While not opposing the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, two Negros Occidental lawmakers have proposed a compromise bill intended to save the country's traditional agricultural export industries from collapse, a press statement from the House of Representatives said yesterday.

"In order to be competitive in the global market we have to adopt the time-tested dictum of economy of scale," Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), said, adding that their move is in consonance with Speaker Prospero Nograles' call for the consolidation of perfecting amendments to the CARP law.

Marañon, chairman of the House Committee on Aquaculture and Fisheries, and Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, (Neg. Occ., 4th District)   filed House Bill 5038 which seeks to amend Republic Act 6657 by exempting lands actually, directly and exclusively used for production of agricultural products for export purposes, except those already covered by the program prior to the possible of the amending law (HB 5038).

The press statement added that Marañon said, "I am expecting our colleagues in the House to respond positively to the Speaker Nograles' call to come forward with their respective proposals for possible incorporation into the CARP extension bill which is under the period of interpellation by plenary."

Ferrer noted that R.A. 6657 was enacted in 1988 primarily to increase agricultural production, reduce poverty and enhancing the dignity and quality of life of farmers and farm workers and to promote rural development and industrialization.

By December this year, the CARL, which was originally intended to last only ten years, will be 20 years in effect, and more than P130-billion pesos spent under the supervision of the Department of Agrarian Reform, the press release said.

Congress is now faced with the issue of whether to extend the life of the CARL and provide huge funds or just allow it to expire. The plenary hall of Congress, Marañon said, must be the stage for a national debate on the issue and let the superior idea come out in the interest of the people, the press release said.

"Let not the CARL law dissipate our dollar-earning agricultural export. We can exempt lands for the agricultural export products without killing the CARL," Marañon said in the same press release.*

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