Group to block amendments to CARP

The multi-sectoral National Anti-Poverty Council (NAPC) has vowed to block government’s efforts to amend the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

NAPC representative Sonny Domingo said recent proposals to introduce changes in the CARP will destroy the intent of the program.

"Instead of distributing lands, the end-result will be a land return program,"’ said Domingo.

In her state of the nation address, President Arroyo mentioned that government will be pushing for several amendments to CARP, among them accepting farm lands as collateral for bank loans.

"We already have a situation where a big number of farm lands are now virtually back in the hands of former landowners and even informal lenders. This is because the supposed beneficiaries were never really given the required financial and technical support to become real landowners. Giving back to former landowners through the proposed bill making CARP lands as collateral for loans will bring the program back to zero," Domingo said.

Interestingly, the NAPC is chaired by President Arroyo and is composed of several councils. The farmers’ sectoral council, for instance, counsels the President on issues affecting farmers’ and fisherfolks’ interests.

The Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Reform had previously backed several bills that sought amendments to Republic Act 6657 or the CARP law, particularly on making agricultural lands covered by CARP to become acceptable as loan collateral.

The Agricultural Credit and Policy Council, an attached agency of the DA said earlier that amending CARP will effectively address concerns about the inadequate or absence of collateral for loans of the program beneficiaries.

ACPC had opposed the 10-year moratorium on the saleability of land under RA 6657.

Under CARP, land reform beneficiaries are prohibited from selling, transferring or conveying certificates of land ownership award (CLOAS) and emancipation titles (EPs) for a period of 10 years.