Ban on land conversion to focus on agri-suitable areas

Davao City: The draft executive order (EO) banning land conversion is now subject to modification after members of the Cabinet agreed it should focus on land areas suitable for agriculture, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in forum here Tuesday.

“We economic managers, including the Vice President, have made observations. We opposed that policy or program but of course we have to compromise with the other members of the Cabinet,” Pernia, who is also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director general, said during the opening session of the Philippines Development Forum.