Alyansa bets push for saving PH farmlands
SANTA ROSA, Laguna — The senatorial candidates running under the banner of Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas have vowed to push for the long-delayed passage of the National Land Use Act in the 20th Congress, should they win in the 2025 midterm elections.
In a press conference prior to the grand rally here, former Social Welfare Secretary and ACTS-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo stressed the urgent need to pass the measure to prevent further 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,” he said.
He warned that continued land conversion would ultimately affect food security.
The National Land Use Act, a proposed legislation that has languished in Congress for decades, seeks to establish a framework for the sustainable and equitable utilization of the country’s land resources. It aims to balance agricultural, residential, commercial, and industrial land use while ensuring environmental protection.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has previously emphasized the urgency of enacting this policy, highlighting its fundamental importance to national development.
For his part, former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III recalled that the Senate had previously approved the bill in the 15th Congress, but it failed to pass in the House of Representatives.
He added that in the succeeding Congress, the House of Representatives passed the measure, but this time, it failed in the Senate.
Former Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson pointed out that Laguna’s agricultural sector has dramatically shrunk due to rapid industrialization.
Former Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos also echoed concerns about food security, stressing that rapid development has led to the disappearance of farmlands not only in Laguna but across the country.
“Importante ang food security sa ating bansa, damang-dama natin ang issue ay presyo ng bigas, ang presyo ng palay at ang issue nitong klase na nangyayari sa ating mga palayan ay hindi lang nangyayari sa Laguna, ito ay nangyayari sa buong Pilipinas. Dahil mabilis ang development, magugulat ka na lang nawawala ang mga palayan,” Abalos warned.
While waiting for the passage of the National Land Use Act, Abalos suggested that LGUs provide incentives to discourage landowners from selling their farmlands for industrial or residential purposes.
