Rph

• Reform implies the existence of a defect that something is deformed or malformed and does not suit existing conditions.
• land reform refers to the full range of measures that may or should be taken to improve or remedy that defects in the relations among men (eg. Between the tiller and owner of the land, employee and employer in a farm) with respect to their rights in land.
• The term "land reform" has also been defined as an integrated set of measures designed to eliminate obstacles to economic and social development arising out of defects in the agrarian structure. Land reform thus involves the “transformation of agrarian structure.”
• In the strict sense, land reform can be said to refer to a change in the legal or customary institution of property

  rights and duties, which define the

  rights of those who own or use

  agricultural land.
• Land reform is often used interchangeably with agrarian reform but in actuality, the latter is much

  broader than the former.
• Agrarian reform involves the restructuring of tenure, production and support services structures.
• The Nature of Land Distribution in the Philippines

  • Pre-Colonial Patterns

  • Spanish Period

  • American Period

  • Post War Period

  - Agrarian Unrest

  • Friar Lands

  • Rice and Corn Lands

  • All Public and Private Lands
• When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the concept of encomienda (Royal Land Grants) was introduced. This system grants that Encomienderos must defend his encomienda from external attack, maintain peace and order within, and support the missionaries. In turn, the encomiendero acquired the right to collect tribute from the indios (native).
• The system during Spanish period, however, degenerated into abuse of power by the encomienderos The tribute soon became land rents to a few powerful landlords. And the natives who once cultivated the lands in freedom were transformed into mere share tenants.
• When the First Philippine Republic was established in 1899, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared in the Malolos Constitution his intention to confiscate large estates, especially the so-called Friar lands. However, as the Republic was short-lived, Aguinaldo’s plan was never implemented
• Philippine Bill of 1902 – Set the ceilings on the hectarage of private individuals and corporations may acquire: 16 has. for private individuals and 1,024 has. for corporations.
• Land Registration Act of 1902 (Act No. 496) – Provided for a comprehensive registration of land titles under the Torrens system
• Public Land Act of 1903 – introduced the homestead system in the Philippines.
• Tenancy Act of 1933 (Act No. 4054 and 4113) – regulated relationships between landowners and tenants of rice (50-50 sharing) and sugar cane lands.
• The Torrens system, which the Americans instituted for the registration of lands, did not solve the problem completely. Either they were not aware of the law or if they did, they could not pay the survey cost and other fees required in applying for a Torrens title.
• Commonwealth

  • President Manuel L. Quezon espoused the "Social Justice" program to arrest the increasing social unrest

  in Central Luzon.
• Constitution - "The promotion of social justice to ensure the well-being and economic security of all people should be the concern of the State"


  1935
• Commonwealth Act No. 178 (An Amendment to Rice Tenancy Act No. 4045) - Provided for certain controls in the landlord-tenant relationships


  Nov. 13, 1936
• National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC) - Established the price of rice and corn thereby help the poor tenants as well as consumers


  1936
• Commonwealth Act. No. 461 - Specified reasons for the dismissal of tenants and only with the approval of the Tenancy Division of the Department of Justice


  1937
• Rural Program Administration - Provided the purchase and lease of haciendas and their sale and lease to the tenants


  March 2, 1939
• Commonwealth Act No. 441 - Created the National Settlement Administration with a capital stock of P20,000,000


  June 3, 1939
• Hukbalahap


  Anti-Japanese group
• Hukbalahap


  • Controlled whole areas of Central Luzon
  • Supported by peasants who gained land from landlords who supported the Japanese
• Landlords who supported the Japanese

  Lost their lands to peasants
• Landlords who supported the Huks

  Earned fixed rentals in favor of the tenants
• The Second World War II started in Europe

  1939
• The Second World War II started in the Pacific

  1941
• The end of war also signaled the end of gains acquired by the peasants
• The arrival of the Japanese in the Philippines

  1942
• Upon the arrival of the Japanese in the Philippines

  • Peasants and workers organizations grew strength
  • Many peasants took up arms and identified themselves with the anti-Japanese group, the HUKBALAHAP
• 2nd Republic


  After the establishment of the Philippine Independence in 1946, the problems of land tenure remained. These became worst in certain areas. Thus the Congress of the Philippines revised the tenancy law.
• President Manuel A. Roxas (1946-1948)
• Laws enacted by President Manuel A. Roxas

  • Republic Act No. 34 -- Established the 70-30 sharing arrangements and regulating share-tenancy contracts.
  • Republic Act No. 55 -- Provided for a more effective safeguard against arbitrary ejectment of tenants.
• Elpidio R. Quirino (1948- 1953)


  Enacted the following law:
• Law enacted by Elpidio R. Quirino

  • Executive Order No. 355 issued on October 23, 1950 -- Replaced the National Land Settlement Administration with Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO) which takes over the responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn Production Administration.
• Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957)


  Enacted the following laws:
• Laws enacted by Ramon Magsaysay


  • Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954 -- Abolished the LASEDECO and established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) to resettle dissidents and landless farmers. It was particularly aimed at rebel returnees providing home lots and farmlands in Palawan and Mindanao.
  • Republic Act No. 1199 (Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954) -- governed the relationship between landowners and tenant farmers by organizing share-tenancy and leasehold system. The law provided the security of tenure of tenants. It also created the Court of Agrarian Relations.
  • Republic Act No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955) -- Created the Land Tenure Administration (LTA) which was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of large tenanted rice and corn lands over 200 hectares for individuals and 600 hectares for corporations.
  • Republic Act No. 821 (Creation of Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration) -- Provided small farmers and share tenants loans with low interest rates of six to eight percent.
• President Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)


  Continued the program of President Ramon Magsaysay. No new legislation passed.
• President Diosdado P. Macapagal (1961-1965)


  Enacted the following law: