A Negrense solon yesterday backed the move of Governor Joseph Marañon and the Association of Chief Executives-Negros Occidental, to call for an audit and evaluation of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, to determine if it is successful or not.

Rep.Jose Carlos Lacson (3rd district Negros Occ) said he wants the evaluation of the whole program (CARP), how the money was spent, and where it went. "I am not saying, stop the program, but we should give a reason why the program should be stopped", Lacson said.

Marañon has commissioned a group to evaluate the implementation of CARP in Negros Occidental, which is expected to end June next year.

"Is giving CLOAs (Certificate of Land Ownership Award) a (proof of) success of the program?", Lacson asked.

Records of DAR furnished to the Provincial Planning Development Office of Negros Occidental showed that 112,570 CLOAs were distributed to beneficiaries in 32 towns and cities of the province.

An initial study made by the provincial government of Negros Occidental on CARP implementation showed that there are beneficiaries who have two to 10 CLOAs in their names.

Lacson said he and former Bacolod Rep. Romeo Guanzon had not voted for the passage of the CARP" because I felt that this was giving our agrarian reform beneficiaries a false hope".

Jose Maria Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Marañon, said the result of the audit and review of CARP implementation will be submitted to Congress.

Lacson said he got feedback that some agrarian reform beneficiaries are no longer owners of land awarded to them by DAR.

If we will continue the program, let's implement it in a proper way, he added.*GPB

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