Group 4

Section: BSCESEP – 1B

Leader: Somido, Shane Nicole C.

Members:
Buquid, Ramirson H.
Cayabyab, Ma. Angela L.
Laurio, Romar A.
Lubarbio, Aubrey
Mamental, Bai Shahan M.
Nullas, Juaren G.
Peñalba, Trisha Jeanna O.
Siervo, John Michael C.
Simba, Nicole Ann L.

GROUP ACTIVITY 3
Research and answer the following Questions:

1. What is Land Reform?

• Land reform means a variation of numerous programs and laws by the government that aim to develop a better
and more effective control system and land use for the community. It compromises the ownership of larger private
organizations and individuals by distributing the majority of the land to the farmers. By implementing these reforms,
workers from the agricultural sector would be able to get help to increase their production and develop systems that
would help to bring equality among farmers and their landlords. In order to sustain itself and to achieve the values,
land reform must be accompanied by agrarian reform, defined as the creation of physical and institutional
infrastructure necessary for small holders to maintain themselves. This infrastructure includes irrigation, transport,
communications, credit facilities, education, markets and access to markets, access to fertilizer and seeds, etc.
More broadly, even successful land reform and agrarian reform will fail unless they are irrigated into larger
programs

2. What are Agrarian Reform Policies?

• Agrarian reform was implemented to ensure not only equality but also equity for farmworkers and landowners.
Agrarian reform is based on the rights of landless farmers and regular farmworkers to own their lands personally or
collectively. It also includes various supports to agricultural education, establishment of cooperatives; development
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

of institutions to provide agricultural credit and other inputs; processing and marketing of agricultural produce; and
establishment of ago-based industries, and others. It ensures the rehabilitation of landless farmers or farmworkers
to have their own land, which they will acquire through a legal process. Agrarian reform respects the rights of every
landowner. In the case of individual beneficiaries and small landowners, they are expected to maintain a financially
viable farm through appropriate incentives. According to Republic Act No. 6657, the agrarian reform program is
founded on the right of farmers and regular farmworkers, who are landless, to own directly or collectively the lands
they till or, in the case of other farmworkers, to receive a just share of the fruits thereof. This also undertakes the
just distribution of all agricultural lands, subject to the priorities and retention limits set forth in this Act, having taken
into account ecological, developmental, and equity considerations, and subject to the payment of just
compensation.

3. What are the roots of Agrarian Reform Problem? Enumerate and explain.
• Social class - It's been a silent issue within the country. Ever since, fertile farming land has, of course, become the
property of people who belong to a higher social class because they can afford it compared to farmers. Due to this,
the unjust distribution of land among a community has been an issue, especially for farmers who do not have their
land due to these landowners.
• Industrial development – For years, machinery has been innovating to make farming and crop production easier.
Due to the inaccessibility of these for farmers, they can’t have the high-tech machinery that would help them
effectively produce and harvest the best quality crop.
• Insufficient funds – Farmers who don’t have enough funds for their job can’t provide their best product. In managing
an agricultural field and crops, of course, they need fertilizers, tractors, and manpower. Because of insufficient
funds, they tend to sacrifice their profit, and sometimes they are even in debt due to their expenses in planting
crops.
• Violence due to land issues – Land ownership has been a problem between landlords and farmers. Some farmers
demand to have the farmland named for them because they have been utilizing it for years and decades. There are
some incidents wherein landlords use violence in order to shoo away the farmers and prevent them from using the
land.
• Low profit – With inflation on the rise, it’s difficult for farmers to produce a high-quality product and sell it for a
higher price. Some opportunists are using the farmers and buying only their harvest for a very low price. Due to
this, farmers can’t have enough income for their families.
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Section: BSCESEP – 1B

