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Hunger for Land, Hunger for Justice
PRESS RELEASE
January 22, 2009
Pls. contact: Murin Velasco (09162461163)
FARMERS URGE PGMA TO VETO JOINT RESOLUTION # 19; PUSH FOR CARP EXTENSION WITH REFORMS
Farmers who are calling for the reform and extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) have expressed their concern on the fate of agrarian reform.
Today marks the end of the 30-day period wherein the president may sign into law or veto Joint Resolution # 19 (JR19) which was approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate of last December.
Joint Resolution # 19 extends CARP for six months but without the compulsory acquisition (CA) scheme and only landholdings under the Voluntary Offer to Sell (VOS) and Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT) are to be processed.
Ka Jimmy Tadeo of PARAGOS-Pilipinas and Reform CARP Movement (RCM) criticized JR #19 as being deceptive.
He said that while Congress makes it appear that they have extended CARP for 6-months to give them more time to deliberate on a CARP extension law, the real intent and effect of JR #19 is to kill the agrarian reform program.
“ Kung sa loob ng dalawampung (20) taon ay nakalusot ang mga panginoong may-lupa sa CA, ngayon pa na tuluyan nang tinanggal ito sa Joint Resolution? Ang resulta nito ay naglalagablab na kanayunan…kamatayan sa aming mga magbubukid”
Tadeo said in a dialogue between the farmers, Catholic Bishops, DAR and the Office of the President.
Also in the said dialogue, Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged the President to veto JR19 as this is unlawful and contrary to DOJ opinion 009.
The prelate said that CARP is a continuing program mandated by the Constitution.
“This is not what the President really wants, earlier she certified urgent the CARPER bills in the Senate and Lower House, why come up with this Joint Resolution instead?” said Bishop Pabillo.
While DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman said that vetoing the JR19 will disrobe the Department of its authority to implement its programs as there will be no funds for the next six months, the farmers and the representatives of the religious groups argued that if the administration is really intent on implementing agrarian reform, the President can easily exercise her power to realign the budget for DAR to continue its mandate.
The farmers also criticized the national directive issued by DAR last January 12, 2009 following the provisions of JR #19. In the directive, DAR Secretary Nasser Pangandaman ordered the deferral of the processing of lands covered by compulsory acquisition including those landholdings which have already been worked on by DAR and already in the pipeline, and survey activities for lands under CA until further notice.
“The directive issued by DAR strengthens our suspicion that the Arroyo administration intends to kill CARP. The Arroyos in the House of Representatives issued the death sentence of CARP by orchestrating the passage of Joint Resolution #19, now the Department of Agrarian Reform has just issued the order of execution by issuing the directive suspending the coverage of lands under compulsory acquisition.”
Jose Rodito Angeles of Task Force Mapalad raised concern that land owners used this DAR directive to stop distribution of their land Negros.
Several other farmers present in the dialogue raised similar concerns of inaction to their cases and rapid land conversion.
Hence, the farmers urged DAR to firm up its stance, withdraw the national directive and perform its mandate under the Constitution.
Lastly, Bishop Pabillo called for all parties to unite and come up with strategies that will push for the passage of the CARP Extension with Reform bills.
“We are hopeful that the President will realize the importance of agrarian reform and will veto JR #19 and provide funds for the implementation of the land acquisition and distribution to dispel any doubt on the intent of her administration to pursue the implementation of CARP as mandated by the constitution. Ensuring the extension of the budget of CARP is a constitutional and moral obligation of this administration.”
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Showing posts with label JOINT RESOLUTION NUMBER 19. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JOINT RESOLUTION NUMBER 19. Show all posts
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
POSITION PAPER ON JOINT RESOLUTION NUMBER 19
POSITION PAPER ON JOINT RESOLUTION NUMBER 19
We, the Bishops of the Catholic Church, are one in opposing Joint Resolution No.19 that was approved by Congress. The resolution was crafted not to extend the implementation of CARP for another six (6) months but to kill agrarian reform.
Joint Resolution No. 19 mandated the removal of the compulsory acquisition mode of land distribution which is the heart and soul of the agrarian reform program. The resolution covers only private agricultural lands whose landowners have offered their lands under the Voluntary Offer to Sell (VOS) and under the Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT).
