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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Farmers' debt condonation bill moves forward in House

Farmers' debt condonation bill moves forward in House

Published Sep 14, 2022 11:10 am

The House of Representatives Committee on Agrarian Reform has formed a technical working group (TWG) for the purpose of consolidating nine different measures seeking debt burden and amortization condonation for agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).

FARMERS in Western Visayas region are urged to adapt to climate-resilient farming. (DA-6)

If enacted, the measures will condone or do away with the debt burdens and amortizations owed by farmers under Republic Act (RA) 6657 or the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988 . Farmer-beneficiaries awarded agricultural land under RA 6657 are directed to pay the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) 30 annual amortizations at a rate of six percent per year.

Essentially, the bills seek to ensure land ownership for the beneficiaries awarded agricultural land in order to bolster the country’s agricultural industry. This is a priority measure of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The President previously estimated that the condonation would cover “P58.125 billion benefiting around 654,000 ARBs and involving a total of 1.18 million hectares of awarded lands".

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/25/marcos-to-grant-1-year-moratorium-on-payments-interest-for-agrarian-reform-beneficiaries/

On Wednesday, Sept. 14, Committee on Agrarian Reform Chairman Ifugao lone district Rep. Solomon Chungalao urged members of the House panel to motion for the formation of a TWG to consolidate the nine measures during a hearing.

Abono Party-list Rep. Robert Estrella made the motion, which was promptly seconded and approved.

Section 39 of the rules of the House of Representatives defines a TWG as follows: “Technical working groups may be created and tasked to ensure that measures and their corresponding committee reports are carefully crafted and faithfully express the ideas, sentiments and consensus of the committee relative to said measures and reports.”

Just a day before, on Sept. 13, President Marcos signed an executive order (EO) that imposed a year-long moratorium on the payments of annual amortizations and interest payments owed by farmer-beneficiaries.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2022/09/13/marcos-orders-moratorium-on-land-amortization-interest-payments/

The nine House bills (HBs) to be consolidated and their respective authors are as follows:

HB 2182 (Deputy Speaker Batangas 6th district Rep. Ralph Recto)

HB 2393 (Sorsogon 1st district Rep. Marie Bernadette Escudero)

HB 2550 (Estrella)

HB 3409 (Oriental Mindoro 1st district Rep. Arnan Panaligan)

HB 3434 (Muntinlupa City Rep. Jaime Fresnedi)

HB 3490 (Agri Party-list Rep. Wilbert Lee)

HB 3787 (Chungalao)

HB 3797 (Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda)

HB 4333 (Ilocos Norte 2nd district Rep. Angelo Barba)

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