4. What are the early causes of agrarian unrest? (Social and Economic Factors)? Enumerate.
SOCIAL FACTORS THAT CAUSE THE AGRARIAN UNREST IN THE PHILIPPINES:
• Social class - Having a different social class affect the benefits and sometimes it is unfair to the lower class
because the more power you have the more benefits you will gain. That is why agrarian reform cannot be executed
well because of the different opinions of these social classes.
• Reference group - Having a reference group affects your decisions. It influences on how you think and act on a
situation. So, with the influence of people around you, it will cause an agrarian unrest due to the fact that you have
that principle of yours which later influenced by your reference group so it will change on how you will handle the
situation. This also make a clash between different groups with different perspectives depending on the situation or
groups they are in.
• Family - Situation in the family has the biggest factor or impact on the attitude, behavior, and decisions you will
make. It is like you will do everything for the sake of your family.
• Income and wealth - One thing that most people are looking first is the wealth of a person. Some people will base
their actions towards you depending on how wealthy and powerful you are. So again, equality is not being practice
here because it favors more on the wealthy side rather than the farmers who needs more help and it results to
agrarian unrest.
• Debt - This is also a factor of agrarian unrest because the rich became richer while the poor becomes poorer.
Instead of helping the poor or in need they will turn a blind eye and just supports themselves for their personal gain.
• Discrimination - This social factor never gets old. Being discriminated and stigmatized makes you feel lowly and not
that important which is not true because you have the rights and benefits as a human including to your role in the
society. This should be practiced to avoid social unrest. Every right and benefits should be given to the rightful
owner not on personal agendas or gain.
• Rights and freedoms - Every person has the rights and freedom so these should be voice out and hear out. Also,
for the agrarian reform to work those conditions and opinions should be weigh equally to make a rightful
judgement.
• Working conditions - This cause an agrarian unrest because some working conditions are not acceptable or not
fair. Addition to these is the unfair treatment that are mostly given to the low social class. They did not receive the
right treatment they deserve.

ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT CAUSE THE AGRARIAN UNREST IN THE PHILIPPINES:

• Tax rate - Agrarian unrest can be exacerbated by a high tax rate. A high tax rate may have both advantages and
disadvantages. It will benefit the economy, but it will be a disadvantage and a huge struggle for local farmers. This
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

is one of the reasons why agrarian reform has been so difficult to implement because it only benefits the upper
classes.
• Labor - Farmers who work 5 to 7 days a week for a minimum wage is frequently overlooked by those who work in
an air-conditioned office. Labor can be a factor in agrarian unrest because most people in the upper classes have
never worked in the middle of a blazing heat. It is simple for them to impose policies despite their lack of knowledge
about how difficult it is to work as a farmer.
• Wages - Farmers in the Philippines are among many Filipinos who are underpaid in terms of wages. Landowners
who hire people to work for them are not always fair when it comes to paying their employees. Even though there
are policies that should be followed, and local farmers are fighting for their rights, their unfair treatment to their
workers continues.
• Law and Policies - Agrarian unrest can be aggravated by laws and policies. Since then, a plethora of laws and
regulations have been enacted. However, most of the time it only benefits those in the upper class, while those in
the lower class continue to suffer even though they have the right to express their concerns, because when you
have the money and power, it is easy for you to manipulate everything.
• Recessions - Recessions cause increased unemployment, lower wages and incomes, and lost opportunities in
general. As a result, this can be an origin of agrarian unrest in the farming industry. Low wages and lost
opportunities are major concerns for local farmers, but due to the country's economic situation, some landowners
and even the government are unable to impose a proper solution.
• Deflation - Deflation is a major issue for local farmers because it takes place when the price of their goods declines
rapidly, resulting in financial losses. Agrarian unrest is prevalent in this situation because it is uncontrollable. Before
deciding on a possible solution, it is always necessary to assess the country's economic situation.
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

5. How will you describe the land reform/Agrarian reform policies during:

Spanish period American Regime Commonwealth Era Japanese Occupation

Pre-Spanish Period
(1565-1898) (1898-1935) (1935-1946) (1941-1945)

