by Ernesto T. Solidum
The Saturday, July 9 Kapihan guests are from (l to r) Engr. Ernesto Anino, Mr. Ronilo Ropa, Mr. Eberardo N. Erispe, and Engr. Rene Enriquez. Renato Rasco, and Grace Quimpo are not in the picture.
June and July are CARP anniversary celebrations dedicated to the emancipation of farmers from the bondage of deprivation and strife which. Kapihan guests discussed at Smokehauz Resto & Bar on July 9, 2011. Mr. Eberardo N. Erispe, Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II, Mr. Ronilo N. Ropa, OIC PARO/Chief of Operation, Mr. Renato I. Rasco, Chief Admin and Finance Div., Mr. Ernesto T. Anino, Chief Support Services Div., Engr. Rene Enriquez, Chairman, Prov’l Agrarian Reform Coord. Committee, and Ms. Grace Quimpo, Prov’l Information Officer discussed the topic, "Agrarian Reform Program".
Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente said that agrarian reform has made significant progress from the time of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal to Pres. Corazon Aquino. In between the pace was hastened by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos’ PD 27 which declared the whole country under land reform. The passage of RA 6657 or Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) in 1988 provided strong commitment in the furtherance of social justice and equitable distribution of wealth.
Erispe underscored Section 1 of RA 6657 which provided the policy of the State to pursue CARP. The welfare of the landless farmers and farm workers started receiving the highest consideration to promote social justice, to move the nation toward sound rural development and industrialization, and the establishment of owner cultivatorship of economic family size farms as the basis of Philippine agriculture.
CARP has 3 program components namely: a) land acquisition and distribution, b) delivery of agrarian justice, and e) social services to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARB’s). The latter includes physical infra, info education, and organization into coops.
Farmer beneficiaries (FB’s) are entitled to economic family size farms not more than three (3) hectares. The retention limit of all classes of agricultural lands per landowner is five (5) hectares, Mr. Erispe said.
Ronilo Ropa disclosed that CARP implementation should have ended in 2008 but the 14th Congress enacted RA 9700 or an Act Strengthening CARP, Extending the Acquisition and Distribution of all Agricultural Lands. Its new lease on life is until 2014. It is funded with P150 billion for the next five (5) years. Regular annual budget of P50 billion may be huge but parcelled to support agencies like LBP (land acquisition), DENR (land survey), Land Registration Authority (land titling) and DTI–TESDA (livelihood and training). Majority of funding comes from Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), proceeds from privatization and assets acquired by PCGG.
As of June 30, 2011, report shows that the total target accomplish-ment for land acquisition and distribution is 21,609 hectares with 24,763 FB’s or 90 percent. Land distribution in 17 municipalities is 21,609 hectares with 24,763 FB’s.
The leasehold operation covers a total of 8,656 hectares with 11,184 FB’s or 94 percent accomplishment. In the adjudication, there were 1,556 agrarian cases and 90 agrarian legal assistance which were all resolved, 100 percent.
On the social service component 85.4 kms of Farm to Market Road (FMR) were completed costing P153.4 million; a total of 8 communal irrigation projects with service area of 1,493 hectares was completed at a cost of P48.5 million, and 3 bridges completed with total length of 1,316 meters valued at P7.9 million.
Anino acknowledges that social support services to Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC’s) are hampered due to financial constraint. Still, a total of 15 ARC’s have been established in 14 towns with 13,587 FB’s. The towns of Tangalan, Balete, Libacao, Banga, and Kalibo have yet to be covered by JICA and ADB assistance. The frequency of funding approval/released by ODA is very slow, normally done every 5 years. However, DAR sees to it that capacity building program for FB’s are in place while waiting for foreign aid.
Undoubtedly, there is remarkable solid evidence of DAR Aklan personnel accomplishment in the implementation of CARP (RA 6657) and the latest amended version – CARPER (RA 9700). Obviously, the remaining balance of 10 percent target in land acquisition and distribution would be finished in less than a year. What appears to be a daunting task is the provision of social support services to ARC’s like FMR, irrigation, bridges, livelihood, health and Day Care Center, liberal credit and post harvest facilities, extension of power lines and potable water supply.
The majority of ODA funding agencies like JICA, USAID and member nations of European Union suffer from serious financial difficulties that it is foolhardy to rely on their generosity.
It is reported that ownership of land by farmers under CARP is said to increase pro-ductivity and income by at least 25 percent due to incentive to produce more is enhanced. The factors of production like, labor, capital and management skills are assumed present.
But, based on NSO-NSCB findings, Aklan poverty incidence continues to sky-rocket over the years from 30.2 percent in 2003 and 38.1 percent in 2009. It is significant to note the huge pool of human resources of 24,763 FB’s given CLOA’s and yet remained inactive.
Under CARP, FB’s are entitled to a maximum of 3.0 hectares deemed as economic family size farm. If fully irrigated, this is the ideal dream size for a family of 6 members. Yet, the existing reality shows our average cultivated land area in Aklan is highly fragmented and uneconomical to cultivate. According to Engr. Rizalo F. Concepcion, Manager, Div. A Aklan – Capiz Irrigation Management Office, the average landholding of farmers is only 2 hectares. Since NSO – NSCB specifies P160 per day as average family income of poverty threshold level, it is safe to assume that 90 percent of farmers in Aklan fall under the state of poverty. This is aggravated by the 34 percent unemployment and perceptible increase of food commodities and consumer goods as a result of rising gas prices.
The art illustration on the pamphlet cover of RA 9700 of DAR shows the hands clutching the Certificate of Land Ownership Award. It is an emotion-filled moment, an outburst of triumph after years to formally receive emblem of power and prestige. Needless to say the bearers’ sense of responsibility and gratefulness.
However, it is with concern that the FB is emaciated, weak and in the verge of death. Surely we have not liberated the farmer from his dreadful condition of yesteryears. Evidently, the social services promised to FB’s and industrialization program addressed to former landowners have not trickled down and enjoyed by many.
Of the 15 organized ARC’s in Aklan since 1993, we have yet to know whether they have progressed, empowered, dynamic and financially capable. If there is any, the media welcome their success stories.
It is true that agrarian reform is a continuing program as stated in the 1987 Constitution because it covers not only land acquisition and dis-tribution but a totality of support services. It is geared to lift the physical and financial status of farmers, known as the backbone of the nation.
Weather DAR has accomplished the latter objective or not, somehow, the work of the Agency stops after 2014 or when the fund expires. /MP
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