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Breaking New Ground: Enacting a National Land Use Policy


This policy brief discusses the importance of enacting a National Land Use Act (NaLUA) in the Philippines. With only 30 million hectares of land and a population of 92.3 million growing at an average rate of 2.12 percent, the brief suggests that a national land use policy is necessary to optimize the use of land based on best uses and balance economic, environmental, and social development objectives. The proposed NaLUA aims to address the issue of how the Philippines allocates its scarce land resources to meet Filipinos' requirements for food, housing, employment, and environmental protection. The first bill on NaLUA was filed in late 1995 during the 10th Congress but did not prosper. In the current Congress, several versions of the bill were filed and consolidated into Senate Bill (SB) 3091, which is now awaiting approval on second reading. The brief revisits existing land use policies, policy gaps, and responsibilities of policy actors and institutions; analyzes the salient features of SB 3091 and suggests policy options that may enhance it in addressing land use policy gaps; and concludes with policy tradeoffs and considerations. Overall, enacting a national land use policy is crucial for ensuring sustainable development in the Philippines. 


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