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Bishop urges solons to pass CARP extension

Source : Source : Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

By LESLIE ANN G. AQUINO

May 14, 2009, 9:34pm

The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the country’s legislators Thursday to demonstrate selflessness to the farmers by passing measure to extend and amend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

CBCP president Jaro, Iloilo Archbishop Angel Lagdameo issued the appeal in time for today’s celebration of the Feast of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers.

"The feast of St. Isidore today is an auspicious moment for the legislators to live up to our mission of discipleship and to demonstrate selflessness and genuine service to the poor farmers by gifting them with a reformed and authentic agrarian reform law," he said.

A reformed and authentic agrarian reform law, Lagdameo said, should include the following: a five-year implementation period including Compulsory Acquisition, and without the proposed phasing of distribution; collateral free credit and increased support services to farmers; creation of an oversight committee with the inclusion of private sector representatives to monitor the implementation of agrarian reform; recognition of the farmers’ legal standing and non-cancellation of Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) on lands already distributed to and developed by the farmers; and increased penalty for obstruction of CARP implementation.

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