THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to undertake a survey of irrigated lands that were converted into nonagricultural uses all over the Philippines.

Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap said he has already ordered the conduct of the survey so the department can get an accurate picture of the extent of land conversion in the country.

“We’re concerned with the conversion of irrigated farmlands [into nonagricultural uses]. That is why, I have ordered the preparation of a list of irrigated farmlands that were already converted,” said Yap in a chance interview.

Yap also said he is looking into the possibility of recommending the passage of a measure that will compensate the government for the conversion of farmlands for nonagri purposes.

Earlier, a senior DA official warned that the continuous conversion of irrigated farmlands into non-agri purposes could threaten the efforts of the government to achieve “rice self-suffiency” by 2010.

The DA noted that land conversion is taking place in provinces in Central Luzon, such as Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Tarlac.

Central Luzon is considered as the “rice granary of the Philippines,” while Nueva Ecija, which is located in the region, is considered the country’s top rice-producing province.

Under the Comprehensive Rules on Land Use Conversion, irrigated farmlands planted to rice can be planted to other crops like corn and banana.

“What’s prohibited under the law is to convert irrigated farmlands into nonagricultural use, like real-estate subdivisions,” said Frisco Malabanan, director of the DA’s Ginintuang Masaganang Ani rice program.

In  2002 the Department of Agrarian Reform issued Administrative Order  1, or the Comprehensive Rules on Land Use Conversion, pursuant to Republic Act  6657, or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988. Section 4 of the rules lists the “areas nonnegotiable for conversion.”

Under the provision, all irrigated lands as delineated by the DA and/or the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) where water is available to support rice and other crop production, and all irrigated lands where water is not available for rice and other crop production, but are within areas programmed for irrigation facility rehabilitation by the government, are exempted from land conversion.

Also considered “nonnegotiable for conversion” are irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments as delineated by the DA and/or NIA, and all agricultural lands with irrigation facilities.

DAVAO CITY—The National Transmission Corp. (Transco) here believes that the completion of the P3-billion transmission project connecting Maramag in Bukidnon to Bunawan in Davao City will ease the anxiety of a supposed power crisis in this southern Philippine island in a couple of years.

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to undertake a survey of irrigated lands that were converted into nonagricultural uses all over the Philippines.

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