Peasant groups call to junk CARP extension, support GARB
March 12, 2008
San Fernando City, La Union (March 6) – Support for House Bill 3059 otherwise known as the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) echoed the halls of the SLC gymnasium during the public hearing of the proposed bills for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Members of the peasant alliance Solidarity of Peasants Against Exploitation (Stop Exploitation) lead the delegates of progressive organizations in calling for the ratification of the GARB authored by the progressive Partylist block in the House of Representative. This call is concurrent with the group’s call for the junking of the extension of CARP.
“The CARP was a failed program right from the beginning. It was designed to fail in order to deceived the farmers and safeguard the interest of big landlords of the country. We support the passing of HB 3059 or otherwise known as GARB which will advocate true and agrarian reform”, Avelino Dacanay of STOP Exploitation explained.
Bayan Muna Representative Ka Satur Ocampo attended the Luzon-wide Public Hearing to explain the proposed HB 3059. He was received with loud applauses from the audience coming from different regions of
Youth Groups, Anakbayan and College Editor Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) also showed support to GARB by conducting a picket-rally outside the Saint Louis College campus and in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Regional Office but they were violently dispersed by elements of the San Fernando City Police Force lead by a certain Bersola.
“We criticize the ongoing Luzon-wide Public Hearing right now. It is good that there is a public hearing but the hearings should be done locally in the different regions to facilitate the more effective participation of those who are affected by the law. We also condemn the violent dispersal of our peaceful rally. This only goes to show the fascist character of the government”, Joel Bilog, Chairperson of Anakbayan-La Union said.
The Public Hearing was concluded with the delegates hopeful Congress will pass a new agrarian reform bill that will truly serve the peasant masses.
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