INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The House of Representatives has sat on the bill calling for the extension and reform of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) even though its backers outnumber those who oppose the measure, 67-44, according to data released by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) legislative affairs office.
Based on its “mapping list” as of Feb. 18 this year, the anti-CARP 44 are made up of the House’s most powerful (Majority Leader Neptali Gonzalez Jr. and Tarlac Rep. Enrique Cojuangco), the richest (Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, Negros Occidental Rep. Julio Ledesma IV, Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar, Rizal Rep. Joel Duavit, Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Violago, Iloilo Rep. Oscar Garin Jr.), most radical (Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Javier Colmenares, Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, Gabriela Rep. Emerciana A. de Jesus, Gabriela Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan, Anak Pawis Rep. Fernando Hicap, Kabataan Rep. Terry Ridon), and other lawmakers mostly from Negros, Cebu and Davao.
A source from the DAR released the agency’s mapping list to show the battle lines in Congress after 81 bishops appealed to President Aquino to convince House leaders to pass House Bill No. 4296—which would extend the 27-year old agrarian reform program for another two years—and its complementary House Bill No. 4375—which would create an Agrarian Reform Commission—before the end of his term in 2016.
The mapping list showed 179 of the 290 members in Congress were undecided on CARP’s extension.
In a text message, Gonzales questioned the basis of the DAR’s mapping list, noting that he had no reason to oppose the measure. But he confirmed that House leaders were reluctant to lobby for it because of the broad opposition to the bill.
“My job is to give any measure reported out by any committee a chance of being approved in plenary. In fact I even helped the committee last year to report out the HB that was certified by the President,” Gonzalez said.
He explained that the bill lost its priority status after the committee on agrarian reform reported out a substitute bill that was different from the original House bill.
“It not only lost the certification value [made] by the President, being a different bill, but it likewise met vehement opposition from various government agencies including CHEd (Commission on Higher Education), SUCs (state universities and colleges) and Department of National Defense,” Gonzales said.
He said he tried to have the committee come out with the original bill last year but it was submitted after Congress adjourned sine die last year.
“Considering that a lot of the members of the House, both from the minority and substantial number from the majority, have indicated their opposition to it, there was no way we can approve it on second and third readings,” Gonzalez said.
He said the CARP bill was facing the same stiff opposition as it did a year ago.
“Unless we see able bodies of the members of the House supporting it physically present, guaranteeing the presence of the quorum each and every time it will be taken up, floor leaders will have a hard time to shepherd its interpellation, especially its approval,” said Gonzales, who noted that discussions on less controversial items, such as the antitrust bill, have been having difficulties forming a quorum.
He said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. had not been remiss in his duty to ensure that the bill would be taken in plenary, as he had been appealing to members to support the bill but to no avail.
Genuine reform
Colmenares explained that the Makabayan bloc members opposed CARP not because they wanted to end agrarian reform; they wanted Congress to adopt House Bill No. 252, or the Genuine Agrarian Reform (GAR) bill, to take over the fake CARP.
“CARP is the longest, bloodiest and most expensive land reform program in the world. This fake CARP creates an illusion of land reform but has so many loopholes that even if they extend it for another 27 years it will never be completed,” he said.
Colmenares said data showed that the number of landless farmers had increased in the last three decades from 70 percent to 80 percent as landlords refused to let go of their inherited properties.
“We are proven right when we said 27 years ago that CARP was fake because of its loopholes. We hope the government will listen now. It’s about time President Aquino admits its failure and pass the pending GAR Bill,” he said.
The other lawmakers belonging to the anti-CARP 44 are Pangasinan Rep. Carmen “Kimi” Cojuangco, Cagayan Rep. Salvacion “Sally” Ponce-Enrile, Isabela Rep. Napoleon Dy, Tarlac Rep. Susan Yap-Sulit, Albay Rep. Al Francis Bichara, Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Nava, Iloilo Rep. Arcadio Gorriceta, Iloilo City Rep. Jerry Trenas, Negros Occidental Rep. Leo Rafael Cueva, Negros Occidental Rep. Jeffrey Ferrer, Negros Occidental Rep. Alejandro Mirasol, Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr., Cebu Rep. Wilfredo Caminero, Cebu Rep. Benhur Salimbangon, Cebu Rep. Joseph “Ace” Durano, Cebu Rep. Gabriel Quisumbing;
Cebu Rep. Raul del Mar, Negros Oriental Rep. Manuel Iway, Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz, Negros Oriental Rep. Pryde Henry Teves, Leyte Rep. Lucy Gomez, Leyte Rep. Damian Mercado, Northern Samar Rep. Marlin Abayon, Zamboanga Rep. Celso Lobregat, Davao del Norte Rep. Anthony Del Rosario, Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio Lagdameo Jr., Davao del Sur Mercedes Cagas, Davao Oriental Rep. Thelma Almario and 1 Sagip Rep. Erlinda Santiago.
Failed program
“Why zero in on just us? It is not just the Visayan bloc that is against the extension of CARP,” Benitez said last week, referring to the 34 wealthy lawmakers from the region. He stressed that the same position had been taken by the Makabayan group.
He said the Visayan bloc should be convinced that CARP had been a success before it would agree to extend the program.
“We want to know if the program has succeeded or failed because why should we extend a failing program?” he said.
Benitez maintained that the group’s main objective was always the welfare of the farmers. “Existing agrarian reform beneficiaries should be provided support mechanism facilities and capability-building to effectively manage farms,” he said.–With a report from Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
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