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PGMA suspends rice lands conversion for 2 yrs. to ensure sufficient rice supply
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2008 | AGRICULTURE
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has suspended the processing and approval of all conversion applications for rice lands to ensure rice sufficiency.
The suspension was contained in Administrative Order No. 226 which was signed by the President last May 16, Friday.
Covered by the two-year suspension are “all land conversion applications affecting rice lands, and lands mentioned under Republic Act 8435 considered as Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAD) which includes and covers all irrigates areas, all irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects.”
The AO also covers:
The same RA states that “the State shall ensure that the poorer sectors of society have equitable access to resources, income opportunities, basic and support services especially in areas where productivity is low”; and that “the State shall promote food security, including sufficiency in our staple food, particularly the rice supply.”
President Arroyo also stressed that “to meet the needs of the increasing number of Filipinos, there is a need for the production of rice to be optimized to meet our local needs and consumption.”
The President added that “there is a need for all lands utilized and intended for rice production to be protected from any other land use or conversion… to ensure sufficient rice supply.”
The AO 227 tasked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to implement the order which shall take effect “immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.”
[ source and photo courtesy of : www.gov.ph ]
___________________________________________________________________________________
PGMA suspends rice lands conversion for 2 yrs. to ensure sufficient rice supply
THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2008 | AGRICULTURE
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has suspended the processing and approval of all conversion applications for rice lands to ensure rice sufficiency.
The suspension was contained in Administrative Order No. 226 which was signed by the President last May 16, Friday.
Covered by the two-year suspension are “all land conversion applications affecting rice lands, and lands mentioned under Republic Act 8435 considered as Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAD) which includes and covers all irrigates areas, all irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects.”
The AO also covers:
- all alluvial plain land highly suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not;
- agro-industrial crop lands or lands presently planted to industrial crops that support the viability or existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based enterprises;
- highland areas located at an elevation of 500 meters or above and have the potential for growing semi-temperate and high-value crops;
- all agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile;
- mangrove areas; and
- fish sanctuaries.
The same RA states that “the State shall ensure that the poorer sectors of society have equitable access to resources, income opportunities, basic and support services especially in areas where productivity is low”; and that “the State shall promote food security, including sufficiency in our staple food, particularly the rice supply.”
President Arroyo also stressed that “to meet the needs of the increasing number of Filipinos, there is a need for the production of rice to be optimized to meet our local needs and consumption.”
The President added that “there is a need for all lands utilized and intended for rice production to be protected from any other land use or conversion… to ensure sufficient rice supply.”
The AO 227 tasked the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to implement the order which shall take effect “immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.”
[ source and photo courtesy of : www.gov.ph ]
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