Philippine Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Extension with Reform bill

More projects, more agrarian related support infrastructure and services, says Atty. Johnson Sinco on the reports that the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Extension with Reform bill has been passed.

Sinco, Bohol Agrarian Reform Officer could not contain his excitement with the development as the bicameral ruling for the extension, when ratified next month would stretch the program for another five years and give it a P150-billion funding with the ratification if the congress when their session resumes on July 27, adds DAR information officer Ma. Lydia Bantugan recently. 

"We are very thankful to all farmers, agrarian reform beneficiaries, district representatives, local leaders and social justice advocates for believing in us and allowing us more time to help farming communities improve their lot and see better future," Sinco said.

Early this week, a members of the bicameral committee reviewing the extension through a reconciled version of both House and Senate CARP measures approved the extension and pushes for the immediate ratification of the measure, sources said.  

The reconciled measures agree to the five year-extension, the restoration of compulsory land acquisition and distribution and the establishment of a congressional oversight panel to eye on the program implementation.

The Senate bill, however, allocates a budget of P147 billion, while that of the House states that the program be provided at least P100 billion.

Another irritant, which the bicameral settled is for the mode of land distribution, which is now limited to compulsory acquisition and voluntary offer to sell.

Voluntary land transfer (VLT), which was allowed in the original CARP law, was scrapped on the ground that it is not an effective mode of land distribution.

To help secure food production, the consolidated CARP extension bill also bans the conversion of irrigable and irrigated agricultural land, bicameral reports bared.

With the ratification, the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) component of CARP, with compulsory acquisition as the dominant mode, is extended for five years from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2014, Bantugan stressed. (rachiu/PIA)