NEW guidelines on farmland conversion may be released in August, following the lifting of a five-month moratorium on agricultural land reclassification earlier this month.
The freeze sought to protect farmlands from unregulated conversion to urban and commercial uses, preserve food security and allow the Department of Agriculture (DA) to reassess its regulatory framework.Only certain projects — including green energy developments, socialized housing initiatives and applications for agro-industrial zones — were exempted and allowed to proceed during the moratorium which started in January.It was lifted on June 30 open up space for new commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects. Under Department Circular 32, the DA said it withdrew the suspension after completing its review of related policies, procedures and issuances.Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. told reporters Thursday that he was not fully satisfied with the draft and requested further revisions.He said the guidelines could be issued within one to two weeks.With the moratorium lifted, the DA will simplify the land conversion process. Tiu-Laurel said, however, that municipalities will still need an approved land-use plan before conversions can proceed, since the new policy will require at least 3 million hectares of rice land to be maintained nationwide.The DA will identify the specific areas to be preserved at a later date.Tiu Laurel said that the DA will not allow development on land with a slope below 8 percent, including renewable energy projects such as solar farms, unless these include an agricultural component.