Jun 292014
On the last day of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) law, militant farmers barricaded the head office of the Department of Agrarian Reform in Quezon City early Monday.
Many of the farmers blocked the gate at the DAR office, according to a photo posted on Twitter by GMA News’ Athena Imperial.
Still, the militants managed to prevent some employees of the DAR and Department of Agriculture from reporting for work early.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said that as of 8:48 a.m., the rally by Kilusang Mambubukid ng Pilipinas and Bayan Muna was snarling traffic on Elliptical Road.
It said MMDA and police personnel were deployed to the site while traffic was “slow moving from Tandang Sora.”
Monday is the last day of the effectivity of the CARPER law.
Under Section 5 of the law, the DAR and the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) shall “plan and program the final acquisition and distribution of all remaining unacquired and undistributed agricultural lands … until June 30, 2014.”
On Sunday, militant farmers marched to the house of President Benigno Aquino III on Times Street in Quezon City. There, they burned an effigy of Aquino, who they branded pro-landlord.
Militant groups also said they have scheduled a series of protests in time for Aquino’s State of the Nation Address before a joint session of Congress on July 28. —Joel Locsin/KG, GMA News
