CARP extension needed to complete the acquisition, distribution of the more than 1 million hectares of land, says Sec. Pangandaman
THE Agrarian Reform Program in the Philippines is enshrined or provided for in the Constitution, where it should be a continuing program and our position in the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to be able to cover the balance of the more than 1 million hectares of land for acquisition and distribution nationwide.
Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser C. Pangandaman made the statement in a press conference conducted during the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative Summit in Cagayan de Oro City recently.
He said this would need a bill or a law that would allow the extension of the CARP in the next five to seven years.
Originally, we have submitted a proposed budget of P163 billion for the CARP extension, but the Lower House, in their bill, allocated only P100 billion for the balance of more than 1 million hectares of land for acquisition and for distribution to farmer-beneficiaries nationwide for the next five years, he explained.
In the implementation of CARP, 70% of the total budget would be allocated for the acquisition of landowners compensation of the land, including the distribution, while of the remaining 30%, 20% will be allocated for the needed support services and the 10% will be spent for DAR’s operations, including the resolution of agrarian reform cases now pending at the DAR and in trial courts nationwide, he also explained.
The secretary clarified that in the proposed CARP extension or reform law, only 60% is allocated for the acquisition and distribution component of the program, while the allocation of the support services for the beneficiaries was increased to 40%.
During the same press conference, Senator Gregorio B. Honasan II, Senate committee on agrarian reform chair, revealed there is a pending CARP extension bill in Congress and “technically we have up to the end of this year to make a decision whether to extend or not this program, but realistically since the budget season is already here, by our reckoning, decisions would be made by November, this year.”
“Sa ayaw at gusto ng Kongreso, the Constitution provides that we have to promote a comprehensive, meaningful agrarian reform program, so Congress has no choice but to follow the law,” he pointed out.
In the Senate version, the bill will no longer be CARP Extension Law but CARP Reform Law because there should be reforms to be made in the CARP law, he also said.
One of the reforms the Senate wants to put in place is to reduce the confrontations and improve cooperation because we are all stakeholders, he said.
Also incorporated in that law which Senate wants also to put in place is to provide training and education and empowering farmer-beneficiaries, he further said.
“This time we want to take the initiative from the ground up where recommendations should come from the bottom as to who really are credible and legitimate representatives of this sector–the agrarian farmer-beneficiaries,” he explained.
Aside from the structure, the law provides that there should be continuous monitoring of the agrarian reform program, so with the new CARP reform law, Senate is also incorporating a very strong oversight mechanism in its monitoring system, he added.
Meanwhile, in his keynote speech, Senator Honasan urged all CARP stakeholders “to enhance productivity, enhance cooperation more than confrontation, consolidate the data base so that we can make informed and intelligent decisions and move forward into industrialization, to be globally competitive.”
Also with Senator Honasan and Sec. Pangandaman was Akbayan Party List Rep. Risa Hontiveros Baraquel, who said in an executive session at the Lower House that they won in the straw voting, where 97 congressmen stood up in favor of the bill named “CARP Extension with Reform Bill” and only 82 voted against it.
She said, “we could have moved for the approval on second reading of the bill but the House leadership decided to halt the passage of the bill for the meantime. So, we missed the first deadline we have set internally that before June 10, this year, the funding for the land acquisition and distribution be extended.”
Now, the House has again set a new internal deadline and that is before December 31, 2008, she further said.
During the straw voting, Baraquel added, 50 members of the House were absent. “So, if we can recruit majority of this 50 members to favor the extension, we can really and hopefully have the number so that the CARP extension bill will be passed on second reading.
When the Sen. Honasan was asked about his view on the stand of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) regarding the proposed CARP extension, he said the Senate will take their letter on advisement as an input and will take into consideration their recommendations.
The CBCP and the ARB Cooperative Summit are calling on both Houses of Congress to act on the CARP extension with greater sense of urgency and to adopt measures to make sure that this other extension, be its last–meaning the effective completion of land acquisition and distribution, accompanied by a real start in the delivery of adequate and sustained support services to the beneficiaries.
These are the measures or reforms the CBCP recommended: 1) A bigger budget to ensure CARP completion in 5 to 7 years time; 2) The removal of non-distributive schemes from CARP in favor of direct and physical distribution of lands; 3) Priority in coverage should be given to big landholdings; 4) A bigger budget for support services/ARB development; 5) Beneficiaries to gain greater access to credit;
6) Gender-responsive support services to recognize and enforce the right of rural women to own and control the land; 7) Greater state protection of the rights and safety of beneficiaries from both state and non-state human rights violations. Such protection must be given from the time they start claiming their entitlements under CARP to that point where these entitlements are fully secured in their hands;
8) Exclusive DAR jurisdiction over agrarian reform cases; 9) Expanding and strengthening PARC; 10) A congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the entirety of CARP implementation; and 11) stronger sanctions and penalties for non-implementation of the law on the part of DAR and other implementing agencies and for non-compliance with the law on the part of both landowners and farmers. (Babes Jacob-Rebultan/PIA-MisOrOccCam)
Mayor Jaraula cites key role of Lupon members in resolving bgy. cases
CITY Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula yesterday lauded the members of the Lupong Tagapamayapa in Cagayan de Oro for playing a key role in the country’s judicial system and nation-building.
