It is expected that President Gloria Arroyo will sign on Friday the law extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Act (CARP) in Bulacan. Known as the Carper law, legislators make this as a tribute to the late President Corazon Aquino since it was during her administration when the CARP was granted. However, the signing of the CARP extension with Reforms is also significant to Arroyo because her father, President Diosdado Macapagal was the one who signed the very first agrarian reform law also in Bulacan.
The House ratified the bicameral report last July 29 and the said law allots P150 billion for acquisition of 1.6 million hectares of land for almost 1.2 million farmer-beneficiaries. It can be recalled that farmers protested asking for the extension of the CARP Law since it already expired last year. And during the president’s State of the Nation Address, Arroyo urged the Congress to pass the bill.
The signing of the Carper law in Plaridel Bulacan is actually a break from the regular inspection of material recovery facilities in and out of the Metro. On the said day, Arroyo is also expected to launch other programs for agrarian reform beneficiaries and agrarian reform communities. Some of the programs that will be launched include Programang Unlad Nayon Lakas Ani (Punla), Tulay ng Pangulo para sa Kaunlarang Pang-Agraryo and a lot more. These programs will focus on the delivery of support services and other CARP infrastructure support projects.
