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Home arrow Programmes arrow Commons arrow 300 farmers rally to oppose 'CARP land as collateral' measure
300 farmers rally to oppose 'CARP land as collateral' measure PDF Print E-mail
By Jonathan L. Mayuga

Originally published in the Business Mirror, September 4, 2008.


SOME 300 farmers belonging to Reform CARP Movement (RCM) picketed the House of Representatives compound at the Batasan Complex in Quezon City on Wednesday to oppose the passage of bills allowing the use of CARP-awarded land as collateral.

A broad coalition of small farmer organizations, nongovernment organizations and other agrarian-reform advocates, RCM is also pushing for the immediate enactment of the CARP extension with reforms bills.

Public hearings were set to deliberate on the proposed farmland as collateral bills and other related measures on Wednesday.


RCM explained that several civil society organizations have already previously raised their stiff opposition to the proposed farmland as collateral bills.

"Adopting an investment liberalization strategy, such as the collateralization of farmlands in a situation where most farmers have poor economic conditions, are affected by vagaries of the weather and the lingering effects of the global food and oil crisis, will only result in the massive bankruptcy of agrarian-reform beneficiaries [ARBs] and the subsequent foreclosure of agricultural lands.

This will then pave the way for some unscrupulous landlords to reconsolidate the foreclosed lands and reverse the gains already achieved under the agrarian-reform program," said Pakisama national president Crispin Aguelo.

Among the farmland as collateral bills that RCM opposed are House Bill (HB) 32, filed by Rep. Jose Carlos Lacson; HB 1868, filed by Rep. Monico Puentevella, and HB 2707, filed by Rep. Iggy Arroyo.

Instead of pushing for the farmland as collateral bills, RCM recommended for government to provide support services to ARBs, such as irrigation facilities, farm-to-market roads, postharvest facilities and collateral-free crop production loans with concessional or below-market interest rates.

RCM reiterated its call for the government to speed up the enactment of the CARP extension with reforms bills.

Samahang Magsasaka ng Macabud chairman Elvie Baladad explained that, "If enacted, the CARP extension with reforms bills, as contained in HB 4077, will help distribute 1.3 million hectares of CARP-covered agricultural lands to an estimated 800,000 ARBs within five years and provide them greater access to credit without requiring them to use their lands as collateral."

On the other hand, RCM recommended for Congress to remove nonagricultural alternative modes of compliance and provide stiffer penalties under Presidential Decree 717, or the agri-agra law, to help provide farmers greater access to credit.

"The government should provide these policy measures to ensure the delivery of credit from private financial institutions to the farmers for their productive undertakings," said Paragos-Pilipinas chairman Ka Jimmy Tadeo.

RCM vowed to intensify its campaign and lobby in the House of Representatives for the passage of the CARP extension with reforms bills.

"If the government is truly intent in its commitment to make agrarian reform as its centerpiece asset reform and social justice agenda, there is no better way to prove it than to pass into law the CARP extension with reforms bills," Maning del Rosario, another farmer leader, said.

http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/09042008/economy07.html
 
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