Bishops reiterate appeal for implementation of CARPER

MANILA, Philippines - Seventy-eight Catholic bishops are alarmed over the slow implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).

Last Jan. 28, they sent a petition to President Aquino to speed up implementation since the CARPER law will expire by year 2014. 

“We are greatly alarmed, however, that barely one and a half years from the expiration of CARPER, the accomplishments of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) have been dismal, to say the least, and many promises made to the farmers in the June dialogue are not fulfilled,” read the petition.

“We, therefore, make common cause with the farmers and many agrarian reform advocates in the call for speedy implementation of this law that touches a grave social justice issue in the country affecting so many poor farmers.” 

The 78 bishops asked Aquino to remove Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes.

“Mr. President, please take quick decisive action that CARPER be fully implemented, and revamp the current leadership of DAR which underperformed these past two years,” read the petition. “You are racing against time. We make this appeal with great urgency.”

The 78 bishops said funds have been inadequately allocated for CARP since P30 billion was not included in the annual budget for the program this year.

For 2012, Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD) targets have been reduced from 260,000 hectares to 240,000 hectares, then to 180,000 hectares (254,653 hectares if shortfalls in 2010 and 2011 are included), the bishops added.  

The signatories are Archbishop of Cebu Jose Palma, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president; Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle; Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, retired archbishop of Cebu; Archbishop of Cagayan de Oro City Antonio Ledesma; Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad; Palo Archbishop John Du; Cabanatuan Bishop Sofronio Bancud; Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo; Borongan Bishop Crispin Varquez; Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco; Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar; Military Ordinariate Leopoldo Tumulak; Virac Bishop Manolo delos Santos;  Kidapawan Bishop Romulo de la Cruz; Novaliches Bishop Antonio Tobias, and Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon; Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan Socrates Villegas, CBCP vice president; Archbishop of Caceres Rolando Tirona; Archbishop of Tuguegarao Ricardo Baccay; Calbayog Bishop Isabelo Abarquez; San Jose Bishop Roberto Mallari; Naval Bishop Filomeno Bactol; Puerto Princesa Bishop Pedro Arigo; Malaybalay Bishop Jose Cabantan; Jaro Auxiliary Bishop Gerard Alminaza; Sorsogon Bishop Arturo Bastes; Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba; Alaminos Bishop Marlo Peralta; Digos Bishop Guillermo Afable; Batanes Bishop Camilo Gregorio; Archbishop of Jaro Angel Lagdameo; Iba Bishop Florentino Lavarias; Kalookan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez; Manila Auxiliary Bishop Bernardino Cortez; Kabankalan Bishop Patricio Buzon; Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon; Pasig Bishop Mylo Vergara; Balanga Bishop Ruperto Santos; Ozamis Bishop Jesus Dosado; Libmanan Bishop Jose Rojas; retired Tandag Bishop Ireneo Amantillo; retired Legaspi Bishop Lucilo Quiambao; retired San Pablo Bishop Leo Drona; Archbishop of Pampanga Paciano Aniceto; Archbishop of Nueva Segovia Ernesto Salgado; retired Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Ranola; Marbel Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez; Davao Auxiliary Bishop George Rimando; Surigao Bishop Antonieto Cabajog; Archbishop of Davao Romulo; Calapan Bishop Warlito Cajandig; Archbishop of Cotabato Orlando Quevedo; Kalibo Bishop Jose Tala-oc; Taytay Bishop Edgardo Juanich; Urdaneta Bishop Jacinto Jose; retired Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla; Maasin Bishop Precioso Cantillas; Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena; Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance; Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Bagaforo; Ilagan Bishop Joseph Nacua; Antique Bishop Jose Lazo; Baguio Bishop Carlito Cenzon; Tarlac Bishop Florentino Cinense; Pagadian Bishop Emmanuel Cabajar; Capiz Bishop Jose Advincula. Nueva Segovia Auxiliary Bishop William Antonio; Bangued Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian; retired Pasig Bishop Francisco San Diego; Daet Bishop Gilbert Garcera; retired Daet Bishop Benjamin Almoneda; Lucena Bishop Emilio Marquez; Antipolo Auxliary Bishop Francisco de Leon; Antiplo Bishop Gabriel Reyes; Malolos Bishop Jose Oliveros; Catarman Bishop Angel Hobayan; Marawi Bishop Edwin de la Peña, and retired Archbishop of Tuguegarao Diosdado Talamayan.