Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed a Department of Agriculture (DA) order temporarily stopping the conversion of agricultural lands into residential and industrial uses, saying it bolsters his proposed Agricultural Land Conversion Ban Act.
Pangilinan thanked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for DA Circular No. 1, Series of 2026, which halts the processing of applications to turn farmlands into subdivisions or factories. The order will be in effect for six months, until June 2026.
The senator said the temporary freeze gives immediate protection to agricultural areas while Congress debates his Senate Bill No. 220, which seeks a broader and permanent ban on land conversion.
He warned that continued loss of farmlands threatens food security. “Kung patuloy ang pagtanim ng semento, aani ang bansa ng mas malalang kagutuman,” said Pangilinan, stressing the need to protect land for farmers to feed the nation.
His bill aims to stop the transformation of agricultural lands amid rapid urbanization and population growth. It proposes amending the Local Government Code to require approvals from the DA, DAR, and DENR, along with local governments, before any land reclassification or conversion.
Under the measure, the DA must certify the land is no longer viable for farming, DAR must confirm it is not intended for agrarian reform beneficiaries, and DENR must ensure the move is ecologically sound.IMT
