Section 128Sec./Art. 128

Functions of National Land Reform Council - It shall be the responsibility of the Council:

(1) To construct the general program of land reform contemplated by this Code;

(2) To establish guidelines, plans and policies for its member-agencies relative to any particular land reform project;

(3) To formulate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Code for (a) the selection of agricultural land to be acquired and distributed under this Code; (b) the determination of sizes of family farms as defined in Section one hundred sixty-six; and (c) the selection of beneficiaries to family farms available for distribution: Provided, That priority shall be given in the following order: First, to members of the immediate family of the former owner of the land within the first degree of consanguinity who will cultivate the land personally with the aid of labor available within his farm household; Second, to the actual occupants personally cultivating the land either as agricultural lessees or otherwise with respect to the area under their cultivation; Third, to farmers falling under the preceding category who are cultivating uneconomic-size farms with respect to idle or abandoned lands; Fourth, to owner-operators of uneconomic-size farms; and Fifth, to such other categories as may be fixed by virtue of this Code, taking into consideration the needs and qualifications of the applicants:

(4) To revise, approve, or reject any land reform proposal or project; and

(5) To proclaim in accordance with the provisions of this Code, which proclamation shall be considered as having been promulgated immediately after three successive weekly publications in at least two newspapers of general circulation in the region or locality affected by the proclamation, preference being given to local newspapers, if any, that all the government machineries and agencies in any region or locality relating to leasehold envisioned in this Code are operating: Provided, That the conversion to leasehold in the proclaimed area shall become effective at the beginning of the next succeeding agricultural year after such promulgation: Provided, further, That the proclamation shall be made after having considered factors affecting feasibility and fund requirements and the other factors embodied in Sections one hundred twenty-nine, one hundred thirty and one hundred thirty-one.