Preservation and protection of our lands is our duty as people, and we are failing miserably.

While the government has enacted various laws on land use, its provisions and implementation schemes remain sectoral. It worsens issues and disasters from improper land use planning and poor climate crisis mitigation.

The proposed National Land Use Act aims to institutionalize a just, holistic & ethical planning for using and protecting our country’s land and water resources.

It governs the management and execution of a comprehensive land use system and physical planning mechanism in terms of land protection, production, infrastructure use, and settlement uses. It clearly lays out land use parameters, long-term planning, and reviews of sustainable land use at all levels of government.

Once passed and enacted accordingly, it will protect all generations, now and next, to better adapt to climate change and our growing population. It will enable nature to sustain its people’s demands for safe and secure shelter, food, and livelihood.

Since 1994, different versions of the National Land Use Act have been filed, but not one bill has reached the Office of the President for signing. Today, there are 18 separate NLUA bills filed in the House of Representatives, and four NLUA bills filed in the Senate. All bills, in both houses, are pending in the committee levels. The Executive, headed by the National Economic Development Agency, is also crafting an executive order version of the land use bill.

Cover Photo by Joshua Newton / Unsplash