Sunday 22 June 2014

PIA News Dispatch - Saturday, June 14, 2014

Palace assures farmers land distribution will continue despite expiration of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program

The Palace made an assurance on Saturday that land acquisition and distribution will continue despite the expected expiration of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Law this month.

Some farmer groups said that the expiration of the law will affect land distribution in the country and especially poor farmers who rely on parcels of land they till.

In a radio interview Saturday over state-run dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President certified the CARP extension bill as urgent but Congress failed to act on it.

Despite this development however, Valte said the Department of Agrarian Reform continues to issue Notices of Coverage for the land distribution.

What is important is the issuance of Notices of Coverage for lands covered by CARP and despite the expiration on June 30 this year, land acquisition and distribution could continue, she said.

"Medyo paspasan na talaga ang DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) dahil palapit na ang deadline. At kung mapapansin niyo sa inyong mga pahayagan ay halos araw-araw may makikita kayong napa-publish na Notice of Coverage at mahahaba ho ‘yung mga pangalan," she said.

The Palace official said the public could view at the DAR's website how many hectares of land were already processed by the department and also the number of Notices of Coverage that have been issued. DAR's website is www.dar.gov.ph.


Farmers should not worry, she said, noting the efforts being made by DAR for the program to benefit the people. PND (as)