational for more than five 
(5) years as determined by the MGB shall be placed under appropriate surface 
management by the DENR;
d) Consistent with the Mining Act of 1995, areas closed to mining operations 
shall be periodically reviewed through mineral exploration to be undertaken by the 
DENR for the purpose of determining whether or not their continued closure is 
consistent with the national interest and, if warranted, recommend their reclassification 
as mineral lands;
e) Protection forestlands and agricultural lands shall be exempt from mining 
activities to minimize the effect of natural calamities and to protect food security, 
respectively. The small to large scale mining operations shall yield from and recognize 
the tenurial instrument given by the government, such as the Original Certificate of 
Title (OCT), Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT), Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title 
(CADT), Emancipation Patent - Certificate of Land Ownership Award (EP-CLOA), and 
other instruments. If these are present, no mining activity shall be conducted.
SEC. 39. Reversion of Mineral Lands. - All mineral lands with exhausted 
mineral resources, as determined by the MGB upon the recommendation of the 
DENR, shall revert to its original land classification, that is, as forestland or agricultural 
land. In the case of forestlands, the DENR may classify such areas for other purposes, 
in consultation with concerned LGUs, the DOT, and other national government 
agencies.
Article 5
ENERGY RESOURCE LANDS
SEC. 40. Guidelines for the Utilization and Allocation of Lands for Energy 
Resource Exploration, Development, Production, Utilization, and Distribution 
Purposes. - To ensure that the objectives of maintaining ecological balance and
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maximizing the power potential from indigenous energy resources in the most 
economical and environmentally-acceptable means are realized, the allocation and 
utilization of lands for said purposes shall be guided by the following, consistent with 
existing regulations and laws on energy resources:
a) Indigenous energy resource exploration and development for the purpose of 
a National Energy Resource Inventory and Data Base, as well as Energy Resource 
Block Map shall be allowed, subject to the implementation of complementary 
watershed and other land management plans;
b) 
Indigenous energy resource exploration, development, production, 
utilization, and distribution shall be subject to the appropriate requirements and 
processes of the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) System. Each 
project shall secure an ECC prior to project implementation to ensure adequate and 
appropriate environmental management measures and optimum methods for 
resource access and recovery are utilized: and
c) Energy reservations or portions thereof which have become or have been 
established to be non-economically viable to operate or are no longer used for energy 
purposes shall be released to give way to other land uses, subject to existing laws 
covering energy reservations.
SEC. 41. Reversion of Energy Resource Lands. - All exhausted indigenous 
energy resource lands not covered by proclamations shall automatically revert to the 
category of forestlands or agricultural lands open to disposition, whichever is 
appropriate. Exhausted energy resource lands shall refer to specific energy resource 
sites whose energy reserves of the desired type/s are no longer in sufficient quantity 
or quality to justify additional expenditure for their extraction and utilization.
CHAPTER VII
SETTLEMENTS DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 42. Town, City, and Settlements Development. - The development of 
town, city, and settlements through the zoning ordinances of cities and municipalities 
shail be guided by CLUPs and urban zoning standards designed to maximize existing 
urban spaces. Socialized housing and settlement areas shall be established only on 
alienable and disposable lands in order to avoid further degradation of forestlands.
SEC. 43. Settlements Within Geo-hazard Areas. - Settlements, in particular 
housing or residentiai developments, within geo-hazard areas may be allowed 
provided that mitigating and/or protective measures are adopted to address the 
potential danger or risk to lives and property within such settlements. In coordination 
with the concerned agencies of the government, the NLUC shall provide assistance to 
concerned LGUs and settlers in instituting safety and corrective measures to address 
the potential danger or risk.
Residential zones as designated in the CLUP shall be considered as outside 
the geo-hazard areas. For this purpose, housing projects within such areas shall be 
exempted from the ECC, as well as the EGGAR and may be implemented without the 
need for any further certificate of exemption from the DENR or any other government
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regulatory agency.
SEC. 44. Designation of Sanitary Landfill. - Each city or municipality shall 
identify, designate and allocate an area within their territorial jurisdiction to serve as 
sanitary landfill within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act. The LGUs, in 
coordination with the DENR or any other competent authority, shall identify sanitary 
landfills in order to fast-track the conduct of EIS study and to facilitate processing of 
the ECC. The site or area shall be identified in the city or municipality's CLUP. For this 
purpose, cities and municipalities shall establish their solid waste management 
program, pursuant to Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid 
Waste Management Act of 2000." In addition, cities and municipalities may, through 
appropriate ordinances, bind themselves towards the establishment of a common solid 
waste management program.
