‘Congress should enact genuine land reform law’

MANILA, Philippines - Congress should enact a genuine agrarian reform law that would address the problems on land acquisition and distribution, security of tenure and support services to farmers, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano said yesterday.

“Pending legislative measures, which seek the continuation of land acquisition and distribution will not be enough to meet the basic needs of farmers,” Mariano said.

He endorsed the passage of House Bill 555, saying it would rectify the problems faced by agrarian reform beneficiaries.

HB 114 authored by Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat and HB 3051 introduced by Representatives Kaka Bag-ao, Gabriel Bordado and Tomasito Villarin proposed the continuation and completion of land acquisition and distribution component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

While the bills seek to correct the flaws of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER), the DAR said the measures would include landholdings that have not been issued Notices of Coverage (NOC) from June 30, 2014 until the effectivity of the law.

The proposed measures only cover 88,643 hectares that have not been issued NOCs and with no petitions for coverage from the balance of 1.2 million hectares in 2009, Mariano said.

“If the purpose of these bills is to place under coverage those which have not been touched by CARP or CARPER, then it is only reasonable to adopt a new law that would provide a much comprehensive land acquisition and distribution coverage,” Mariano said.