Revised guidelines governing farmland conversion are expected to be released in August, Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said on Thursday. Speaking on the sidelines of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines’ Food Security Forum, Mr. Laurel told reporters that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has been ordered to make further revisions to the draft, as reported by BusinessWorld.
The announcement comes amid ongoing concerns over agricultural land preservation and food security. The revised rules aim to balance development needs with protection of farmland, though specific provisions have not yet been disclosed. The DA has been under pressure to finalize the guidelines, which have been in the works for months.
Once implemented, the new regulations will affect local government units, landowners, and developers involved in land use conversion. Stakeholders are expected to be given a period for transition and compliance. The DA is expected to release the final version by mid-August.