MANILA, April 3, 2009— House Speaker Prospero Nograles assured the immediate passage of the bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by June.
After the dialogue last Thursday between lawmakers, Catholic bishops and some farmers, Nograles said they are committed to pass the bill with appropriate reforms.
At least three bishops said they are satisfied with the commitments made by the lower House’s leadership.
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, who joined farmers in a hunger strike in December to press lawmakers to pass the CARP extension bill, said the dialogue was worth it.
“At least we heard their assurance that they will pass the bill for CARP extension with reforms,” he said.
Pabillo is the chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action—Justice and Peace of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo, for his part, said he is hoping the lawmakers would keep their promise.
The bishop said he remains hopeful something good would really come out of it.
Gumaca Bishop Buenaventura Famadico said there is nothing wrong in being hopeful because they were assured by Nograles that the needed measures will be passed by June.
The meeting held at the Speaker’s Conference Room that lasted for nearly two hours was candid yet cordial.
It was also agreed upon during the meeting that the bill would cover all agricultural lands, and that the compulsory acquisition mode, which was removed in a joint resolution approved last December extending CARP until June, would reinstated.
For his part, lawyer Christian Monsod said “I think we’re moving forward.” He described the dialogue as a “productive session.”
Former Agrarian Reform Undersecretary Victor Gerardo Bulatao also said he is very optimistic the bill would be passed in time before the session ends on June 6 this year.
Akbayan Rep. Rizza Hontiveros-Baraquel said the meeting brought hope to all stakeholders because it has reduced doubts and pessimism from the Church leaders, farmers and agrarian reform advocates.
“We are just hoping that they will keep their word,” she said. (Melo M. Acuna)