Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday welcomed the act of Congress that allows the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to expire on June 30, and said this will lead to the return of investors in agriculture, the growth of which had been stunted by CARP.

Congress did not grant another CARP extension when it adjourned Wednesday, and it will resume sessions on July 28, Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said.

Since it was not extended, it will end on June 30, and those properties not served notices of coverage before that date will no longer be subjected to CARP, he added.

But properties covered by notices of coverage will still be subjected to land reform after June 30, Benitez said.

Congress did not act on the bid to extend CARP that would have allowed the issuance of notices of coverage to be extended. “It would have not have made sense to extend CARP because I don’t think it works,” he said.

Benitez said the CARP can only be revived if a special session of Congress is called before June 30 to act on it, or a new law is filed when Congress resumes.

Marañon said it is about time CARP is ended after 26 years, and government, instead, concentrates on providing support services to existing agrarian reform beneficiaries to improve their lives.

CARP had driven away investors in agriculture, but with its end Marañon sees their return. Philippine agriculture needs a lot of investments to move ahead, the governor said.

But Marañon also said he does not want Philippine agriculture opened to foreign investors.

Philippine farmers are better and more efficient than foreigners. They just need capital, he said, pointing out that Thailand and Japan subsidize their farmers.*CPG

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