Agrarian Reform in the Philippines

Has there really been an agrarian reform in the Philippines? Or it's just in black in white and has really never been realized? Yes we have Republic Act 9700 or the CARPER Law which provided for the extension of land acquisition and distribution for five years. And that five years will soon end come June 30, 2014!

So what will happen now? What happens to the public and private agricultural lands which have yet to be distributed under the CARPER Law? According to the Department of Agrarian Reform,  a total of 790,671 hectares of public agricultural lands still remain to be covered under the CARPER Law. So what does this mean? Time was not enough to distribute all the lands covered by the law? Or there was something more than meets the eye?

No wonder Rep. Teddy Baguilat filed a bill (House Bill No. 4296) seeking to continue and complete the land distribution and acquisition process for all public and private agricultural lands covered under the CARPER Law. The bill is seeking to extend the distribution even beyond June 30, 2014. While this is a good measure to ensure that lands are distributed, there is no assurance that this will be accomplished in due time. There will always be excuses and, worse, the way out can always be through extension of the agrarian reform program.        

  

      

Getting to NAIA Terminal the Cheapest Way

In my recent official trip to Cebu, I decided to deviate from my usual mode of transport going to NAIA Terminal 3. No service vehicle, no taxi ride. I was so curious I tried the alternative way to the airport and found out how cheap and easy it was. Goes to show that travelling is possible on a shoestring budget.

Where and how? 

1. Go to EDSA Taft. If you're riding the LRT, stop at EDSA Station and proceed to the bridge connecting the MRT Taft Station.  

2. Under the MRT Taft Station you can see Mc Donalds. It's across the MetroPoint Mall along EDSA. You can also see the Sogo Hotel building. In between McDo and Sogo Hotel building, there's a way leading to the terminal where shuttle buses servicing NAIA Terminals 1,2,3 are picking up passengers. Enter that narrow way and proceed to the shuttle bus (White bus).

3. Believe it or not, fare is only P20.00.

4. After a few minutes, you'll be in NAIA Terminal 3...for only P20.00. The bus stops at Bay 1.    

Note:
Some shuttle buses don't go directly to Terminal 1 and 2, so you have to transfer to another shuttle bus. Just ask the driver.  

               

Getting to Harbor Square in CCP Complex, Pasay City

Looking for a place to dine out on a Friday night? Come to Harbor Square within the CCP Complex in Pasay City. It's a nice and convenient place to hang out with your family or friends. It was my first time to be there on a Friday night and I enjoyed the ambiance.

It's a place just beside the Manila Bay. So if you want to scape from the crowded streets in the metropolis, then this is the place to be. Here you can enjoy the view of the Manila Bay by night with all the colorful lights on the background.  

The Manila Yacht Club is just near the place so you'll see different sizes of yacht floating in the bay like paper boats. At the end of the square is the terminal for ferries going to Bataan and for Manila cruises.   

It's a compound of fast food chains, restaurants, bars, cafes, etc. Live bands and music coming from different sides of the square make the night alive and happy. Worry not as there are budget-friendly restos and fast food chains. Yes, Jollibee is here! There are also choices of restos and bars for the well-scrubbed.         

There are also mini bazaars. So if you want to buy gift items, then you can find some here --  from clothes to toys to gadgets and other Divisoria items. Just watch out for the prices! Naturally, prices are a little bit high, but of course you can always haggle. 

So how to get to the Harbor Square? It's actually accessible. It's just along the famous Roxas Boulevard. It's within the CCP Complex just beside the Cultural Center of the Philippines. It's easy to get here on a private vehicle or taxi ride via Roxas Blvd. Just tell the taxi driver to drop you off Harbor Square just beside CCP. 

Commuting via LRT-1 or Taft Avenue? Just a walk away from the Vito Cruz LRT Station, you can find the terminal of jeepneys (small and orange in color) going to CCP (Just ask where the terminal is). Ride a jeep and tell the driver to drop you off right in front of the Harbor Square. Fare is only P8.00.

Or you can ride an FX/Van that passes through Roxas Blvd e.g. Lawton-Sucat route or Lawton-Cavite, route. Tell the driver to drop you off the CCP. From the corner, walk towards the CCP and to the right is the Harbor Square.