A coalition of agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Occidental yesterday cried foul over claims that they are to blame for the supposed failure of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Convenors of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Initiative for Negros Empowerment said in a press conference in Bacolod City yesterday that they could not just ignore the accusations of landowners and local government officials that they should be faulted for agrarian reform-related violence and for the decline in land tax collections.

"We do not implement the program, we are beneficiaries. We're just waiting for the government and the landowners' action. So why are we being blamed for the failure of CARP," Edith Tagun, member of CARBINE's Council of Convenors, said.

Negros Trade Fair
goes to Rockwell

The Association of Negros Producers will hold its 21st Negros Trade Fair Sept. 22 to 26, at the Rockwell Tent in Makati City, a press release from ANP said.

This year's trade exposition theme is "Gifts of Life," and underlines the key role of the ANP as a business service organization and its mission to help build small to medium-sized enterprises in the province, with the end goal of helping generate employment, and contributing to a better economy for Negros, it said.

"ANP is a testimony that there is hope for displaced workers, and a chance at generating better employment for these workers," Olive Hofileña-Javier, operations manager of the ANP Showroom, said in the press release. The Negros Trade Fair will showcase the best creative output of 75 ANP producers, with the most unique and creative product designs on display, ranging from furniture and furnishings; gifts and novelty items, fashion accessories, food, basketry, garments and indigenous handicrafts.

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