The Department of Agriculture (DA) has lifted its moratorium on the reclassification of agricultural lands following the completion of a five-month review, as it seeks to pursue new rules to tighten oversight of the rampant conversion of farmlands.

Under Department Circular (DC) No. 32 dated June 30, the DA said it has withdrawn its suspension on land-use reclassification after concluding its review of related policies, procedures, and issuances.

The submission and processing of new applications for land conversion, as well as pending appeals before the Office of the Secretary, have been held in abeyance since January.

Only projects exempted from the moratorium, such as those related to green energy developments and socialized housing initiatives, as well as applications for agro-industrial zones, were allowed to be processed.

During the five-month moratorium, the DA reassessed its regulatory frameworks on land-use reclassification in response to growing demands from urban expansion, which have been eating into farmlands.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel previously told Manila Bulletin that the DA aims to introduce a more thorough review process for each application to ensure that the country’s agricultural productivity is not affected.

Under the initial suspension order, DC 1, the DA said the growing volume of applications for land-use reclassification may adversely affect the country’s agricultural production areas and long-term food supply if not properly regulated.

The loss of productive farmland has been blamed for the country’s weakening food self-sufficiency and increasing dependence on imported commodities, especially rice.

“Without tighter rules, prime agricultural lands could be diverted at a pace that threatens farm output,” the DA said.

The Local Government Code allows local government units (LGUs) to authorize the reclassification of agricultural land, provided the land is no longer feasible for farming or has greater economic value for other purposes.

A 1995 joint memorandum circular (JMC) among several government agencies requires DA certification as a prerequisite for the reclassification of farmlands.

Under the JMC, LGUs may apply for the reclassification of agricultural land if there is a need for additional areas for urban expansion and human settlements to accommodate current and projected population growth.

Owners of private agricultural land, beneficiaries of the agrarian reform program, and government agencies may also apply for land conversion.