MODULE 4

AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Learning Outcomes

1. To effectively communicate the difference between Land Reform and

Agrarian Reform; and
2. To exhibit high sense of knowledge on the basics of Agrarian Reform
and historical development of Agrarian Reform in the Philippines.
AGRARIAN REFORM VS LAND REFORM

Agrarian Reform- Ballesteros, et.al. defined it as “the redistribution of

lands regardless of the commodity produced and tenurial arrangement to
farmers and regular farm workers, who are landless covering all public and
private agricultural land.”

The terms ‘land reform’ and ‘agrarian reform’ often overlap but are
not precisely the same. ‘Agrarian reform’ is considered to have a wider
meaning than ‘land’ reform. A situation of ‘agrarian’ reform covers not only a
wide redistribution of land but also the provision of infrastructure, services
and, sometimes, a whole program of redistributive and democratic reforms.
‘Land’ reform refers to a narrower redistribution of land, usually to a limited
group of beneficiaries. (Susie Jacobs, 2010)

HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE

PHILIPPINES

Pre- colonial Period

Lands were publicly owned prior to the coming of the Spaniards. Tillers
had full access to and ownership of their agricultural products.

Spanish Period

Encomienda System was introduced by the Spaniards wherein pieces of

land were given to the trusted men of the wealthy Spaniards. Majority of lands
in the archipelago during this time were owned by Spanish friars, some were
owned by principalia or local elite. Landlordism also started during this period.

American Period

During the American period, the landlord system in the country was
strengthened. The following were introduced: Torrens Title System (1902),
homesteading (1903), and other provisions for the formal acquisition and
registration of lands. These signaled the start of monopolistic structure of
landholdings.

Presidency of Manuel L. Quezon (1935- 1944)

RA 4054 otherwise known as Rice Tenancy Law was passed during

the Quezon administration. This law legalized 50- 50 shares between
landlords and tenants.
Japanese Period

Hukbalahap (Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon) controlled whole

areas of Central Luzon; landowners who supported the Japanese lost their
lands to peasant farmers while those who supported the Huks earned fixed
rentals in favor of the tenants.

Presidency of Manuel A. Roxas (1946- 1948)

RA 34 was passed during the Roxas administration which established

70- 30 sharing between landlords and tenants. Republic Act No. 55 was also
passed under his administration that provided for a more effective safeguard
against arbitrary ejectment of tenants.

Presidency of Elpidio R. Quirino (1948- 1953)

During the Quirino administration, the Land Settlement Development

Corporation (LASEDECO) was created to strengthen the resettlement
program.

Presidency of Ramon F. Magsaysay (1953- 1957)

During the incumbency of Magsaysay, RA 1199 or Agricultural

Tenancy Act of 1954, the first land reform law in the Philippines which
regulated all forms and aspects of tenure relations. Magsaysay also 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.

President Magsaysay also provided basic support services like feeder

roads, irrigation and cooperative to farmers. In particular, Magsaysay provided
small farmers and share tenants loans with low interest rates of six to eight
percent.

Presidency of Carlos P. Garcia (1957- 1961)

Garcia just continued the program of President Ramon Magsaysay.

Presidency of Diosdado P. Macapagal (1961- 1965)

During the tenure of Macapagal, Agricultural Land Reform Code or RA

3844 was passed. This law has the following features: it made the farm
workers owners of the land they cultivate; it abolished tenancy and leasehold
system; and it provided that an area can be touched only if the land is
declared subject of land reform.
Presidency of Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965- 1986)

President Marcos in his administration focused on green revolution. It

was also during his time when the Department of Agrarian Reform was
created under RA 6389. Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 2 on
September 26, 1972 declaring the country under land reform program. It
enjoined all agencies and offices of the government to extend full cooperation
and assistance to the DAR.

Presidency of Corazon C. Aquino (1986- 1992)

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was one of the

priority programs of the Aquino government.

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) of RA 6657 was

signed into law by President Aquino.

Presidency of Fidel V. Ramos (1992- 1998)

Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of RA 8435 was passed

during the Ramos administration.

Presidency of Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1998- 2001)

During the administration of President Estrada, the MAGSASAKA

(Magkabalikat para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo) was launched. He also signed
Executive Order No. 151 on September 1999 (Farmer’s Trust Fund) which
allowed the voluntary consolidation of small farm operation into medium and
large scale integrated enterprise that can access long-term capital.

Presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2001- 2010)

The Arroyo administration implemented the KALAHI (Kapit-Bisig Laban

sa Kahirapan) Agrarian Reform Program, designed to provide services to
poorest communities.

Presidency of Benigno S. Aquino III (2010- 2016)

The arcc Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services

(ARCCESS) project was created to contribute to the over-all goal of rural
poverty reduction especially in agrarian reform areas.

President Aquino enacted Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2011,

mandating the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
Convergence Initiative to develop a National Greening Program (NGP) in
collaboration with other government agencies.
Presidency of Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2016- Present)

President Duterte directed DAR to launch the 2 nd Phase of agrarian

reform where landless farmers would be awarded with undistributed lands
under the CARP.

He placed Boracay agricultural lands under CARP. Duterte also is

planning to subject almost all public lands, including military reserves, under
agrarian reform.

POLICIES ON AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE PHILIPPINES

It is the policy of the state to undertake an agrarian reform program

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. To this end, the State
shall encourage and undertake the just distribution of all agricultural lands,
subject to such priorities and reasonable retention limits as the Congress may
prescribe, taking into account ecological, developmental, or equity
considerations, and subject to the payment of just compensation. In
determining retention limits, the State shall respect the right of small
landowners (Article 8, Section 4, 1987 Philippine Constitution).

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of the Philippines (CARP)

Otherwise known as Republic Act No. 6657. The law provides

for the redistribution of private and public agricultural lands to help the
beneficiaries survive as small independent farmers, regardless of the
“tenurial” arrangements.

The law was enacted by the 8th Congress of the Philippines and
signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on June 10, 1988.

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM (DAR)

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) is the agency under executive

department of the Philippine Government responsible for the redistribution of
agrarian land in the Philippines. It is the lead implementing agency of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and rural development
programs in the country.
 Mandate and Functions

To lead in the implementation of the

Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
through Land Tenure Improvement (LTI), Agrarian
Justice and Coordinated delivery of essential
Support Services to client beneficiaries.

• To provide Land Tenure security to landless

farmers through land acquisition and
distribution; leasehold arrangements’ DAR Logo
implementation and other LTI services;
• To provide legal intervention to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
(ARBS) through adjudication of agrarian cases and agrarian
legal assistance;
• To implement, facilitate and coordinate the delivery of support
services to ARBs through Social Infrastructure and Local
Capability Building (SILCAB); Sustainable Agribusiness and
Rural Enterprise Development (SARED); and Access Facilitation
and Enhancement Services (AFAES).

Mission Statement

DAR is the lead government agency that holds and implements

comprehensive and genuine agrarian reform which actualizes equitable
land distribution, ownership, agricultural productivity, and tenurial
security for, of and with the tillers of the land towards the improvement
of their quality of life.

Vision

A just, safe and equitable society that upholds the rights of tillers
to own, control, secure, cultivate and enhance their agricultural lands,
improve their quality of life towards rural development and national
industrialization.
Name:________________________ Date:___________________
Year and Section:_______________

CHAPTER 4 EXERCISE

I. Differentiate the difference between Agrarian and Land

Reform.

II. Find and analyze a primary source of historical data dealing on

Agrarian Problems in the Philippines.