Agricultural Land Preservation Act

Senate Office of the Ee ceretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) ) First Regular Session 25 NOV 11 P3:41 SENATE RECEIVED BY S. No. 1499 Introduced by Senator MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER MEASURES TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND REGULATE ITS CONVERSION TO NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES EXPLANATORY NOTE Agriculture has always been the backbone of the Philippine economy, providing food security, livelihood, and raw materials for industries. Despite this, agricultural lands in the country continue to shrink at an alarming rate due to unchecked conversion to residential, commercial, and industrial uses. This trend threatens not only the productivity of our agricultural sector but also the long-term sustainability of our national development. According to government data, thousands of hectares of prime agricultural land are converted annually, often without sufficient safeguards to protect food production and rural livelihoods. While land conversion is sometimes necessary for urbanization and infrastructure, the irreversible loss of productive farmland poses a serious risk to food sufficiency, farmer welfare, and ecological balance. This bill seeks to provide stronger measures to preserve agricultural land and regulate its conversion to non-agricultural purposes. It aims to:

Ensure that national government policies and programs are consistent with the objective of agricultural land preservation while remaining compatible with the development plans of local government units (LGUs); 1. Establish clear criteria for identifying the adverse effects of land conversion and consider alternatives that minimize such impacts; 2. Prioritize the preservation of lands that have been the subject of agrarian reform, irrigation, and mechanization programs; 3. Provide LGUs with technical assistance and updated resource information to effectively regulate agricultural land use; and 4. Mandate regular policy review, public education, and annual reporting to Congress to guarantee transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in implementation. By institutionalizing these measures, the bill strengthens the capacity of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and other government agencies to safeguard the country's agricultural base. It balances the needs of development with the imperative of food security, ensuring that the Philippines does not compromise its agricultural future in the pursuit of urban growth. In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought. A MANUEL-LITO" M. LAPTO Senator

• Senate Ditter of the ectiptar? TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session NOV 11 P3:41 SENATE 1499 RECEIVED BY: S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid AN ACT PROVIDING FOR STRONGER MEASURES TO PRESERVE AGRICULTURAL LAND AND REGULATE ITS CONVERSION TO NON-AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES 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

6 Preservation Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to minimize the

unnecessary and irreversible conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses and ensure that national government policies and programs administered and 10. implemented for the protection of agricultural land are compatible with the development plans of the local government units (LGUs).

SECTION 3. Conversion of Agricultural Land for Non-Agricultural Uses. - The

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) shall, in coordination with the national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs, develop criteria for identifying the effects of government programs on the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes and undertake the following measures: a. Identify the adverse effects of government policies and programs and programs on the preservation of agricultural land;

b. Consider alternative actions, as appropriate, to lessen such adverse effects; c. Prioritize for preservation lands which have been subjects of government agricultural programs such as those which were subject of agrarian reform, irrigation, and mechanization programs; and d. Ensure that the policies and programs of the National Government for the preservation of agricultural lands are practicable and compatible with the development plans of the LGUs. 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, 10 poultry or fish, and other farm activities and practices performed by a farmer in 11 conjunction with farming operations of persons, whether natural or juridical.

SECTION 4. Availability of Restorative Information. - The DAR and the DA shall

provide other NGAs, LGUs, organizations, and individuals all the necessary and available information that are pertinent to the restoration, maintenance and improvement of the quantity and quality of agricultural land.

SECTION 5. Review of Existing Policies and Procedures. - The DAR and the DA

shall, in coordination with the NGAs and LGUs, conduct a regular review of existing laws and policies, administrative rules and regulations to determine whether the existing provisions are in accordance with the provisions of this Act and, whenever necessary, develop proposals and take appropriate action to bring government 21 policies, programs and administrative activities into conformity to the purpose of this 22 Act.

SECTION 6. Technical Assistance. - The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and the

Secretary of Agriculture and other department secretaries shall, whenever appropriate, provide technical assistance to LGUs which intend to develop policies or programs that regulate the conversion of prime agricultural land to non-agricultural uses.

SECTION 7. Agricultural Land Resource Information. - The Secretary of

29 Agrarian Reform and the Secretary of Agriculture shall, in cooperation with other

1 departments and agencies of the government, design and implement educational 2 programs and materials emphasizing the importance of prime agricultural land to the 3 country's well-being and distribute educational materials through mass media, 4 schools, organizations, and other government agencies.

SECTION 8. Reportorial Requirement. - The Secretary of Agrarian Reform and

the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit a report to the Congress of the Philippines on or before January 31 of every year, through the Committee on Agrarian Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian 9 Reform of the Senate of the Philippines, on the implementation of this Act. The annual report shall include an update and information on the effects, if 11 any, of government programs and administrative activities relevant to the preservation of agricultural land; results of the reviews on existing policies and procedures required under Section 5 of this Act and action taken to ensure its observance; and statistical data on agricultural land conversion to non-agricultural uses.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any section, subsection,

16 clause or term of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, such parts not affected by 17 such declaration shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - All existing laws, orders, decrees, rules and

regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby amended, modified or repealed accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

22 publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. Approved,