One of the During the time of the The rise of an agrarian This period is also
Land is commonly governorships of Spaniards, the reform movement has called as “The Era of
owned by Legazpi's first unequal distribution of significantly Hukbalahap” The
communities called important measures land and contributed to the Second war II started
Barangay that was to identify all landlessness, the government's agrarian in Europe in 1939
consist of 30 – 100 territories in the establishment of reform program's and within the Pacific
families. Philippines as public haciendas, and the partial success. in 1941.
domain, regardless of encomienda system However, the
Everyone in the HUKBALAHAP
government has not
barangay, regardless local customs. As a resulted in numerous
(Hukbo ng Bayan
result, the crown was peasant uprisings. been able to fully
of their social status, Laban sa Hapon) is a
free to give large This prompted the harness the power of
can access the land. group that aims to
swaths of Philippine American colonizers this movement in
Also, they share rebel and fight
land as incentives to to implement land order to push for more
equally with
loyal civilians and reform policies in the rapid and meaningful against the Japanese
everyone the harvest government. They
military personnel. Philippines. A series agrarian reform.
or crops that they controlled the entire
Period of the Spanish of laws were enacted During the American
produce.
Empire (1521-1898). in an attempt to Colonial Period, tenant Central Luzon. Lan
Filipino social system farmers were owners who sided
redistribute land to a
was feudal even In effect, collective dissatisfied with the with the Japanese
broader segment of
before the pre- land ownership slid sharecropping system lost their agricultural
the population.
Spanish period. into the background as well as the lands and properties.
Warlord exists and throughout time. The According to dramatic increase in Peasants has been
they have serfs and concept of private Constantino (1975), population, which put able to conquer the
land ownership was the first land issue financial strain on the land of the
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

slaves who labor and introduced. Every addressed in the early tenant farmers' landowners. People
serve them. municipal resident years of the American families. As a result, who supported the
was granted his administration was the Commonwealth Huks have earned
Within the Filipino
choice of land for the controversy over launched an agrarian fixed rental fee in
social structure, the
cultivation, free of the friar estates reform program. favor of them.
datus (chiefs)
charge, under this covering 166,000 However, the
comprised the Unfortunately, by the
arrangement. acres, which were program's success
nobility (maharlikas). end of the war, this
purchased and has been hampered
Then there are the Period of the Spanish also is the end of the
distributed to 60,000 by ongoing disputes
timawas (freemen), Empire (1521-1898) ownership of the
farmers. However, between tenants and
followed by the The Spanish monarch peasants on the
due to the tenants' landowners. Policies
aliping namamahay handed deserving lands that they
ignorance of the law either favored
(serfs) and aliping Spaniards large conquered.
and the colonial landowners at the
saguiguilid (slaves). expanses of
government's policy expense of tenants or Upon the arrival of
uncultivated land not
A serf would serve of selling the lands at vice versa. the japanese within
confined within a
his master or lord exorbitant prices, the Unfortunately, the Philippines in
certain municipality.
(datu/Maharlika) and majority of these agrarian reform during 1942, peasant and
The encomienda was
he would take care assets went to the Commonwealth workers have
the name given to this
of his land. Master American companies, period was not as gathered strength
type of ownership.
and serf would businessmen, and successful as you and armed
Land laws have
equally divide the landlords. think it is. One of themselves to fight
always had measures
harvest or the land. these conflicts was against the
that allowed powerful Furthermore, the
and tilled his land. initiated by Benigno Japanese. They even
landowners to get American
Both master and Ramos through his labelled themselves
outside the law or administration's
serfs equally divided Sakdalista movement, as anti-Japanese
even exploit it to homesteading
the produce of the which advocated for group, the
maintain and program encouraged
land. tax cuts, land reforms, HUKBALAHAP
strengthen their the relocation and
the dismantling of (Hukbo ng Bayan
The slaves serve positions of power. settlement of Filipinos
large estates or Laban sa Hapon).
their lord or master in in unpopulated and
haciendas, and the
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

