CEBU, Philippines - Nacionalista Party standard bearer Manuel Villar said he will complete the agrarian reform program that was started more than two decades ago but has not been completed up to this day.
In his comprehensive Governance Matrix, Villar highlights the importance of agricultural development as a cornerstone in carrying out the goal of poverty alleviation.
Part of achieving agricultural growth is to have an effective land distribution and thoroughgoing land reform, which are vital elements of a comprehensive strategy for economic and social development.
“We cannot allow creative schemes and imaginative methods to circumvent the intent of the agrarian reform law. The landed gentry have delayed the agrarian reform too long and the farmer beneficiaries have been waiting in vain,” Villar’s Governance Matrix indicated.
Moreover, in Villar’s platform, he identifies equal opportunities not just for the farmers that till the land, but also for the land owners that were subjected to the land reform law.
“The aim is to provide land to the landless tillers in recognition of the long years of diligent labor that farmers and farm workers have put in order to harness and in making the lands productive… Government must compensate small and medium landowners who were not indemnified but were covered by the current land reform program and to pursue land distribution with compensation to the remaining land owners covered by the land reform law. Business opportunities shall likewise be offered to landowners parting with their lands.”
With a Villar administration, possible joint ventures will be offered to land owners to encourage the development of new and competitive industries that will provide employment opportunities, stable revenue source, and a vehicle for the growth of our export industry.
For existing CARP beneficiaries, Villar says they should have access to rural finance and technical support to improve land productivity and generate income. “Farmer beneficiaries who have arrears in amortization shall be given the opportunity for relief or condonation of their debts.”
Villar’s Governance Matrix was created by the Global Filipino Nation (GFN), which was drawn from the many speeches and interviews given by the NP standard bearer. GFN has invited other presidential candidates to provide inputs for their respective Governance Matrices.
GFN is an international organization of global Filipino leaders and organizations committed to “Building the Global Filipino Nation for Good Governance.” Its Conveners reside in 30 countries, including the Philippines.
Villar likewise assured the people that what is being promised in his infomercials such such ending poverty, provide jobs, better health and education services and especially to provide for employment will be implemented under his administration within the six years period.
The NP standard bearer said his platform of government is mainly focus on alleviating the condition of the poor which is not an impossible thing to implement as he has the experience, knowledge and the skills in leading this country.
“Alam ko ang aking ginagawa at alam ko kung ano ang makabubuti sa bayan, bawat proyekto at desisyon ay masusing pag-aaralan dahil hindi dapat magkamali at walang pundong maaaksaya. What the people should do is to trust and believed what they have seen on my infomercials,” said Villar as he countered all his critics who kept on attacking his infomercials, whom he described that it came from his heart. —PR /LPM (THE FREEMAN)