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR, in coordination 
with concerned agencies, shall promulgate the necessary guidelines and standards 
for the formulation and establishment of solid waste management programs by cities 
and municipalities, and shall submit the same to the NLUC for review and approval.
SEC. 45. Designation and Zoning of Sociaiized Housing Zones. - Each city 
or municipality in urban, urbanizable and rural areas shall designate through the CLUP 
adequate lands for housing or residential purposes, including socialized housing and 
resettlement areas for the immediate and future needs of the local population, as well 
as the underprivileged and homeless in their territory, pursuant to existing laws and 
regulations. In order to ensure adequate availability of land for the housing needs of 
the local population, the CLUP shall be updated, at maximum, every ten (10) years for 
provinces, cities and municipalities, except if an earlier amendment or revision of the 
CLUP is authorized by the NLUC due to extraordinary causes.
The designated sites for socialized housing shall be located in residential 
zones, and shall be zoned as socialized housing zones that are integrated in the city 
or municipality's zoning ordinance, pursuant to existing laws and regulations.
Fisherfolk settlements and housing in coastal municipalities shall be zoned near 
the sea for easy access to their livelihood as provided under this Act.
The housing or residential lands designated in the CLUPS and ZOs of cities 
and municipalities shall not be subject to further land reclassification by the LGU or 
land conversion procedure under DAR. However, agricultural lands as designated in 
the CLUP which are no longer economically feasible for agricultural use may be 
subject to land reclassification or conversion to housing/residential purposes and such 
conversion, as the case may be, shall be exempt from the coverage of any moratorium 
on land conversion.
SEC. 46. Urban Forest or Green Space. - Each city or highly urbanizing 
municipality shall identify, designate, and allocate lands owned by the city or 
municipality as urban forest or green space based on the guidelines and standards to 
be issued by the DENR and approved by the NLUC.
CHAPTER VIII
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INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS
SEC. 47. Criteria for Designating Industrial Development Areas. - The
identification and establishment of industrial development areas shall conform with the 
provisions of Republic Act No. 7916, otherwise known as the “Philippine Economic 
Zone Authority (PEZA) Act,” CARL, as amended by Republic Act No. 9700, otherwise 
known as the “Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with Extension and Reforms 
Act” (CARPER), IPRA, UDHA, and AFMA, taking into consideration the following:
a) Identified network of areas for agricultural development and protected 
agricultural areas pursuant to the AFMA;
b) National policies on the regional dispersal of industries and agri-based 
industrial development;
c) Identified growth areas and corridors in the National Development Plan;
d) NIPAS, E-NIPAS and non-NIPAS areas that require protection;
e) National and Urban Development and Housing Framework;
f) Identified Socialized Housing Zones; and
g) National framework for physical planning and other existing national 
programs and policies.
The designated industrial development areas shall become an integral part of 
the land use plan and zoning ordinance of the city or municipality where these areas 
are located.
CHAPTER IX
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AND HERITAGE AREAS
SEC. 48. Designating Tourism Development Areas. - The identification, 
selection, and development of tourism development areas, tourism estates and 
tourism enterprise zones (TEZs) shall be done in consultation and coordination with 
the concerned LGUs, the TIEZA and concerned national government agencies, the 
private sector, and the affected communities, subject to the provisions of the Tourism 
Act of 2009. Tourism development areas shall likewise include those covered by 
legislative and executive issuances as 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, as well as those 
identified in the national, regional and inter-regional tourism, and area-specific tourism 
master plans and other sector plans such as ecotourism and agri-tourism sites.
Designated areas for tourism development shall become part of the CLUPs of 
the cities or municipalities where these are located.
Lands identified as part of a TEZ shall qualify for exemption from the coverage 
of the UDHA and CARL, as amended by CARPER, subject to rules and regulations to
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be crafted by the TIEZA, DHUSD, DAR and DA: Provided, That a certificate shall be 
obtained from the DA that said lands are no longer economically feasible and sound 
for agricultural purposes, consistent with the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 49. Identification and Deciaration of Areas for Protection, 
Conservation and Preservation of Cuitural Heritage. - Pursuant to the National 
Cultural Heritage Act of 2009, the NHCP and/or the National Museum, in coordination 
with National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), DHSUD, and other 
concerned agencies, local communities, and the private sector, shall identify declared 
areas and structures which shall be protected and/or preserved as part of the 
Philippine cultural heritage.
