March 3, 2004

DAR MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 05-04

TO                :     The Undersecretary for Field Operations
                           The CLUPPI
                           The Regional CLUPPIs
                           All Regional Directors
                           All Concerned

SUBJECT    :     Moratorium on the Processing and Grant of Applications for Conversion and
                           Exemption of All Lands Devoted to or Suitable for Agriculture

The alarming rise in land conversions and exemptions over the past year as well as the lack of clean guidelines on these matters have resulted in the waning of support from DAR's main constituents and worsening pace and quality of agrarian law implementation and agrarian justice.   EHCaDS

In view of these conditions, a moratorium is hereby imposed on the processing and grant of applications for conversion for non-agricultural uses and exemption from CARP coverage of all lands devoted to or suitable for agriculture.

This moratorium shall remain effective pending review of controversial and questionable conversion and exemption cases as well as the policies and mechanisms for the processing of applications for conversion and exemption on all lands devoted to or suitable for agriculture.

For immediate and strict compliance.

Done in Diliman, Quezon City, 03 March 2004.

(SGD.) JOSE MARI B. PONCE
OIC-Secretary