Joint Resolution No.19 must be stricken down. It is clearly unconstitutional since the Constitution mandates that the State shall undertake the just distribution of all agricultural lands. The said provision clearly commands the State to distribute and subject to agrarian reform all lands; not only those that will be covered under the voluntary schemes: Voluntarily Offer to Sell (VOS) and Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT).
Joint Resolution No.19 effectively cancels the distribution of 64 percent (64%) of new lands which are set to be covered by CARP as well as halts the distribution of all lands that are being processed for distribution under the compulsory acquisition mode. JR No.19 clearly discriminates against thousands of farmers who have currently pending application for coverage will not be acted on by government.
The resolution ends Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) under CARP as landowners are not expected to voluntarily offer their lands under CARP. These are mostly private agricultural lands owned by landowners who have been resisting the program for the past twenty (20) years. Landowners of landholdings currently under VOS and VLT are also expected to withdraw their application for VOS and VLT to altogether avoid CARP coverage.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) delivered the final blow on CARP by issuing the DAR Memorandum No. 09-01804. The memorandum is an operational directive that provides the guidelines in implementing the Joint Resolution No.19. However, it worsens the situation by ordering the deferment of the "processing of Compulsory Acquisition (CA) including landholdings already in the pipeline, and survey activities for lands under CA until further notice". Furthermore, the memorandum is prematurely
issued because JR No.19 has yet to be signed into law.
Joint Resolution No.19 and DAR Memorandum No. 09-01804 could spark chaos in the countryside as the agrarian reform beneficiaries and landowners are bound to fight head on over the issue. This early, the Joint Resolution No.19 and Memorandum 09-01804 are already being used by landowners to block the distribution of all agricultural
lands.
The Congress and the DAR subjected agrarian reform to the discretion of the landowners and removed the compulsion which is the essence of this social justice measure. Such act of emasculation committed by the Congress and DAR gauged against the relevant Constitutional provisions, amounts to a nullity.
We also call on the DAR to stick to its Constitutional mandate of continuing CARP until all agricultural lands are covered and scrap Memorandum 09-01804.
Finally, we call on the President to reiterate her support to CARP extension with reforms by re-issuing certification for HB 4077 and SB 2666 as urgent bills and by pro-actively campaigning for the immediate passage of the CARP extension with reforms law.
Signed:
MOST REV. RAMON C. ARGUELLES, D.D., Archbishop of Lipa
MOST REV. PACIANO B. ANICETO, D.D., Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
MOST REV. JOSE S. PALMA, D.D., Archbishop of Palo
MOST REV. BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
MOST REV. HONESTO F. ONGTIOCO, D.D., Bishop of Cubao
MOST REV. ANTONIO P. PALANG, SVD, D.D., Bishop of San Jose de Mindoro
MOST REV. ISABELO C. ABARQUEZ, D.D., Bishop of Calbayog
MOST REV. JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D., Bishop of Masbate
MOST REV. LUCILO B. QUIAMBAO, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Legazpi
MOST REV. REYNALDO G. EVANGELISTA, D.D., Bishop of Boac
MOST REV. SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D., Bishop of Balanga
MOST REV. JOHN F. DU, D.D. Bishop of Dumaguete
MOST REV. VICENTE M. NAVARRA, D.D., Bishop of Bacolod
MOST REV. EMMANUEL C. TRANCE, D.D., Bishop of Catarman
MOST REV. DEOGRACIAS S. IÑIGUEZ, JR., D.D., Bishop of Kalookan
MOST REV. EDGARDO S. JUANICH, D.D., Vicar Apostolic of Taytay, Palawan
MOST REV. HONESTO C. PACANA, S.J., D.D., Bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon
MOST REV. PATRICIO H. ALO, D.D. Bishop of Mati, Davao Oriental
MOST REV. SOFRONIO A. BANCUD, SSS, D.D., Bishop of Cabanatuan
