Continued implementation of CARP is top govt priority

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday said the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with reforms will be the government's top priority, even as she hailed the success of CARP implementation in past years. In her eighth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Arroyo said: "Indeed, people are happier owning the land they work no matter what difficulties." President Arroyo noted that the target of awarding 2,000 hectares of land to poor farmers which she presented in 2001 has been exceeded by her administration. She noted that since 2001, more than 850,000 hectares of private farmlands have been distributed, while over 790,000 hectares of public farmlands have been awarded. "Di hamak na mahigit sa target ang naipimigay natin," President Arroyo said. In her SONA, President Arroyo said the "implementation of CARP with reforms is our top priority," noting that agrarian reform was first introduced by her father, the late President Diosdado Macapagal. President Arroyo also indicated that sweeping reforms will be implemented at the Department of Agrarian Reforms, saying "I want the rackets out of DAR." Responding to complaints by poor farmers on various problems in the implementation of CARP, President Arroyo also said: "There must be a place where progress and justice converge. Be with me on this, let's find it before Christmas," she said. - GMANews.TV