Question & AnswerQ&A (LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS No. 1350)
The policy is to utilize the land resources of the nation to obtain the maximum possible social and economic benefits for the people through comprehensive inventory, national physical planning, and supportive regional land classification and utilization plans that indicate but do not mandate land use, while protecting private property rights by law.
The Committee serves as the coordinative mechanism to prepare and revise the National Physical Framework Plan, develop and reconcile land use plans, coordinate physical planning activities and related researches, and perform other functions necessary or assigned by the President.
The Committee is composed of the Deputy Director General of NEDA as chairman; Deputy Ministers of the Ministries of Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Human Settlements, Justice, Local Government, Natural Resources, Public Works and Highways, Trade and Industry, and Transportation and Communications; and the Deputy Director General of the National Science and Technology Authority as members.
The Committee is empowered to call upon all government agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations and other government entities, to assist it in its work in the form of personnel, facilities, and other resources.
NEDA is responsible for physical planning at national and regional levels, including formulating regional standards for physical framework plans, providing technical assistance, developing a land use database, serving as the secretariat for the Committee, and other necessary functions.
It is responsible for human settlements planning at subregional levels, formulating national standards for local land use plans and zoning ordinances, providing technical assistance to local governments, and preparing the National Human Settlements Plan as part of the National Physical Framework.
The Ministry is responsible for supervising local governments at city and municipal levels to ensure that local zoning plans and their enforcement comply with standards set by the Human Settlements Regulatory Commission.
The Ministry of Natural Resources, through the Bureau of Forest Development and the Bureau of Lands, retains this responsibility.
The Ministry is tasked to delineate and classify agricultural lands, particularly prime agricultural lands, focusing on utilization, conservation, development, and management, including support infrastructure like irrigation and farm-to-market roads within the National Physical Framework Plan.
Cities and municipalities have primary responsibility in determining land classification and use within their localities, consistent with national zoning standards and the National Physical Framework Plan, enforced through local zoning ordinances.