DAR officials alarmed over widespread land conversion from agri to industrial

BUTUAN CITY – Officials of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) here have expressed concern on over the rampant land-use conversion from agricultural into industrial and warned against its negative impact on food supply and the government’s program to attain food self-sufficiency for the country.

The concerned DAR officials said Tuesday the conversion of agricultural lands into subdivisions, residential, commercial, industrial and other uses would have a direct impact on food and environmental security in the city, and adversely affect agrarian reform beneficiaries and farmers.

The DAR officials also urged local governments to thoroughly study land use plans and work on limiting agricultural land conversions to help the farmers’ attain food self-sufficiency target in the city.

They cited the case of several notices to land developers, mostly engaged in subdivision and real estate development, when DAR 13, particularly the legal division and provincial agrarian reform officers (PAROs), noticed alarming expansion of land development in the southern part of this city, the region’s premier and capital city of Butuan in northeastern Mindanao.

There are approximately 2,000 hectares agricultural lands currently being developed into subdivisions and other industrial purposes, DAR 13 officials disclosed.

They said agricultural lands, particularly irrigated rice lands that turned into subdivisions and industrial areas are violation under the agrarian reform, rules and regulations.

“We’re so alarmed with this new development here,” stressed DAR 13 Regional Director Julita A. Ragandang, during a press forum here on Tuesday.

Agusan del Norte PARO Officer ll Andre B. Atega also said a case has already been filed with a local court and the Prosecutor’s Office against two persons for violation of DAR Memorandum Circular No. 2002, otherwise known as the“Guidelines for the processing of Land Use Conversion Applicants Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 1 2002 entitled “2002 Comprehensive Rules on Land Use Conversion.”