Monday, May 12, 2008 DAR urged to address farmers' plight
PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Saturday to address the plight of farmers of the Arroyo estate in the Visayas.
In a Malacañang statement, deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo also insisted that the land distribution process is already "underway".
"The Palace has directed DAR to take appropriate action to address the plight of the farmers of the Arroyo estate," Fajardo said.
Farmers from the Arroyo estates in the Visayas had camped out at the DAR premises in Quezon City, and have sought the help of Catholic bishops for the right to till their land.
But Fajardo belied earlier reports that the land is not yet being distributed to the farmers.
"We ask for understanding and patience on the part of the concerned farmers, given that the Arroyos have already placed their 157-hectare land under Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp)," she said.
Fajardo also reiterated that Arroyo is in favor of the extension of the Carp even as the Arroyo Estate has placed itself under the program.
"Arroyo favors the extension (of Carp). It was, in fact, one of the agenda during the last Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac)," she said.
She added that DAR is already "working for the extension of the Carp in Congress (Lower House) and the Senate." (JMR/Sunnex)
