Senate passes CARP bill

The Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill that would allow the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to continue the acquisition and distribution of agricultural lands covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) to farmers beneficiaries.

Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, author and sponsor of Senate Bill No. 2278, said the passage of the bill into law would allow DAR to continue the issuance of Notices of Coverage (NOC) until June 30, 2016.

Honasan said that Section 2 of SBN 2278 amends Section 30 of Republic Act. No. 9700 allowing DAR to continue issuing Notices of Coverage and accept voluntary offers to sell by landowners of agricultural lands until June 30, 2016.

"The law does not, in effect, expire. It is a continuing process until the acquisition and distribution is terminated," Honasan explained.

CARP was first implemented in 1988. It was extended for another five years in June 2009 through Republic Act 9700 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform or CARPer.

DAR data showed that out of the total 5,466, 602 hectares to be distributed, around 4,655,100 hectares had been awarded to farmer beneficiaries while about 726,421 hectares remains undistributed. DAR officials said that around 29,935 hectares have still to be issued Notices of Coverage as of today.

"This bill is actually certified as urgent in June 2014 by Malacañang and was mentioned at the 5th State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Aquino," Honasan said.