both his house and On the other hand, uncultivated areas to severing of ties with They organized the
farm. They could the system developed help develop these the United States. A HUKBALAHAP on
share the produce of into encomienderos areas, but the hundred people were March 29, 1942 as an
the land. However, abusing their power. program failed killed in the Central anti-Japanese group;
slaves are properties The tribute quickly because Filipinos Luzon uprising in May took over land and
of masters so they turned into land preferred to remain in 1935. gave them to poor
can be sold as well rentals for a few sitios and people as well as the
President Quezon
by their owner. powerful landlords, poblaciones. harvest. They are
implemented a huge
and indigenous known to be a pro-
One common Furthermore, resettlement program
peoples who had poor group. However,
practice during the homesteading failed when peasant
previously cultivated after the war, the
pre-Spanish period is due to landlord uprisings erupted in
the land in freedom landlords retrieved
kaingin farming. In exploitation, the 1930s, during the
were reduced to their land from the
this process, they unsystematic surveys, Commonwealth
share tenants. group and peasants.
burn and set fire to strict productivity period. President
the forest or the land standards, a lack of Magsaysay pursued
before they can plant infrastructure, and a this approach after the
the crops that they lack of credit. Tenant Pacific War to weaken
need. farmers, unlike the Huk Rebellion's
landowners, did not backbone. The
Barter trade is a
receive legal government,
common way of
assistance due to particularly on
exchanging goods
illiteracy and high Mindanao Island,
during that time
transaction costs. The made huge
since people don't
Philippine Bill of 1902, uncultivated and
have money. One
on the other hand, unpopulated areas
medium of exchange
established a fixed available for
before is rice.
private ownership homesteading. As
The Maragtas Code limit of 16 hectares for some of the
is one example of individuals and 1,024 resettlement sites
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

barter trading before. hectares for intruded into traditional

The island of Panay corporations. regions, this produced
was sold to 10 According to Hayami a new problem: it
Bornean datus in et al. (1990), due to marginalized the
exchange for a fears of rural unrest indigenous population.
golden salakot and and increased One of the causes of
long gold necklace. competition in the the current strife in
American agricultural Mindanao is this.
The Code of
market, this regulation
Luwaran is the oldest Since the
was enacted to
written law of our Commonwealth,
prohibit the formation
Muslim citizens that measures have been
of large-scale
enumerates the made to change
landholdings and
provisions of lease tenancy relations by
haciendas in newly
arrangements. arranging for a more
inhabited areas.
equitable distribution
Moreover, the Rice
of harvests between
Tenancy Act 4054 of
landlords and renters.
1933 was the first
However, they have
tenancy reform
not addressed the
proposal passed by
issue of
the American
homelessness.
administration, which
President Macapagal
provided for a 50–50
signed the Land
percent share
Reform Code into law
adjustment between
in 1963. This
the tenant and the
effectively ended joint
landlord.
tenancy and replaced
Land policies under it with a leasehold
the American colonial system in which
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

administration helped renters would

further consolidate eventually own the
the economic power land after paying off
of the Filipino elite. their debts. But the
The American program did not gain
colonists still did not momentum.
solve the Filipinos'
land problem. Only
able-bodied Filipinos
and large
corporations
benefited, and they
were able to own
parcels of land.

6. Enumerate the Contributions of different past presidents to the development of Land reform / Agrarian reform.

Presidents according to
Year of their term Contributions in Land/Agrarian Reform
their chronological order

• After the establishment of the First Republic of the Philippines

on January of 1899, Pres. Aguinaldo declared the
government’s intention to retrieve large estates, especially
Emilio Aguinaldo 1898-1901
the Friar Lands.
• The declaration was contained in the Malolos Constitution:
“All the lands, buildings, and other properties belonging to the
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

religious corporations in these islands shall be understood to

have been restored to the Filipino state.” However, as the
Republic was short-lived, Aguinaldo’s plan was never
implemented.
• Act No. 4054 (Rice Share Tenancy Act of 1933) was the first
crop-sharing law, allowing for a 50-50 split between the
landlord and the tenant. It promotes a regulated relationship
between landowners and tenants of rice lands. However, land
tenure issues persisted. In fact, in some areas, things got
worse.
• 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
Manuel L. Quezon 1935-1944
• 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.
• Hunger was a major concern during Laurel's tenure as
President.
Jose P. Laurel 1943-1945
• A Memorandum of Understanding on Reparation. An
agreement between Japan and the Philippines to pay the
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

