Timeline: Land distribution under CARP

July 22, 1987—President Corazon Aquino issues Presidential Proclamation No. 131 and Executive Order No. 229 calling for a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

June 10, 1988—Aquino enacts the CARP through Republic Act No. 6657, seeking a more equitable distribution of agricultural lands to farmers and farm workers. The program is initially set for 10 years. A total of 9.12 million hectares is earmarked to be distributed to farmers by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (3.96 million ha) and the Department of Agrarian Reform (5.16 million ha).

1998—The program fails to distribute all lands within its self-imposed deadline, and is extended for another 10 years.

December 2008—the Senate and the House adopt a joint resolution provisionally extending CARP pending the enactment of a new law.

Aug. 7, 2009—President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signs CARP Extension with Reforms, or Carper law, for another five years—from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2014.

February 2010—President Aquino, at the start of his national campaign, promised to complete the distribution of over a million ha of private lands during the five-year extension period.

As of December 2013—The DAR had distributed 405,206 ha out of the 1.2 million ha target over the five-year extension.–Ana Roa, Inquirer Research

Sources: Inquirer Archives