Friday, November 16, 2007 Stakeholders gab to gather support for Carp extension By Grace L. Plata
THE Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Southern Mindanao is set to hold a stakeholders' forum anytime this month to muster support for the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp) that is supposed to end in 2008.
In an interview, Fraulein Montañez, information officer of DAR Provincial Office in Davao City, said DAR intends to invite mayors, congressmen, church officials, people's organizations, non-government organizations and members of the academe for a wholistic discussion.
"I-present diha ang status sa Carp in terms of accomplishments and the plans we have for next year. We aim to gather support for the Carp extension kay sa inventory na gihimo namo, daghan pa i-cover na areas sa program," Montañez said.
She added there is yet 1.3 million hectares of land nationwide to be distributed and that cannot be possibly made in time.
The program, which was implemented as a social justice tool under the administration of then President Corazon Aquino, has already been extended twice and will end in 2008.
The DAR has been lobbying for another extension of five years in Congress.