The LGUs, in coordination with the NHCP, the NCCA and the Cultural Center 
of the Philippines (CCP) shall designate historical zones to protect the historical 
integrity of said geographical areas and cultural space of intangible cultural properties.
CHAPTER X
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
SEC. 50. Allocation and Use of Land for Infrastructure Development. -
Land, whether public or private, shall be allocated and utilized for priority infrastructure 
projects that are supportive of national or local development objectives. The NEDA, in 
consultation with the concerned national government agencies, LGUs, and the private 
sector shall identify and periodically review, update and/or revise the list of priority 
infrastructure projects, subject to the provisions of this Act, and the AFMA. In 
determining and evaluating the list of priority infrastructure projects, consideration shall 
be given to those that:
a) 
Respond to immediate and vital requirements of the national economy with 
priority on improving rural infrastructure and the development of the agriculture and 
fisheries sectors;
b) 
Upgrade existing facilities to international standards:
c) 
Address the need for sustainable settlements development; and
d) 
Help mitigate the destructive effects of natural disaster-causing phenomena or 
those that shall serve as alternatives to existing infrastructures found in natural 
hazard-prone areas: Provided, That the provision and implementation of infrastructure 
support shall be made compatible with existing environmental conditions and the 
physical, whether natural or human-made, and cultural character of the area. 
Mandatory public hearings/consultations pursuant to existing laws and regulations 
shall be held prior to the conduct of all infrastructure projects that will necessarily 
involve dislocation or displacement of people in the area: Provided, further. That the 
proponent of the infrastructure project shall follow the rules on just and humane 
eviction or demolition under the UDHA, notwithstanding the provisions of Republic Act 
No. 8975, prohibiting lower courts from issuing temporary restraining orders, 
preliminary injunctions, or preliminary mandatory injunctions, and proponent shall 
follow IPRA: Provided, finally. That national government infrastructure projects shall 
allocate budget for the adequate relocation of displaced communities.
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SEC. 51. Infrastructure Projects Within Geo-hazard Areas. - Construction 
of priority infrastructure projects within hazard-prone areas shall be allowed: Provided, 
That mitigating and/or preventive measures are adopted to address the potential 
adverse economic, socio-cultural, and environmental impacts that will emanate from 
these infrastructure projects, subject to the findings and recommendations of a 
feasibility study/environmental impact assessment in accordance with Presidential 
Decree No. 1586 otherwise known as “Establishing An Environmental Impact 
Statement System, Including Other Environmental Management Related Measures,” 
and Republic Act No. 4846, otherwise known as the "Cultural Properties Preservation 
and Protection Act, as amended.
Existing projects that did not go through the process of an environmental impact 
assessment and pose threats to the environment, integrity of historic, archeological, 
or scientifically significant areas; or are impinging on critical ecosystems, may be: a) 
terminated immediately; b) required to implement an Environmental Management 
Plan; c) gradually be phased-out and relocated; or d) maintained up to their life span, 
subject, however, to mitigating measures: Provided, That the rules on mandatory 
public hearings/consultations and just and humane eviction or demolition shall also 
be observed prior to the termination, gradual phase-out, or relocation of projects that 
will necessarily involve dislocation or displacement of people in the area.
CHAPTER XI
TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND VALUE FORMATION
SEC. 52. Value Formation. - In order to create a well-informed, responsible 
and committed citizenry who values the protection, conservation and development of 
the country's limited land, and other physical resources, the State shall mandate the 
inclusion of sustainable land use education or any subject related thereto in the 
curricula of primary, secondary and tertiary education.
SEC. 53. Information and Education Campaign. - The NLUC shall undertake 
a nationwide education information campaign in land use and physical planning to be 
implemented by local and national government agencies. The DILG and concerned 
agencies shall formulate and implement a land use management capability-building 
program for national and local government officials, community leaders, NGOs, POs, 
religious sector, and the general public: Provided, That it shall be mandatory for local 
government officials involved in the preparation of CLUPS and PPFDP, including the 
municipal, city and provincial development officer to attend the Land Use Management 
Capability-Building Program.
SEC. 54. Skills Training. - The agencies involved in the implementation of this 
Act shall coordinate and partner with the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA) in the development, delivery, review and improvement of relevant 
training regulations related to the implementation of this Act to ensure that that the 
necessary skilled personnel are available to meet the job demands of this Act.
