CARPER and the Future of agrarian reform in the Philippines

Summary

In her presentation, Nora Ibrahim discusses the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and its extension, CARPER, in the Philippines. Established to promote social justice by granting land ownership to landless farmers, CARPER was enacted in 2009 to address ongoing land distribution issues. Despite the aim to distribute agricultural land to beneficiaries, significant challenges remain, including bureaucratic inefficiencies and landlord opposition. After 27 years, over 500,000 hectares of land remain undistributed, highlighting the gap between policy intent and reality. The struggle for equitable land ownership continues to be a dream for many Filipino farmers.

Takeaways

• 🌾 Carper stands for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms, aimed at promoting social justice by granting land ownership to landless farmers in the Philippines.
• 📜 The original Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was extended in 2009 by President Arroyo through Republic Act 9700, providing an additional five years for land distribution.
• ⏳ The extension aimed to ensure that all remaining agricultural lands were distributed to farmers by 2014, yet many lands remained undistributed even after the deadline.
• 📉 Despite efforts, only 1 million hectares of land were distributed to 500,000 farmer beneficiaries from 2009 to 2014, leaving an estimated 500,000 hectares still pending distribution.
• 👩‍🌾 The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) are responsible for implementing CARP and Carper, but their combined efforts have been largely unsuccessful.
• 🏡 Many farmers continue to struggle with land ownership, which is critical for improving their quality of life and achieving rural development.
• 💔 The goals of agrarian reform have not been fully achieved due to challenges such as limited resources, opposition from landlords, and insufficient legislative support.
• 🔍 The ongoing issues in land distribution highlight the challenges in fulfilling the rights of farmers and achieving equality in income and opportunities.
• 📊 The lack of successful land reform efforts contributes to the persistence of poverty among Filipino farmers, undermining their aspirations for better livelihoods.
• 🌱 Without resolving distribution and implementation problems, the dream of equitable land ownership for Filipino farmers will remain unfulfilled.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Nora Ibrahim Buan's report?

The report focuses on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and its extension known as CARPER, discussing their impact on land ownership for farmers in the Philippines.

What does CARPER stand for?

CARPER stands for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms.

What is the purpose of CARPER?

The purpose of CARPER is to grant landless farmers and agricultural workers ownership of agricultural lands to promote social justice.

When was CARPER signed into law, and by whom?

CARPER was signed into law in 2009 by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

How long was the extension provided by CARPER?

CARPER extended the deadline of the original CARP by five more years.

What were the results of the distribution efforts under CARPER?

During the five years of distribution and implementation under CARPER, approximately 1 million hectares of land were distributed to 500,000 farmer beneficiaries.

What challenges did CARP and CARPER face in achieving their goals?

Challenges included limited resources, opposition from landlords, and lack of support from legislators, which hindered effective distribution and implementation.

What is the current status of land distribution under CARP and CARPER?

After 27 years of land reform, approximately 500,000 hectares of land remain undistributed, indicating ongoing issues in fulfilling the program's objectives.

What agencies are responsible for fulfilling CARP and CARPER?

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) are the government agencies mandated to fulfill CARP and CARPER.

What is the broader impact of the challenges faced by CARP and CARPER on Filipino farmers?

The ongoing challenges mean that many farmers still lack land ownership, perpetuating inequality in income and opportunities, which they have been striving for over the years.