FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 2209 
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Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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 mral 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 govermnent 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 
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government agencies . 
• This bill was originally filed dnring the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.No. 
2209 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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REQUIRING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM AND THE DEPARTMENT 
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OF AGRICULTURE TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON 
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STATISTICS RELATING TO THE CO,NVERSION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND TO NON-
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AGRICULTURAL USES INCLUDING A REVIEW OF EXISTING POLICIES AND 
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PROCEDURES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION I. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Agricultural Land Protection .. -. 
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Act." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to minimize the extent 
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to which govermnent programs and policies contribute to the unnecessary and irreversible 
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conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, and to assure that national govermnent 
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programs are administered and policies are implemented for the protection of agricultural land 
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compatible with development plans oflocal government units. 
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SECTION 3. Definition of Agricultural Land. - For purposes of this Act, "agricultural 
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land" refers to land devoted to the cultivation ofthe soil, planting of crops, growing of fmit trees, 
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raising of livestock, poultry or fish, including the harvesting of such farm products, and other 
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farm activities and practices performed by a farmer in conjunction with such farming operations 
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done by persons whether natural or juridical. 
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SECTION 4. Development of Criteria to Identify Effects of Government Programs on 
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Conversion of Agricultural Land to Non-Agricultural Uses. - The Department of Agrarian 
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Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with other departments, agencies and 
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local government units, shall develop criteria for identifying the effects of government programs 
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on the conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses. 
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SECTION 5. Use of Criteria. - Departments, agencies, and local government units shall 
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use the criteria established under the preceding paragraph to identify and take into account the 
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adverse effects of government program~ and policies on the preservation of agricultural land; 
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consider alternative actions, as appropriate, that could lessen such adverse effects; and assure 
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that programs and policies of the government at the national level for the protection of 
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agricultural land are, to the extent practicable, compatible with development plans of local 
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government units. 
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SECTION 6. Availability of Restorative Information. - The Department of Agrarian 
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Reform and the Department of Agriculture shall make available to other departments and 
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agencies of the government, local government units, individuals, and organizations information 
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useful in restoring, maintaining, and improving the quantity and quality of agricultural land. 
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SECTION 7. Review of Existing Policies and Procedures. - The Department of Agrarian 
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Reform and the Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other departments and agencies 
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of the government and local government units, shall review current provisions of law, 
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administrative rules and regulations, policies and procedures to determine whether any provision 
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prevents full compliance with the provisions of this Act. Whenever necessary, they shall develop 
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proposals for action to bring government programs, policies and administrative activities into 
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conformity with the purpose ofthis Act. 
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SECTION 8. Technical Assistance. - The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the Secretary 
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of Agriculture and other department secretaries, whenever appropriate, shall provide technical 
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assistance to local government units which intend to develop programs or policies to limit the 
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conversion of productive agricultural land to non-agricultural uses. 
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SECTION 9. Agricultural Land Resource Information. - The Secretary of Agrarian 
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Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture, in cooperation with other departments and agencies of 
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the govemment, shall design and implement educational programs and materials emphasizing the 
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importance of productive agricultural land to the country's well-being and distribute educational 
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materials through the mass media, schools, organizations, and other government agencies. 
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SECTION 10. Reporting Requirements. - At the beginning of each calendar year, the 
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Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to the Committees on 
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Agrarian Reform, Agriculture and Food, Economic Affairs, Constitutional Amendments, 
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Revision of Codes and Laws, Environment, Local Government, Natural Resources, and Rural 
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Development of the House of Representatives, on the progress made in implementing the 
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provisions of this Act. The report shall inClude information on-
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(A) The effects, if any, of govemment programs and administrative activities with respect 
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to the protection of agricultural land; and 
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(B) The results of the reviews on existing policies and procedures required under Section -... 
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7 of this Act. 
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SECTION 11. Limitations. -
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(A) This Act does not authorize the government in any way to regulate the use of private 
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agricnlturalland, or in any way affect the property rights of owners of such land. 
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(B) None of the provisions or other requirements of this Act shall apply to the acquisition 
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or use of agricultural land for national defense purposes. 
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SECTION 12. Separability Clause. -If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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valid and SUbsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. -Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administratjve order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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