House vows to approve Carp extension bill by June

MANILA, Philippines – The House of Representatives is set to approve on third and final reading by June the bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp), Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said.

In a text message, Gonzales said President Benigno Aquino III met with some lawmakers interested in Carp and agreed to pass House Bill 4296 authorizing the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to issue notice of coverages to lands covered by the department but not issued before the Carp expiry last June 30, 2014.

Gonzales said the House will approve it on third reading on or before it goes on sine die adjournment in June.

“The President this morning met with some members of the House who are interested in Carp and there was an agreement to complete the Land Reform Program by Authorizing DAR to issue NOCs (notice of coverages) to lands covered by the DAR list but were not issued NOC’s before June 30, 2014. DAR will give the final list before we resume in May,” Gonzales said.

“We will take it up and approve it on or before sine die adjournment,” he added.

Gonzales was criticized by poor farmers from Task Force Mapalad for refusing to calendar the bill for plenary discussion even though the Rules Committee has already received the committee report.

HB 4296 seeks to renew the authority of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to issue notices of coverage and provide adequate funding for support services to agricultural landholdings not yet placed under Carp.

A complementary bill, HB 4375, is meanwhile, seeks to establish an independent Agrarian Reform Commission that would review the CARP’s accomplishments and investigate violations of the agrarian reform law.