House panel approves long-delayed National Land Use Act
MANILA, Philippines — The House Special Committee on Land Use on Wednesday approved the proposed National Land Use Act (NLUA), a measure that seeks to establish a unified national policy on how land is allocated, developed and protected across the country.
The committee, chaired by Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco “Lalo” T. Matugas, fast-tracked the approval of the bill, which has been pending in Congress in various forms for nearly 30 years and was previously approved on third and final reading during the 19th Congress.
Under the proposed law, the government would shift from short-term and reactive land-use decisions to long-term national planning, setting rules on where settlements can be safely built, which agricultural lands must be protected, and which high-risk areas should no longer be developed.
The lack of a unified land-use framework was highlighted by recent flash floods in Cebu that displaced families from low-lying communities, as well as a fire in parts of Surigao City that raised unresolved questions on permanent relocation and accommodation for displaced residents, situations the measure seeks to prevent.
In his opening statement, Matugas underscored the urgency of passing the bill, citing long-standing problems arising from fragmented land management, including the conversion of prime agricultural lands, settlements in hazard-prone areas, and recurring environmental and land-use conflicts.
The National Land Use Act is a priority measure of the Marcos administration and part of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s common legislative agenda. Following its approval at the committee level, the bill will next be taken up by the House Committee on Appropriations before proceeding to second and third readings at the plenary.
House leaders have expressed commitment to advance the measure with urgency, raising expectations that the long-stalled bill may move closer to enactment after decades of delay.