latter $550,000 in compensation for World War II war

damages.
• The Laurel-Langley Agreement was created by incorporating
the Bell Trade Act of 1946. It abolished the United States'
right to control the peso's currency rate, granted reciprocal
parity privileges, and increased the sugar quota. This deal
maintained the Philippines' economic dependence on the
United States.
• Agreement on Agricultural Commodities with the United
States (1957). Keeping the nation's economy in a colonial
structure.
• Anti-subversion legislation. A law that curtailed citizens'
democratic rights to assemble, speak freely, and believe.
ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC LANDS
The Bureau of Lands has:
1. Reopened 20 land districts and 17 provincial land offices.
2. Reopened five friar lands agencies.
3. Reopened the school of surveying.
4. Acted on the following applications and other public land matters:
a. 90 orders for approval, transfer, issuance of patents, etc.
b. Four patents issued.
c. 151 permits issued.
d. 13 applications reinstated, rejected or cancelled.
Sergio Osmeña 1944-1946
e. 25,858 actions taken on miscellaneous matters.
f. Administrative settlement of conflicts, land registrations, and other
legal matters.
5. Taken steps to legalize by proper application the settlement and
acquisition of public lands subdivisions by evacuees.
6. Look after the enforcement of 22 public laws affecting public
lands, 26 lands administrative orders, 33 circulars and bulletins, and
67 land registration, cadastral and civil cases.
7. Investigated 51 claims to lands covered by public lands
applications.
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

8. Examined 28 applications for registration of lands and acted on

92 decisions on land registration cases.
9. Done computation work on 7,839 lots.
10. Verified and approved surveys of 1,053 lots.
• Republic Act No. 34 - Amends RA 4054; established a 70-30
sharing arrangement between tenant and landlord. It
provided that whoever shouldered the expenses of planting
and harvesting and provided the work animals would be
Manuel Roxas 1946-1948 entitled to 70 percent of the harvest. It also reduced the
interest on landowner loans to tenant at no more than 6
percent instead of 10 percent.
• Republic Act No. 55 -- Provided for a more effective
safeguard against arbitrary ejectment of tenants.
• Executive Order No. 355 – Replaced the National Land
Settlement Administration with Land Settlement Development
Corporation (LASEDECO), which took over the
Elpidio Quirino 1948-1953
responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery Equipment
Corporation and the Rice and Corn Production
Administration.
• 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) --
Ramon Magsaysay 1953-1957 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
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

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 tenant’s loans with low interest rates of six
to eight percent.
Carlos P. Garcia just continued the programs of the late president
Carlos P. Garcia 1957-1961
Ramon Magsaysay. No new reformation law passed.
President Diosdado P. Macapagal enacted the following law:
• The Agricultural Land Reform Code, also known as Republic
Act No. 3844, was enacted on August 8, 1963, with the intent
of establishing owner-cultivatorship, implementing all labor
Diosdado Macapagal 1961-1965
rules for both industrial and agricultural wage employees
equally and without prejudice, and providing a more robust
and systematic land resettlement program and public land
distribution.
President Ferdinand E. Marcos enacted the following laws:
• The Code of Agrarian Reforms of the Philippines, or Republic
Act No. 6389, was enacted on September 10, 1971, revising
Republic Act No. 3844.
• Republic Act No. 6390 (September 10, 1971), which
established an agrarian reform special account in the general
treasury to provide the necessary funds to speed up the
Ferdinand E. Marcos 1965-1986
execution of the agrarian reform program.
• The entire country was declared a land reform area by
Presidential Decree No. 2 (September 26, 1972).
• Tenants were emancipated from the bonds of the soil by
Presidential Decree No. 27 (October 21, 1972), which
granted them ownership of the land they tilled and provided
the necessary instruments and mechanisms.
Corazon C. Aquino 1986-1992 President Corazon C. Aquino enacted the following laws:
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

