MANILA (Mindanao Examiner / Feb. 4, 2012) An organization of farmers and farm workers called Task Force Mapalad (TFM) said it would hold a nationwide campaign in Negros province starting on Monday to urge the Aquino administration to complete the government’s agrarian reform program.
The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law signed in 2009 mandates the completion of CARP. An additional P150 billion was authorized by Congress for the completion of land acquisition and distribution of 1,034,661 hectares to be distributed in five years from 2009 to 2014.
TFM President Alberto Jayme said “The President should break his deafening silence on agrarian reform and make a bold move for the completion of the program in view of the disheartening performance of DAR under Secretary Gil delos Reyes.”
At the end of 2010, DAR reported an accomplishment of 154,007 hectares out of the total 1,034,661 hectares beginning balance in July 2009. And for 2011, out of the total 210,323 hectares targeted for land distribution, only 86,209 hectares or 41% were distributed.
Jayme lamented that while Negros Occidental has the highest backlog at 135,199 hectares, DAR was able to distribute only 1,151 hectares or 5 percent of its 23,323 hectare-target in 2011.
Data from DAR revealed that in Davao Oriental only 439 hectares or 32 percent were distributed out of the 1,389 hectare target for 2011. In North and South Bukidnon, the DAR accomplishment rate was only 25 and 9 percent, respectively.
“Time is running out, perhaps a bold statement of desire to complete the CARPER from the President will inspire and correct the extreme inefficiency of the DAR frontliners,” Jayme said.
About 5,000 TFM members from 330 organized haciendas in 19 municipalities in Negros will start the “Lakbayan” from their respective villages on February 6. They will converge in Bacolod City on February 8 and their representatives will begin their campaign in Manila on February 10.
“Hacienda-level preparations have started; our members are now writing down their demands using old sacks in support of the nationwide campaign,” Jayme said. “They strongly believe that proactive actions are needed to put agrarian reform and social justice in the priority list of the present administration.”
While the fast-tracking of land acquisition and distribution is the major demand of the farmers, they will also demand from the government the mandated provision of support services for CARP beneficiaries.
Jayme said they have learned that DAR already spent P200 million for trainings but no direct support services for farmer-beneficiaries.
On February 10, a protest-camp will be set up at the agrarian office in Quezon City where TFM farmers from Bukidnon, Davao provinces, Batangas and other provinces will join the Negros farmers.
“Kung ang CARPER ay basketball, may last two minutes nalang ang gubyerno hanggang 2014,” Jayme said.
Jayme challenged President Aquino with these words: “CARP was President Cory’s centerpiece program. He must not make as his rest-in-piece program”
“We call on our fellow farmers to join us in this campaign to pursue the mandates of CARPER. We urge our fellow farmers to stand their ground in this battle for social justice,” Jayme said.
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