AGRARIAN & SOCIAL

LEGISLATION
Presented by:
Camille M. Nagrampa
2nd Year – Block B
THE FRIAR LANDS ACT
(ACT NO. 1120)
What is Friar Land Act or Act No. 1120?

 An act providing for the administration and temporary leasing and sale of certain
haciendas and parcels of land, commonly known as friar land, to the its tillers

 This act is pursuant to sections 63, 64 and 65 of the Philippines Organic Act of 1902 which
provides for the Authority for the Philippine Islands Government to purchase lands of
religious orders and others and Issue bonds for purchase price

 This act was enacted on April 26, 1904

161,127 hectares of land purchased

 Laguna
 Bulacan
 Cavite
 Bataan
 Cebu
 Rizal
 Isabela
 Mindoro
What is the purpose of this act?

 Carry out the terms of the said contracts of purchase and the requirements of said Act of
Congress with preference to the leasing and selling of said lands

 Creation of a sinking fund to secure the payment of the bonds so issued

Pertinent Provisions
Section 7

 ascertain the names and residences of the actual, bonafide settlers and occupants then in
possession of said lands or of any portion of them;
 ascertain from said occupants whether they desire to purchase their holdings upon the
terms prescribed in the succeeding sections. Provided, That the failure on the part of the
occupants to state their desire to lease or purchase said lands shall not be understood to
mean that they do not desire to acquire them.
 to enjoin such occupants to state their desire in writing within the period of eight days
from the date of such injunction, and their failure to do so shall be understood to mean
that such occupants do not desire either to lease or to purchase said lands
Section 8

 In case any occupant in possession does not desire to purchase his holding, but does desire
to lease the same, such occupant attorns in due form to the Government and enters into a
lease with the usual covenants and agrees to pay a reasonable rental for the use and
occupation of his holding

 in no instance shall any lease be made for a longer term than three years.
Section 9

 In the event the Director of Lands should find any of said lands vacant, he is directed to
take possession and charge thereof, and he may either lease such unoccupied lands for a
term not exceeding three years, or sell same
 Provided that a sale made to an individual shall not exceed 140 hectares and to a
corporation shall not exceed 1024 hectares;
 provided, further, that this limitation shall not apply to sales made to a provincial or
municipal government or to any other branch, subdivision, or entity of the Government
Section 10

 Should he find any of the said lands in the possession of a person or persons declining
either to buy or to rent, as above set forth, he shall take possession thereof if he can do so
peaceably, and if not he shall begin proper legal proceedings in the Court of Land
Registration to settle title and to oust him or them from his or their holdings and, upon
adjudication in favor of the Government, shall likewise take possession of the same with
the same power and authority as though originally vacant
Section 11

 Should any person who is the actual and bonafide settler upon, and occupant of, any
portion of said lands at the time the same is conveyed to the Government of the Philippine
Islands desire to purchase the land so occupied by him, he shall be entitled to do so at the
actual cost thereof to the Government, and shall be granted fifteen years from the date of
the purchase in which to pay for the same in equal annual installments, should he so desire
paying interest at the rate of four per centum per annum on all deferred payments.