Saturday, June 6, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Approval of a new agrarian reform law is all but certain to be accomplished only after a six-month extension lapses this month, legislators admitted.
The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) — granted a six-month lifeline at the start of the year — will have to go through a hiatus as legislators began a nearly two-month break on Friday.
While both the House of Representatives and the Senate have passed their versions of the proposed law, they differ on the amount of funding to be allocated, necessitating bicameral conference committee meetings during the break.
With no plenary to approve a unified version, the principal proponents of the measure said a provision making the law retroactive would need to be inserted.
"Laws are naturally prospective but some could be made retroactive as long as they are not penal in nature," said Albay Rep Edcel C. Lagman, author of House Bill 4077.
He was echoed by Senator Gregorio "Gringo" B. Honasan II, the proponent of Senate Bill 2666.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri said Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile had recommended making the bill retroactive so that both houses would have to convene a special session.
Congress adjourned its second regular session on Wednesday and will open its third regular session on July 27.
"Our first priority when we resume session would be the ratification of CARP," Mr. Zubiri said.
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