The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved two major pieces of legislation on third and final reading: House Bill 8466, which establishes the National Land Use Act (NLUA), and House Bill 8647, which seeks to strengthen and expand the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Both measures advanced with overwhelming support, each securing 224 affirmative votes, three negative votes, and zero abstentions.
National Land Use Policy Advances Amid Food Security, Commercialization Debate
House Bill 8466 seeks to institute a comprehensive national framework for the sustainable management and development of the country’s land and natural resources.
Backed by the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the measure is envisioned as a foundational tool for food security and disaster risk reduction.
House Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos emphasized the long-term, structural impact of the policy on ordinary citizens.
”This is one of those bills that people may not talk about every day, but they will feel it when farms are protected, homes are built in safer places, roads are planned better and communities are spared from avoidable disasters,” Marcos said.
However, the bill faced pushback from progressive lawmakers. Gabriela Party-list Representative Sarah Elago, who voted against the measure, warned that certain provisions could inadvertently fast-track the commercial exploitation of protected areas.
”While we do not oppose the establishment of a national land use policy in principle, we believe that what is needed is one that advances genuine agrarian reform, national industrialization, and that responds to the needs and demands of basic sectors… Maaaring mabuksan ng section 15 sa adoption of multiple uses of land resources ang pintuan para sa malawakang komersyalisasyon ng ating mga likas na yaman. Pinahihintulutan ng konsepto ng multiple use zones ang pagpasok ng mga mapanirang aktibidad tulad ng pagmimina,” Elago argued.
Expansion of 4Ps to Boost Human Capital Development
Simultaneously, the lower chamber passed House Bill 8647 to scale up the government’s flagship conditional cash transfer program, the 4Ps. The expansion aims to broaden beneficiary coverage and enhance the support system for impoverished families.
Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima, one of the principal authors of the legislation, lauded the simultaneous passage of both bills as pivotal victories against poverty.
”Sa suporta sa edukasyon ng mga anak at sa pagpapaunlad din ng kasanayan ng mga magulang, nabibigyan sila ng sapat na kakayahan para maiangat ang kalidad ng kanilang pamumuhay kahit maka-graduate na sa programa. Kompiyansa po tayo na sa pagpapalakas at pagpapalawak pa ng programa, mas marami pa ang magiging success stories ng ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries, na mabibigyan din ng kakayahan para makatulong sa iba pang nangangailangan,” De Lima said.
Following their approval on third reading, both bills will now be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.