Janus Rau B.

Cunanan

BS-ECE

April 22, 2016

CARP: Its Purposes and Current Condition

What is CARP? (A Brief Background)

President Corazon Aquino approved the Republic Act No. 6657, otherwise known
as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) on June 10, 1988. The said law
was the one who introduced the CARP or Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
Under this program, all of the public and private agricultural lands are presented to
farmers who dont have own land.

Purposes of CARP
Some of the purposes of CARP are as follows:
1. To grant landless farmers and farmworkers ownership of agricultural
lands.
Farmers are the so-called backbone of the economy. The production of
the basic food products for the people and raw products for the industries are
their responsibilities. Since in our times, being a landless farmworker is not
necessarily enough, CARP is the one who will grant landless farmers and
farmworkers possession over agricultural lands.
2. To enhance the agricultural production and productivity.
One of the CARPs goals is to make farmers and farmworkers have their
own lands. If this happens, more hands will work as to provide better creation in
agriculture.
3. To provide landowners equality in terms of income and opportunities.
A landowner doesnt have to be the greatest among all the landowners.
Due to the fact that every landowner contributes to the wellness of the nation,
each of them must be given a reasonable and fair treatment in whatever
opportunities may come to them.
4. To empower land owner beneficiaries to have an equitable land ownership.
Beneficiaries of CARP include landless farmers, including agricultural
occupants, tenants, as well as regular, seasonal and other farmworkers. Of
course, ownership over a land is not enough; it must be reasonable and just.
5. To provide employment to more agricultural workers.

As based on the CARPs vision, it gives an opportunity for those seeking

an occupation especially in the field of agriculture. In case for the farmworkers,
they will have more opportunities once they have received their own lands.
6. To put an end to conflicts regarding land ownership.
Land ownership is a powerful tool for everyone. Assuming that justice
exists, this ownership helps a person to be stable and blameless; he or she has
already a land of his/her own, and theres nothing to worry about anything.
7. To promote social justice and industrialization.
Every person is a vital constituent of a state. Therefore, justice among
people must follow then, whatever the status of a person may be. In the case of
farmers and farmworkers, CARP is with them to encourage the agricultural,
industrial, and even the economic development of a country.
Current Condition of CARP
There are so many laws on land reforms that are already approved, but still until
now many farmers keep on complaining because they still dont achieve their dream
that is, to have an own land.
Almost three decades passed by after the enactment of CARP, yet still many
people engaged in agricultural activity were working on lands which are not on their
own. One of the reasons is the failed task of some agencies responsible for this
program (like DAR or Department of Agrarian Reform). Also, the promises of some
officials within the responsible agency for CARP are still nowhere in sight. Due to
opposing economic policies, CARP still fails to fulfill its promise to promote social justice
and development. There are also claims that the program has worsened violent conflicts
between landowners and poor farmers.
As observed from the above reasons, the primary thing there is about the conflict
between the compulsory responsibilities of people and government. The persons having
tasks, especially for the most people, find it hard to do due to some contradictions
coming from various sources. Just remember that the victory of all land reforms (like
CARP) is within the teamwork and unity of the land owners and the government.