Agrarian reform beneficiaries in Negros Occidental sought the support of Gov. Isidro Zayco for their petition to the Department of Agrarian Reform and the House of Representatives to conduct a hearing on the proposed extension of CARP.

In a letter to the Governor’s Office, ARBs from La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Murcia asked the governor to recommend their petition to DAR and the House Committee on Agrarian Reform.

The group said the public hearing should be held in agrarian reform areas where problems exist and where stakeholders can attend so that an effective legislation for the extension of CARP will be realized.

PARO Teresita Depeñoso had said earlier that while indicators are favorable, it will be impossible for Congress to pass a new CARP bill before it expires in June this year.

Most likely, it will be extended for six to 10 years as much more remains to be done as far as land reform program is concerned all over the country, especially in Negros Occidental, Depeñoso said.

Even if CARP expires in June, the land reform program will continue as this is provided in the Constitution, she added.

However, Depeñoso admitted that the varying opinions in the House of Representatives over the implementation of CARP delayed the passage of a bill to extend the program.

She said the seven bills filed in congress presented different versions of CARP implementation and the House Committee is having a hard time consolidating these proposals.

Still, Depeñoso said, ARBs will just have to wait for the new CARP law to be enacted for the program to continue.*NAB

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