In February 2026, the Philippine government launched a roadmap that could quietly reshape how land is valued in the country’s most dynamic economic region. The Farm Tourism Strategic Action Plan (FTSAP) 2026 to 2031, jointly unveiled by the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Agriculture (DA), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), targets a sector that is projected to grow from USD 69 billion globally in 2019 to roughly USD 197 billion by 2032. For property owners and investors in CALABARZON, that trajectory matters because it signals a shift in what makes a piece of land valuable — not just its proximity to a city center, but its potential to host visitors, produce food, and tell a story.
CALABARZON, with its mix of working farms, highland vegetable gardens, and proximity to Metro Manila, is a natural testing ground for this trend. The region already hosts several of the 138 DOT-accredited farm tourism sites nationwide, and the new roadmap formalizes an inter-agency push — a Joint Technical Working Group from DOT, DA, DTI, and private stakeholders — to turn more agricultural land into destinations. For anyone tracking real estate in provinces like Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, and Quezon, this is not a niche tourism story. It is a land-use story with measurable consequences for property values, zoning decisions, and the kind of infrastructure that gets built. If you are trying to understand where the next wave of demand might emerge in the region, it helps to start with what the emerging business districts in Batangas can teach us about how rural land transitions into commercial value.
What Farm Tourism Actually Changes for Property Owners
The core idea is straightforward: a farm that grows crops can also grow revenue from visitors. Under Republic Act No. 10816, or the Farm Tourism Act of 2016, agricultural land can be developed for tourism-related activities — farm stays, pick-your-own produce operations, educational tours, and food processing demonstrations — without losing its agricultural classification. That legal distinction matters for tax purposes and for future sale value. A property that generates income from both farming and tourism is worth more than one that only produces crops, and the new roadmap gives local governments a framework to support that transition.
For a landowner in, say, Lucban, Quezon, or Alfonso, Cavite, the practical implication is that their property now competes in two markets simultaneously: the agricultural commodities market and the tourism experience market. That dual-income potential is what drives the real estate angle. Properties that can credibly offer both — a working farm with a guesthouse, a vegetable garden with a weekend café — become more attractive to buyers looking for lifestyle investments or retirement properties with income streams. The emerging real estate dynamics in San Pablo City offer a useful parallel for how secondary urban hubs in CALABARZON absorb spillover demand from Metro Manila.
How the Roadmap Changes the Ground Rules for Rural Land
The FTSAP is not a vague policy document. It creates a specific implementation structure: a Joint Technical Working Group composed of representatives from DOT, DA, DTI, and private stakeholders will oversee execution, coordinate across agencies, and develop annual work plans. It also formalizes a Memorandum of Agreement between DOT and DA specifically on Farm, Food, and Gastronomy Tourism — meaning the government is treating farm tourism as a cross-sector priority, not an afterthought.
For real estate, the most immediate effect is on how local governments classify and tax rural properties. Municipalities that adopt the FTSAP framework are more likely to issue permits for farm stays, agri-processing facilities, and on-site retail — activities that would previously have been blocked by zoning restrictions. That opens up revenue streams for landowners who were previously limited to selling raw produce or leasing land to tenants. It also makes rural land more attractive to investors who were hesitant about the regulatory uncertainty of converting agricultural property.
One concrete example from the region: the DA-ATI CALABARZON launched the AGRI360 platform in February 2025, a virtual walkthrough of Learning Sites for Agriculture (LSAs) across the region. The platform offers 360-degree views of farms, their facilities, and the technologies they use. For a potential buyer or investor, that kind of digital visibility reduces the information gap — you can evaluate a farm property’s tourism potential without traveling to every site. The platform features farms like Bukid Amara Farm in Lucban, Quezon, and Flor’s Garden in Antipolo City, Rizal, both of which serve as working models of how agricultural land can be repositioned as a destination.
This matters for property valuation because it creates a benchmark. If a farm in Lucban can attract visitors through AGRI360 and generate income from tours and farm stays, comparable properties in the same municipality gain a reference point for what they could earn. That kind of data is rare in rural real estate, where transactions are often opaque and valuations are based on agricultural output alone. The broader trend of sustainable development reshaping CALABARZON real estate reinforces this shift toward valuing land for its experiential and ecological potential, not just its crop yield.
What Gets Missed in the Farm Tourism Conversation
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| Factor | Common Assumption | What the Roadmap Actually Says |
|---|---|---|
| Accreditation | Any farm can become a tourism site | Only 138 sites are accredited; the process requires DOT, DA, and DTI coordination |
| Income potential | Tourism income replaces farming income | The model requires both to coexist; losing agricultural production can disqualify a site |
| Regulatory burden | Farm tourism is lightly regulated | RA 10816 imposes specific infrastructure, safety, and sanitation standards |
| Market size | Farm tourism is a small niche | Global projections show growth from USD 69B to USD 197B by 2032 |
The Accreditation Bottleneck
Only 138 farm tourism sites are currently accredited nationwide. That figure is not a ceiling — it is a reflection of how demanding the accreditation process can be. The FTSAP aims to increase that number, but the requirement for inter-agency coordination (DOT, DA, DTI, and private stakeholders) means that speed is not guaranteed. For a landowner, the practical consequence is that accreditation is a competitive advantage, not a given. Properties that secure it early may command a premium, while those that wait risk being crowded out by better-capitalized entrants.