CHAPTER XII
INCENTIVES, SANCTIONS, AND PENALTIES
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Article 1
INCENTIVES AND AWARDS
SEC. 55. Formulation of a System of Incentives and Awards. - The NLUC 
shall draft and devise a system of incentives and awards to LCDs that regularly update 
their CLUPs within the prescribed period, as follows:
a) Provinces, Highly Urbanized Cities, and Independent Component Cities once every
nine (9) years; and
b) Component cities and municipalities once every nine (9) years.
SEC. 56. Priority in Giving Technical Assistance to LGUs. - In providing 
technical assistance and other forms of support related to land use management and 
the implementation of development plans, the national government agencies shall give 
priority to cities and municipalities with approved CLUPs.
Article 2
SANCTIONS AND PENALTIES
SEC. 57. Fine for Non-Completion and Non-Commencement of 
Development of Agricultural Lands with Approved Order of Conversion. - A 
landowner and his/her designated developer or duly authorized representative who 
fails to commence and/or complete the development of agricultural lands with 
approved order of conversion shall be penalized, jointly or severally, with any of the 
following fines based on the zonal value of the land at the time the fine is imposed:
a) On failure to commence within one year from the date of conversion order:
1) Six percent (6%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the first three 
(3) hectares:
2) Fifteen percent (15%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the next 
three (3) hectares; and
3) Thirty percent (30%) of the zonal value of the subject land for the 
remaining area: Provided, That the order of conversion shall be deemed 
revoked automatically and the land shall revert to its original agricultural use 
and covered by the DAR through compulsory acquisition for distribution to 
qualified beneficiaries.
b) On failure to complete fifty percent (50%) of the approved conversion plan 
within a specified time frame: Fifty percent (50%) of the zonal value of the subject land 
and the revocation of the conversion plan on the undeveloped portion which shall 
automatically revert to its original use as agricultural land. The same shall be covered 
under the CARP and processed for land distribution as soon as possible.
SEC. 58. Authority to Impose Fine. - The DAR shall impose the penalty 
provided for under the preceding section.
SEC. 59. Withdrawal of Local Development Permits or Licenses. - Upon 
receipt of notice from the DAR, the concerned agencies and the city or municipality
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shall withdraw or revoke any development permit and other licenses that may be 
necessary to develop the agricultural land subject of conversion.
SEC. 60. Utilization of Fines. - The fines collected under this Act shall 
automatically accrue to the Agrarian Reform Fund, consistent with the provisions of 
the CARL, as amended by CARPER.
SEC. 61. Failure to Formulate, Enforce, and/or Implement the CLUPs. - 
Consistent with due process, the DILG shall investigate, review, and impose 
appropriate action, regarding local chief executives and other local officials and 
employees responsible for the formulation, enforcement, and/or implementation of the 
CLUPs in case of any of the following:
a) Failure to implement and enforce the CLUP due to negligence of duty;
b) 
Failure to provide appropriate budgetary allocation to effect its 
implementation; and
c) Failure to complete the preparation of the CLUP, despite the availability of 
funds, resources, and support by the sanggunian concerned.
Any public official or employee, regardless of whether elected or appointed or 
holding office or employment in a casual, temporary, holdover, permanent, or regular 
capacity, found to be responsible for any of the foregoing acts, after due notice and 
hearing by the appropriate body or agency, shall be punished with forfeiture of salaries 
and allowances and suspension ranging from:
a) Six (6) to nine (9) months, in case of non-implementation of CLUP; or
b) Three (3) to six (6) months, in case of non-completion of the CLUP.
SEC. 62. Person(s) Abetting Illegal Conversion. - Any person initiating, 
causing, inducing, or abetting illegal conversion shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned 
from seven (7) to twelve (12) years, and imposed a fine of not less than One hundred 
thousand (PI00,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of the court: Provided, That if 
the offender is a public official or employee, whether elected or appointed, the penalty 
shall, in addition thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the 
service and forfeiture of all benefits and entitlements accruing to the public position 
and perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or appointive public office: 
Provided, further. That if the offender is a juridical person, the penalty of imprisonment 
shall be imposed on the president, chief executive officer, manager, chairperson, and 
all the members of the board, and other responsible officers thereof. The fine shall be 
equivalent to the zonal value of the land or forty percent (40%) of the shareholders 
equity, as determined at the time of judgment, whichever is higher. In addition, such 
violation shall result in the forfeiture of the land in favor of the State for sale though 
public auction, the proceeds of which shall automatically accrue to the Agrarian 
Reform Fund as provided for in Section 60 of this Act.
