Capiz town celebrates farmers’ day

by A. Lumaque

Roxas City (7 August) — About 500 farmers joined the annual Farmers’ Day celebration at Dadivas Civic Center in Panit-an, Capiz today as part of the town’s preparatory activities for its upcoming fiesta on August 10.

The activity showcased the farmers various crop harvests as well as recognized the contribution of farmers in the town’s economy.

Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco graced the celebration which also introduced new rice variety to the farmers.

The day-long activity, organized by the Panit-an municipal government led by Mayor Katherine D. Belo, is in time with the signing of the consolidated version of the bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) by another five years.

President Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo is set to sign today the CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Bill in Bulacan as part of the government’s reply to the pleas of farmers and workers in the agricultural sector for more time to fully implement the CARP, which expired June last year.

CARP, the land redistribution scheme mandated by Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, expired in December 2008 at which time, Congress adopted a joint resolution extending the CARP for six more months, or until June 2009, to allow the Department of Agrarian Reform to continue its mandated tasks pending the enactment of a new law to extend the operation of the program.

Under the CARPER Bill, P100-billion has been allocated as outlay for land acquisition and distribution, support services, agrarian justice delivery, and other funding requirements during the extension period.

The bill likewise covers all public and private agricultural lands as provided in Proclamation 131 and Executive Order No. 229, including other lands of the public domain suitable for agriculture.

The measure stipulates that prioritization of coverage “is not necessary” and that after June 30, 2009, the modes of acquisition will be limited to voluntary offer to sell and compulsory acquisition.

The bill further provides for the creation of a joint congressional oversight committee to be composed of three members each from the Senate and the House. (PIA)