Farmers Intensify Nationwide Signature Campaign for CARPER

Farmers from all over the country are fast-tracking their signature campaign for the immediate passage of House Bill 4077 and Senate Bill 2666 (CARP Extension with Reforms) in Congress.  On March 24, the farmers from Sumilao, Banasi and Calatagan participated in solidarity with the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM) in the people’s mobilization against massive mining operations in the country held in front of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Agriculture (DA) in Quezon City. 

After the mobilization, the farmers then visited some areas in Dagat-dagatan, Caloocan to gather signatures from the residents.  They were warmly welcomed by various people’s organizations, groups and residents who also ate dinner with the farmers as a show of support and solidarity.  They also delivered a letter calling for support to House Bill 4077 to the office of Caloocan Representative Mary Mitzi Cajayon but, unfortunately, she was not available at that time for some reasons.  The farmers instead talked to one of her staff who assured that all matters that have been discussed shall be raised to Represenatitive Cajayon.  The legislative staff also signed the farmers’ petition for CARPER as a show of support to the farmers.

On March 25, the 25 farmers went to the Manila City Hall to gather signatures from students, government employees, and other passerby.  Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim fully supported the farmers’ cause for the passage of CARP Extension with Reforms Bill and allowed the farmers to put up several signature booths near the City Hall throughout the whole week.  The Security Office and the Maintenance Department of the City Hall assisted the farmers in the putting up of the booths.  Further, the sidewalk vendors also encouraged each passerby to sign on the farmers’ petition.  The farmers were also very pleased to see two young students who voluntarily helped them in the signature campaign the whole afternoon.  One of the students said that the agrarian reform program is not just a concern of the farmers but of the whole citizens in the country.  He added that the program would mean that there would be sufficient rice for all the Filipinos at a much lower price.  The farmers came back to CARITAS at around 5:00 in the afternoon.

In the provinces of Ormoc and Leyte, the dioceses and other religious groups helped in the campaign for the passage of the CARPER Bill by initiating signature campaigns in their respective churches.  Also, the DAR Region XIII, through Regional Director John Maruhom, actively led the signature campaign for CARPER in the various Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in Leyte and Ormoc.

The farmers also in Misamis Oriental and Misamis Occidental worked in coordination with the DAR Region X, through Regional Director Felix Aguhob, for the signature campaign and the conduct of several forum in the region.  In line with this, Bishop Ledesma of Cagayan de Oro and Bishop Honesto Pacana of Bukidnon are also making significant efforts in convincing their respective congressional representatives to support the CARPER Bill.  Bukidnon Representatives Candido Pancrudo (1^st District) and Teofisto “TG” Guingona (2^nd District) have pledged their support for CARPER personally to the Bishops.