HISTORY OF

AGRARIAN REFORM
Pre-Colonial to Spanish
Colonial Policy
 Pre-Colonial Times
(Before 16th Century)
Type of landownership
Barangay
- Small unit of government
consisting of 30-100 families.
- They believe in and practiced
the concept “Stewardship”.
System of land Cultivation

Kaingin System
- Cuttingdown and burning of trees
and plant growth in an area for
cultivation purposes.
 Pre-Colonial Economy of the
Philippines

Agriculture
 Farming

 Fishing

 Livestock
 Pre-Colonial Economy of the
Philippines
Industry
 Mining
 Lumbering and

Shipbuilding
 Weaving

 Domestic and
foreign trade
(Barter)
 Leasing and Selling of Land

 The Maragtas Code

Seems to be the only recorded
transaction of land sale during this
time.
This tells about the selling of Panay
Island by the natives to the ten
Bornean datus in exchange of a
golden salakot and a long gold
necklace.
 The Code of
Luwaran
One of the oldest
written laws of the
Muslim society which
contains provision on
the lease of
cultivated lands;
No record how this
lease arrangement
was practiced.
 Spanish Era (1521-1896)
System of
Cultivation
Pueblo Agriculture
A system wherein rural
communities were
organized into
pueblo and each
christianized native
family was given a
land to cultivate.
Were the native families
allowed to own a land?

No. The native families were

merely landholders and not
landowners.
Agricultural Tenancy Origin

Through Laws of the Indies,

the Spanish crown awarded
vast tracts of land to wit:
 Friar Lands

 Repartiamentos

 Encomienda
Natives within these areas became
mere tillers working for a share of
crops. They did not even have
any rights to the land.
 Hacienda System

Hacienda
- A large
state used
in the
production
of materials
.
How did the Hacienda system
evolve?

 At the beginning of the

19th century, the
Philippines as a colony of
Spain implemented
policies that would
mainstream the country
into the world of
capitalism.
 The economy was
opened to the world
market as exporter of raw
materials and importer of
finished goods.
 Problems encountered in the
Encomienda System
 Encomienda – a large tract of land
that was given to Spaniards.
 Encomienderos – landlords

 Compras Y Vandalas

System that was practiced wherein

tillers were made to compulsory sell
at a very low price or surrender their
agriculture harvest to Spanish
authorities.
 Native People were required
to render personal services on
public and religious work as a
household help to the
Encomienderos.
Why was the ownership of the land
limited to only few families?
 Spanish Crown made a law in
1865 ordering landholders to
register their landholding;
 Ancestral lands were claimed
and registered in other people’s
name (Spanish officials,
inquilinos and caciques or local
chieftains.);
Why was the ownership of the land
limited to only few families?

 As a result, many peasants

families were driven out from
the lands they have been
cultivating for centuries or
were forced to become a
tillers.
 Laws that require the registration of
Agricultural Lands during Spanish Era

Ley Hipotecaria or the

Mortgage Law of 1893
- provided the systematic
registration of titles and deeds
as well as ownership claims.
 Maura Law or Royal Decree
of 1894
- Last Spanish Land law
promulgated in the Philippines.
 Some Revolutionary Highlights
occurred during Spanish Period
 As more tillers were abused,
exploited and deprived of
their rights, the revolutions of
peasants and farmers
articulated their aspirations for
agrarian reform and a just
society.
 Some Revolutionary Highlights
occurred during Spanish Period
 The result of the revolution has made
the government confiscate the large
landed estates, especially the friar
lands and declared these land as
properties of the government.
 Tamblot Revolt (1621-1622)

 Dagohoy Revolt (1744-1829)

 Agrarian Revolt (1745-1746)

Assessment

Bill of Rights
No person shall be deprived of life,
liberty, or property without due
process of law, nor shall any person
be denied the equal protection of
the laws.
The End
Thank You ! 