THE Anakpawis has urged Filipino farmers to support in what the group described as genuine agrarian reform bill.

House Bill No. 1161 Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) was filed at the House of Representatives by lawmakers under the Koalisyong Makabayan, led by Gabriela Women's Party Arlene Brosas.

The party-list urged farmers nationwide to support the bill's enactment, especially that the Republic Act 6657 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) expired long ago in June 2014.

Brosas was joined in filing by former Anakpawis Party-list Representative and former agrarian reform secretary Rafael "Ka Paeng" Mariano and other leaders of organizations such as the Amihan women's group, Pamalakaya (fisherfolk), UMA (agricultural workers) and their advocates.

The group claimed that at present, there are no new lands being covered for agrarian reform.

GARB is the flagship legislative measure crafted by the Anakpawis Party-list led by former lawmakers, the late Crispin "Ka Bel" Beltran, Mariano, Fernando Hicap and Ariel Casilao, with peasant organizations such as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP).

"Sobrang intensified ang marginalization sa poor farmers ngayon sa bansa. Ultimo agrarian reform agenda, parang binabasura na lamang ng gubyerno at totally ignored ang chronic na landlessness sa kanayunan. Nang nag-expire ang CARP noong June 2014, walang bagong batas ang ipinasa at hindi na rin makuhang i-extend ito dahil sobrang obvious na ng kapalpakan nito," Casilao said.

According to the group, GARB will achieve social justice for landless farmers through free land distribution.

The main provision of GARB is the free land distribution concept.

On Section 8, it said that the "lands covered by this Act shall be distributed at no cost to farmer beneficiaries. The central goal of this Act is free land distribution based on social justice."

"Ibig sabihin sa GARB, kung legitimate beneficiary ang magsasaka, automatic siya na ang may-ari at hindi katulad ng CARP, na magbabayad pa ng amortization, na sa proseso ay kina-kansela pa ang mga CLOA. Sa GARB, i-issue agad ang Title of Full Emancipation, na proof of ownership ng mga magsasaka at proteksyon niya laban sa land grabbing at pagpapalayas," Casilao said.