By Casandra Hilary B Emata    

The Institute of Land Governance (ILG) of Xavier University and co-publishers Asian Non-Government Organization Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC), Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-National Secretariat for Social Action (CBCP-NASSA) and Climate Change Congress of the Philippines (CCCP) launched the land reform book of Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio J Ledesma at CBCP Building, Intramuros, Manila on October 24.

His book “Land Reform in East and Southeast Asia (1930s-80)” was originally printed as “Land Reform in East and Southeast Asia: A Comparative Approach” by the Ateneo de Manila University - Philippine Studies in 1980, and re-printed by XU Press.

Partners, advocates and farmers from Davao joined the event, in time for their appeal to the Philippine Congress for the passage of House Bills 4296 and 4375 which uphold asset reform, social justice and inclusive growth for the country’s farmers.

HB 4296 aims to extend the land acquisition and distribution (LAD) component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) for another two years while the HB 4375 seeks the inception of an independent Agrarian Reform Commission with legal powers of subpoena and contempt that would review the actual accomplishment of CARP, and investigate its circumvention and violations.

In addition, CCCP co-convenor Atty Christian S Monsod launched his book  “Agrarian Reform: Unfinished Reform and Its Lessons.”