Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, CEIVED %
Quezon City i 04 JUL 2013
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LY »
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS \ opp
First Regular Session \

HOUSE BILL NO.11.2

Introduced by HON. FLORENCIO C. GARAY

EXPLANATORY NOTE

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

The subject land is a forest land. However, with the passage of time,
farmers gradually settled on the land, planting vegetables, fruit trees, bananas
and root crops and even raising livestock thereon. They became, not mere
inhabitants, but stewards of the land, nurturing the soil as they would their own
children, watering the soil with their very blood and sweat. Yet, they remain
vassals in their own land. It is time that they are liberated from their bondage to
the soil and awarded the land they have nurtured for so long.

Among the declared policies of the State is the recognition of the rights of
farmers and regular farmworkers, who are landless, to own the lands that they till
(Section 4, Article XIIl of the 1987 Constitution: Social Justice and Human
Rights). Considering that the farmers-occupants have developed certain areas
of the forest land into an agricultural land, it is high-time said areas are formally
classified into alienable and disposable agricultural land and its tenant-farmers
be recognized as legitimate owners thereof.

In view of its national and local importance, the approval of this bil is

earnestly sought. -
Cyaan G i

FLORENCIO Cc. GARA'


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 11.25

Introduced by HON. FLORENCIO C. GARAY

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

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

SECTION 1. The portion of forest land within the former concessional
area of Paper Industry Corporation of the Philippines (PICOP), in the City of
Bislig, Province of Surigao del Sur, which is actually tilled and occupied by
farmer-settlers, is hereby reclassified and declared as alienable and disposable
land of the public domain.

SECTION 2. The aforementioned land shall be distributed in ownership to
bona fide and long-term farmers/occupants thereon, but the existing creeks in the
same area shall be given in usufruct to the City of Bislig; Provided, That the said
bona fide and long-term farmers/occupants shall manage and develop the said
creeks upon payment by them of reasonable compensation to said City;

SECTION 3. The scheme of distribution of the land, including the
identities of the bona fide and long-term farmers/occupants thereon, shall be
prepared by a Committee which shall be composed of the following: a
representative of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as
Chairman, a representative of the Department of Agrarian Reform as Vice-
Chairman, and the Mayor of Bislig City, the Head of the farmers’ organization,
and the Provincial Director of the Philippine National Police as Members. The


scheme of distribution shall include the technical description of each lot
pertaining to each of the farmers/occupants, following the boundaries of existing
integrated social forestry stewardship and/or similar contracts that may have
been awarded in their favor; Provided, That said scheme of distribution shall be
as equitable as possible without gross disparities among the awardees.

Conflicts shall be decided by the Committee after due hearing, appealable
to the Department Secretary under whose jurisdiction the issue involved falls.
The Secretary's decision or order on appeal may be subject of a petition for
review by the Office of the President within. fifteen (15) days from promulgation of
notice of the decision appealed from; Provided, That said petition for review shall
be decided within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof; otherwise, the decision or
order appealed from shall be deemed ratified and final.

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

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

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication

in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,