LIMITING THE USE OF A STRIP OF ONE THOUSAND METERS OF LAND ALONG ANY EXISTING PROPOSED OR ONGOING PUBLIC HIGHWAY OR ROAD, UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT SHALL HAVE A COMPETENT STUDY AND HAVE FORMULATED A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 399
• Sections: 6

Preamble

WHEREAS, it becomes imperative to limit the use of all lands

of the public domain within a strip of one thousand (1,000) meters

along existing, proposed or ongoing public highway or road for the

purpose of formulating a comprehensive land use and development plan;

and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to limit the use of these lands in

favor of human settlement sites, land reform, relocation of squatters

from congested urban areas, tourism development, agro-industrial

estates, environmental protection and improvement, infrastructure and

other vital projects to support the socioeconomic development program of

the New Society;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution as

Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and

pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General

Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and

decree:

Section 1

SECTION 1. Any provision of law, decree, or order to the

contrary notwithstanding, all lands of the public domain within a strip

of one thousand (1,000) meters along any existing, proposed or on-going

public highway or road outside existing towns cities and settlements are

withdrawn from settlement or sale until an appropriate government

agency shall have made a competent study and formulated a comprehensive

and integrated land use and development plan for such lands.

Section 2

SEC. 2. These lands of the public domain within the strip of

one thousand meters along said public highways or roads shall first be

available for human settlement sites, land reform, relocation of

squatters from congested urban areas, tourism development,

agro-industrial estates, environmental protection and improvement,

infrastructure and other vital projects in support of the socioeconomic

development program of the Government.

Section 3

SEC. 3. Likewise, all lands owned by private persons within

the strip of one thousand meters along existing, proposed or ongoing

public highways or roads shall first be available for human settlement

sites, land reform, relocation of squatters from congested urban areas,

tourism development, agro-industrial estates, environmental protection

and improvement, infrastructure and other vital projects in support of

the socioeconomic development program of the Government. The owners of

these lands shall not develop or otherwise introduce improvements

thereon without previous approval from the proper government agency, who

shall in this case be the Chairman of the Human Settlements and

Planning Commission.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The Chairman of the Human Settlements and Planning

Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this

Decree.

Section 5

SEC. 5. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 28th day of February, in the year

of Our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy-four.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ALEJANDRO MELCHOR

Executive Secretary