Rosales to arrange farmers-Arroyo meeting

MANILA, Philippines - Farmers dissatisfied with Congress' version of a measure extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) may get a chance to bring their grievances to President Arroyo. Radio dzBB's Rowena Salvacion reported that Manila archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales made the offer to farmers camped outside the House of Representatives complex in Quezon City. The prelate, who led some bishops in visiting the farmers to sympathize with them, assured them of his support in their cause for land reform. He told the farmers he would try to arrange a meeting between them and President Arroyo, the report said. Farmers pushing for land reform were dismayed over the passage Wednesday night by Congress of a "watered-down" measure to extend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program by six months. Earlier, Manila auxiliary bishop Broderick Pabillo lamented that the measure would give people the wrong impression that CARP had indeed been extended by six months. However, Pabillo noted the measure does not include compulsory acquisition of land, which he said is the heart of CARP.- GMANews.TV