The House of Representatives has given its penultimate approval to a measure seeking the emancipation of agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) from P58 billion worth of debt stemming from the award of agricultural lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
Passed on second reading during plenary session Monday afternoon, Dec. 5 was House Bill (HB) No. 6336, or the proposed New Agrarian Emancipation Act.
The measure, which resulted from the consolidation of 11 separate bills, was approved via simple voice vote (ayes vs. nayes).
No less than President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had asked Congress to pass a law that would free the ARBs–who are mostly farmers–from their debts.
The measure is expect to be approved on third and final reading next week, just before solons start their five-week holiday recess.
Under HB No.6336, all unpaid amortization amounts, interest payments, surcharges and penalties of existing loans of ARBs secured under the CARP or other similar programs shall be written off.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is mandated to issue a Notice of Condonation to be annotated to the Emancipation Patents and Certificates of Land Ownership Award.
Furthermore, the bill prohibits the sale, transfer or conveyance of awarded lands to another except through hereditary succession, or be the subject of conversion, for a period of 10 years from the issuance of the certificate of condonation or certificate of land ownership award.
The measure says that government shall subrogate the ARBs to pay the remaining balance of the compensation for lands acquired under the voluntary land transfer and direct payment scheme.
ARBs who have yet to be awarded with agricultural land from the CARP will receive so without any obligation for amortization. The proposed law exempts estate tax payments on awarded lands to ARBs.