AGRARIAN REFORM

• Land reform


  Efforts to uphold social justice and empower individuals to reach their full potential
• The need for land reform has remained pressing, driven by the objective of preventing social upheaval and addressing inequality
• Spanish colonial period


  1. Introduction of new landholding systems

  2. Impacted the ownership and rights of local leaders known as caciques

  3. Caused a profound disruption in the existing land tenure systems
• Torrens system


  A land registration system introduced by the Spanish
• The Torrens system created enduring challenges that had far-reaching consequences on early land ownership structures in the Philippines
• The indigenous population lost their ancestral lands to the colonizers, exacerbating social and economic disparities
• In present-day Philippines, peasants and rural communities continue to face formidable obstacles, including poverty and limited access to resources
• Agrarian reform

  1. Redistribute land ownership

  2. Provide support to farmers

  3. Enhance economic and social conditions
• Through the effective implementation of agrarian reform policies, the Philippine government can actively promote social justice, mitigate inequality, and foster sustainable development
• This will contribute to the overall well-being of rural populations and ensure the realization of human dignity for all citizens
• Pre-Spanish Period


  Prior to the arrival of the Spaniards in the Philippines
• Pre-Spanish Period

  1. Filipinos lived in villages and barangays

  2. Settlements were governed by chieftains or datus who constituted the nobility

  3. Society was structured, with maharlikas (freemen), aliping mamamahay (serfs), and aliping saguiguilid (slaves) occupying different roles

  4. Everyone had access to the land's resources

  5. Rice served as a medium of exchange since monetary currency was not yet in use
• Spanish Period

  1521-1896
• Spanish Period


  1. Spanish introduced the encomienda system

  2. Lands known as Royal Land Grants were given to loyal Spanish conquerors

  3. Conquerors were responsible for defending their encomienda, maintaining peace and order, and supporting the missionaries
• The First Philippine Republic: When General Emilio Aguinaldo assumed power in 1899, the Malolos Constitution aimed to seize the so-called Friar lands and other large estates. However, the First Philippine Republic's existence was short- lived, and the plan to confiscate the lands was not carried out.
• American Period

  1898-1935
• Regulations introduced during American Period

  1. Philippine Bill of 1902 set limits on land ownership

  2. Land Registration Act of 1902 established a comprehensive land registration system under the Torrens system

  3. Public Land Act of 1903 introduced the homestead system

  4. Tenancy Act of 1933 regulated relationships between landowners and tenants in rice and sugar cane lands, with a 50-50 sharing arrangement for rice
• The Land Registration Act of 1902 did not completely resolve the issue of land registration under the Torrens system, as some landowners were unaware of the law or unable to afford the survey costs and fees associated with applying for a Torrens title
• Commonwealth Period


  1935-1942
• Social Justice program


  Advocated by President Manuel L. Quezon to address growing social unrest in Central Luzon
• Key legislations enacted during Commonwealth Period

  1. 1935 Constitution prioritized social justice and economic security for all citizens

  2. Commonwealth Act No. 178 amended the Rice Tenancy Act to introduce controls in landlord-tenant relationships

  3. Establishment of the National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC) in 1936 to regulate prices and benefit tenants and consumers

  4. Commonwealth Act No. 461 specified grounds for the dismissal of tenants with the approval of the Tenancy Division of the Department of Justice

  5. Creation of the Rural Program Administration in 1939, facilitating the purchase and lease of haciendas for tenants

  6. Commonwealth Act No. 441 established the National Settlement Administration with a capital stock of P20,000,000
• Japanese Occupation

  During World War II
• The HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) controlled areas in Central Luzon and fought against Japanese forces
• Peasants who supported the HUKBALAHAP

  Received fixed rentals
• Landowners who supported the Japanese

  Received fixed rentals
• Even after the Philippines gained independence in 1946, issues regarding land tenure persisted
• To address this, the Philippine Congress made revisions to the tenancy law
• During Manuel Roxas' administration (1946-1948)


  1. Republic Act No. 34 established the 70-30 sharing arrangement and regulated share-tenancy contracts

  2. Republic Act No. 55 provided safeguards against arbitrary ejectment of tenants
• Under Elpidio Quirino's presidency (1948-1953)

  1. Executive Order No. 355 replaced the National Land Settlement Administration with the Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO)

  2. LASEDECO assumed the responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn Production Administration
• During Ramon Magsaysay's term (1953-1957)

  1. Republic Act No. 1160 abolished LASEDECO and established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) to resettle dissidents and landless farmers

  2. Republic Act No. 1199 governed the relationship between landowners and tenant farmers, introduced the share-tenancy and leasehold system, and created the Court of Agrarian Relations

  3. Republic Act No. 1400 created the Land Tenure Administration (LTA) responsible for acquiring and distributing large tenanted rice and corn lands

  4. Republic Act No. 821 established the Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing Administration to provide low-interest loans to small farmers and share tenants
• President Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961) continued the land reform program initiated by his predecessor
• Under President Diosdado Macapagal's administration (1961-1965), Republic Act No. 3844, the Agricultural Land Reform Code, was enacted on August 8, 1963. This law abolished the share tenancy institutionalized lease hold set a retention limit of 75 ha and grounded rights of preemption and redemption to tenant farmers
• Ferdinand Marcos' rule in the Philippines

  1965-1986
• New Society under Martial Law (Proclamation No. 1081)


  Implemented on September 21, 1972
• Agrarian Reform program


  Implemented during Marcos' rule
• Republic Act No. 6389


  Code of Agrarian Reform
• RA No. 6390 of 1971


  Created the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Agrarian Reform Special Account Fund, expanding the scope of agrarian reform
• Presidential Decree No. 2


  Issued on September 26, 1972, declaring the country under a land reform program and activating the Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council, requiring government agencies to cooperate with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
• Presidential Decree No. 27


  Issued on October 21, 1972, restricting the land reform scope to tenanted rice and corn lands and setting the retention limit at 7 hectares
• Corazon C. Aquino's term as President of the Philippines


  1986-1992