Capiceños support CARP extension
ROXAS CITY – This city was host to the recent Consultative Meeting of the Senate Committee on Agrarian Reform on the Proposed CARP Extension. Held at Nesta's Hilltop Hotel on May 2, 2008, the meeting was led by Sen. Gregorio B. Honasan II, Chairperson on Senate Committee on Agrarian Reform. The meeting was attended by 500 participants, more or less, coming from the four provinces of Panay, Guimaras, two provinces of Negros and in some parts of Cebu.
The invocation was led by Rev. Father Aristides S. Pedrajas, Social Action Director of the Archdiocese of Capiz. As LGU host of the meeting, Gov. Victor A. Tanco of the Province of Capiz and Hon. Antonio A. Del Rosario, Congressman, 1st District of the said province, welcomed the participants and gave their messages in support of the extension of CARP beyond 2008. The program will end on June this year.
The meeting was participated by the following sectors: local government units, landowners, beneficiaries, cooperatives, non-government organizations, religious, civic, academe and employees of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). Majority of the sectoral leaders and representatives of their designated groups pronounced their strong support to extend CARP beyond 2008. There are a few who lambasted the CARP, "as it is not a genuine agrarian reform for the poor," they said. There was a comment that "the consultative meeting on the proposed CARP extension is somewhat useless and maybe another form of political gimmick by the government in preparation for the 2010 election."
But just like the majority of the participants, the participants from Capiz still believe in the program and are for the extension of CARP. However, a "true reform is needed" so that the program will be truly beneficial to the farmers/beneficiaries.