DAR chief: No need for special session on CARP

MANILA, Philippines - Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman on Wednesday dismissed call for a special session for the proposal to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Pangandaman made the remark during in a briefing in Malacañang where he said that even if the bill is not passed within the year, neither the Department of Agrarian Reform or the CARP would be abolished as both would continue to operate December 2008. He said that what is set to lapse in December is the Land Acquisition and Distribution component of CARP. He said the two other components – the support service program, and the dealings of agrarian justice - would continue to be implemented by DAR. He also clarified that CARP would not lapse on June 15 after it was extended up to December 2008 when Republic Act No. 6657, or the 1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), was amended in 1998. Pangdaman said that with the commitment of Congress to pass the House Bill 4077 when Congress reopens in July, he is confident that it would be extended. He said that the House of Representatives even passed a resolution Tuesday night expressing its commitment to pass HB 4077 when it resumes sessions in July. He said the resolution also clarifies that the CARP has not expired in June but would be in effect until the end of the year. He said the misunderstanding stemmed from the time the RA 6657 was passed on June 10, 1988 and took effect on June 15. He said some thought it would expire exactly 10 years after the extension became a law. "They decided to come up with a resolution last night habang tinatalakay itong panukalang batas na ito dahil ang kanilang tingin ay magtatapos pa sa December this year, so mayroon pa silang panahon para matalakay iyong mga proposed amendments. Therefore, instead of passing the bill last night ang ginawa nila nagpasa sila ng resolution saying that they will further deliberate on the proposed amendments as they will need more time to study this," he said. Pangandaman said that CARP needs to be extended for at least another five years to give the government enough time for the acquisition and distribution of the remaining 1.8 million hectares under the program. Of the 1.8 million hectares, 1.2 million hectares of which would be acquired and distributed by DAR and the 600,000 hectares by the department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Under CARP the DAR oversees the acquisition and distribution of private agricultural land while DENR handles public lands.- GMANews.TV