• The state is required under the 1987 Constitution (Article II

Section 21) to support comprehensive rural development and
agrarian reform.
• Executive Order No. 228 (July 17, 1987), declares full land
ownership to qualified farmer beneficiaries covered by PD
No. 27, determines the value of remaining unvalued rice and
corn lands subject to PD No. 27, and establishes the method
of payment by the farmer beneficiaries and the mode of
compensation to the landowner.
• Executive Order No. 229 (July 22, 1987), which established
the CARP's implementation mechanism.
• The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program was
established by Proclamation No. 131 (July 22, 1987).
• The Reorganization Act of the Department of Agrarian
Reform, or Executive Order No. 129-A (July 26, 1987),
reforms and enhances the Department of Agrarian Reform
(Order No. 129).
• The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, also
known as Republic Act No. 6657, was enacted on June 10,
1988, and established a CARP to promote social justice and
industrialisation, as well as a system to carry it out.
• Executive Order No. 405 (June 14, 1990) entrusts the primary
responsibility for determining land valuation and
compensation for all lands covered under RA No. 6657 to the
Land Bank of the Philippines.
• Executive Order No. 406 (June 14, 1990) directs the DAR to
accelerate the development of agrarian reform beneficiaries
by providing economic and social infrastructure support,
providing the necessary implementing mechanisms, and
mandating certain departments and agencies to align their
respective programs and projects with the CARP.
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

• Executive Order No. 407 (June 14, 1990), which expedited

the acquisition and distribution of agricultural areas, grazing
lands, fishponds, agro-forestry lands, and other public domain
lands suited for agriculture.
• Executive Order No. 448 was issued on February 14, 1991,
revising Executive Order No. 407 of the 1990 series.
President Fidel V. Ramos enacted the following laws:
• Republic Act No. 7881 was enacted on February 20, 1995, to
alter certain aspects of Republic Act No. 6657.
• The CARP was strengthened by Republic Act No. 7905,
which was passed on February 23, 1995.
• Administrative Order No. 363 (October 9, 1997), which
established criteria for the protection of non-negotiable
conversion zones and the monitoring of conformity with
Section 20 of the Local Government Code.
Fidel V. Ramos 1992-1998 • The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, or
Republic Act No. 8435 (December 22, 1997), is an act
prescribing urgent related measures to modernize the
country's agriculture and fisheries sectors to improve their
profitability and prepare them for the challenges of
globalization through adequate, focused, and rational delivery
of necessary support services and allocating funds.
• The CARP was strengthened further by Republic Act No.
8532 (February 23, 1998), which established an
augmentation fund and amended Section 63 of RA No. 6657
for that purpose.
President Joseph E. Estrada initiated the enactment of the following
law:
• Executive Order N0. 151, September 1999 (Farmer’s Trust
Joseph Ejercito Estrada 1998-2001
Fund) – Allowed the voluntary consolidation of small farm
operation into medium and large-scale integrated enterprise
that can access long-term capital.
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

• He launched the Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo

or MAGKASAKA. The DAR forged into joint ventures with
private investors into agrarian sector to make FBs
competitive.
• Land Tenure Improvement - DAR will remain vigorous in
implementing land acquisition and distribution component of
CARP. The DAR will improve land tenure system through
land distribution and leasehold.
• Provision of Support Services - CARP not only involves the
distribution of lands but also included package of support
services which includes: credit assistance, extension
services, irrigation facilities, roads and bridges, marketing
facilities and training and technical support programs.
• Infrastructure Projects - DAR will transform the agrarian
reform communities (ARCs), an area focused and integrated
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo 2001-2010 delivery of support services, into rural economic zones that
will help in the creation of job opportunities in the countryside.
• KALAHI ARZone - The KALAHI Agrarian Reform (KAR)
Zones were also launched. These zones consists of one or
more municipalities with concentration of ARC population to
achieve greater agro-productivity.
• Agrarian Justice - To help clear the backlog of agrarian
cases, DAR will hire more paralegal officers to support
undermanned adjudicatory boards and introduce quota
system to compel adjudicators to work faster on agrarian
reform cases. DAR will respect the rights of both farmers and
landowners.
• Aimed to complete the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP) of the former President Corazon Aquino.
Benigno S. Aquino III 2010-2016
• He distributed their family-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac
and promised to distribute the privately-owned lands of
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

