EO on agri land conversion ban out soon

MANILA, Philippines - An executive order (EO) declaring a moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands to non-agricultural uses may be released soon, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the offices of the executive and Cabinet secretaries discussed the draft of the EO, which is aimed at promoting food security. 

“The fourth version is with the executive secretary…It should come out soon,” Abella said.

 Secretary Rafael Mariano said the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) drafted the EO imposing a two-year moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands in September.

The EO will cover lands awarded under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, Presidential Decree 27 and other agrarian reform laws as well as those with notices of coverage issued by DAR, irrigated, irrigable, prime agricultural, tenanted and those cultivated by farmers.

As this developed, members of the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council, the highest decision-making body on agrarian reform, met at Malacañang on Tuesday. The council asked President Duterte  to certify the urgent approval of the genuine agrarian reform bill or House Bill 555.

“It was discussed last night, but the executive secretary said it is under study and for complete staff work,” Abella said. 

The council also discussed ways to improve access to loans and strengthen its secretariat. 

“They consider it justified...There were no objections regarding the strengthening of the secretariat,” Abella said.