Updated May 12, 2009 12:00 AM [ philstar.com ]
MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives will decide the issue of extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) before Congress adjourns its session on June 5, Speaker Prospero Nograles announced yesterday.
“While we have a commitment in support of the measure, it will be the plenary that will decide on the final form of the new CARP law,” Nograles said.
“It is important to note that President Arroyo is supporting the CARP extension measure,” he added.
Proponents of CARP extension have expressed fears that the House might not be able to approve the extension bill before Congress ends its second regular session on June 5.
The chamber has opened floor debates on the measure but has put it aside to give way to discussions on Nograles’ Resolution 737, which seeks to amend the Constitution to allow 100-percent foreign participation in the exploitation of natural resources and foreign ownership of land.
The Speaker has also set a June 5 deadline for Charter change.
Nograles earlier created a panel of congressmen tasked to sit down with its Senate counterpart to reconcile the two chambers’ versions of the CARP extension bill.
The House version includes compulsory acquisition and distribution of agricultural lands, including sugar plantations.
It appropriates P100 billion for the extended program. Of that amount, P40 billion would go to support services such as credit for beneficiaries.
Militant party-list representatives have accused Mrs. Arroyo of paying lip service to CARP extension.
Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel said the President has been repeatedly promising to distribute three large haciendas owned by her husband’s family in Negros Occidental since 2001, but has not been able to fulfill her promise.
She said the family of First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo has been trying to convert the sugar plantations into subdivisions and other uses to evade the CARP law.
Recently, farmer-tenants of the Arroyos went on a hunger strike in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) office in Quezon City to press for the distribution of the land. – Jess Diaz
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