MOST REV. PRECIOSO D. CANTILLAS, SDB, D.D., Bishop of Maasin
MOST REV. CARLITO J. CENZON, CICM, D.D., Bishop of Baguio
MOST REV. FLORENTINO F. CINENSE, D.D., Bishop of Tarlac
MOST REV. LEO M. DRONA, SDB, D.D., Bishop of San Pablo
MOST REV. FRANCISCO M. DE LEON, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo
MOST REV. MANOLO A. DE LOS SANTOS, D.D., Bishop of Virac
MOST REV. LEOPOLDO C. JAUCIAN, SVD, DD., Bishop of Bangued
MOST REV. JACINTO A. JOSE, D.D., Bishop of Urdaneta
MOST REV. MARTIN S. JUMOAD, D.D., Bishop Prelate of Isabela, Basilan
MOST REV. ONESIMO C. GORDONCILLO D.D., Archbishop of Capiz
MOST REV. ANGELITO R. LAMPON, OMI, D.D., Vicar Apostolic of Jolo
MOST REV. ROBERTO C. MALLARI, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
MOST REV. JOSE R. MANGUIRAN, D.D., Bishop of Dipolog
MOST REV. EMILIO Z. MARQUEZ, D.D., Bishop of Lucena
MOST REV. NICOLAS M. MONDEJAR, D.D., Bishop-Emeritus of San Carlos, Negros Occidental
MOST REV. NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, D.D., Bishop of Tandag
MOST REV. JOSE F. OLIVEROS, D.D., Bishop of Malolos
MOST REV. JESUS A. DOSADO, D.D., Bishop of Ozamis
MOST REV. GEORGE B. RIMANDO, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Davao
MOST REV. JOSE C. SORRA, D.D., Bishop-Emeritus of Legazpi
MOST REV. JOSE CORAZON T. TALA-OC, D.D., Bishop of Romblon
MOST REV. SERGIO L. UTLEG, D.D., Bishop of Laoag
MOST REV. ARTURO M. BASTES, SVD, D.D., Bishop of Sorsogon
MOST REV. WARLITO I. CAJANDIG, D.D., Bishop of Calapan
MOST REV. GUILLERMO V. AFABLE, D.D., Bishop of Digos
MOST REV. RODOLFO F. BELTRAN, D.D., Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe
MOST REV. ELENITO DE LOS REYES GALIDO, D.D., Bishop of Iligan
MOST REV. FILOMENO G. BACTOL, D.D., Bishop of Naval
MOST REV. ARTEMIO L. RILLERA, SVD, D.D., Bishop of San Fernando La Union
MOST REV. LEANDRO Y. MEDROSO, D.D., JCD, Bishop of Tagbilaran
MOST REV. ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D., Bishop of Zamboanga
MOST REV. ROMULO T. DE LA CRUZ, D.D., Bishop of Kidapawan
MOST REV. DIMUALDO D. GUTIERREZ, D.D., BSE, MA, STD, Bishop of Marvel
MOST REV. RENATO P. MAYUGBA, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen, Dagupan
MOST REV. BANJAMIN J. ALMONEDA, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Daet
MOST REV. IRENEO A. AMANTILLO, CSSR, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Tandag
MOST REV. ANGEL T. HOBAYAN, D.D, DCJ, Bishop Emeritus of Catarman
MOST REV. JOSEPH NACUA, D.D., Bishop of Ilagan
MOST REV. PEDRO D. ARIGO, D.D., Vicariate of Puerto Princesa
MOST REV. BUENAVENTURA M. FAMADICO, D.D., Bishop of Gumaca
MOST REV. BERNARDINO C. CORTEZ, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
MOST REV. RICARDO L. BACCAY, D.D., Bishop of Tuguegarao
MOST REV. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
MOST REV. FRANCISCO C. SAN DIEGO, D.D., Bishop of Pasig
MOST REV. FRANCISCO F. CLAVER, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Bontoc-Lagawe
MOST REV. ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO, OMI, D.D., Archbishop of Cotabato
MOST REV. LUIS ANTONIO G. TAGLE, D.D., STD, Bishop of Imus
MOST REV. JUAN DE DIOS M. PUEBLOS, D.D., Bishop of Butuan
We, the Bishops of the Catholic Church, are one in opposing Joint Resolution No.19 that was approved by Congress. The resolution was crafted not to extend the implementation of CARP for another six (6) months but to kill agrarian reform.
Joint Resolution No. 19 mandated the removal of the compulsory acquisition mode of land distribution which is the heart and soul of the agrarian reform program. The resolution covers only private agricultural lands whose landowners have offered their lands under the Voluntary Offer to Sell (VOS) and under the Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT).
Joint Resolution No.19 must be stricken down. It is clearly unconstitutional since the Constitution mandates that the State shall undertake the just distribution of all agricultural lands. The said provision clearly commands the State to distribute and subject to agrarian reform all lands; not only those that will be covered under the voluntary schemes: Voluntarily Offer to Sell (VOS) and Voluntary Land Transfer (VLT).
