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Solons slowing CARP ‘buried’

Source : By MARVYN N. BENANING

April 17, 2009, 5:52pm

Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation

Farmers belonging to the Reform CARP Movement (RCM) symbolically “buried” enlarged pictures of congressmen perceived to be dragging their feet on a measure meant to replace the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

Among the 'interred' solons were Reps. Ignacio Arroyo, Mikey and Datu Arroyo, Luis Villafuerte, Pablo Garcia, Alfredo Marañon, Crispin Remulla, Jeffrey Ferrer, Jose Lacson, Mark Cojuangco, Ebbie Apostol, Eufrocino Codilla, Sr., Jack Duavit, Pryde Teves, and Bernard Piñol.

Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Nasser Pangandaman was also not spared from the mock burial.

“Inililibing ang mga Kongresistang ito dahil sa kanilang hayagan at patuloy na pagtutol sa pagpasa ng isang kritikal na batas para sa mga mahihirap na magsasaka. Isinasama si Secretary Pangandaman dahil sa kanyang pawang kawalan ng puwersa para ipagtanggol ang CARP sa Kongreso,” disclosed RCM member and Paragos Pilipinas president Jimmy Tadeo.

Speaker Prospero Nograles was tactically spared a full burial because the farmers said they are still giving him a chance to make good his promise to pass the CARP reforms law before the extension of the program expired again by June 30.

“Pinangako ni Speaker Nograles mula pa noong Pebrero na ipapatawag niya ang isang Ad Hoc Committee o TWG (Technical Working Group) para suriin ang mga panukalang reporma sa HB 4077. Pero hanggang ngayon 'Talagang Walang Ginagawa' (TWG) lang ang TWG na alam namin nagmula kay Nograles.

Nanawagan kami kay Speaker na plenary na lang ang ipatawag para pagusapan na ng buong Kongreso ang bitin na bitin nang pagpasa ng CARP Extension with reforms bill,” said Elvie Baladad of Samahang 54 Ektarya.

“Nasusuya na kami sa mga sirang pangako ng Kongreso na paguusapan agad ang pagpasa ng HB 4077. Mauulit na naman ba ang nangyari noong Hunyo 2008 na sa huling linggo lang bago nag-expire ang CARP nang nagsimula silang magusap? Wala na ba talagang halaga ang kapalaran ng magsasaka sa mga mambabatas natin?” lamented farmer Zaldy Castrojeres of Calatagan, Batangas.

With 50 days to go before the next Congressional recess, the farmers and agrarian reform advocates under RCM are gearing up for more actions nationwide to dramatize and drum up their urgent call to Congress for the immediate passage of the beleaguered HB 4077.

More than 500 farmers from Batangas, Bataan, Rizal, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon are set to march on April 20 from the DAR Central office to the Lower House to issue the call, "PASS CARPer NOW!” .

RCM, a coalition of peasant organizations, non-government organizations, party-list organizations and individual advocates, started pushing for the extension with CARP reforms last year.