Untitled

Pimentel Calls for early Passage of amendments to CARP Law

Source : Senate of the Philippines (14th Congress)

Press Release

May 9, 2009

Minority Leader Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (PDP-Laban) today called on the Senate and House of Representatives to work for the early approval of the package of amendments to the law on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program so that the final version of the measure can be passed on May 15 and sent to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for signing into law before the sine die adjournment on June 5.

Pimentel also warned Congress against kowtowing to the agenda of landed interests by adopting the so-called "killer amendments" that will water down the bill by exempting huge tracts of sugar and coconut lands.

With only l4 working days before the mid-year adjournment, he said that Congress should work overtime to have the amendments passed and the contentious issues resolved. He said Congress is racing against time because the Senate and House versions of the bill will still undergo final review, revision and approval at the bicameral conference committee.

He reminded his colleagues that CARP law was extended up to June 30, 2009 by virtue of Joint Resolution No. l9 adopted by Congress last December. The purpose was to give Congress sufficient time to hammer out and deliberate amendments to the law in order to address its weaknesses and shortcomings, particularly in terms of land acquisition and distribution and providing farm inputs and other support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Pimentel said that the amendments should be in place and ready for implementation by the time the effectivity of Resolution l9 expires. He said this will be in fulfillment of the commitment made by the Senate and House leaders to farmers, the Catholic bishops and other socially oriented groups.

He said that doubts are being aired by certain quarters on whether lawmakers can muster the political will to pass the amendments that will address the grievances and aspirations of farmers.

"But I believe that this chamber is sympathetic to the passage of a just, doable and implementable agrarian reform program. I know that in this chamber, most if not all the senators are committed to have this CARP law extended with the reforms that we want to make it a real tool for the delivery of social justice for the tenant-farmers," he said.

The senator from Mindanao warned that any proposition to exempt lands newly-planted with sugarcane and coconut, being initiated by certain interests, would defeat the purpose of CARP because it will greatly diminish the land areas that can be given to deserving tenant farmers.

The measure seeks to extend the implementation of CARP for another 5 to 10 years to enable the government to distribute about l.3 million hectares of agricultural lands to farmers.

He said he felt relieved upon being assured by Sen. Gregorio Honasan, sponsor of the measure, that he will resist any pressure to adopt the killer amendments and keep its essential features intact.

When interpellated by Pimentel during the floor debate on the bill, Honasan said "we can be flexible on other components but we will never compromise on the core issues and principles that are intended to make the law truly meaningful and far-reaching."