Joint Resolution No.19 effectively cancels the distribution of 64 percent (64%) of new lands which are set to be covered by CARP as well as halts the distribution of all lands that are being processed for distribution under the compulsory acquisition mode. JR No.19 clearly discriminates against thousands of farmers who have currently pending application for coverage will not be acted on by government.
The resolution ends Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) under CARP as landowners are not expected to voluntarily offer their lands under CARP. These are mostly private agricultural lands owned by landowners who have been resisting the program for the past twenty (20) years. Landowners of landholdings currently under VOS and VLT are also expected to withdraw their application for VOS and VLT to altogether avoid CARP coverage.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) delivered the final blow on CARP by issuing the DAR Memorandum No. 09-01804. The memorandum is an operational directive that provides the guidelines in implementing the Joint Resolution No.19. However, it worsens the situation by ordering the deferment of the "processing of Compulsory Acquisition (CA) including landholdings already in the pipeline, and survey activities for lands under CA until further notice". Furthermore, the memorandum is prematurely
issued because JR No.19 has yet to be signed into law.
Joint Resolution No.19 and DAR Memorandum No. 09-01804 could spark chaos in the countryside as the agrarian reform beneficiaries and landowners are bound to fight head on over the issue. This early, the Joint Resolution No.19 and Memorandum 09-01804 are already being used by landowners to block the distribution of all agricultural
lands.
The Congress and the DAR subjected agrarian reform to the discretion of the landowners and removed the compulsion which is the essence of this social justice measure. Such act of emasculation committed by the Congress and DAR gauged against the relevant Constitutional provisions, amounts to a nullity.
We also call on the DAR to stick to its Constitutional mandate of continuing CARP until all agricultural lands are covered and scrap Memorandum 09-01804.
Finally, we call on the President to reiterate her support to CARP extension with reforms by re-issuing certification for HB 4077 and SB 2666 as urgent bills and by pro-actively campaigning for the immediate passage of the CARP extension with reforms law.
Signed:
MOST REV. ANTONIO J. LEDESMA, SJ, D.D., Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro
MOST REV. RAMON C. ARGUELLES, D.D., Archbishop of Lipa
MOST REV. PACIANO B. ANICETO, D.D., Archbishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
MOST REV. JOSE S. PALMA, D.D., Archbishop of Palo
MOST REV. BRODERICK S. PABILLO, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
MOST REV. HONESTO F. ONGTIOCO, D.D., Bishop of Cubao
MOST REV. ANTONIO P. PALANG, SVD, D.D., Bishop of San Jose de Mindoro
MOST REV. ISABELO C. ABARQUEZ, D.D., Bishop of Calbayog
MOST REV. JOEL Z. BAYLON, D.D., Bishop of Masbate
MOST REV. LUCILO B. QUIAMBAO, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Legazpi
MOST REV. REYNALDO G. EVANGELISTA, D.D., Bishop of Boac
MOST REV. SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D., Bishop of Balanga
MOST REV. JOHN F. DU, D.D. Bishop of Dumaguete
MOST REV. VICENTE M. NAVARRA, D.D., Bishop of Bacolod
MOST REV. EMMANUEL C. TRANCE, D.D., Bishop of Catarman
MOST REV. DEOGRACIAS S. IÑIGUEZ, JR., D.D., Bishop of Kalookan
MOST REV. EDGARDO S. JUANICH, D.D., Vicar Apostolic of Taytay, Palawan
MOST REV. HONESTO C. PACANA, S.J., D.D., Bishop of Malaybalay, Bukidnon
