Study: CARP failed to attain targets

BACOLOD CITY – After 18 years of implementation in Negros Occidental, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program failed to attain its immediate goals to provide for the welfare of target beneficiaries, a study commissioned by the provincial government showed.

An executive summary of the CARP evaluation study was released yesterday by Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Joseph Maranon, following a dialogue with several agrarian reform beneficiaries from La Castellana, Sagay and Murcia at the Provincial Capitol building here.

The group, represented by the Dagyaw Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Action Center, are appealing for government support to ensure productivity in the land they were awarded with.

Virgie Betches of Dagyaw said there are threats that their lands will be taken away from them if they fail to pay their amortization and real property taxes.

The farmers have received notices for RPT collection from their respective municipal assessor’s offices and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

They said that while they recognize their obligation to pay, they are saddled with debts that it will be impossible for them to settle these payments at this time. 

Betches said that because there were no support services given to them by the Department of Agrarian Reform they were forced to borrow money with exorbitant interests so that they can buy fertilizer and pay farmhands help out in their farms.