Senate Office of the Gerretarp TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) ) APR -6 A11 :17 First Regular Session SENATE RECEIVED BY: 2021 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT ASSERTING THE SOCIAL FUNCTION OF LAND BY MANDATING THE UTILIZATION OF IDLE AND UNDEVELOPED LANDS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION, ALIGNING NATIONAL AGENCIES AND DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FOR EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY, AND PROVIDING TOTAL TAX EXEMPTIONS EXPLANATORY NOTE
Sec 6, Art. XII of the 1987 Constitution provides that the use of property bears
a social function, and all economic agents shall contribute to the common good. Furthermore, under the General Welfare Clause, the State possesses the Police Power to override private interests in the face of a "clear and present danger" to public health and food security. With the 2026 Middle East Crisis threatening to starve the supply chains of our cities, "idleness" is no longer a private choice but a public liability. This measure seeks to operationalize the social function of land by mandating the productive use of idle and undeveloped lands for food production during periods of food security emergencies. It also aligns national agencies, local government units, and district representatives to ensure coordinated and immediate action. By mobilizing idle lands, this proposed legislation aims to enhance food security, reduce dependence on imports, create local livelihoods, and strengthen national resilience during times of crisis. ROBINHOOD PADILLA Senator
Senate Office of the Secretary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 8 5 1 17 SENATE RECEIVED BY: 2021 S. No. _ Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla AN ACT AN ACT ASSERTING THE SOCIAL FUNCTION OF LAND BY MANDATING THE UTILIZATION OF IDLE AND UNDEVELOPED LANDS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION, ALIGNING NATIONAL AGENCIES AND DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES FOR EMERGENCY FOOD SECURITY, AND PROVIDING TOTAL TAX EXEMPTIONS Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall also be known as the "Emergency Food
Production and Mandatory Land Utilization Act."
SEC. 2. Declaration of Emergency Policy. - A State of Food Security Emergency
is hereby declared. The State shall exercise its police power to ensure that all idle and 5 undeveloped lands-whether public or private-are utilized for the production of food 6 to mitigate the impact of the 2026 Global Energy Crisis.
SEC. 3. Mandatory Utilization of Idle Lands. - For the duration of Executive
8 Order No. 110, declaring a State of National Energy Emergency in the Philippines, all 9 lands classified as "Idle" or "Undeveloped" by the Assessor's Office of the respective 10 Local Government Units (LGUs) shall be subject to mandatory conversion into 11 Communal Food Production Zones. 12 The concerned LGU shall serve written notice upon the registered owner or authorized representative informing them of the intended utilization of the land for communal food production.
1 Landowners are encouraged to enter into a three (3)-year usufruct agreement with 2 the Barangay or LGU, under terms mutually agreed upon, to facilitate the lawful use 3 of the land. 4 In the event that the landowner refuses to participate, fails to respond within a 5 reasonable period, or cannot be located after due diligence, the LGU, upon 6 recommendation of the District Representative and the Department of Agriculture 7 (DA), is hereby authorized to take temporary possession of and develop the land for 8 communal farming purposes for the duration of the declared emergency, without 9 prejudice to the rights of the lawful owner.
SEC. 4. 100% Real Property Tax (RPT) Exemption. - To balance the State's
exercise of power, any land utilized under this Act—whether by voluntary agreement or state intervention-shall be exempt from the collection of all Real Property Taxes (RPT) for the duration of its agricultural use.
SEC. 5. Strategic Inter-Agency Roles. - The following agencies and officials
are hereby assigned the corresponding roles and responsibilities for the implementation of this Act: 17 The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall provide agricultural inputs, including seeds, 18 livestock, and fingerlings, hereinafter referred to as "Survival Starters." The Bureau of 19 Animal Industry (BAI) is hereby directed to prioritize the development and distribution 20 of backyard protein sources, including poultry and rabbitry, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas. 22 The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) shall develop and deploy climate- resilient agricultural technologies to ensure crop viability amid adverse and volatile weather conditions, and shall provide appropriate vertical farming systems and designs suited for small and urban spaces. 26 The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall direct all barangays nationwide to establish and maintain a Barangay Food Bank, sourced primarily from 28 the produce of communal food production zones established under this Act.
District Representatives, shall serve as Food Security Coordinators within their respective legislative districts. They shall, through the LGUs, identify priority idle lands 3 for utilization and ensure the timely and efficient coordination and delivery of resources and technical support from the DA and DOST to the barangay level.
SEC. 6. Social Amelioration Programs. - The Department of Labor and
6 Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 shall prioritize the deployment of program beneficiaries to activities directly related to 8 food production in areas where Communal Farms or Barangay Gardens are 9 established. 10 In such areas, beneficiaries shall not be assigned to non-essential tasks unrelated to food production, including but not limited to street sweeping. All cash-for-work programs implemented under this Act shall be directed toward food production 13 activities and shall be aligned with the objectives of communal and barangay-level 14 food security.
SEC. 7. Environmental Integration. - In coordination with the DENR,
16 undeveloped lands in Multiple-Use Zones of protected areas shall be utilized for "Forest-Food Farming," ensuring food is grown without destroying the natural canopy.
SEC. 8. Crisis Management Councils. - Each LGU must form a Food Crisis
19 Council within 15 days, chaired by the Local Chief Executive, with the District 20 Representative as the Lead Adviser, to monitor local food prices and harvest yields.
SEC. 9. Appropriations. - An initial "Food Survival Fund" of P15 Billion is hereby
authorized, to be overseen by a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.
Sec. 10 Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder hereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 11 Repealing Clause. - All other laws, presidential decrees, executive
27 orders, letters of instruction, proclamations, administrative orders, rules or regulations that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified 29 accordingly.
Sec. 12 Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
2 following its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,