The Department of Agriculture (DA) wants to ensure that 3 million hectares of flat farmland will not be used for solar energy projects.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. proposed geofencing around 3 million hectares of flat agricultural land, especially rice-producing areas, to protect farmland.
This, as the Philippines moves toward renewable energy (RE) and prepares for the next Green Energy Auction (GEA).
The proposal came following recent discussions between Tiu Laurel and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on how to expand solar capacity without allowing energy projects to encroach land critical to food production.
Tiu Laurel said the DA has already identified flat rice lands that should remain dedicated to agriculture. The following step is to map and geofence them.
The agency said this would give energy developers a clearer guide on where projects should not be located, while helping identify areas that could accommodate renewable energy investments without compromising food production.
‘We need energy security, but it cannot come at the cost of food security. The country must be able to keep the lights on without putting at risk the land that keeps food on Filipino tables,’ Tiu Laurel said.
Meanwhile, the DA said it is also pressing for the RE transition to deliver direct benefits to farmers and fishers, particularly through lower electricity costs.
The agency noted that officials discussed possible mechanisms that could connect RE suppliers under the GEA, the Green Energy Option, and the Retail Competition and Open Access framework with qualified agricultural users.
Potential beneficiaries include irrigation systems, post-harvest facilities, and rice mills.
Also included are cold storage plants, slaughterhouses, farms, fishponds, and other food production operations where electricity costs can affect production expenses.
The DA said the DOE is examining how RE suppliers and distribution utilities could participate in the arrangement.
The agencies are also discussing with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) whether savings under the GEO could eventually be reflected in electricity rates for qualified agricultural users.
The DA and DOE are targeting an October 2026 memorandum of agreement (MOA) to formalize their partnership.
Furthermore, the DA said it will also identify between 1,000 and 2,000 priority agricultural areas and cross-check them against existing and awarded energy projects to prevent conflicts and overlaps.
Tiu Laurel asked the DOE to provide a list of ongoing and awarded projects so regional agriculture officials can distinguish approved developments from proposals still under evaluation.
Both agencies will also develop a Farm-to-Energy Framework with the ERC to explore ways organized farmers and fisherfolk can benefit from renewable energy.
‘Our goal now, the DOE and the DA, is to ensure that both these pressing needs of Filipinos are addressed in a way that benefits the country without sacrificing one for the other,’ Tiu Laurel said.