SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
AUG 29 n 9 :58 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 11 03 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The coconut industry is a top dollar earner chalking $900 million to about $1 
billion, and a potential annual earner of $2 billion if rehabilitated. 
As a dollar 
earner, the coconut and all its by-products surpass other export products, as it 
requires no import casts. In fact, the Philippines is one of the world's biggest 
exporters of coconut oil, which is either used for food or other industries. 
Unfortunately, unstable trends in production and world market prices lead 
observers to view the industry as a sunset industry, which will eventually die and 
stop bringing income to those who depend on it for a living. The number one 
problem is the dwindling supply of coconut. 
Coconut trees are cut down for 
lumber, while some cocolands are being converted to avoid the operation of land 
reform. Thus, the marginal coconut farmer is now in quandary. Most of them are 
seriously thinking of selling their cocolands, or of converting it, and leaving coconut 
farming in favor of promising opportunities in other areas of endeavor. 
Hence, it is incumbent upon Congress to address these conditions afflicting the 
coconut industry, which comprises a substantial sector of Philippine agriculture 
and a major source of our export earnings. 
This bill seeks, therefore, to alleviate the present condition of the coconut industry 
and ensure its continuity and substantiality. by classifying it as last priority for 
coverage in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the government so 
as not to discourage coconut farmers in investing further in coconut farming. 
This measure also provides for a stricter or higher penalty for violations of the 
prohibited acts and omission under Republic Act No. 665'1. 
Early approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
Senator 


\ 
'senate 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
Ltlft;,,> pf t~i' ~l't't'hit' 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'13 
~UG 29 A 9 :58 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1 4 03 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER SJX 
THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FIFTY SEVEN (R.A. 6657), AS AMENDED, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW 
OF 1998", AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be It enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Section 7 of Republic Act Numbered Six Thousand Six 
Hundred Fifty Seven (R.A. 6657), as amended, otherwise known as the 
"Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1998" is hereby amend.ed to read as 
fOllows: 
"Section 7. Priority. - The Department of Agffifian Reform (DAR) in 
coordination with the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) 
shall plan and program the acquisition and distribution of all 
agricultural lands through a period of ten (to) years from effectivity 
of this Act. Land shall be acquired and distributed as follows: 
"Phase One: Rice and com lands under Presidential Decree No. 
27; All idle and abandoned lands; all private lands voluntarily 
offered by the owners for agrarian reform; all lands foreclosed by 
government financial institutions; all lands acquired by the 
Presidential Commission on Good Government (peG G); and all 
other lands owned by the government devoted to or suitable for 
agriculture, which shall be acquired and distributed immediately 
upon the effectivity of this Act, with the implementation to be 
completed within the period of not more thaniouF (4) years. 
"Phase Two: all alienable and disposable public agriculture lands; 
all arab1e public agricultural lands under agro-forest, pasture and 
agricultural leases already cultivated and planted to crop in 
accordance with Article XIII of the Constitution; all public 
agricultural lands which are to be opened for new development and 
resettlement and all private agricultural lands in excess of fifty (50) 
hectares, insofar as the excess hectarage is concerned, to 
implement principally the rights of farmers and regular farm 
workers, who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands 
they tiJl, which shall be distributed immediately upon the effectivity 
of this Act, with the implementation to be completed within a period 
of not more than four (4) years. 


"Phase Three: 
all other private agricultural lands with large 
landholdings and proceeding to medium and small under the 
fol/owing schedule: 
(a) Landhofdings above twenty four (24) hectares up to fifty (50) 
hectares, to begin on the fourlh (4th) year fmm the effectivity ~f 
this Act to be completed within three (3) years; and, 
(bJ Landholdings from the retention limit up to twenty-four (24) 
hectares, to begin on the sixth (6th) year from the effectivity of 
this Act and to be completed within four (4) years; to implement 
principally the right of farmers and regular farm workers who are 
landless, to own directly or collectively the lands they till. 
'The schedule of acquisition and redistribution of aI/ agricultural 
lands covered by this program shall be made in accordance with 
the above order or priority, which shall be provided in the 
implementing rules to be prepared by the Presidential Agrarian 
Reform Council (PARC), taking into consideration the fol/owing: 
The need to enhance agricu/tul'8J productivity, and the availability of 
funds and resources to Implement and support the program; 
PROVIDED, THAT ALL LAND DEVOTED PRIMARILY TO 
COCONUT FARMING SHALL BE GIVEN LAST PRIORITY IN 
THE SCHEDULE OF ACQUISITION AND REDISTRIBUTION 
WHETHER THE SAME BE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE, TENANTED 
OR UNTENANTED. 
"In any case, the PARC, upon recommendation by the Provincial 
Agrarian Reform Coordination Committee (PARCOMM), may 
declare cet1ain provinces or regions as priority land reform areas, in 
which cases the acquisition and distribution of private agricultural 
lands therein may be implemented ahead of the above schedules. 
"In effecting the transfer within this guidelines, priOrity must be 
given to lands that are tenanted. 
"The PARe shalf establish guidelines to implement the above 
priOrities and distribution scheme, including the determination of 
who are qualified beneficiaries; Provided, That an owner-tiller may 
be a bMeficiary of the land he does not own but Is actuallY 
cultivating to the extent of the difference between the area of the 
land he owns and the award ceiling of three (3) hectares." 
SEC. 2. Section 74 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follows: 
"Section 74. 
Penalties_ - Any person who knowingly or willfully 
violates the proviSions of this Act shall be punished by 
imprisonment of not less than [one (1) month but not more than 
three (3) or a fine of not Jess than one thousand pesos (P1,OOO.OO) 
and not more than fifteen thousand pesos (P15,OOO.OO)] SIX (6) 
MONTHS TO NOT MORE THAN FOUR (4) YEARS OR A FINE 
OF NOT LESS THAN GIVE THOUSAND PESOS (P5,OOO.OO)." 


SEC. 2. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act shall be held to be 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
SEC. 3. 
Repealing Clause. 
Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation 
contrary to, or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 4. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation or in the Official 
Gazette. 
Approved,