Ex- congressman offers 450-hectare sugarland to CARP

The family of former Rep. Jules Ledesma has offered to sell voluntarily its 450-hectare sugarcane plantation in Negros Occidental, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) said.

Agrarian Reform Secretary Nasser Pangandaman accompanied Ledesma and his wife, actress Assunta de Rossi, to a meeting with President Arroyo at Malacañang where the former lawmaker expressed his family’s intention to place under CARP the property that is under the name of the family owned Gamboa Hermanos, Inc.

President Arroyo lauded Ledesma’s gesture, saying it would help convince many previously defiant landowners to cooperate with the government in pursuit of its sustainable rural development program, which is anchored on CARP.

President Arroyo reiterated that "social equity begins with land distribution. Without social equity, we will never win the war against poverty."

Ledesma echoed the President’s sentiment. He quoted his late father, constutionalist Carlos Ledesma, as saying: "I believe that property rights are not absolute and hence are subject to the needs and exigencies of the community."

Ledesma added that guaranteeing every person’s right to work and providing ways and means to preserve his human dignity is the key to promoting social justice.

Pangandaman said he hopes more landowners would emulate the example set by Ledesma especially in Negros Occidental which is considered by many as the last bastion of landowners opposed to land reform.