Speaking before participants in the one-day orientation/seminar on Katarungang Pambarangay Law, Mayor Jaraula stressed that despite having a limited jurisdiction in the disposition of cases filed, Lupong Tagapamayapa handle bulk of cases even bigger than the local courts.
Due to its heavy workload to resolve variety of cases involving conflicts and disputes in the barangay level, Mayor Jaraula emphasized that the Lupong Tagapamayapa has played an important role in the country’s judicial system by relieving the courts in handling and resolving thousands of cases.
The one-day activity, facilitated by the Community Affairs Division of the City Mayor’s Office under OIC Raul Sabuero, is the first of a series of trainings/seminars for all Lupon members of the city in order to learn effective ways in resolving and understanding human conflicts; duties and functions; coverage in settlement of cases, procedural requirements; settlement procedures and submission of pertinent forms and reports, among others
On September 12, Lupon Tagapamayapa members from barangays Bonbon, Barangay 5, Barangay 6, Barangay 7, Barangay 17, Barangay 19, Agusan, Bugo, FS Catanico and Macabalan are expected to attend the training.
Other training schedule are as follow: September 17 – Cugman, Lapasan, Barangay 21, Barangay 27, Barangay 22, Barangay 23, Barangay 24, Barangay 25, Barangay 26 and Barangay 28.
September 19 – Nazareth, Puntod, Barangay 8, Barangay 9 and Barangay 40; September 24 - Barangay 10, Barangay 11, Barangay 12, Barangay 31 and Barangay 32; September 26 – Barangay 35, Barangay 37, Barangay 38 and Barangay 39.
October 1 – Baikingon, San Simon, Balulang, Bayanga, Iponan, Lumbia, Mambuaya, Pagatpat, Taglimao and Besigan. (Cagayan de Oro City Information Office/PIA-MisOrOccCam i-Net)
Jaraula to lead twin affair at Tourism Hall today
CAGAYAN de Oro City Mayor Constantino G. Jaraula will lead City Hall officials and employees in a twin affair--the “Tribute for City Librarian Myrna F. Acedera” and the “Athletes’ Night and Awarding Ceremony” today, September 11, 5:00 p.m., at the City Tourism Hall.
During the occasion, Mayor Jaraula, to be assisted by department heads and chiefs of office, will present a Plaque of Recognition to Acedera who recently retired from government service after serving the local government and the people of Cagayan de Oro for 33 years.
A surprise number from personnel of the City Public Library and a photo session with the honoree will shortly follow after the plaque presentation.
The second part of the affair will be the presentation of the different teams that participated in the year-round City Hall Sportsfest and Physical Fitness Program by Secretary to the Mayor and the city’s former Kabataang Barangay Federation President Rogelio “Jigs” Jaraula.
A brief review of the city government’s sports competition (men’s basketball, men and women’s volleyball, men and women’s table tennis, men and women’s badminton, dart and chess) for all City Hall employees will be given by Engr. Isidro Borja, City Hall Sports Coordinator.
Mayor Jaraula is expected to deliver an inspirational message to the athletes-employees and at the same time award the prizes to the winners of the different sporting events.
A simple dinner and dance party will cap the whole night’s affair. (Cagayan de Oro City Information Office/PIA-MisOrOccCam i-Net)
‘Musika Para Sa Kinaiyahan’ set in Tangub City
IN an effort to inspire the youth to be involved in the campaign for rehabilitating the environment, the Sangguniang Kabataan is staging a Battle of the Bands focusing on the theme “Musika Para Sa Kinaiyan (Music For Nature)” as among the highlights of the city fiesta of Tangub in Misamis Occidental on September 29.
This event is considered unique since the participants will sing environmental songs for the youth to inculcate the significance and importance of our Mother Nature, aside from being a call for global warming awareness and its implication, which is everyone’s concern today.
Unlike last year, the Battle of the Bands will hold only one elimination round. All participants will compete on September 15. Only six contingents will be allowed to the final round on the evening of September 29.
Participants are expected to present either their own compositions or picked from other music artists as long as the content is about caring for nature—in English, Tagalog or Cebuano.
Only a maximum of three songs are allowed for each band.
The top three bands will receive cash prizes and trophies during the awarding ceremony on September 29. (Richly Tagbacaula, Tangub City Information Office/PIA-Tangub City i-Net)
No comments:
Post a Comment