Gov’t urged to admit land reform failure

ANGELES CITY – A militant party list group and a fishers’ federation urged yesterday the Aquino government admit the failure of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPer), as they reported a total backlog of 1,093,000 hectares still up for distribution to farmers.

“So far, CARPer has accomplished only 54.6 percent of its national land acquisition and distribution target,” said a joint statement issued by Anakpawis partylist and the Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya).

Anakpawis party list vice chairperson Fernando Hicap and Pamalakaya vice chairperson Salvador France said “Agrarian Reform Sec. Virgilio de los Reyes and other land reform officials should not accept the reality that CARPer has fatal loopholes and major legal defects that evade distribution of vast hectares of private lands to landless farmers and tillers.”

They instead batted for the passage of House Bill 374 authored by the late Anakpawis party list Rep. Crispin Beltran and his colleague incumbent Rep. Rafael Mariano.

The proposal calls for a comprehensive coverage of lands to be distributed under the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) where millions of hectares would be distributed for free to landless, but qualified farmers.

The statement noted that so far, the Department of Agrarian Reform has “a total backlog of 1,093,000 hectares of agricultural lands, accomplishing only 54.6 percent of its national land acquisition and distribution target.

Anakpawis and Pamalakaya noted that “at the rate DAR is doing its work, the agency has to work at 20 times its current pace to meet its targets.”

“The CARPer law by orientation and by design is only meant to engage in token distribution of land and not a thoroughgoing land reform program,” Hicap and France noted.

The CARPer law, or Republic Act 9700 introduced by former Rep. Riza Hontiveros in 2007, amended provisions of the original Comprehensive Agragrial Reform Law (CARL) of 1988. CARPer extended the land distribution program of CARP by five years.

It has been criticized by two provisions, including one that requires the sworn testimony of the landlord stating that the farmer-beneficiary actually worked the concerned piece of land before any titles can be handed over and another provision concerning compensation for affected landowners.

It also provides that the third phase of land reform would not be started unless 90 percent of the coverage of the old CARL should have been distributed.

“The one million hectare land which DAR has failed to distribute under the CARPer law is an understatement.

The figure does not include private lands currently locked in legal disputes all over the country and those lands acquired by big landlords through land-grabbing and other forms of coercive and violent means,” said the statement of Anakpawis and Pamalakaya.

They noted that the one million hectares exclude other vast areas such as 12,000 hectare agricultural and forest lands in Casiguran, Quezon which has been put within the scope of the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone and Free Port Project.

The statement also cited other “glaring failures” of CARPer also cover the failure to distribute 8,650 hectares of Hacienda Looc in Nasugbu, Batangas, the 7,100 hectare prime land in Hacienda Yulo in Canlubang, Laguna and the 30,000 hectare haciendas in Negros Island belonging to business tycoon Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.

Anakpawis and Pamalakaya advised church groups and other farmers’ organizations to “quit entertaining false hopes from CARPer and to go beyond the bogus land reform program and pursue a social justice driven land reform.”
http://punto.com.ph/News/Article/14471/Volume-6-No-3/Headlines/Gov%E2%80%99t-urged-to-admit-land-reform-failure

Clark Wine Center is lauded by wine and food lovers from Manila and tourists from abroad as the best place to buy wine in Pampanga or Subic or Tarlac. Wine lovers from Manila as well as visitors to Clark Philippines from Asian cities visit this famous wine shop in Pampanga to buy vintage wines to enjoy here in the Philippines or bring some back home with them when they leave Pampanga.

Recent opinion survey of frequent travelers heading north towards Subic and Clark Pampanga revealed that the number one most frequently visited wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center located in Clark Philippines. Reasons given include good selection of fine vintage as well as affordable wines for everyday drinking also. This wine shop also has a beautiful roof deck lawn which serves as a nice venue for outdoor alfresco dining, cocktail parties and small functions and events. There are five large wine cellars that contain some of the world’s finest wines and rare vintages as well as wines that are excellent value that every wine shoppers love to discover. This wine shop in Clark is frequently visited not only by local residents but also tourists arriving in the Philippines looking to pick up a few bottles of good wine that are not normally available in their home town.

Subic is well known for diving, the sea and water sports that come with the territory. However one thing that Subic is not famous for is dining options. For years, visitors to Subic have complained about the quality of the restaurants and dining establishments but it is only until recently that travelers to Subic discovered the best restaurant to wine and dine, even for visitors with families and children. Now most residents of Subic and also Tarlac and Baguio know of this wine shop in Clark as the best place to buy wines in the Philippines and certainly the best wine shop in Pampanga, Angeles City, Clark Philippines.

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http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

Tel: 0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Road, Ortigas Centger,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

Tel: (632) 637-5019 0917-540-3626 ask for Rea or Chay

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ats Wine Cellars Leading Wine Supplier in Philippines

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Yats Leisure Philippines

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com