Isko to push for moratorium on agriculture land conversion

As he aims to ensure food security in the country, presidential aspirant and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday vowed to impose a moratorium on the conversion of agricultural lands into other uses if he wins in the 2022 national elections.

Moreno said he would also prioritize the passage of the National Land Use Act (NLUA) to ensure food security for the country. The city mayor made the commitment during his visit to some 400 farmers in Calauan, Laguna.

"Food security is the number one threat to national security. Pag pinag-uusapan ay pagkain at mga maliliit na magsasaka, mahalaga dito ang lupa. Kung ginawa mong subdivision ang sakahan, our food security is in peril,” Moreno said.

Moreno promised to immediately sign an executive order that will halt the rampant and unchecked conversion of prime agricultural lands into other uses, mostly into subdivisions.

This aims to protect the remaining agricultural lands in the country as well as ensure the welfare of farmers.

“Lupaypay na ang mga magsasaka. Talong-talo sila sa walang habas na importasyon, taas ng abono, kakulangan ng patubig, lack of proper post-harvest facilities, lack of cold storage, tapos ang liit ng budget na binibigay sa Department of Agriculture,” Moreno said.

“We are importing rice, fish, meat, even vegetables. Worse, these food items are being smuggled throughout our ports of entry,” he added.

Aside from that, Moreno also mentioned that the proposed National Land Use Act has been pending in Congress for the past 33 years, stressing that there has been no action on it.

The proposed law will oversee a national land-use plan that will classify land according to use: protection (for conservation), production (for agriculture and fisheries), settlements development (for residential purposes), and infrastructure development (for transportation, communication, water resources, social infrastructure).

"While we will certify its passage into law, as a basis for proper zoning procedures, I will impose a moratorium on agricultural land conversion through an executive order to be implemented by the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) and local government units,” Moreno said.

“Sisiguruhin ng batas na ito na ang agricultural lands ay hindi mako-convert sa ibang pagga-gamitan,” he added.

Citing information from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Moreno said the total palay harvest area in 2017 was registered at 4.81 million hectares, 4.80 million hectares in 2018, and 4.65 million hectares in 2019.

The total harvest area for corn also registered a gradual decline which is 2.51 million hectares in 2018, down from 2.55 million hectares in 2017.

He said farmers groups have attributed this declining production area to the reclassification of agricultural lands for the development of subdivisions and other commercial ventures.

“I’m all for development, but not if it sacrifices our goals to food sufficiency. We must ensure that agricultural lands should stay as agricultural lands,” he said.—LDF, GMA News