“Susulatan na namin ang mga mayors dito sa Bataan para malaman namin kung gaano na kalawak ang kanilang ginagawang conversion ng mga tinatamnang lupa dahil mauubos na ang ating agricultural land, kayat kumikilos na kami,” Ferrer pointed out.
The Board noted that the unabated conversion being sought by various municipalities, which continue without let up by passing countless ordinances converting agricultural lands into commercial, housing, etc., will diminish the Province’s agricultural space.
In recent years, subdivisions and housing projects being developed by private contractors and developers have sprouted like mushrooms, an indication that these businesses are making money at the expense of the environment and agriculture. “Ang laki ng kita dito sa negosyong ito dahil halos magiging 10 times ang return of investment mo,” admitted a private developer, saying, “If you invest or purchase a lot in the amount of P1,000 per square meter, you can easily sell this to as high as P10,000 per square meter.”
“Kung ang lahat na lupang pinaco convert ay aaprobahan agad natin, liliit ang agricultural land ng Bataan,” said Board Member Rey Ibe, adding the Board will not allow this to happen.
Ibe earlier said that the Board headed by Vice Governor Bondjong Pascual had agreed to limit their approval of converting agricultural lands into other purposes to protect the dwindling agricultural space of Bataan.
Board Member Guding Ferrer also said that conversion of more than one hectare of agricultural land should be properly studied.
Being a peninsula, Bataan has limited agricultural space.
