Manila: To further protect agricultural lands in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced plans to release streamlined and intensified safeguards for the conversion of agricultural lands. This decision follows the lifting of a moratorium on the issuance of certification on land use reclassification, which was imposed in January under DA Memorandum Circular 32, series of 2026, signed on June 30.

According to Philippines News Agency, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. stated that the agency's recommendation is in its final draft stage, with a release anticipated within a week or two. "Ilalagay sa bagong (It will be put in the new) policy that we will have to identify. We need to maintain at least 3 million hectares of rice land," Tiu Laurel mentioned during the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP)'s Food Security Forum.

Only the President has the authority to order changes in the identified agricultural farmlands across the country, he added. "Ia-identify ng DA iyan at a later date at iyon ay hindi na pwedeng galawin (The DA will identify it at a later date and it cannot be changed), unless by order of the President, nationwide," Tiu Laurel emphasized.

In particular, the DA plans to protect irrigated farmlands unless directed otherwise by law or higher authorities. The department aims to limit developments on agricultural flatlands, which are considered "highly-productive." Tiu Laurel expressed that they do not want anything placed carelessly on land with a slope below 8 percent. He further explained that renewable energy projects, such as solar, without an agricultural component, should not be situated in these flat lands.

Additionally, Secretary Laurel vowed to streamline the procedures for agricultural land reclassification, aiming to simplify the process. He assured that the land use of the municipality will be maintained before granting land conversion from the DA.