Bishop hits PNoy's inaction over CARP distribution

MANILA, Philippines - An official of the Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines on Wednesday expressed dismay over the inaction of President Benigno Aquino III on CBCP's queries regarding the expiration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program law in June.

This despite the assurance of the Department of Agrarian Reform that it would still distribute land to the farmer beneficiaries of the program beyond June 2014.

CBCP-Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs Bishop Broderick Pabillo said more than five years had already passed but the government has yet to fully implement the CARP law.

"Ipinapaalala sa kanya(Aquino) na ang baba ng kanyang accomplishment sa CARP. Kaya nga may panawagan tayo na magkaroon ng congressional commission na titingin kung bakit ganun ang nangyari.

"Isang panawagan din yung ayusin ang administrasyon ng Department of Agrarian Reform dahil inefficient ang DAR sa pagtupad ng kanyang programa sa land reform at pansinin yung mga human rights violations na nangyayari sa mga farmers beneficiary," Pabillo, also National Secretariat for Social Action Justice and Peace director, told Radyo Veritas.

 Pabillo also urged the government to immediately  install the farmer beneficiaries who have already secured the certificate of land ownership award.

"Hindi pa nai-install pati nga yung Hacienda Luisita hindi pa nai-install. Kung maaaring ma-extend ay ma-extend ang CARP law pero dapat ang panahon ngayon ay talagang i-maximized dahil kahit i-extend mo yan pero kung ganun din na hindi nila mina-maximized hindi talaga sila seryoso sa pagpapatupad ay walang mangyayari," the prelate said.

President Aquino has yet to reply to the letter the CBCP sent to the chief executive regarding the CARP issue and land distribution,  Pabillo said.

As this developed, Church officials will be supporting the upcoming protest action at Malacanan compound in Manila and DAR office in Quezon City by farmer and peasant groups from different parts of the country.

“Tatlong grupo na ng mga magsasaka mula sa iba’t-ibang panig ng bansa ang nasa Metro Manila. Iikot sila sa Malakanyang, kakalampagin nila ang DAR,".the bishop said.

Based on CBCP-NASSA data, around 78,000 hectares of land every year since 2011 have been the backlog in the distribution under the CARP for around 51,000 farmer beneficiaries in the country.