productive agricultural estates in the country that have

escaped the coverage of the program.
• Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic
Support Services (ARCCESS) project was created to
contribute to the overall goal of rural poverty reduction
especially in agrarian reform areas.
• Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) provided credit
support for crop production to newly organized and existing
agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) and
farmers’ organizations not qualified to avail themselves of
loans under the regular credit windows of banks.
• The legal case monitoring system (LCMS), a web-based legal
system for recording and monitoring various kinds of agrarian
cases at the provincial, regional and central offices of the
DAR to ensure faster resolution and close monitoring of
agrarian-related cases, was also launched.
• Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2011, to mandate the
Department of Agriculture-Department of Environment and
Natural Resources-Department of Agrarian Reform
Convergence Initiative to develop a National Greening
Program in cooperation with other government agencies.
• The President directed the DAR to launch the 2nd phase of
agrarian reform where landless farmers would be awarded
with undistributed lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program (CARP).
• Duterte plans to place almost all public lands, including
Rodrigo Roa Duterte 2016-Present military reserves, under agrarian reform.
• The President also placed 400 hectares of agricultural lands
in Boracay under CARP.
• DAR created an anti-corruption task force to investigate and
handle reports on alleged anomalous activities by officials
and employees of the department.
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

• The Department also pursues an “Oplan Zero Backlog” in the

resolution of cases in relation to agrarian justice delivery of
the agrarian reform program to fast-track the implementation
of CARP.

7. Give your reactions/insights about this topic.

• Our group learned that as an agricultural country, Filipinos give so much importance to this topic. Agrarian reform
policies starting from the pre-Spanish period until today were improved and developed to put an end to the
miserable situation or condition of the farmers. However, agrarian reform cannot be executed well because of the
different opinions, situations, perspective, and social classes that is why it results to agrarian unrest. Supposedly,
agrarian reform should increase the agricultural production, decrease the unemployment pressure, and to help our
local farmers. Also, its main goal is to achieve the development of growth with equity and participation but the
opposite of it happens. We must know all the issue that cover related to agriculture, forest, urban lands, land
administration and management government programs and all of that has severe affect in our markets in our
country because of the inconsistent land laws, policies and inadequacies of the government. It must contribute to
relieve the unemployment pressure and to increase agricultural production and productivity, although it could not
prevent a massive exodus of rural population from the mountains and the most marginal areas. Agrarian reform
should not be limited only on distributing land to concern fairly land ownership but also optimize land uses to
improve people income. So that government must also focus on in our land and agrarian reform because that is
one of the keys to improve our country.
Group 4
Section: BSCESEP – 1B

References:
https://www.dar.gov.ph/about-us/agrarian-reform-history/
https://olfu.instructure.com/courses/54327/files/2729598?module_item_id=3359962
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2012/06/05/dar-president-aquino-remains-resolved-to-pursue-agrarian-reform/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1995/02/20/republic-act-no-7881/
https://ap.fftc.org.tw/article/1315
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/10/09/administrative-order-no-363-s-1997/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1997/12/22/republic-act-no-8435-s-1997/
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1998/ra_8532_1998.html
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/1987-constitution/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1987/07/17/executive-order-no-228-s-1987/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1987/07/22/executive-order-no-229-s-1987/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1987/07/22/proclamation-no-131-s-1987/
https://lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1987/eo_129_a_1987.html
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1988/06/10/republic-act-no-6657/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1990/06/14/executive-order-no-405-s-1990/
https://lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1990/eo_406_1990.html
https://lawphil.net/executive/execord/eo1990/eo_407_1990.html
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1951/06/09/executive-order-no-448-s-1951/
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1971/ra_6389_1971.html
https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra1971/ra_6390_1971.html
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/09/26/presidential-decree-no-2-s-1972/
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1972/10/21/presidential-decree-no-27-s-1972/
https://leap.unep.org/countries/ph/national-legislation/agricultural-tenancy-act-philippines-republic-act-no-1199