Question & AnswerQ&A (DAR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 12)
The primary mandate of the DAR is to acquire and distribute agricultural lands to as many qualified beneficiaries as possible.
The authority is vested in the DAR pursuant to Section 4(j) and Section 5(1) of Executive Order No. 129-A Series of 1987 and Section 65 of R.A. No. 6657.
Owners of private agricultural lands or their authorized persons; farmer-beneficiaries of the Agrarian Reform Program after five years from award who have fully paid obligations; and government agencies including government-owned or controlled corporations.
Conversion is the act of changing the current use of a piece of agricultural land into some other use.
All private agricultural lands regardless of tenurial arrangement and commodity produced, including agricultural lands reclassified by LGUs into non-agricultural uses after June 15, 1988, and those proposed for livestock, poultry, and swine raising as provided in DAR Administrative Order No. 9, Series of 1993.
Conversion may be allowed if the land has ceased to be economically feasible and sound for agricultural purposes as certified by the DA Regional Director or if the locality has become highly urbanized and the land has greater economic value for non-agricultural uses with certification from the LGU.
All irrigated lands where water is available to support rice and other crop production; all irrigated lands programmed for irrigation facility rehabilitation; and all irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments.
Applicants must submit a completed application form, special power of attorney if applicable, certified true copies of title, location plan, statement of economic/social benefits, proof of financial capability, zoning certification, irrigation certification, DENR ecological certification, and other additional certifications depending on the specifics of the land and applicant.
Such persons are subject to criminal prosecution under the Joint DAR-DOJ Administrative Order No. 4, Series of 1993. Additionally, applications covering such areas will be disapproved and lands will be placed under CARP and distributed to qualified beneficiaries.
Any aggrieved party may file a Motion for Reconsideration within fifteen days from receipt of the decision which suspends the running of the appeal period. If denied, an appeal can then be filed to the Secretary of DAR with a memorandum and an appeal fee of P500.00.