Speaker files bill seeking agri land conversion freeze
Posted on June 19, 2017
http://www.bworldonline.com/
SPEAKER Pantaleon D. Alvarez wants to prohibit the conversion of agricultural, irrigated, and irrigable lands for non-agricultural purposes to ensure “food security.”
In his explanatory note, Mr. Alvarez said that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which promotes social justice by giving to farmers the land they till, also allows the reclassification or conversion of agricultural land and their disposition.
Under Section 65 of the CARP, when the land — after the lapse of five years — “ceases to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes, or the locality has become urbanized and the land will have a greater economic value for residential, commercial or industrial purposes,” the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) may authorize the reclassification or conversion of the land and its disposition.
Mr. Alvarez said that “[t]his has led to a disturbing threat not only against our country’s food security, but to the whole agrarian reform as well.”
Mr. Alvarez’ bill seeks to prohibit the acceptance, processing, and approval of applications for land use conversion of agricultural lands, irrigated lands, and irrigable lands for non-agricultural purposes such as residential, commercial, or industrial development in the “entire Philippines” upon the proposed law’s enactment.
“No application for conversion shall be accepted, processed, and approved by the Department of Agrarian Reform or any of its offices nationwide during the effect of the prohibition,” the bill read, adding that lands converted while the law is in effect will be considered “null and void.”
Under the measure, public officials who violate the proposed law will be punished with imprisonment of at least five years but not more than seven years and a fine of at least P300,000 but not more than P500,000. They will also be removed from their respective positions and will be perpetually disqualified from holding public office.
“The obligation of the State is to ensure food security and to promote social justice. This House Bill is being filed to protect our remaining prime agricultural lands and irrigated and irrigable lands, while maintaining, and hopefully strengthening, our present level of food security,” Mr. Alvarez said.
Mr. Alvarez said that his bill is not connected with the expected Executive Order to be issued by President Rodrigo R. Duterte calling for a two-year moratorium on land conversion.
“[This bill is] my own initiative,” Mr. Alvarez told BusinessWorld in a text message yesterday.
Meanwhile, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry President George T. Barcelon deferred comment on the bill filed by Mr. Alvarez as he has yet to read it, but noted that “there are some lands that are not arable that can be used for some other purposes.”
“This has been a contentious issue. The DAR also has a moratorium regarding conversion of agri land,” said Mr. Barcelon in a mobile phone interview yesterday.
“We have had a meeting with an undersecretary of DAR, but this was many months ago. We just want to point out that it cannot be so strict that none of this land can be converted,” Mr. Barcelon said.
