Manila, March 11 -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said it has exempted renewable energy and government socialized housing projects from the moratorium on land-use reclassifications.

In a statement, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move demonstrates the administration's intensified efforts to advance the utilization of renewable energy, as well as government-backed housing.

"By carving out limited exemptions to land-use reclassification moratorium, we seek to strike a balance in allowing critical energy and housing projects to proceed while keeping most farmland conversions on hold pending policy reforms that will ensure food security in the future," he said.

Under Department Circular No. 1 he signed on J...