Conversion vs Reclassification

Conversion is the act of changing the current use of a piece of agricultural land into some other use as approved by the DAR while reclassification is the act of specifying how agricultural lands shall be utilized for non-agricultural use such as residential, industrial and commercial, as embodied in the land use plan, subject to the requirements and procedures for land use conversion. In view thereof, a mere reclassification of an agricultural land does not automatically allow a landowner to change its use. He has to undergo the process of conversion before he is permitted to use the agricultural land for other purposes. It must be stressed that agricultural lands though reclassified to residential, commercial, industrial or other non-agricultural uses must undergo the process of conversion before they can be used for the purpose to which they are intended.