FARMER groups here unit to make a strong pressure group lobbying for the immediate legislative action on the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) which, if not acted upon expires at the end of this month.
With barely a month left before the Congress adjourns in June, the farmers here think the country’s legislators have conveniently sat on the issue despite the apparent attempts by farmers ranks across the country to dramatize their intent to have the program deliberated as expeditiously.
In late developments, reports bared that Malacanang has gained support from key Congressional leaders on the prioritizaion of the CARP law extension, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has certified as urgent.
The support accordingly came from Senate Agrarian Refrm Committee Chair Gringo Honasan and House of Representatives speaker Prospero Nograles, in a meeting with the President, attnded by key church authorities and reform secretary Nasser Pangandaman, according to reports.
Assuring Boholanos however, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Johnson Cinco said that Bohol representatives have been candidly lining up behind the farmers in their unconditional support for the extension of the govenments primier social justice program.
At the Kapihan sa PIA Thursday aired live over DyTR, PARO Cinco, who is also a lawyer said farmr cooperatives have passed resolutions to pressure Congress to prioritize the passing of the CARP extension biill.
If the bill is passed, it would lengthen the term of the country’s land reform program by another five years and consequently approriatesi funds for the land acquisition program which the government sees as a move to motivate farmer productivity by allowing them to finally own the lands they till.
With some 12% still to accomplish in Bohol, PARO Cinco agreed that the extension would not only allow farmers more time to claim lands but it would also empower and capacitate them to maximize on their production through the corollary support services that the CARP law provides.
Aside from the lands acquisiton and distribution program incorporated in the CARP, the law also mandates support services delivery as well as agrarian justice delivery which would fund for the due process when the government acquires lots to be distributed.
According to data from the provicial DAR Office, Bohol has close to 3,104 square kilometers of agricultural lands, about 59.314 hectares of it falls under CARP scope while 38,583 sq. has. Fall under land acquisition and distribution.
The past DAR activities here benefitted close to 52,400 beneficiaries in 40 agrarian reform communities, he said.
But with between six to seven thousand hectares of lands yet to be distributed to farmers at an average of 1.3 hectares per agrarian reform beneficiary, the Bohol agrarian reform chief said that should benefit close to six thousand families.
With farmers and Bohol DAR office waiting in bated breath over the legislative deliberations which my not be as immediate, Bohol went for fall back positions with the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Program (ARISP) implemented in four reform communities in Alicia, Balilihan, Catigbian and Danao, Atty. Cinco claimed. (rachiu/PIA)