Time running out for CARP extension bill – Nograles

MANILA, Philippines - Speaker Prospero Nograles on Tuesday called for the consolidation of all proposals for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to ensure these could be acted on before the law expires in December. "We cannot afford to let the country's agrarian reform program go to waste. We have to correct, or redirect programs under the CARP law as demanded by current situations," Nograles said in a statement. He expressed deep concern over the fact that amendment proposals “…are coming only in trickles." “We only have three months left and we need to finalize all the CARP law extension measures, (and that) we don't want to end up cramming and rushing again just to beat the December deadline. What I want is for us to have a CARP extension law that is acceptable to everyone before December 31." He said he was aware that standing committees were all focused on the on-going deliberation on the proposed P1.41-trillion 2009 General Appropriations Act, but he noted that the Department of Agrarian Reform - which administers the CARP - needs to adjust its funding proposal if an extension of the agrarian law is passed. "DAR is asking for its budget, but if we cannot pass the extension law for the simple reason that we still cannot find a win-win solution for the impasse on CARP, we will be providing appropriations for a program that will cease to exist on December 31. Our country needs this CARP especially now that our thrust is food productivity," he said. The Speaker assured the public that the House "will surely find time" for the proposed measure, adding that the CARP extension bill should not just be about distributing lands to the landless but it should also assure beneficiaries of government support to make the lands productive. House Bill 4077 is still open to refinements as it has yet to hurdle plenary interpellation. When the measure was last discussed and debated on in plenary days before the formal submission by Malacañang of the proposed national budget, the body decided to form a committee that would collate all amendment proposals from stakeholders through their respective representatives. "We have yet to receive the various proposals which will be consolidated by the House Committee on Agrarian Reform chaired by Rep. Elias Bulut, Jr.," Nograles said. - Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV