POLICIES OF

AGRARIAN REFORM
GROUP- C
 WHAT IS AGRARIAN REFORM?

• Agrarian Reform means the 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.
THE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM
OF THE PHILIPPINES
 AGRARIAN CONDITION IN PHILIPPINES:

• Implementation of Agrarian Reform in Philippines

The implementation of Agrarian reforms proceeded at a very slow pace. This was due to the lack of
political will. The redistribution of land was also very slow. Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law:
Philippines The Republic Act No. 6657, alternatively called the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law was signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on 10th June, 1988.The Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Law is responsible for the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program(CARP) in Philippines. The law focused on industrialization in Philippines together with
social justice.
• The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law: Objectives The primary objective of
instituting the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform law was to successfully devise land
reform in Philippines. It was President Arroyo, who signed the Executive Order No.
456on 23rd August to rename the Department of Land Reform as Department of Agrarian
Reform. This had been done to expand the functional area of the law. Apart from land
reform, the Department of Agrarian Reform began to supervise other allied activities to
improve the economic and social status of the beneficiaries of land reform in Philippines.
MEANING OF CARP

• CARP (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) of 1988,also known as

CARP, is 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
 HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM

• Agrarian reform is a 100-year history of unfinished reforms after the

United States took over the country from the Spaniards. Before the
Hispanic period, there were no owner-cultivators, only communal land
owned by the barangay which consisted of a datu, freemen, serfs and
slaves.
 1. The Nobles- This social class could own their own land free from tribute
payment.

2. The Serfs- They were entitled to cultivate certain land, but were required
to pay an annual fee of one-half of the yield of their crops to the Datu.

3. The Slaves- they simply served the Datu or the Nobles and they could be
sold or traded.
 SPANISH PERIOD

• 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.
• The “Encomienda System” was introduced by the Spaniards. 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).
• On the middle of 17th century “Encomienda System” was abolished due to abuses committed by
the Encomienderos. It was replaced by the “Cacique class”
• The Share tenancy or the “Kasama System” came also into existence. Large landholders
leased portions of their landed estates to intermediaries, who, in turn, rented out parcels to
peasants.

• The cacique class continues to grow due to inter-marriage with the Spaniards. They
gained stature with Spanish officials which gave them powers that they became more
oppressive. This results to rebellions during 18th century in Central Luzon.
AMERICAN PERIOD

• At the beginning of the period, Spanish land records that had existed were either destroyed or lost,
leaving the legal situation with regard to holdings very complicated.
• 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 PRESENT 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..
• In 1946, Pres. Manuel Roxas enacted RA No 34 of 1946, providing for a 70-30 crops
sharing arrangements and regulating share-tenancy contracts.
• September 1954, Pres. Ramon Magsaysay signed into law RA No. 1199, as amended by RA
No. 2263 which allowed for the division of the crops
• In 1963, Pres. Diosdado Macapagal signed into law RA No. 3844 otherwise known as the
Agricultural Land Reform Code, abolition of share tenancy and the imposition of
agricultural leasehold system.
• On September 21, 1972, Pres. Ferdinand Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 2,
declaring the entire the Philippines as land reform area.

• On October 21, 1972, Pres. Marcos signed Presidential Decree No.27, “emancipating the
tenant-farmers from the bondage of the soil”.

• Under the New Constitution, the primary governing law on agrarian reform is RA No.
6657, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988
THE DIFFERENT PRINCIPLES AND POLICIES

• The welfare of the landless farmers and farm workers will receive the highest consideration to
promote social justice and to move the nation towards it’s development and industrialization.
• By means of appropriate incentives the State shall encourage the formation and maintenance of
economically sized family farms.
• The state shall be guided by the principles that land has a social function and landownership has a
social responsibility.
• The state may lease undeveloped lands of the public domain to qualified entities for the
development of capital intensive farms and traditional and pioneering crops especially under the
act.
 WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AGRARIAN REFORM?

• Formalization of the administration of land rights has been promoted as a pre-requisite for
economic development. Perceived benefits include increased tenure security and improved access
to credit, thereby providing the incentive and ability for farmers to invest in making improvements
to the land.
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM?

• Its goals are to provide landowners equality in terms of income and opportunities,

empower land owner beneficiaries to have equitable land ownership, enhance agricultural
production and productivity, provide employment to more agricultural workers, and put
an end to conflicts regarding land ownership.