SEC. 63. Penalty for Reclassification of Protected Agricultural Lands and 
Exceeding the Limit of Areas Allowed for Reclassification. - Any person initiating.
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causing, inducing, or abetting the reclassification of protected agricultural areas into 
non-agricultural uses and exceeding the limits set forth under the Local Government 
Code of 1991, shall be penalized with imprisonment of twelve (12) years and a fine of 
not less than One hundred thousand (PI00,000.00) pesos, or both at the discretion of 
the court: Provided, That if the offender is a public official or employee, the penalty 
shall, in addition thereto, include dismissal through permanent separation from the 
service, whether elected or appointed, and forfeiture of entitlements accruing to the 
public position, and perpetual disqualification to run or apply for any elective or 
appointive public position: Provided, further, That if the offender is a juridical person, 
the penalty shall be imposed on the president, chief executive officer, manager, 
chairperson and all the members of the board, and other responsible officers thereof.
SEC. 64. Payment of Disturbance Compensation. - Following the order of 
priority as enumerated in Section 22 of the CARL, as amended, qualified beneficiaries 
such as agricultural lessees and share tenants, regular farm workers, seasonal farm 
workers, other farm workers, actual tillers or occupants of public lands, collective, or 
cooperative of the above-mentioned beneficiaries, and others directly working on the 
land affected by agricultural land use conversion shall be entitled to the payment of 
disturbance compensation equivalent to five (5) times the average of the gross 
harvests on the landholding during the last five (5) preceding calendar years or a 
certain percentage of the converted land, whichever is higher, as determined by the 
DAR.
CHAPTER XIII
TRANSITORY AND FINAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 65. Convening of the NLUC. - Within thirty (30) days from the effectivity 
of this Act, the President shall convene the NLUC.
SEC. 66. DAR Conversion of Agricultural Lands. - This Act shall not, in any 
way, derogate from the mandate of DAR to facilitate the conversion of agricultural land 
under any existing comprehensive agrarian reform policy, directive or law.
SEC. 67. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within six (6) months from 
the effectivity of this Act, the NLUC shall promulgate the rules and regulations to 
implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC. 68. Congressional Oversight Committee on the Land Use Act. -
There is hereby created a Congressional Oversight Committee which shall monitor 
the implementation of this Act. It shall be composed of seven (7) members from the 
Senate and seven (7) members from the House of Representatives. The Chairpersons 
of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the House of 
Representatives Committee on Natural Resources shall be the Chair and Co-Chair of 
the Congressional Oversight Committee, respectively. The other members from the 
Senate shall be appointed by the Senate President based on proportional 
representation of the parties or coalitions therein with at least one (1) senator 
representing the minority. The other members from the House of Representatives shall 
be appointed by the Speaker also based on proportional representation of the parties 
or coalitions therein with at least one (1) member representing the minority.
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The secretariat of the Oversight Committee shall be drawn from the existing 
secretariat personnel of the committees comprising the oversight and the funding shall 
be taken from the appropriations of both the Senate and the House of 
Representatives,
SEC. 69. Appropriations. - The appropriations for the NLUC shall be taken 
from the budget of the Office of the President in the General Appropriations Act in the 
year following the effectivity of this Act shall be used to carry out the initial operations 
of the National Land Use Commission. Thereafter, additional sums as may be 
necessary for the full implementation of NLUC's functions shall be included in the 
annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 70. Review of Existing Land Use Plans. - Provinces, cities, and 
municipalities with existing land use plans shall review, revise, reconcile, and 
harmonize the same with the guidelines and standards set forth under this Act within 
three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 71. Repealing Clause.-All republic acts, executive orders, rules and 
regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, that are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 72. Non-impairment Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed to 
diminish, impair, or repeal rights recognized, granted, or available to marginalized or 
basic sectors under existing laws , including, but not limited, to the UDHA, CARL, 
IPRA, and the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.
SEC. 73. Separability Clause. - If for any reason or reasons, any part or 
provision of this Act shall be declared or held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other 
parts or provisions hereof, which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect.
SEC. 74. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of 
general circulation.
Approved,
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