Farmers slam Speaker Nograles’ Merry-Go-Round on CARP Extension with Reforms

Farmers belonging to Reform CARP Movement (RCM) do a roundabout in the vicinity of Batasan Complex to slam the continuous failure of Congress to prioritize discussion of the CARP Extension with Reforms bill since it resumed session two weeks ago.

With their vehicles garbed with streamers, placards and cooking pans, the farmers dramatized to the public the attitude of Congress towards the farmers whom they accused of taking them for a ride in the promise of enacting CARPER bills for months already but still failed to do so until now.

“Dalawang linggo na ang nasasayang na panahon para maipasa na sana ang HB 4077.  Ginagawang malaking carousel at merry-go-round ni Nograles ang buong Kongreso sa lulubog-lilitaw nitong pag-adyenda sa CARPER. Pinapaikot-ikot at pinaglalaruan na yata ni Speaker ang usaping repormang agraryo sa patuloy nitong pagsasawalang bahala sa kapakanan ng walang lupang magsasaka at mas inuuna pa ang mga dayuhan na makapag-ari ng lupa sa Pilipinas.” said RCM member and Sumilao farmers’ leader Yoyong Merrida.

The farmers also lamented that it is quite ironic how House Speaker Prospero Nograles prioritized enactment of House Resolution 737 allowing foreign ownership of lands over House Bill 4077 that distributes lands to the landless Filipino farmers. They even accused Nograles of amusing himself in the looped ChaCha circus music that is already been rejected by the people in so many ways and in all means possible and at the expense of the sensitivity of the farmers who are been lobbying hard for CARPER.

“Pinangako ni Nograles na ipapasa niya ang CARPER pero iniinsulto niya ang hanay naming magsasaka sa patuloy nitong pagtutulak para sa ChaCha kasabay ng pagmamay-ari ng banyaga ng lupain sa Pilipinas habang kami ay araw-araw na nakabantay sa plenaryo para pag-usapan ang repormang agraryo. Sana naman, makaramdam si Speaker ng hiya sa bawat isang magsasakang patuloy na umaasang mapag-usapan as plenary ang aming sinusuportahang panukala at isantabi na ang ChaCha at HR 737.” said Calatagan farmers’ leader Zaldy Castrojeres.

With 20 session days left for Congress and with the entrance of new party list representatives, the farmers challenged the newly proclaimed solons to support and act on CARP Extension with Reforms if they truly intend to represent the interest of the marginalized as the bill served not only the interest of the farmers but every Filipinos who aspire for sustainable development, food security and social justice.

Lastly, the farmers started their final countdown for CARPER today and warned Speaker Nograles and Congress that if they fail to act this week, they should expect more farmers’ camping out at the gates of Batasan Complex.###