Friday, July 10, 2009 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES [ BusinessWorld Online ]
BACOLOD CITY — An umbrella organization of agrarian reform advocates, farmers groups, and nongovernment organizations in Negros Occidental said some 100,000 hectares of agricultural lands are still up for distribution under the new land reform law that Congress is expected to ratify right after it reconvenes this July 27.
RATIFICATION of the new land reform law is expected right after Congress reconvenes this July 27.
The Negros CARP Reform Movement (NCRM) said a total of 246,000 hectares had been earmarked for distribution in the province under the recently lapsed land reform law.
"We want to protect our victory in the [passage of the] CARPER [Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms] bill [in both chambers of Congress]," said Joel Alapar of the Alliance of Rural Concerns.
The alliance is among the 15 members of the NCRM which cited the need to stay vigilant to ensure the completion of the new land reform law.
"It was pushed by agrarian reform groups and beneficiaries despite the resistance [of land owners] and the NCRM will continue to be vigilant to make sure that, within five years, it will be implemented," Mr. Alapar said.
But Jose Jerry Cahilig, Task Force Mapalad community organizer, said that five years is still too short to complete the new program.
Under the consolidated Senate and House bills which the bicameral conference committee had agreed on, land acquisition and distribution has been extended for five years, from June 30 to June 30, 2014, with a funding of P150 billion. Landholdings of at least 24 hectares will be prioritized for distribution. — NLG
____________________________________________________________________________________