MOST REV. PATRICIO H. ALO, D.D. Bishop of Mati, Davao Oriental
MOST REV. SOFRONIO A. BANCUD, SSS, D.D., Bishop of Cabanatuan
MOST REV. EMMANUEL T. CABAJAR, CSsR., D.D., Bishop of Pagadian
MOST REV. PRECIOSO D. CANTILLAS, SDB, D.D., Bishop of Maasin
MOST REV. CARLITO J. CENZON, CICM, D.D., Bishop of Baguio
MOST REV. FLORENTINO F. CINENSE, D.D., Bishop of Tarlac
MOST REV. LEO M. DRONA, SDB, D.D., Bishop of San Pablo
MOST REV. FRANCISCO M. DE LEON, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Antipolo
MOST REV. MANOLO A. DE LOS SANTOS, D.D., Bishop of Virac
MOST REV. LEOPOLDO C. JAUCIAN, SVD, DD., Bishop of Bangued
MOST REV. JACINTO A. JOSE, D.D., Bishop of Urdaneta
MOST REV. MARTIN S. JUMOAD, D.D., Bishop Prelate of Isabela, Basilan
MOST REV. ONESIMO C. GORDONCILLO D.D., Archbishop of Capiz
MOST REV. ANGELITO R. LAMPON, OMI, D.D., Vicar Apostolic of Jolo
MOST REV. ROBERTO C. MALLARI, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
MOST REV. JOSE R. MANGUIRAN, D.D., Bishop of Dipolog
MOST REV. EMILIO Z. MARQUEZ, D.D., Bishop of Lucena
MOST REV. NICOLAS M. MONDEJAR, D.D., Bishop-Emeritus of San Carlos, Negros Occidental
MOST REV. NEREO P. ODCHIMAR, D.D., Bishop of Tandag
MOST REV. JOSE F. OLIVEROS, D.D., Bishop of Malolos
MOST REV. JESUS A. DOSADO, D.D., Bishop of Ozamis
MOST REV. GEORGE B. RIMANDO, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Davao
MOST REV. JOSE C. SORRA, D.D., Bishop-Emeritus of Legazpi
MOST REV. JOSE CORAZON T. TALA-OC, D.D., Bishop of Romblon
MOST REV. JULIUS S. TONEL, D.D., Bishop of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay
MOST REV. SERGIO L. UTLEG, D.D., Bishop of Laoag
MOST REV. CRISPIN B. VARQUEZ, Bishop of Borongan, Eastern Samar
MOST REV. MYLO HUBERT C. VERGARA, D.D., Bishop of San Jose de Nueva Ecija
MOST REV. ARTURO M. BASTES, SVD, D.D., Bishop of Sorsogon
MOST REV. WARLITO I. CAJANDIG, D.D., Bishop of Calapan
MOST REV. GUILLERMO V. AFABLE, D.D., Bishop of Digos
MOST REV. RODOLFO F. BELTRAN, D.D., Vicar Apostolic of Bontoc-Lagawe
MOST REV. ELENITO DE LOS REYES GALIDO, D.D., Bishop of Iligan
MOST REV. FILOMENO G. BACTOL, D.D., Bishop of Naval
MOST REV. ARTEMIO L. RILLERA, SVD, D.D., Bishop of San Fernando La Union
MOST REV. LEANDRO Y. MEDROSO, D.D., JCD, Bishop of Tagbilaran
MOST REV. ROMULO G. VALLES, D.D., Bishop of Zamboanga
MOST REV. ROMULO T. DE LA CRUZ, D.D., Bishop of Kidapawan
MOST REV. DIMUALDO D. GUTIERREZ, D.D., BSE, MA, STD, Bishop of Marvel
MOST REV. RENATO P. MAYUGBA, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Lingayen, Dagupan
MOST REV. BANJAMIN J. ALMONEDA, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Daet
MOST REV. IRENEO A. AMANTILLO, CSSR, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Tandag
MOST REV. ANGEL T. HOBAYAN, D.D, DCJ, Bishop Emeritus of Catarman
MOST REV. JOSEPH NACUA, D.D., Bishop of Ilagan
MOST REV. PEDRO D. ARIGO, D.D., Vicariate of Puerto Princesa
MOST REV. BUENAVENTURA M. FAMADICO, D.D., Bishop of Gumaca
MOST REV. BERNARDINO C. CORTEZ, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Manila
MOST REV. RICARDO L. BACCAY, D.D., Bishop of Tuguegarao
MOST REV. PABLO VIRGILIO S. DAVID, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of San Fernando, Pampanga
MOST REV. FRANCISCO C. SAN DIEGO, D.D., Bishop of Pasig
MOST REV. FRANCISCO F. CLAVER, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of Bontoc-Lagawe
MOST REV. ORLANDO B. QUEVEDO, OMI, D.D., Archbishop of Cotabato
MOST REV. LUIS ANTONIO G. TAGLE, D.D., STD, Bishop of Imus
MOST REV. JUAN DE DIOS M. PUEBLOS, D.D., Bishop of Butuan
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