Monday, September 24, 2007 Speak out: Reinventing Carp By Raul L. Castro DAR-Minglanilla
FOR 19 years, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) revolved around the life of the farmer-beneficiary. It accorded them bountiful benefits, they somewhat cherished. It dramatically installed them on a pedestal—an unwavering recognition no other government endeavor ever afforded.
Unmindfully, all of us were provided good roads and better bridges to traverse on, so farmers could conveniently transport their produce to the market. Best of all, it gave peasants dignity—being a necessary stakeholder in nation building. Carp extirpates poverty in the countryside.
Indirectly, the once centerpiece undertaking merited approval from foreign nations. The European Union particularly Belgium, Sweden, The Netherlands and likewise the US, Canada, Japan as well as our Asian neighbors, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia extended their cooperation and full support.
However, the short span of years cannot overwhelm such a gargantuan task in a democratic fervor. In the sidelines, it boosted non-believers’ reason to celebrate.
Efforts to end it were too harsh and momentarily unwanted. Why not refocus the program and make it a regular phase in rural development? Why can‘t Carp be one of the priorities of the administration? Why leave when the golden crown is almost within reach?
We should make agrarian reform not just for the books? Make Carp a way of life! Share earth’s bounty!
