Amending R.A. No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955)
Republic Act No. 1485, enacted on June 16, 1956, amends specific sections of the Land Reform Act of 1955. It empowers the government to negotiate for the purchase of privately-owned agricultural land if a majority of tenants or occupants petition for it, particularly in cases of abandoned land. The Act also allows for expropriation proceedings if landowners refuse to sell after negotiations or cannot agree on price terms. Additionally, it clarifies that the cost of land acquisition includes a 6% interest rate, with payments structured over a 25-year amortization plan. This law is effective immediately upon approval.
June 16, 1956
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 1485
AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED FOURTEEN HUNDRED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "LAND REFORM ACT OF 1955"
Section eleven of Republic Act Numbered Fourteen hundred is amended to read as follows: acd
"Sec. 11. Lands subject to purchase. — The Administration, acting for and on behalf of the Government, may negotiate to purchase any privately-owned agricultural land when the majority of the tenants therein or occupants thereof in case of abandoned land petition for such purchase."
Section sixteen of the same Act is amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 16. When proper. — The Administration may initiate and prosecute expropriation proceedings for the acquisition of private agricultural land subject to the provisions of section six, paragraph (2), upon petition of a majority of the tenants or occupants thereof in case of abandoned land and after it is convinced of the suitability of such land for subdivision into family-size farm units, and that public interest will be served by its immediate acquisition, when any of the following conditions exists: cdt
"(1) That the landowner falling within the terms of section six, paragraph (2), continues to refuse to sell after all efforts have been exhausted by the Administration to negotiate for its purchase; or
"(2) The landowner is willing to sell under sections eleven and twelve but cannot agree with the Administration as to the price and/or the manner of its payment."
Paragraph (3) of section twenty-three of the same Act is amended to read as follows:
"(3) At cost — shall mean the purchase price plus six per cent interest per annum which includes the one per cent per annum for administration expenses, plus actual expenses for survey, subdivision and registration. The cost shall be paid on the basis of a twenty-five-year amortization plan.
SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved: June 16, 1956 cdt
Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 52, No. 8, p. 3896 on July 31, 1956