The Dual-Income Trap
The roadmap explicitly requires that farm tourism sites maintain genuine agricultural production. A property that shifts entirely to hospitality — building cottages and a restaurant while letting the fields lie fallow — could lose its accreditation and its favorable tax treatment. That constraint is easy to overlook. It means the owner must manage two distinct businesses simultaneously: farming and tourism. Each has its own operational demands, labor requirements, and risk profiles. A drought that kills the crops also kills the tourism experience. A labor shortage in the farm affects the guest experience. The dual-income model is resilient only if both sides are managed well.
Infrastructure Gaps That Limit Value
Farm tourism sites in CALABARZON often sit on provincial roads that were not designed for tourist traffic. The FTSAP does not include a dedicated infrastructure fund — it relies on existing DA and DOT budgets. That means a property’s tourism potential is partly determined by factors the owner cannot control: road quality, internet connectivity, and proximity to public transport hubs. A beautiful farm in a remote part of Quezon may struggle to attract visitors even with accreditation, while a modest property near a national highway in Cavite may thrive. Location still matters, but the relevant location metrics shift from “distance to market” to “distance to tourist routes.”
What to Do If You Own or Want to Buy Farm Land in CALABARZON
Check Your Property’s Accreditation Eligibility
The first step is to determine whether your land can qualify as a farm tourism site under RA 10816. The law requires that the property be primarily used for agricultural production — at least 60 percent of the land area should be devoted to farming, livestock, or aquaculture. If your property is purely residential or commercial with a small garden, it will not qualify. Contact the DOT regional office in CALABARZON or the DA-ATI office to request a pre-assessment. They can tell you what documentation you need: land title, tax declaration, farm plan, and proof of agricultural activity.
Explore the AGRI360 Platform for Visibility
The DA-ATI CALABARZON’s AGRI360 platform offers a free way to showcase your farm to potential visitors and investors. The platform provides 360-degree virtual tours of Learning Sites for Agriculture, which can serve as a marketing tool and a way to attract partners. If your farm is already operational, consider applying to be listed as an LSA. The process involves an inspection by DA-ATI, but the visibility gain is significant — especially for properties in less-touristed parts of Quezon or Laguna.
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Understand the Zoning and Tax Implications
Before building any tourism infrastructure — guest cabins, a café, a parking area — check with your municipal planning office whether your property’s zoning classification allows commercial activities. Some municipalities in CALABARZON have updated their zoning ordinances to accommodate farm tourism, but others have not. If your land is classified strictly as agricultural, you may need to apply for a special use permit or a reclassification. The FTSAP encourages local governments to streamline this process, but the actual timeline varies by municipality. Factor in at least three to six months for permit processing.
Plan for Both Seasons — Tourist and Harvest
The most common operational mistake is treating farm tourism as a hospitality business that happens to have plants. In reality, the farm’s harvest calendar dictates when the property is most attractive to visitors. A vegetable farm in the highlands of Cavite may be lush and photogenic during the rainy season but dry and dusty during summer. A fruit orchard in Quezon may have peak visitor interest only during harvest months. Map out your farm’s seasonal calendar and align your tourism offerings accordingly. Off-season strategies — cooking classes, food processing workshops, or farm-to-table dinners using stored produce — can smooth out revenue dips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert my residential lot in Cavite into a farm tourism site? ▾
How long does DOT accreditation take for a new farm tourism site? ▾
Does farm tourism accreditation increase property tax? ▾
Is farm tourism profitable for small landowners in Quezon? ▾
What happens if I stop farming but keep the tourism operations? ▾
What Comes Next for CALABARZON Farm Land
The FTSAP 2026 to 2031 is not a guarantee that every farm in CALABARZON will become a tourist destination. It is a signal that the government is creating the regulatory conditions for that transition to happen more smoothly. For property owners, the window of opportunity is real but narrow: accreditation is limited, infrastructure is uneven, and the dual-income model requires genuine commitment to both farming and hospitality. The most practical move right now is to get your property assessed for eligibility, explore the AGRI360 platform for visibility, and talk to your municipal planning office about zoning. The farms that act early will have the clearest path to capturing value from this shift. If this was useful, you might also want to read how the Tagaytay short-term rental regulations affect property owners in the region.
Sources
How sustainable development is reshaping CALABARZON real estate — A broader look at the environmental and regulatory trends influencing property values across the region.
DOT, DA, DTI launch roadmap for farm tourism growth. Daily Tribune, February 2026.
8th Philippine International Farm Tourism Conference 2025. DA-ATI CALABARZON, February 2025.
