|
The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program reaches its peak and
amidst opposition and strong resistance to its implementation
beyond 2008, The Department of Agrarian Reform in the Province
in Negros Occidental continues its journey with a mission
“ To lead and promote
the pursuit of agrarian reform and sustainable
rural development through land tenure improvement and provision
of support services to farmers and delivery of agrarian justice”
and fulfill its vision for our beloved Philippines,
“a nation where there is equitable land ownership
with
empowered farmer beneficiaries who were
effectively managing their socio-economic development for a
better quality of life”.
As we are now in the crossroads of
CARP implementation, thus we are passing two kinds of roads, a
road leading to the fulfillment of dreams every farmer
beneficiaries and CARP implementers need more to pass or a road
full of stones or even thorns that usually blocks our ways as we
go along to fulfill our mission in the countryside.
Nineteen (19) years of CARP implementation is no
such big joke for various partners, Line Agencies in the
Government, Non Government Organizations, People’s
Organizations, Farmers Organization, landowner’s groups and
many other organized groups who are all agrarian reform
advocate, specifically to mention our Local Government Units,
the Philippines National Police and the Philippine Army.
The support groups are even assisting us in solving several
issues and concerns raised in pursuit for the program
implementation, be it on operational, legal and support services
for the betterment of our farmer beneficiaries and other
stakeholders as well.
Unperturbed by obstacles, the Department of Agrarian Reform is
strongly attached to it’s mission. DAR’s commitment to pursue
CARP implementation is a function and confidence among its
leaders and field implementers.
It is an indubitable fact that many criticized
its implementation, yet many farmworkers have benefited from
CARP. Moreover, to those whose interest was affected by the
program, we should also consider the many benefits enjoyed by
many stakeholders of CARP. The opposition and praises from all
sides only prove that DAR is a dynamic bureaucracy and is
effective in managing and effectively managing a social justice
program as CARP.
Similarly, to those critical of the program had forgotten the
fact that life is paradox and so as CARP. As it is implemented
opposites happened, success, failures, criticisms and praises
emerge like mushrooms. These events are manifestations that the
program is being felt by all stakeholders and these are the
reality that we cannot ignore.
As we are very optimistic that CARP will be
extended, we need the helping hands from the concerned public
in order to best address the issue on uplifting the lives of
the agrarian reform beneficiaries, with the Divine Intervention.
GIDEON A.
UMADHAY, JR.
OIC-Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II
Department of Agrarian Reform
Province of Negros Occidental |
