CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Central Luzon farmer-leaders have issued a common statement urging Congress to pass a proposal for free land distribution and “nationalization” of lands nationwide in lieu of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program with reforms (CARPer).
The statement called for the enactment of House Bill 374 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) filed by Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers and Kabataan party lists.
Some 200 farmer-leaders from Central Luzon provinces gathered recently in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija to issue a common demand for the passage of the bill.
“The bill proposes free land distribution and nationalization of agricultural lands in the country, contrary to the present land reform law, Republic Act 9077, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with reforms (CARPer) that obliges farmers to amortize lands turned over to them,” explained Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Gitnang Luzon (AMGL) chair Joseph Canlas.
Canlas described GARB as “the real land reform bill, as it enjoins the centuries-old interest of poor farmers to freely acquire land.”
“CARPer is simply a land brokering deal, where the prices are dictated by the landowners and farmers are not able to cope with paying amortization,” said Canlas who is also regional coordinator for Anakpawis party list.
Canlas lamented that “farmers in the region are usual victims of cancellation of certificate of land ownership awards (CLOAs), certificate of land transfer (CLT) and emancipation patents (EPs).”
“Owners of CARP-covered lands are now filing various petitions at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) simply to re-acquire lands and eject farmer-beneficiaries. In addition, absentee landlords are returning to claim lands dislocating farmers who cultivated for many decades.
This trend is triggered by the continuing land use conversion (LUC) projects in the region such as the construction of highways that add to the value of land, attracting speculators and developers,” he added.
On the other hand, Canlas said “GARB guarantees farmers’ hold on the land.”
“Once the land is distributed, landowners are only to transact with the government, particularly about the just compensation and his or her claim of the land is totally cut off,” Canlas said.
He noted that “CARPer does not embody the significance of agrarian reform and agriculture in our society as it serves the interest of landowners, developers and speculators.
It does not protect the farmers’ cultivation of the land to sustain agricultural and food production in the country. It is an instrument to eject farmers or preserve landowners’ control over the land.”
AMGL and its provincial affiliates, AMGL-Nueva Ecija, Aguman Dareng Maglalautang Capampangan (AMC), Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Tarlak (AMT), Pamana-Aurora, Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulakan (AMB), Amgl-Zambales, Amgl-Bataan and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas – Pangasinan (KMP Pangasinan) signed the common position paper pushing GARB.
Canlas also reported that “Nueva Ecija farmers are facing foreclosure cases and cancellation of CLOAs, CLTs and EPs.”
“Farmers in Guimba town are being ejected by speculators, using CARP provisions. In 3,100-hectares in Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) continues to block the distribution of land to the farmers,” he reported.
He also lamented that the planned Central Luzon Expressway (CLEx) phase 1 and North Luzon East Expressway (NLEx East) threaten to displace farmers in many towns, while “indigenous communities are being displaced in Pantabangan watershed area.”
Productive agricultural lands in Bulacan, Pampanga and Bataan are being converted into industrial, commercial and residential estates displacing farmers who developed lands for many decades, while in Zambales, farmers and indigenous communities are dislocated by mining operations, Canlas also noted.
In Aurora province, the Angaras enacted the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Freeport Act (Apeco) that covered 13,000 hectares in Casiguran town, displacing many farmers and indigenous communities, he said.
Canlas also reported that “in Pangasinan, the Cojuangco-Aquino family is claiming about 386.8-hectares in Bayambang town, including the former Camp Gregg Military Reservation and covering 12 barangays.
