Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Monday, January 26 welcomed a Department of Agriculture (DA) order temporarily halting the processing of applications to convert agricultural lands into residential and industrial uses.

Pangilinan lauded DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for issuing DA Circular No. 1, Series of 2026, saying the move strengthens the case for his proposed Agricultural Land Conversion Ban Act (Senate Bill No. 220).

The Circular, which will be in effect for six months, or until June 2026, stops the DA from processing applications to turn farm lands into subdivisions or factories. 

“Salamat kay tukayo, Secretary Kiko Tiu-Laurel, sa DA Circular No. 1, Series of 2026 na nagpapatigil sa kanyang Department of Agriculture na mag-process ng mga application para gawing residential subdivisions o pabrika ang mga lupang sakahan (I’m thankful to Secretary Kiko Tiuu-Laurel for issuing DA Circular No. 1, Series of 2026 that stops the DA itself from processing applications turning farm fields to residential or industrial subdivisions.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, said the temporary freeze provides immediate protection for agricultural areas while Congress debates the measure he filed.

SB No. 220 seeks a broader and permanent policy against land conversion.

“Makakatulong itong DA circular habang dinedebate pa sa Senado ang panukalang batas ko na ganito rin ang hangarin (Senate Bill 220) — na may mas malawak na sakop at mas permanente (This DA Circular will be helpful while the Senate debates on the provisions of this proposed law under Senate Bill No. 220, which has a wider scope and is more permanent),” he said.

“Kahit anim na buwan lang hanggang Hunyo 2026, makakatulong itong utos ng DA sa pagpapaunlad ng pagsasaka at industriya ng pagkain sa bansa (Even if it is just for six months, or until June 2026, the DA order can help in the development of farming and food industry in the country),” he added.

The senator reiterated his warning that continued conversion of farm lands poses a serious threat to food security.

“Kung patuloy ang pagtanim ng semento, aani ang bansa ng mas malalang kagutuman (If we continue to plant cement, the country will just harvest extreme hunger),” Pangilinan said.

SB No. 220 primarily seeks to stop the transformation of agricultural lands into other uses, noting that rapid urbanization and population growth are shrinking the country’s food-producing areas.

The bill proposes amending Section 20 of the Local Government Code to require additional approvals from the DA, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), along with local government units (LGUs) before agricultural lands can be reclassified or converted.

Under the measure, a DA certification is needed before a land can be reclassified, with the agency certifying if a land has ceased to be economically feasible for agriculture.

The DAR must confirm the land is not programmed for distribution to agrarian reform beneficiaries, while the DENR must ensure the reclassification is ecologically sound.

“Kailangan natin ng magsasaka. Kailangan ng magsasaka ang lupang sakahan para mapakain ang buong bansa (We need farmers. We need farmers in farming lands so we can feed the whole nation),” Pangilinan said.