Republic of the Jhilippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Queson City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 272

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G.
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII

EXPLANATORY NOTE.

Each year, a large amount of the country’s agricultural land is irrevocably converted
from actual or potential agricultural use to non-agricultural use. This is further
aggravated by conflicting government programs and policies regarding land use and
development.

The continued decrease in the country's agricultural land base threatens the ability of
the country to produce food and fiber in sufficient quantities to meet domestic needs
In addition, the extensive use of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes
undermines the economic base of many rural areas. Yet there is no law which
requires the Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture to report to
Congress data relative to the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses.

This bill provides for a reporting requirement on the rate at which agricultural land is
converted to non-agricultural uses, and a review of existing government policies and
procedures on agricultural land conversion, including an evaluation of the
compatibility of government policies on land conversion with development plans at
the national and local levels. The ultimate objective of this bill is not only to protect
agricultural land, but to minimize graft and corruption in agricultural land conversion
due to conflicting laws, policies and administrative activities of government agencies.

LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE

NCISO VIII

LUIS RAYMUND fLRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.

COLA:


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Queson City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 272

Introduced by HON. LUIS RAYMUND “LRAY” F. VILLAFUERTE, JR.,
HON. MIGUEL LUIS R. VILLAFUERTE, HON. TSUYOSHI ANTHONY G.
HORIBATA AND HON. NICOLAS ENCISO VIII

AN ACT
REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO.
CONGRESS ON STATISTICS RELATING TO THE CONVERSION OF
AGRICULTURAL LAND TO NON-AGRICULTURAL USES INCLUDING A REVIEW
OF EXISTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Agricultural Land
Protection Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to minimize the extent
to which government programs and policies contribute to the unnecessary and
irreversible conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, and to assure that
national government programs are administered and policies are implemented for the
protection of agricultural land compatible with development plans of local government
units

SECTION 3. Definition of Agricultural Land. — For purposes of this Act, ‘agricultural
land” refers to land devoted to the cultivation of the soil, planting of crops, growing of
fruit trees, raising of livestock, poultry or fish, including the harvesting of such farm
products, and other farm activities and practices performed by a farmer in conjunction
with such farming operations done by persons whether natural or juridical.

SECTION 4. Development of Criteria to Identify Effects of Government Programs on
Conversion of Agricultural Land to Non-Agricultural Uses. - The Department of
Agrarian Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with other
departments, agencies and local government units, shall develop criteria for
identifying the effects of government programs on the conversion of agricultural land


to non-agricultural uses.

SECTION 5. Use of Criteria. - Departments, agencies, and local government units
shall use the criteria established under the preceding paragraph to identify and take
into account the adverse effects of government programs and policies on the
preservation of agricultural land; consider alternative actions, as appropriate, that
could lessen such adverse effects; and assure that programs and policies of the
government at the national level for the protection of agricultural land are, to the
extent practicable, compatible with development plans of local government units.

SECTION 6. Availability of Restorative Information. - The Department of Agrarian
Reform and the Department of Agriculture shall make available to other departments
and agencies of the government, local government units, individuals, and
organizations information useful in restoring, maintaining, and improving the quantity
and quality of agricultural land.

SECTION 7. Review of Existing Policies and Procedures. ~ The Department of
Agrarian Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other
departments and agencies of the government and local government units, shall
review current provisions of law, administrative rules and regulations, policies and
procedures to determine whether any provision prevents full compliance with the
provisions of this Act. Whenever necessary, they shall develop proposals for action to
bring government programs, policies and administrative activities into conformity with
the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 8. Technical Assistance. — The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the
Secretary of Agriculture and other department secretaries, whenever appropriate,
shall provide technical assistance to local government units which intend to develop
programs or policies to limit the conversion of productive agricultural land to
non-agricultural uses.

SECTION 9. Agricultural Land Resource Information. — The Secretary of Agrarian
Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with other departments and
agencies of the government, shall design and implement educational programs and
materials emphasizing the importance of productive agricultural land to the country's
well-being and distribute educational materials through the mass media, schools,
organizations, and other government agencies

SECTION 10. Reporting Requirements. — At the beginning of each calendar year, the
Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to the
Committees on Agrarian Reform, Agriculture and Food, Economic Affairs,
Constitutional Amendments, Revision of Codes and Laws, Environment, Local
Government, Natural Resources, and Rural Development of the House of
Representatives, on the progress made in implementing the provisions of this Act.
The report shall include information on—

(A) The effects, if any, of government programs and administrative activities with
respect to the protection of agricultural land; and

(B) The results of the reviews on existing policies and procedures required under
Section 7 of this Act.


SECTION 11. Limitations. —

(A) This Act does not authorize the government in any way to regulate the use of
private agricultural land, or in any way affect the property rights of owners of such
land.

(B) None of the provisions or other requirements of this Act shall apply to the
acquisition or use of agricultural land for national defense purposes.

SECTION 12, Separability Clause. -If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall

remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 13. 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.

SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. —This Act shalll take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,