Tuesday, June 2, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES [ BusinessWorld Online ]
A MEASURE extending the agrarian reform program for another five years was approved on second and third reading last night by the Senate.
Voting 12-0 with two abstentions, the chamber approved Senate Bill 2666 which restores the compulsory land acquisition and distribution (LAD) mechanism, proposes P147 billion in funding, and establishes a congressional oversight committee.
Those who voted in favor were Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Pro-Tempore Leader Jose "Jinggoy" E. Estrada, Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., and senators Gregorio B. "Gringo" Honasan II, Richard J. Gordon, Manuel M. Lapid, Francis N. Pangilinan, Joker P. Arroyo, Manuel A. Roxas II, Rodolfo G. Biazon, Francis Joseph G. Escudero, and Pilar Juliana "Pia" S. Cayetano.
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel F. Zubiri and Senator Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" C. Aquino III abstained.
A certification by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo paved the way for simultaneous third and second reading appovals, bypassing a three-day interval under current rules.
A counterpart measure, House Bill 4077, remains pending before at the lower chamber.
The law behind the Comprehensive Agarian Reform Program expired last year, with Congress unable to agree on a fresh extension over differences regarding mechanisms such as the LAD.
Congress subsequently passed a joint resolution, extending the law by just six months, which will expire by end-June.
Legislators are scheduled to go on recess this Wednesday and will next meet in July. — BUA
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