Agri-10 and BSWM orient the LGUs of MisOcc and Lanao Norte on land use reclassification.

 

LANAO DEL NORTE — As the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) advocates for effective management of land resources through the local government units (LGUs) in the region, its Regulatory Division, in coordination with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), conducted a Briefing and Orientation on Land Use Reclassification and Other Regulatory Services on September 11-12, here.

The event, which centered on Memorandum Circular No. 54 (MC 54), Series of 1993, aimed to equip LGUs within their jurisdictions the necessary guidelines for reclassifying agricultural lands for nonagricultural purposes.

According to Eduardo N. Pit, PhD, chief of the Regulatory Division, understanding the reclassification process and its prescribed guidelines will help LGUs make informed actions that support sustainable development in their localities, ensuring that their land resources are efficiently and sustainably utilized for food and nonfood production and agro-industrialization.

During the sessions, Senior Agriculturist Novie T. Suello explained the technical aspects of DA MC No. 26, Series of 2022, covering the application processes for land use reclassification, with reasons pursuant to Section 3 of the Joint HLRB, DAR, DA, DILG MC, Series of 1995.

Suello emphasized that the LGUs through the Sanggunian concerned shall secure a DA Certification as per Section 2 (b) (1) of MC 54, Series of 1993 and submit the necessary requirements through the Regional Land Use Technical Working Group (RLUTWG) Secretariat.

The RLUTWG, together with the ALMED Technical Review Team, conducts the initial assessment on the application for reclassification and validates information and data, particularly on Network of Protected Areas for Agricultural and Agro-Industrial Development (NPAAAD) and Strategic Agricultural and Fisheries Development Zone (SAFDZ).

Thus, representatives from the BSWM’s Agricultural Land Management and Evaluation Division (ALMED) presented the NPAAAD and SAFDZ maps, as the division acts as the depository of maps and relevant statistics.

The sessions ended in an open forum, highlighting that if areas proposed for reclassification are to remain agricultural, alternative areas for development will be recommended.

Present in the first session held in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, on September 11 were over 50 representatives from Misamis Occidental, and another batch of 50 representatives from Lanao del Norte attended the session on September 12 in Lala town, all from various Agricultural, Planning and Development, and Assessor’s offices at the municipal, city, and provincial levels of the said provinces.# (BJCE/Photos supplied)