Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. has delivered a bold policy pivot, ordering an immediate freeze on all new agricultural land reclassification applications as the Department of Agriculture (DA) moves to fortify the nation’s food security strategy and shield precious farmland from rapid conversion pressures.
In a department circular signed January 5, Tiu Laurel imposed a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of Land‑Use Reclassification Certification applications, effective immediately and set to run through June 2026. The move is designed to give the DA breathing room to reassess its regulatory framework and tighten oversight amid growing demands from urban expansion and infrastructure projects that have been eating into farm areas. Applications already submitted before the freeze will be processed, but appeals are put on hold until the moratorium is lifted.
“There is a need to impose a moratorium on the acceptance and processing of applications for Land‑Use Reclassification Certification, and to revisit and review the policies to strengthen DA oversight, ensure consistency, and protect agricultural lands from undue conversion,” Tiu Laurel stated, underscoring a renewed focus on preserving the land base that underpins the country’s food supply.
The policy shift comes against a backdrop of rising concerns about unchecked land conversion.
Analysts have warned that continued loss of productive farmland could erode the Philippines’ ability to grow staples like rice and corn, weaken food self‑sufficiency, and make the country overly dependent on imports. With food demand expanding and global markets prone to shocks, policymakers see agricultural land preservation as a strategic buffer against volatility and price spikes. Agricultural groups and advocates have long called for stronger protections, including legislative proposals to restrict conversion of irrigated and irrigable lands.
The moratorium fits within a larger DA agenda for 2026 that includes strengthening supply chains, enhancing farm infrastructure, and expanding productivity support to boost output. Secretary Tiu Laurel has signaled that improved monitoring and targeted support programs are essential to translate land protection into real gains on the ground.
Several lawmakers are pushing for tougher legislative limits on farmland conversion, aligning with the DA’s precautionary stance.
For now, the moratorium sends a clear signal that farmland preservation is now a central pillar of national food security policy. How the DA recalibrates its rules in the coming months could reshape the balance between development and agricultural sustainability for years to come.
