Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday announced that he is pushing for a comprehensive national land use policy to enhance sustainable development, environmental integrity, disaster risk reduction, food and water security, and equitable access to land.
Senate Bill 400, or the proposed “National Land Use Act of the Philippines,” seeks to institutionalize a long-term, sustainable, and inclusive framework for land planning and management.
“If enacted, this legislation would provide a robust legal framework to guide development, enhance food and water security, mitigate disaster risks, and promote equitable and inclusive growth across the archipelago,” Lacson said in the bill.
The bill proposes the creation of a National Land Use Commission (NLUC), which will establish land use policies and ensure interagency coordination.
Lacson said the policy would encourage data-driven, participatory, and legally enforceable land use decisions across the country.
The measure outlines specific protections for ancestral domains, critical habitats, and prime agricultural land, among other areas. It also provides detailed guidelines for managing different land types, including agricultural, forest, coastal, mineral, energy, tourism, heritage, industrial, and infrastructure zones.
“The emphasis on sustainable development, and protection of critical resources mandates a long-term vision for resource stewardship,” Lacson explained.
The President will chair the NLUC, while the heads of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DepDev) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will serve as vice-chairpersons.
The commission will include representatives from key national agencies, local government leagues, vulnerable sectors, land developers, and land use professionals.
It will provide policy recommendations to the President and the NEDA Board, integrate existing land-related laws, and house all official land use data.
The NLUC will also mediate land use disputes and develop a 30-year National Physical Framework Plan to guide local and regional planning.
Meanwhile, the bill penalizes landowners and developers who fail to implement approved agricultural land conversion plans within specified timeframes. Sanctions range from financial penalties based on land zonal value to reversion of land use and revocation of permits.
Illegal land conversion could lead to imprisonment of seven to 12 years and fines of up to P100,000, with heavier penalties for public officials. Meanwhile, improper reclassification of protected agricultural lands carries a maximum sentence of 12 years and similar financial penalties.
