The mayors of Negros Occidental yesterday threw their support behind Gov. Joseph Marañon's move for an audit and evaluation of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program in the province to determine whether it should be continued or not.

The mayors aired their support through a resolution authored by Manapla Mayor Manuel Escalante, Negros Association of Chief Executives head, during the first Provincial Development Council meeting since the May 14 polls at the Capitol in Bacolod City.

The governor said he hopes to submit a report on the audit findings to the President before November or December.

The CARP that ends next year is up for review in Congress to determine whether it should be extended or not.

We support the review of the implementation of CARP before a decision is made on whether to extend it, Escalante said.

Marañon said he placed the CARP issue on the PDC agenda to seek the mayors' cooperation when the audit is conducted in their areas and land reform beneficiaries are interviewed.

This study is necessary to determine whether or not CARP should be extended, the governor also said.

He stressed that he is not against CARP, but believes further distribution of land is not the answer to helping farmer beneficiaries but the provision of adequate support services.

Also presented at the PDC yesterday was the provincial government's push for a translink bridge between Negros and Panay and a proposed irrigation highway.

The governor also informed the mayors that they are all invited to an infrastructure and investment conference for the Central Philippines Super Region with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the new Bacolod-Silay Airport in Silay City tomorrow noon. The governors of the Central Philippine area have also been invited to the conference.*CPG

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