Duterte signs law removing limits on disposal of agricultural land

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law removing restrictions on agricultural free patents.

Duterte signed Republic Act 11231 (Agricultural Free Patent Reform Act) on February 22, a copy of which was released by Malacañang to the media on Thursday.

The new law, which shall have a retroactive effect, repeals the restrictions imposed under the Commonwealth Act 141 (Public Land Act).

Under the Public Land Act, landowners are prohibited from mortgaging or selling their land within five years from the issuance of the patent and given the right to repurchase the patents within five years from transfer or conveyances.

Senator Richard Gordon, one of the law’s authors, earlier said that the measure aims to make agricultural land titles immediately tradeable and bankable, provide farmer entrepreneurs much-needed access to credit, and create capital to make investments, create jobs, increase productivity, and reduce poverty in rural areas.

RA 11231 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. —Virgil Lopez/KBK, GMA News