Militant farmers urge Nograles to deliberate GARB; “Open the debates on GARB” – Speaker

Peasant leaders belonging to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), the fishers group Pamalakaya, and the Katipunan ng mga Samahang Magbubukid sa Timog Katagalugan led by Anakpawis Rep. Rafael Mariano on Wednesday held a dialogue with House Speaker Prospero Nograles urging the latter to immediately deliberate House Bill 3059 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) to replace the dead and bogus Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

The farmers told Nograles that they “fully support the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill because this will answer the increasing problems of landlessness in the country.”

“What’s the difference of this with the CARP extension bill?” Nograles asked the farmers.

Mariano explained the “big difference” between the GARB and what he called the bogus CARP.

“The GARB is based on the principle of free distribution of lands. This will also ensure that the beneficiaries will cultivate and make the land productive. It also has provisions against the re-concentration of lands to the landlords,” Mariano said.

“All the farmers want is to immediately continue the deliberations on the proposed new and genuine agrarian reform bill,” the militant lawmaker said.

“I will talk to Rep. (Elias) Bulut, chairman of the committee on agrarian reform next week… by Wednesday,” Nograles said.

Nograles then clarified that he “cannot promise anything to the farmers.”

“I will follow the process,” Nograles said adding that “the policy of the Speaker is clear. All work should be entrusted to the committee. Kung ano ang committee report, yun ang susuportahan ko.”

The farmers then vowed to closely monitor the moves of the committee on agrarian reform.

“We will keep an eye on the moves of the committee on agrarian reform and press them to immediately tackle the GARB,” says KMP spokesperson Antonio Flores.

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