MANILA – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan welcomed a Department of Agriculture (DA) order temporarily stopping the processing of applications to convert agricultural lands into residential and industrial uses, saying it supports his proposed Agricultural Land Conversion Ban Act.

Pangilinan thanked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. for issuing DA Circular No. 1, Series of 2026, which halts the DA’s processing of 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,” said Pangilinan, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform.

The circular will be effective for six months, or until June 2026.

Pangilinan said the temporary suspension offers immediate protection for agricultural areas while lawmakers deliberate on his proposed Senate Bill 220, which seeks to impose a broader and permanent ban on agricultural 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,” 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,” Pangilinan added.

The senator warned that continued conversion of farm lands threatens the country’s food security.

“Kung patuloy ang pagtanim ng semento, aani ang bansa ng mas malalang kagutuman,” Pangilinan said.

His proposed measure seeks to stop the transformation of agricultural lands into other uses, citing rapid urbanization and population growth that are reducing food-producing areas.

“Kailangan natin ng magsasaka. Kailangan ng magsasaka ang lupang sakahan para mapakain ang buong bansa,” Pangilinan said.

Senate Bill 220 proposes amendments to Section 20 of the Local Government Code to require additional approvals from the DA, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), alongside local government units, before agricultural lands can be reclassified or converted.

Under the proposal, the DA must certify that the land is not among those classified for protection and is no longer economically viable for agriculture, while the DAR must confirm that the land is not covered by agrarian reform programs. The DENR, meanwhile, must ensure that any reclassification is ecologically sound.