Viewpoints
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
By Oscar V. Cruz
THE “Program” was supposed to be “Comprehensive” for the “Reform” of huge and impressive “Agrarian” possessions of some blessed and distinguished families all over the Country – a famous hacienda somewhere in Tarlac well-included. In fact, in 1998, Agrarian Reform was loudly and repeatedly proclaimed as the centerpiece of the loving attention and genuine concern of the then gloriously reigning administration. Such a program understandably received high praises plus the profound gratitude of all the long-exploited and much wanting farmers – those from the said very extensive and famous hacienda well-included.
But lo and behold – after the much-publicized and widely-acclaimed Reform Program – there are at least three well-known infamous realities that to this date remain conveniently forgotten and nonchalantly unresolved: One, the infamous Mendiola Massacre where unarmed farmers demonstrating against the untouched Hacienda were mercilessly gunned down by well-armed supposedly lawmen. The conscienceless killers are altogether unnamed and unknown to this day. Two, the shameless Tarlac Murders when even an old, kind and lovable Aglipayan bishop was slaughtered. Who did the crime is a well-kept secret to this writing. Three, the amazing Hacienda continued existence and operation notwithstanding all loud announcements and repeated claims to the contrary made by the government officials concerned – and notwithstanding the apparently well-paid for ouster of a Chief Justice who dared preside in a pro-farmers judgment.
Question: How is the Agrarian Reform Program going on? Answer: It is more going nowhere that what is supposed to happen. Question: What about the “Comprehensive” reform of huge agrarian possessions? Answer: It is anything and everything except being really “Comprehensive”. Question: How much agrarian lands have undergone reform? Answer: Only but some 15% since 1988. Question: How much did it cost the government, i.e. the people’s taxes – to have such a small reform done? Answer: Some 82 billion pesos or more. Question: How come the much-publicized reform is not only too long in the making and too expensive in cost? Answer: Please ask the Malacañang occupant. Question: What can be done in order to make agrarian reform not only hard to implement but also rather expensive to realize? Answer: Make the agrarian land to be reformed a corporation where farmers are given pieces of paper instead of pieces of land.
ARP, CARP, CLOA, CLT, etc., etc. So much is the thought of but so little is done. So far, so bad.
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