Church upbeat Aquino will keep word; militant farmers wary
By Jocelyn R. Uy, Norman Bordadora, Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 16, 2012

Catholic Church leaders on Friday expressed confidence that President Benigno Aquino III would keep his word on the full implementation of agrarian reform, but vowed to remain vigilant to make sure that land distribution to farmers is completed by 2014 as promised.

Farmers across the country, however, expressed guarded optimism, hope and skepticism over the President’s pronouncements assuring landless tillers of the land due them.

Land reform advocate Christian Monsod meanwhile said that aside from the promise of land, the farmers are also holding on to the President’s commitment to support their transition from tenants to “owner-cultivators” of the land.

Monsod, the counsel for Task Force Mapalad who represented the farmers in the Malacañang dialogue with President Aquino on Thursday, said that the farmers expect the government to comply with the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program extension with reforms (Carper)’s mandate that P150 billion be set aside for the implementation of land reform for five years.

“Support services have suffered the most, as in the past,” Monsod said in a text message to the Inquirer.

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