AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced that DAR has approved the conversions of 422.9676 hectares (ha) of lands from agricultural to other purposes since 1991 until this year in Zamboanga Peninsula.

DAR Regional Director Felix Aguhob announced the conversion of the lands was approved after the owners complied with the requirements set by DAR.

The requirements included sworn application for land use conversion, original certificate title or transfer certificate of title, certification from the Department of Environment and natural Resources classifying the land as alienable and disposable, project feasibility study, profile of developer and socio-economic benefit cost study of the propose project.

Aguhob said the lands to be converted are also being inspected by the Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration aside from his office.

Aguhob said that of the 422.9676 hectares land converted, 235.9385 are in Zamboanga Sibugay, 124.3398 in Zamboanga del Sur and 62.6893 in Zamboanga del Norte.

He said these lands were converted from agricultural either to residential, industrial, institutional, socialized housing and commercial.

He warned that charges for illegal conversion will be filed against land owners who converted their property without complying with the requirements set by DAR as stipulated under existing laws.