Section 9December 22, 1997, Sec./Art. 9

Delineation of Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones. - The Department, in consultation with the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Science and Technology, the concerned LGU's, the organized farmers and fisher folk groups, the private sector and communities shall, without prejudice to the development of identified economic zones and free ports, establish and delineate based on sound resource accounting, the SAFDZ within one (1) year from the effectivity of this Act.

All irrigated lands, irrigable lands already covered by irrigation a projects with firm funding commitments, and lands with existing or having the potential for growing high-value crops so delineated and included within the SAFDZ shall not be converted for a period of five (5) years front the effectivity for this Act: Provided, however, That not more than five percent (5%) of the said lands located within the SAFDZ may be converted upon compliance with existing laws, rules, regulations, executive order and issuances, and administrative orders relating to land use conversion: Provided, further, That thereafter 1) a review of the SAFDZ, specifically of the productivity of the areas, improvement of the quality of life of farmers and fisher folk, and efficiency and defectiveness of the support services shall be conducted by the Department and the Department of Agrarian Reform, in coordination with the Congressional Oversight Committee on Agricultural Committee and Fisheries Modernization; 2) conversion may be allowed, if at all, on a case-to-case basis subject to existing laws, rules, regulations, executive orders and issuances, and administrative orders governing land use conversion; 3) in case of conversion, the land owners will pay the Department the amount equivalent to the government's investment cost including inflation.