In order to further reinforce the regional partnership for the implementation of the DA MC 26, S. 2022, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) through the Agricultural Land Management and Evaluation Division (ALMED) conducted on 14-15 February 2024 a Reorientation Activity and Joint Field Validation of applications for Land Use Reclassification (LUR) with the full collaborative support of the Regional Land Use Technical Working Group (RLUTWG) of the DA Regional Field Office IX.

Among the topics discussed was the implementation of the Memorandum Circular. Salient to the activity was the thorough discussions by and among the RLUTWG and BSWM TRT of some provisions of the Memorandum Circular, on the mainstreamed process aligned with the Ease of Doing Business, and the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) consolidated from the previous cascading activities conducted in other regions of the country. A simulation activity including a joint field validation was done for a better appreciation and in-depth understanding of the provisions and implementation procedures of the MC.  

The Team led by Ms. Jovette T. Almeda, ALMED Supervising Agriculturist, and with the full support and cooperation of the ALMED-Land Utilization Planning and Management Section (ALMED-LUPMS), conducted the Activity successfully, garnering a very satisfactory rating from the participants. This further strengthened the network and partnerships, which is imperative to the Department and the BSWM to fulfill their national mandates on agricultural development and sustainable land management, respectively.

The DA-BSWM plays a significant role in rationalizing the land use reclassification in the country as embodied and mainstreamed in the DA Memorandum Circular No. 26 (DA MC 26), Series of 2022. Lodged under the Strengthening and Mainstreaming the Evaluation Mechanism on Land Use Reclassification (SEMLUR) project of the Agricultural Land Management and Evaluation Division (ALMED), the BSWM has been actively implementing the Memorandum Circular through its duly-constituted Technical Review Team (TRT).

(Jordan G. Calura, ALMED)

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