Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
    EXPLANATORY NOTE
Executive Order No. 192 organized the Department of Environment of Natural 
Resources (DENR) in June 1987. The new organizational set - up integrated the 
Bureau of Lands District Land Offices to the field offices of the DENR and 
transformed the Bureau’s Central Office to the Land Management Bureau under 
this set-up LMB became a staff bureau. The re-organized Bureau spearheaded 
the distribution of public agricultural lands through the Comprehensive 
Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the government distributing 1.32 million 
hectares to the rural community. 
For more than a century, the Bureau is in the forefront of the effort of the 
government to promote social equity by distributing public agricultural lands to 
the rural masses. From 1901 to 2006, the then Bureau of Lands and the present 
Land Management Bureau and the Land Management Sector of the Department 
of Environment and Natural Resources is true to its mandate of serving the 
Filipino people by alleviating poverty and promoting social equality through 
public land distribution. 
September 26, 2022
2:36 pm
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This House Bill seeks to provide Modernization Funding to the (LMB), to ensure 
that the country fulfills its commitments to all land classification management 
and disposition, Mandates and agreements. 
Thus, the early passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MICHAEL L. ROMERO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
19TH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ___ 
Introduced by Representative Michael L. Romero 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR MODERNIZATION FUNDINGFOR THE LANDS 
MANAGEMENT BUREAU (LMB), TO AUGMENT LAND SURVEY 
STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, EXPANDING ITS POWERS AND 
FUNCTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 
1. 
DECLARATION OF POLICY –  The Lands Management 
Bureau is task to absorb all powers and functions of the Bureau of Lands except 
those line functions and powers which are transferred to the regional field office. 
The Lands Management Bureau to be headed by a Director and assisted by an 
Assistant Director shall advise the Secretary on matters pertaining to rational 
land classification management and disposition. 
It shall hereby be a declared policy of the state to provide direction through the 
development of long and medium-term strategic plans for the land sector and 
monitoring and evaluation tools to ensure achievement of goals. 
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The state shall also formulate policies for the efficient and effective 
administration and management of alienable and disposable public lands and 
ensure compliance. 
SECTION 
2. 
MODERNIZATION FUNDING. – The amount of Five 
Hundred Million Pesos (Php 500,000,000.00) for the operation and 
administration of the LMB shall be chargeable against funds for the 
purpose and other sources recommended by the Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM). Thereafter, appropriations for the LMB shall be 
included in the budget proposals under the Department of Environment 
and Natural Resources (DENR). 
Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the 
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General Appropriations 
Act (GAA). 
SECTION 
3. 
LMB MODERNIZATION FUND – There is hereby 
created the LMB Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the LMB 
Modernization Program. 
The LMB Modernization Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the DENR 
in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing 
rules and regulations. 
SECTION 
4. 
PROGRESS REPORT – The Secretary of the DENR shall 
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the LMB 
Modernization Programs which shall be submitted, to the Office of the President 
and to the Chairpersons of the Committee on Energy of the Senate and the House 
of Representatives. 
SECTION 
5. 
PERIOD OF IMPLEMENTATION – The modernization 
program under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) 
years:  


Provided, that payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period:  
Provided, further, That LMB shall continue develop, modernize and 
constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global 
practices. 
SECTION 
6. 
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS. – The LMB shall continue to 
exercise and uphold the following powers and functions; but not limited to: 
a) Recommend policies and programs for the efficient and 
effective 
administration, 
surveys, 
management 
and 
disposition of alienable and disposable lands of the public 
domain and other lands outside the responsibilities of 
other government agencies; such as reclaimed areas and 
other areas not needed for or are not being utilized for the 
purposes for which they have been established; 
b) Advise the Regional Offices on the efficient and effective 
implementation of policies, programs and projects for more 
effective public lands management; 
c) Assist in the monitoring and evaluation of land surveys, 
management and disposition of lands to ensure efficiency 
and effectiveness thereof; 
d) Issue standards, guidelines, regulations and orders to 
enforce policies for the maximization of land use and 
development; 
e) Develop operating standards and procedures to enhance 
the Bureau's objectives and functions; 
f) have direct executive control of the survey, classification, 
lease, sale or any other forms of concessions or disposition 
and management of the lands of the public domain; 
g) Perform other functions as may be assigned by the 
Secretary and/or provided by law. 
SECTION 
7. 
TRANSITORY 
PROVISION – 
Existing 
industries, 
businesses and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given 
six (6) months transitory period from the effectivity of the IRR or such other 
period as may be determined, to comply with the requirements of this Act. 


SECTION 
8. 
IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS. – The 
departments and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act 
shall, within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the 
necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation. 
SECTION 
9. 
REPEALING CLAUSE. – All laws, decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions 
of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 
10. 
SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. – If, for any reason, any 
section or provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the other 
sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 
11. 
EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. – This Act shall take effect 
after fifteen (15) days from its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two 
(2) national newspapers of general circulation whichever comes earlier. 
 
Approved,