Palace: Land Reform Program Continues

Malacañang assured the continuing implementation of the government’s land reform program under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) even if the said program is expected to end on the month of June this year.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio “Sonny” Coloma Jr. said Friday that the land reform program will continue even after its termination because there are still plenty of lot owners who have yet to receive their termination notice.

As explained earlier by Agrarian Reform Secretary de los Reyes, that under Republic Act 9700, Section 30, it is clearly stipulated that “land acquisition and distribution may proceed for land holdings with pending proceedings even after June 2014.”

Coloma also said a monitoring group was formed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to see all related problems of all land reform program beneficiaries.

The communications secretary added that the said group will coordinate with the various government agencies such as Land Bank of the Philippines and Cooperative Development Authority, whose thrust is to help all beneficiaries in the creation of their own cooperative.

Coloma also stated the Philippines will join the International Year of the Family Farm this year, so he encouraged all beneficiaries to develop their respective family farms so that more Filipino farmers will join the program.

Based on data from the Department of Agriculture (DA), 55 years old is the average age of Filipino farmers who are found tilling their farm so it is but just necessary to widen the said farmers’ base in the country to include even those who belong to the younger generations.