MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo has pledged to expedite the passage of the long-delayed National Land Use Act (NLUA) following his appointment as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change.

Tulfo said he would push for the measure’s approval in the Senate in a bid to finally enact into law a proposal that has remained pending for decades.

The National Land Use Act seeks to establish a unified national policy governing land use in the country. The proposed measure aims to promote orderly land development, protect environmentally critical areas, and shield farmers and indigenous peoples from land grabbing.

A version of the bill was first introduced during the 9th Congress in 1994. Since then, similar measures have been refiled in succeeding Congresses but have yet to be passed into law, remaining pending at the Senate committee level.

“Sa ilalim ng aking pamumuno, sisiguruhin kong wala nang makakapigil sa pagsasabatas ng National Land Use Act na deka-dekada nang hindi maisabatas dahil bagamat nakakalusot sa Lower House, pag-akyat nito sa Senado ay nakabinbin na lamang dahil inuupuan sa Komite ng Environment,” Tulfo said.

He said the proposed law is needed to strengthen protections for vulnerable sectors against land conversion and land grabbing.

“Panahon na para bigyan ng matibay na sandata ang ating mga magsasaka at katutubo laban sa mga ganid na land grabbers na walang habas na sumisira sa kanilang kabuhayan sa pamamagitan ng pag-reclassify ng mga agricultural lands patungo sa residential, commercial, at mixed use na gamit para sa benepisyo ng mga naglalakihang mga kumpanya,” he added.