Sugar leaders yesterday said they respect President Benigno Aquino’s need to enforce the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program because it is a law, but asked him to ensure that due process is observed in its implementation.

Aquino, in his third State of the Nation Address yesterday, said “My mother initiated the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. It is only just that this program sees its conclusion during my term.”

“We are improving the system, so that we can more swiftly and more efficiently realize agrarian reform. The government is doing everything in its power to ensure that our farmers can claim as their own the land they have tilled and nurtured with their sweat,” he also said.

But Aquino said there are “those who wish to obstruct us. I say to them: We will obey the law. The law says, the nation says, and I say: Before I step down, all the land covered by CARP will have been distributed.”

Enrique Rojas, president of the National Federation of Sugarcane Planters, said “We respect the law and we are not against CARP. We just ask government to observe due process and respect land owners rights in the implementation of the law. Moreover, we hope government will likewise provide the necessary support services to ARBs so that we can maintain our agricultural productivity.”

Raymond Montinola, chairman of the Confederation of Sugar Producers Associations – Negros Panay Chapter, said "We support the governance of change by PNoy as he weeds out corruption in government. We likewise recognize his program to accomplish the CARP prior to end of his term.

“All we are asking in return is that the DAR implement CARP with due process of law together with the necessary support services for both ARBs and landowners alike," he added.

Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines, said they are not against CARP because it is a law that has to be implemented, but they are calling on the president to ensure that due process is followed so that the rights of the landowners are also respected.”*CPG

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