Philippines to geofence 3 million hectares of farmland to protect food security

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating to establish boundaries between land designated for power generation and land reserved for food production. To protect food security during the expansion of solar energy capacity, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has proposed creating a digital geofence around approximately three million hectares of flat agricultural land.

This initiative follows discussions between Secretary Tiu Laurel and Energy Secretary Sharon Garin. The geofencing system is intended to guide energy developers toward suitable investment areas while marking restricted zones that must remain dedicated to agriculture, specifically flat rice-growing lands.

Additionally, the DA is seeking to ensure the renewable energy transition provides direct economic benefits to the agricultural sector. Proposed mechanisms aim to link renewable energy suppliers to agricultural users—such as irrigation systems, rice mills, cold storage plants, and hatcheries—to help reduce electricity costs for food production operations.