The Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are taking measures to establish clearer boundaries between lands allocated for power generation and those reserved strictly for food production.

In a news release on Monday, the DA noted that Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. proposed the creation of a digital geofence around approximately three million hectares of flat agricultural land to safeguard vital farmlands, while the country accelerates its shift toward renewable energy and prepares for the upcoming Green Energy Auction (GEA).

The proposal followed recent discussions between Tiu Laurel and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin on expanding solar energy capacity without allowing power projects to encroach on lands critical to food security.

“Kailangang mapanatili ng bansa ang suplay ng kuryente nang hindi nalalagay sa panganib ang mga lupang nagbibigay ng pagkain sa mga hapag ng mga Pilipino (The country needs to maintain its power supply without putting at risk the lands that bring food to the tables of Filipinos),” Tiu Laurel said.

Under the plan, the system will guide energy developers on restricted zones while identifying suitable areas for renewable energy investments.

The DA has already identified the flat rice-growing lands that must remain dedicated to agriculture, with mapping and geofencing serving as the next operational steps.

It is also pushing for the renewable energy transition to deliver direct benefits to farmers and fisherfolk by reducing electricity costs.

Potential mechanisms linking renewable energy suppliers under the GEA, Green Energy Option, and Retail Competition and Open Access frameworks directly to qualified agricultural users have been discussed.

Target beneficiaries include irrigation systems, post-harvest facilities, rice mills, cold storage plants, slaughterhouses, farms, hatcheries, and other food production operations where power expenses significantly affect total costs.

The DOE is evaluating how renewable energy suppliers and distribution utilities can participate while both agencies coordinate with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to determine if cost savings under the Green Energy Option can eventually be reflected in agricultural electricity bills.

The DA and DOE aim to formalize their partnership through a memorandum of agreement targeted for signing in October 2026.

As part of the joint effort, the DA will identify between 1,000 and 2,000 priority agricultural sites to cross-reference against existing and awarded energy projects to prevent overlaps and conflicts.

Tiu Laurel has requested a list of ongoing and awarded projects from the DOE to help regional agriculture officials distinguish approved developments from pending proposals.

Agriculture Undersecretary Roger Navarro and Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevarra have been tasked to formulate a farm-to-energy framework alongside the ERC to explore ways organized farmers and fisherfolk can directly benefit from renewable power.

He noted that the move “ensures that both critical needs of Filipinos are met in a way that benefits the country without sacrificing one for the sake of the other”. (PNA)