Land conversion not a threat to CARP, says developers’ group

The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association, Inc. (SHDA), the country’s largest and leading organization of subdivision and housing developers welcomed the appointment of former Bulacan Governor Roberto "Obet" Pagdanganan as the new Agrarian Reform Secretary.

SHDA national president Jesus Atencio said he is hopeful that Pagdanganan will be able to address and improve the welfare of farmers and at the same time strike a balance between requirements for food security and housing. Atencio further noted that a SHDA study revealed a very small percentage of the country’s total land area has been converted to residential purposes.

Atencio noted that the Department of Agrarian Reform and farmers groups in general should not be afraid about land conversion for residential use since the SHDA study reveals that a very minimal percentage of the country’s land area has been converted for mass housing development. He said that of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares, only some 35,314 hectares or 0.11 percent of land has been converted to residential purposes from 1979 to 2001. When compared to the country’s total agricultural area of 10 million hectares, converted area only accounts for some 0.35 percent of total agricultural area. This is not even one percent of total agricultural area.

SHDA chairman, Atty. Teofisto L. Guingona III added that developers are supportive of President Arroyo’s twin objectives of providing farmers land tenure and food sufficiency, but DAR must also support Arroyo’s housing programs aimed at solving the country’s burgeoning need for housing and settlements.

"I would like to appeal to the new DAR Secretary to effect immediately an efficient scheme that will fast track DAR’s action on applications for exemption and conversion clearances without jeopardizing DAR’s mandate of protecting agricultural lands, thereby ensuring food sufficiency", Guingona added.

Also Atencio said that SHDa developers nationwide are committed to follow all of DAR’s rules and regulations covering conversion and subdivision and housing development. "SHDA advocates the formulation of an overall land use plan that could guide developers and planners where to locate their specific development projects, and at the same time leave agricultural lands free for agrarian reform and food production".

The SHDA president stressed the need for Dar and SHDA officials to dialogue and discuss with the end in view of addressing this important concern.