COMPREHENSIVE

AGRARIAN REFORM
PROGRAM
OF
1988

Submitted by:
Vengco, Charlotte P.
II – BDCET

Submitted to:
Mrs. Ueseni Gabriel
For a long period of time the agrarian system of Philippines was being controlled by the
large landlords. The small farmers in Philippines were struggling for their rights to land
and other natural resources.
What is AGRARIAN?
 It refers to cultivated land or cultivation of land.
 A person who advocates redistribution of landed property, especially as part of
social movement.
What is LAND REFORM?
 refers to the full range of measures that may or should be taken to improve or
remedy the defect in the relations among men with the respect to the rights in
the use of land.
What is AGRARIAN REFORM?
 According to Section III of Republic Act No. 6657, agrarian reform means
redistribution of lands, regardless of crops or fruits produced, to farmers and
regular farmworkers who are landless, irrespective of tenurial arrangement, to
include the totality of factors and support services designed to lift the economic
status of the beneficiaries and all other arrangements alternative to the physical
redistribution of lands, such as production or profit-sharing, labor administration,
and the distribution of shares of stocks, which will allow beneficiaries to receive a
just share of the fruits of the lands they work.

HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE PHILLIPINES

PERIOD DESCRIPTION
PRE – COLONIAL PERIOD “This land is Ours God gave this land to
us”

Before the Spaniards came to the

Philippines, Filipinos lived in villages or
barangays ruled by chiefs or datus. The
datus comprised the nobility. Then came
the maharlikas (freemen), followed by the
aliping mamamahay (serfs) and aliping
saguiguilid (slaves).

However, despite the existence of

different classes in the social structure,
practically everyone had access to the
fruits of the soil. Money was unknown,
and rice served as the medium of
exchange.

SPANISH PERIOD “United we stand, divided we fall”

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, 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.
FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC “The yoke has finally broken”

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.

AMERICAN PERIOD “Long live America”

Significant legislation enacted during the

American Period:

 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 PERIOD “Government for the Filipinos”

President Manuel L. Quezon espoused

the "Social Justice" program to arrest
the increasing social unrest in Central
Luzon.

Significant legislation enacted during

Commonwealth Period:

 1935 Constitution – "The

promotion of social justice to ensure
the well-being and economic security
of all people should be the concern of
the State"
 Commonwealth Act No. 178 (An
Amendment to Rice Tenancy Act
No. 4045), Nov. 13, 1936 – Provided
for certain controls in the landlord-
tenant relationships
 National Rice and Corn
Corporation (NARIC), 1936 –
Established the price of rice and corn
thereby help the poor tenants as well
as consumers.
 Commonwealth Act. No. 461,
1937 – Specified reasons for the
dismissal of tenants and only with the
approval of the Tenancy Division of
the Department of Justice.
 Rural Program Administration,
created March 2, 1939 – Provided
the purchase and lease of haciendas
and their sale and lease to the
tenants.
Commonwealth Act No. 441 enacted
on June 3, 1939 – Created the
National Settlement Administration
with a capital stock of P20,000,000.
 JAPANESE OCCUPATION “The Era of Hukbalahap”

The Second World War II started in

Europe in 1939 and in the Pacific in 1941.

Hukbalahap controlled whole areas of

Central Luzon; landlords who supported
the Japanese lost their lands to peasants
while those who supported the Huks
earned fixed rentals in favor of the
tenants.

Unfortunately, the end of war also

signaled the end of gains acquired by the
peasants.

Upon the arrival of the Japanese in the

Philippines in 1942, peasants and
workers organizations grew strength.
Many peasants took up arms and
identified themselves with the anti-
Japanese group, the HUKBALAHAP
(Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon).

PHILLIPINE REPUBLIC “The New 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.

Under the Magsaysay and the Macapagal administrations, land reform was again
tackled, such as the Mindanao resettlement program and the Land Reform Act of 1955.
but no significant results were really achieved in terms of scope and magnitude of land
transfer. With martial law, the whole Philippines was declared a land reform area under
PD 27. Significant progress was made, but the continued practice of the share tenancy
system, coverage limitation to rice and corn lands, the many exemptions allowed and
the shortcomings in support systems (although it was Marcos who set up the new
Agrarian Reform Department) did much to limit the effectivity of the reforms in
addressing the over-concentration of wealth problem and rural poverty.
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL (1961 – 1965)
 He was considered as the “Father of Agrarian Reform”.
 It was during his term that Agricultural Land Reform Code or R.A. No. 3844 was
enacted. This was considered to be the most comprehensive piece of agrarian
reform legislation ever enacted in the country that time.

COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM OF 1988

 A Philippine state policy that ensures and promotes welfare of

landless farmers and farm workers, as well as elevation of social justice and equity
among rural areas.
 CARP was established by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988
(CARL).
 Aimed for a nation with equitable land ownership and empowered agrarian reform
beneficiaries while, at least, improving social lives.
 Enacted by the 8th Congress of the Philippines and signed by Corazon Aquino on
June 10, 1988
Objective
 To successfully devise land reform in Philippines.
 To improve the economic and social status of the beneficiaries of land reform in
Philippines.
Objectives of Agrarian Reform – Political
 To put an end to conflicts pertaining to land ownership.
 To bring about harmony between the rural people and the urban residents.
 Bringing stability in the political set up of the country.
Objective of Agrarian Reform – Social
 Bringing about equality in terms of opportunities, income as well as wealth.
Objectives of Agrarian Reform – Economic
 Enhancing agricultural production
 Enhancing agricultural productivity
  Bettering capital formation
 Providing employment to more agricultural workers
 Enhancing demand for raw materials and services
 Improving balance of payments by facilitating export activities
 Trying to increase production at home so that imports do not have to be relied
upon.
 Enhancing cooperation as well as regulation between agricultural sector and the
non-agricultural sector.
CARP Major Feature
 It provides for the coverage of all agricultural lands regardless of crops
 produced or tenurial status of the tiller;
 It recognizes as beneficiaries of the program all workers in the land given
 that they are landless and willing to till the land;
 It provides for the delivery of support services to program beneficiaries;
 It provides for arrangements that ensure the tenurial security of farmers and farm
workers such as the leasehold arrangement, stock distribution option and
production and profit sharing; and
 It creates an adjudication body that will resolve agrarian disputes.
R.A. 6657 Beneficiaries
 all agricultural lessees
 share tenants regardless:
 crops
 regular farm workers
 seasonal farm workers
 other farm workers
 farmer’s organization
 cooperatives
 agricultural graduates
 rural women
 veterans and relatives of enlisted men and women
 retirees of the AFP and the Integrated National Police
 rebel returnees and surrenderees
Qualifications of an Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
a. be landless;
b. be at least 15 years old or head of the family at the time the property was
transferred in the name of the Republic of the Philippines; and
c. have the willingness, ability and aptitude to cultivate the land and make it as
productive as possible. (Sec. 23, RA 6657)
Note: Items (b) and (c) above are meant to ensure that the recipients of the land will
judiciously use it and make it a productive agricultural land
Components of CARP
 Land Tenure Improvement
 Program Beneficiaries Development
 Agrarian Justice Delivery
Principles of CARP
 highest consideration to the welfare of the landless farmers and farm workers
 due regard to the rights of landowners to just compensation
 recognition of the rights of farmers, farm workers, landowners, cooperatives, and
other independent organizations to participate in the planning, organization, and
management of CARP
 provision of support to agriculture through appropriate technology and research
 provision of adequate financial, production, marketing, and other support
services
CARP Implementing Agencies

Scope of CARP
The ownership or control of about 10.3 million hectares of agricultural land,
representing about one-third of the total land area of the Philippines, shall be transferred
over a ten-year period to an estimated 3.9 million beneficiaries.
Lands Covered by CARP
 all alienable and disposable lands of the public domain devoted to or suitable to
agriculture;
 all lands of the public domain in excess of the specific limits as determined by
Congress;
 all other lands owned by the government devoted to or suitable to agriculture;
and
 all private lands devoted to or suitable to agriculture regardless of the agricultural
products raised or that can be raised therein. (Section 4, RA 6657)
Lands Not Covered by CARP
 those which are not suitable for agriculture, and those which are classified as
mineral, forest, residential, commercial or industrial land;
 those which have been classified and approved as non-agricultural prior to 15
June 1988 as ruled under Department of Justice Opinion No. 44, Series of 1990;
 those which are exempt pursuant to Sec. 10, RA 6657;
 those which are devoted to poultry, swine, or livestock raising as of June 15,
1988 pursuant to the Supreme Court ruling on Luz Farms vs. The Honorable
Secretary of Agrarian Reform (G.R. No. 86339, 4 December 1990); and
 those which are retained by the landowner (not covered insofar as land
acquisition and distribution but covered with respect to other provisions,
particularly leasehold)
Lands Exempted by CARP Coverage
 Lands actually, directly, and exclusively used and found to be necessary for
parks, wildlife, forest reserves, reforestation, fish sanctuaries and breeding
grounds, watersheds and mangroves, national defense, school sites and
campuses including experimental farm stations operated by public or private
schools for education purposes, seeds and seedlings research and pilot
production centers, church sites and convents appurtenant thereto, mosque sites
and Islamic centers appurtenant thereto, communal burial grounds and
cemeteries, penal colonies and penal farms actually worked by the inmates, and
government and private research and quarantine centers; and
 Lands with eighteen percent (18%) slope and over, except those already
developed as of 15 June 1988. (Sec. 10, RA 6657)
DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM (DAR)
 the lead implementing agency of CARP.
 undertakes land tenure improvement and development of program beneficiaries.
 conducts land survey in resettlement areas.
 undertakes land acquisition and distribution and land management studies.
  orchestrates the delivery of support services to farmer-beneficiaries and;
 promotes the development of viable agrarian reform communities

RELEVANCE OF CARP TO THE PHILIPPINE HISTORY

CARP made a huge impact in the Philippines most especially in the agricultural
and economic aspect, also in the lives of our farmers. It showed that agrarian reform
had a positive impact on farmer-beneficiaries. It increased household income and
reduced poverty incidence. The after implementation of the program tends to have
higher income and reduced poverty incidence. The socio-economic status of the farmer
beneficiaries has a slight increase due to the reduction in the area of farm size directly
cultivated the farm; however, there is an increase in non-farm income. The non-farm
income of the farmer beneficiaries and spouse contributed as a whole to the improved
socio-economic status of the households. It gave way for the children of farmers to have
educational attainment.

Sources:
 https://www.economywatch.com/agrarian/comprehensive-program.html
 https://www.slideshare.net/FayeMadrigal1/history-of-agrarian-reform
 http://www.dar.gov.ph/about-us/agrarian-reform-history/?
fbclid=IwAR0LAULJwGhEwlxwrgGs_acvjUqeI7-lIpnAI_A5iXl05tFj5g2hcvZbnss
 https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1988/ra_6657_1988.html?
fbclid=IwAR08Aelqt_OlOky2N6OYfiqsimlfaiFrLjBdKktVZZxVivTVgnMItDX0AdY
 https://www.slideshare.net/NeilDagohoy/agrarian-reform-in-the-philippines?
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 https://www.slideshare.net/mariz_rose04/chap-14-comprehensive-agrarian-reform-program?
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IrGhG5Qqz0