Alyansa senatorial bets vow passage of National Land Use Act

Senatorial candidates from the Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas on Saturday made a commitment to pass the National Land Use Act if they win in the coming midterm elections.

During a press conference in Laguna province, ACT CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo said passing the proposed measure would prevent the reduction of the country’s agricultural lands due to unregulated land conversion.

“We must pass the National Land Use Act because it is being abused already. It is for the people, not the few. Dapat matuldukan na ‘yan,” Tulfo said.

“Habang hindi naipapasa ang National Land Use Act, asahan na po natin liliit nang liliit ang ating agricultural areas. Liliit ho ‘yan kasi inaabuso no’ng mga buyer ng lupa, binabarat ‘yong mga farmers,” he added.

Former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, meanwhile, recalled that the Senate had previously approved the bill in the 15th Congress. However, it failed to pass in the House of Representatives.
 
“Noong 15th Congress, pinasa po ng Senado ang Land Use Act. ‘Yun po ang isa sa makakapag-solve ng problema hindi lang sa Laguna kundi sa buong Pilipinas. Ang tamang paggamit ng lupa natin, ng publiko, ng gobyerno, ng pribado, hindi pumasa sa House,” Sotto said.

For his part, former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said that Laguna’s agricultural sector has dramatically shrunk due to rapid industrialization.

Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos, meanwhile, suggested that while waiting for the passage of the National Land Use Act, the local government units can provide incentives to discourage landowners from selling their farmlands for industrial or residential purposes.
 
“What we could do is give incentives. Siguro on a local level para ‘yung may-ari ng lupa mag-iisip siya ng dalawang beses. It’s about economics,” Abalos said. 

On the other hand, Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino expressed support for the revival of the proposed measure, saying that it has been pending for a very long time. 

If enacted into law, the National Land Use Act would provide a framework for the proper utilization and management of land resources in the country.

The bill would also create the National Land Use Commission, which will be the highest policy-making body that will handle the management and planning of land use and resolve land use policy conflicts.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has identified the National Land Use Act as one of the priorities of his administration’s legislative agenda during his first State of the Nation Address in 2022.

The bill was approved on third reading at the House of Representatives in May 2023. However, it remains pending at the committee level at the Senate. —VAL, GMA Integrated News

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