CARP debates under way

The House of Representatives has launched plenary debates on the proposed extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) with administration and opposition congressmen vowing to push for its approval before the expiration of the CARP law on June 10.

Reps. Edcel Lagman (Lakas, Albay) and Edno Joson (independent, Nueva Ecija), both principal authors of House Bill (HB) No. 4077, underscored the urgency of passing the measure which seeks a five-year extension of the current law.

HB 4077, which consolidates at least ten different versions of the CARP measure, also proposes the allocation of R100 billion for the purpose of acquiring agriculture lands for distribution to farmer-beneficiaries for a period of five years.

"The bill increases the funding percentage of support services from the current 25 percent to 40 percent of CARP funds to cover the expenditure and cost of rural credit, production requirements, post-harvest facilities, and marketing needs of agrarian reform beneficiaries," Lagman said.

The veteran lawmakers noted that although there are many "loopholes and imperfections" on the current CARP law, it, nevertheless, became a major solution to the social imbalance in the countryside.

"Despite its many loopholes and imperfections, aggravated by a less than perfect implementation, CARP has been a major instrument that seeks to correct the highly skewed distribution of land ownership in the country which principally contributres to the persistence of poverty in the countryside and hinders sustainable rural development," he said. (Ben R. Rosario)

Villar seeks hazard pay for public lawyers

Senate President Manuel "Manny" B. Villar Jr. wants judges, prosecutors, and public attorneys assigned in far-flung areas to have hazard pay, in addition to the common recommendation of increasing the salaries of those serving in the judiciary.

Attending the first organizational meeting of the newly constituted Judiciary, Executive, and Legislative Advisory and Consultative Council (JELAC), Villar rationalized that he wants poor litigants and those who need legal assistance to have access to the justice system.

"Giving them hazard pay will complement the unusual physical hardship of being assigned in the farthest communities of the country. This small recommendation of giving hazard pay may be simple but it will redound to the citizens gaining more access to intelligent advise concerning issues of legal significance. Hopefully, it may attract also lawyers to practice law in far-flung areas," he said.

"The JELAC to be meaningful must be the venue for the poor people to the system of rule of law. That is the purest form of achieving the ends of justice," Villar said.

Filing of candidacies for ARMM polls reset

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has revised its calendar of activities and certain prohibited acts in connection with the Aug. 11, 2008 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

The Comelec, led by retired Supreme Court (SC) Justice Jose A.R. Melo as chairman, moved back the filing of certificates of candidacy as originally set in en banc Resolution No. 8428 from May 13-20, 2008 to May 28 to June 4, 2008 under en banc Resolution No. 8443.

The resetting of the filing of candidacy will give prospective candidates to review their plans for the Aug. 11 ARMM elections, the Comelec said.

The election period was likewise moved back from May 13 to Sept. 10, 2008 to May 28 to Sept. 10, 2008 This means the prohibitive acts for the ARMM polls were likewise moved back to May 28 to Sept. 10, it was pointed out.

Among the prohibitive acts that will take effect when election period begins are the bearing, carrying, or transporting of firearms and other dealy sweapons, transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service, including public school teachers, and use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates.

The suspension of any elective provincial, city, municipal, or barangay officials is likewise prohibited during the election period in the six provinces comprising the ARMM.

The six provinces are Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Other activities scheduled in Resolution No. 8428 are also moved back, Comelec officials pointed out. (E. T. Suarez)