The Department of Agrarian Reform on Tuesday said it is set to investigate possible illegal conversions in Bulacan.
Abdullah Linog, the agency’s provincial agrarian reform officer II, said DAR has found seven areas along the Pulilan bypass road without any application for conversion during a site inspection.
He said areas ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square meters of agricultural land were already dumped with soil and gravel.
“We have no records of any application for conversion submitted in the office,” he said.
He said possible illegal activities could mean a direct insult to the agency since DAR officials and personnel are always passing by the area daily.
“We are now gathering relevant information for possible filing of appropriate cases if we find certain irregularities in this undertaking. DAR will continue to protect agricultural areas against any illegal activities,” he said.
He stressed that the conversion of lands to other uses is not illegal per se.
Land conversion in a particular area can be allowed as warranted by the situation and through justifiable grounds and appropriate applicable guidelines that must be followed.
“As Filipino citizens, we must always abide by the law and the rules of the government for the well-being of our country,” he said.