SC affirms sugar plantation under CARP

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court recently affirmed its 2007 ruling that sugar plantations are covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law, or Republic Act No. 6657.

In a minute resolution issued on April 13, the high court en banc denied with finality the motion filed by big sugar producers asking the court to reconsider its decision of March 10, 2007 (which was received by the public information office on May 20).

In that original decision, the high court dismissed the petition filed by big sugar producers led by the Confederation of Sugar Producers Association Inc. against placing sugar plantations under land reform.

The big sugar producers argued that it was “unwise” and “impractical” to distribute sugar lands under agrarian reform because such plantations could be more efficiently and economically run as “organized, mechanized, plantation-type agriculture” than as small, “parcelized,” owner-cultivated farms.

But the high court said it was not within its power to question Congress’ decision to include sugar lands under agrarian reform. Dona Z. Pazzibugan, Philippine Daily Inquirer