20 years of CARP never gave farmers lands

“Hope is at your struggle not at CARP”, KMP told farmers calling for CARP extension

The militant Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP, Peasant Movement of the Philippines) reminded the members, not the leaders of farmer organizations calling for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). The group also shared the lesson that resolute struggle would keep them on their farms not CARP which is peppered with holes and exemptions that serve the interest of the landlords.

“CARP is already 20 years old, if it is human, he is already an adult that could marry and have children, but still the landless remain landless and the landlords, foreign and local corporations are reconcentrating and gaining control over vast agricultural lands through CARP, do we still need to argue about ending or extending it?” Danilo Ramos, KMP Secretary-General opened in a press statement.

“We have our rich experiences with CARP that taught us it essentially anti-peasant and pro-landlord,” he added. “During the late 90s and early part of the millenium, we mobilized and struggled for issues such as Hacienda Looc, which the Fil-Estate landgrabbed, but CARP ruled against the farmer-beneficiaries, exempted it though it is agriculturally-productive. But because of the peasant movement at the area, fighting for their rights, being harassed and terrorized by the AFP, they remain at the area able to cultivate their lands,” Ramos recalled. “Even those from other groups have recent experiences of land occupation that concretely keep them on the lands, it is not the doing of the CARP but of their united efforts and struggles,” he added.

“Of course, we could never overlook the Hacienda Luisita experience, the Stock-Distribution Option is itself a CARP provision, but it only caused the P9 per day economic state of the legitimate farmer-beneficiaries. The very first time they reaped the fruits of their labor were when they waged the strike and gained control over the lands, they are now cultivating rice and vegetables that they could eat, unlike before that they were all sugarcane,” added Ramos.

“Our chapters in Fort Magsaysay Military Reservation (FMMR) in Nueva Ecija are also being ejected and terrorized by the AFP, that is even if they are CLOA (Certificate of Land Ownership Awards)-holders and belong to an ARC (Agrarian Reform Community). The military and Arroyo’s program of ‘super-regions’ are planning to displace them,” Ramos mentioned of the situation of the FMMR farmers.

“Our farmer members in Bukidnon, who were CLOA-holders were also victimized by CARP, it exempted Central Mindanao University lands from distribution though it is idle and farmers have been there for decades. Their crops are always destroyed by CMU security guards causing their livelihood, a baby even died because her mother’s milk were already drawn out. But because they are ceaselessly fighting for their rights to land, they are still at their farms,” he added.

“CARP also never touched the feudal set-up in Hacienda Roxas, Yulo, Fule, Revillas and more in Southern Tagalog region, it is like a time-space warp when you go to those areas. It is also the same with the lands of Danding Cojuangco, Arroyo, Enrile, Araneta, Ayala, Lopez and other big landlords in the country,” reiterated Ramos. “The landlords and landlord congressmen love CARP because it kept and protected their control over vast lands, peasants should call for its junking, and propose a more pro-peasant agrarian reform program such as the House Bill 3059 or Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill,” he added.

KMP reminded farmer members of other groups to affirm their rights to land and be cautious of their leaders who collude with landlords and corrupt DAR officials. “Be vigilant and analyze their historical record of struggle, weed out those who raked CARP funds in conspiracy with landlords and DAR officials. They are selling out farmer-beneficiaries as CARP is like a livelihood showcase for them, they would not survive without it,” Ramos reminded.

“Instead of reviving of a dead CARP, join us in our call for genuine agrarian reform and make your effort and sacrifices meaningful so that your children could enjoy the fruits of your harvest on your lands,” Ramos affirmed.#

FOR REFERENCE:
DANILO RAMOS, KMP Secretary-General
ROY MORILLA, KMP Public Information Officer (+63-905-421-73-05)

Posted using ShareThis