Probe of agrarian reform pushed in House

A LAWMAKER on Tuesday pushed for a congressional inquiry into the implementation of the comprehensive agrarian reform program, citing persistent issues in land distribution, tenure security, and support for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

In a statement, Party-list Rep. Leila Norma M. de Lima said she filed House Resolution No. 1055 directing the House Committee on Agrarian Reform, together with other appropriate committees, to investigate the implementation of Republic Act No. 9700, or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER).

The inquiry will also cover related initiatives such as the Support to Parcelization of Lands for Individual Titling Project.

Ms. de Lima cited reports of delays and deficiencies in land distribution, including cases where some land distributions were allegedly canceled or voided due to technical reasons and without due process.

“These circumstances, if left unchecked, undermine the objectives of agrarian reform by eroding tenure security, enabling land reconsolidation, and exposing beneficiaries to exploitation,” she said.

CARPER, enacted in 2009, extended the agrarian reform program until 2014 to complete land acquisition and distribution. However, Ms. de Lima noted that 550,000 hectares of farmland remained undistributed after the deadline.

In her privilege speech, she cited cases in Island Garden City of Samal, Davao del Norte where some ARBs were allegedly forced to sell or mortgage their lands due to lack of support, while others were evicted and demolished without a court order.

Ms. de Lima also called for stricter safeguards against land grabbing, better oversight of land titling, and strengthened support services for ARBs. — Pexcel John Bacon