CARP extension bid draws flak from farmers

MANILA, Philippines - The plan to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for six months through a joint resolution by both chambers of Congress drew flak from farmers Tuesday. The farmers, belonging to Task Force Mapalad, said that the move was a mere "palliative" that would only prolong their wait for a genuine CARP. “The 6-month extension on CARP is just a palliative measure. Why can’t they pass it now? Why can’t it be five years? Is this another maneuver of the land-owning class legislators?" Jose Rodito Angeles, president of the Task Force Mapalad (TFM), asked. The TFM chief, along with religious leaders, are participating in a hunger strike being held in front of the House of Representatives. “Last June 10, both houses passed a similar resolution but CARP implementation was virtually paralyzed. Many landholdings were not distributed including the Arroyo lands. So we are not hoping that farmers like us will benefit from this act of both Chambers. What we want is a genuine extension of CARP with land acquisition and distribution (LAD) that includes compulsory acquisition. That is a non-negotiable for us," he added. Lawmakers on Tuesday announced that they would be coming out with a Joint Resolution to extend the CARP for another six months or until June 30, 2009. The move was announced a day before Congress goes on recess. The LAD clause of the CARP technically expired last June. However, this was extended until the end of this year through Joint Resolution No. 21. - GMANews.TV