The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) urged lawmakers to incorporate stronger investor safeguards, local government support and infrastructure financing mechanisms into the proposed National Land Use Act (NLUA) as the measure moves to the Senate.
The business group said the House of Representatives’ recent approval of House Bill 8466 will help address fragmentation in planning systems, improve coordination among agencies and local government units (LGUs) and support more orderly infrastructure and economic development.
AmCham described the bill as a “timely and significant reform” that would help establish a more rational, sustainable and investment-supportive land use framework in the country.
To ensure effective implementation, AmCham proposed a defined funding mechanism for LGUs to support training, systems upgrading, technical assistance and institutional strengthening.
The group said the success of the law would largely depend on local capacity.
AmCham also called for a clear and time-bound transition framework to protect existing and pipeline investments and provide predictability for projects under development or approval.
The chamber said investor confidence and economic continuity would depend on minimizing disruptions to long-term commitments and establishing clear timelines for the implementation of new land use rules.
The group supported the creation of a National Land Use Commission under the Office of the President but stressed the need for clearly defined agency roles and stronger inter-agency coordination.
It also highlighted the role of the National Economic and Development Authority in aligning land use planning with national development goals.
AmCham pushed for the inclusion of land value capture mechanisms in the measure, noting these could help the government finance infrastructure projects by allowing it to share in increases in land values generated by public investments.
The group said any such mechanism should remain transparent, non-distortive to land and property markets and backed by clear implementing rules and regulations.
