'PASS CARP EXTENSION WITH REFORMS NOW!' - SENATOR PANGILINAN URGES COLLEAGUES

'PASS CARP EXTENSION WITH REFORMS NOW!' - SENATOR PANGILINAN URGES COLLEAGUES

Independent senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan today urges fellow lawmakers to fast track the passing of the extension together with reforms in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Pangilinan stresses the need for said reforms in CARP to be passed as soon as possible to avoid disillusionment of farmers with the government.

"The key issue here is the exclusion of the compulsory acquisition and distribution of private agricultural lands to farmer tenants," Pangilinan says. "Without this key component, the CARP is practically ineffective as an agrarian reform program."

The program expired last December, 2008 after 10 years of implementation. According to Father Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, there are still around 1.2 million hectares of private agricultural land up for distribution. The farmers asked for a five year extension. The Senate and House of Representatives instead compromised for a six-month extension without the compulsory acquisition and distribution of private lands. In this extension, only those properties voluntarily offered are being processed.

While land redistribution is a major concern, Pangilinan stresses that support services will play a vital role in delivering CARP's promise in uplifting economic capacities of farmers in the country. "It is time to shift the focus to the support of government agencies such as Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industries, and Department of Agrarian Reform in this program," Pangilinan says.

"CARP is much more than just redistribution of lands. Government agencies should work hand in hand with CARP in helping out farmers. The rights of the land owners must also be respected. They should be paid promptly and fairly, pursuant to the Constitution and laws. Agrarian reform done properly addresses both concerns of poverty reduction and economic development."

(Got this from Atty. Kaka J. Bag-ao)