ORANI, Bataan– “Even before I became Congresswoman in 2016, I have always been a firm believer in genuine agrarian reform. This is why I took it upon myself to address the land disputes in my district to hasten their resolution. Nilunsad ko rin po ang kauna-unahang Agrarian Reform Summit sa Bataan upang ilapit ang mga serbisyo ng Pamahalaan sa ating mga magsasaka.”
This is what Bataan 1st District Congresswoman Geraldine B. Roman has to say as she attended the 31st Anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) main office in Quezon City yesterday, August 27.
Congresswoman Roman joined President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the anniversary celebration of the CARP. Among the highlights of this year’s celebration was the ceremonial turnover and distribution of Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs). Around 100,000 CLOAs were distributed to land beneficiaries from different provinces.
“I am proud to announce that I will be filing two legislative measures to empower our farmers nationwide through an integral rural development program and the extension of the CARP. Madalas kong tinatanong ang aking sarili kung saan pumapalya ang sistema upang hanapan ng lunas ito kaya sa araw na ito, ang 31st Anniversary ng CARP, nagpasya po akong isulong ang dalawang panukalang batas na ito,” Rep. Roman said.
The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, more commonly known as CARP, is an agrarian reform law of the Philippines whose legal basis is the Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL).
It is the redistribution of private and public agricultural lands to help the beneficiaries survive as small independent farmers, regardless of the “tenurial” arrangement. Its goals are to provide landowners equality in terms of income and opportunities, empower land owner beneficiaries to have equitable land ownership, enhance agricultural production and productivity, provide employment to more agricultural workers, and put an end to conflicts regarding land ownership.
Last year, farmers from across the First District of Bataan converged for the Agrarian Reform and Convergence Summit held at Orani Covered Gym.
The event, organized by Bataan First District Rep. Geraldine B. Roman, was the first summit held in the country that tackled reforms on land ownership and agricultural development.
Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones and Congresswoman Roman led the summit together with officials from the departments of Agrarian Reform, Agriculture, Social Welfare and Development, and from the National Irrigation Administration, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and other concerned agencies.
Congresswoman Roman pledged to prioritize the development of country’s agriculture sector during the Summit.
“I have always believed that our farmers are the backbone of our great country. They have contributed so much to the economic development of the First District of Bataan. After all their hard work and personal sacrifices, at the very least our farmers’ voices deserve to be heard. This is why I sponsored the 1st Agrarian Reform Summit,” Roman said.
The solon sought the support of Secretary Castriciones to aid farmers who need assistance on land ownership, capital, equipment and other services which will help them sustain farming and contribute to the agricultural progress of the country.