AGRARIAN

REFORM FROM
THE SPANISH
COLONIAL
PHILIPPINES TO
THE PRESENT

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⦿ PRE-SPANISH PERIOD

⦿ Barangays were ruled by Datus

(nobility). There were Maharlikas
(freemen), aliping namamahay
(serfs), and aliping saguiguilid
(slaves).

⦿ despite the presence of the social

structure, everyone had access (?) to
the fruits of the soil

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• SPANISH PERIOD
• Encomienda system: giving of ROYAL LAND GRANTS to
CONQUISTADORES. They must defend the land, maintain
order, support the missionaries. They also collected taxes
from the indios.

• The encomenderos abused their power by renting lands

to few powerful landlords and natives became share
tenants.

• Natives used to FREELY CULTIVATE THE LANDS.

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AGRARIAN UPRISINGS

Agrarian revolts from 1745-1746

happened in Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, &
Bulacan. The friars committed land
grabbing and the natives claimed that
the land was their ANCESTRAL DOMAIN

They inherited the land from their

ancestors and they were in possession of
the land since time immemorial.

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⦿ What is ancestral domain?

It refers to all areas generally belonging to Indigenous

Cultural Communities/Indigenous People comprising
lands, inland waters, coastal areas, and natural
resources therein, held under a claim of ownership,
occupied or possessed by ICCs/IPs, by themselves or
through their ancestors, communally or individually
since time immemorial, continuously to the present
except when interrupted by war, force majeure or
displacement by force, deceit, stealth or as a
consequence of government projects or any other
voluntary dealings entered into by government and
private individuals/corporations, and which are
necessary to ensure their economic, social and
cultural welfare.
https://slideplayer.com/slide/4534757/

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The Friars refused to return the lands which led
to riots, looting of convents, burning of
churches and ranches.
Revolts resonated in Binan, Imus, Silang, Kawit,
Bacoor, San Mateo, Taguig, Paranaque,
Hagonoy.

King Philip VI asked Pedro Calderon Enriquez to

investigate the charges against the friars.

The Gov Gen dispossessed the friars in favor of

the crown for lack of legitimate titles.

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 7

The friars appealed and the natives won the case

through the Royal Audencia and the Council of the
Indies in Spain.

But in the end the friars won the case and owned the
land even after the end of the Spanish regime.
WHY ARE AGRARIAN LAWS IMPORTANT?

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 AMERICAN PERIOD (1898-1935)

SET LIMIT TO 16 HECTARES (PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS)

PHIL BILL 1902
1,024 FOR CORPORATIONS

LAND REGISTRATION ACT OF 1902 (ACT NO. 496) REGISTRATION OF LAND TITLES UNDER THE
TORRENS SYSTEM

PUBLIC LAND ACT 1903 HOMESTEAD SYSTEM (PIECE OF Public LAND

GIVEN BY THE GOVT)

TENANCY ACT 1933 (ACT NO. 4054/ 4113) 50-50 SHARING IN RICE AND SUGAR CANE LANDS

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 COMMONWEALTH PERIOD
under Pres. Manuel L. Quezon

1935 CONSTITUTION PROMOTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 178 (AMENDMENT TO THE RICE Govt standards should be used in all transactions between
TENANCY ACT NO. 4045) landlord and tenants

NATL RICE AND CORN CORP – NARIC ESTABLISHED THE PRICE OF RICE AND CORN TO HELP THE POOR
tenants AND CONSUMERS

CA ACT 461 CONTROLLED DISMISSAL OF TENANTS WITH THE APPROVAL OF

RURAL PROGRAM ADMIN. REGULATED THE PURCHASE & LEASE OF HACIENDAS TO TENANTS

CA ACT 441 CREATED THE NATL SETTLEMENT ADMIN WITH P20M CAPITAL

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JAPANESE OCCUPATION

During World War 2 (started @Europe

1939, Pacific @1941) the HUKBO NG
BAYAN LABAN SA MGA HAPON
(HUKBALAHAP)- peasants and workers –
fought the Japanese.
Peasant supporters earned fixed rentals
and landowners (pro-Japanese) lost their
lands to peasants. Short-lived (until end of
WWII)

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PRES. MANUEL ROXAS (1946-1948)

RA NO. 70-30 SHARING

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RA NO. 55 SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE
EJECTMENT OF TENANTS

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PRES. ELPIDIO QUIRINO (1948-1953)

Natl Land Settlement Admin

was replaced by Land
EXEC. ORDER NO. Settlement Devt Corp
355 (LASEDECO) – in charge of
Agri Machinery & rice and
corn production

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PRES. RAMON MAGSAYSAY (1953-1957)

RA NO. 1160 LASEDECO ABOLISHED, NATL RESETTLEMENT &

REHABILITATION ADMIN (NARRA) ESTABLISHED
w/c helped rebel returnees to have farmlands

RA NO. 1199 Agri Tenancy Act organized share tenancy and

leasehold

RA NO.1400 Land Reform Act, acquired and distributed large

tenanted rice & corn lands

RA NO. 821 Agri Credit Coop Financing Corp provided loans to

farmers

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The Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation was created in 1957, the
year the Philippines lost in a plane crash a President who was well-
loved for his simplicity and humility, his passion for justice, particularly
for the poor, and his advancement of human dignity. 

The Ramon Magsaysay Award is an annual award established to

perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay's example
of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people, and
pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

The first Ramon Magsaysay Awards were given 5 outstanding

individuals working in India, Indonesia, Philippines, Republic of China
(Taiwan) and Sri Lanka, and a Philippine-based organization.

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PRES. CARLOS P. GARCIA (1957-1961)
CONTINUED MAGSAYSAY’s PROGRAM

RA NO. 1160 LASEDECO ABOLISHED, NATL

RESETTLEMENT &
REHABILITATION ADMIN (NARRA)
ESTABLISHED w/c helped rebel
returnees to have farmlands

RA NO. 1199 Agri Tenancy Act organized share

tenancy and leasehold
RA NO.1400 Land Reform Act, acquired and
distributed large tenanted rice &
corn lands

RA NO. 821 Agri Credit Coop Financing Corp

provided loans to farmers

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PRES. DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL (1961-1965)

RA NO. 3844 AGRI LAND REFORM CODE,

ABOLISHED SHARE TENANCY
BUT RETENTION LIMIT WAS
STILL HIGH AT 75 HAS.

JUDICIAL SYSTEM FOR

CASES, CREDIT SYSTEM,
MARKETING

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PRES. FERDINAND MARCOS (1965-1986)

RA NO. 6389 CODE OF AGRARIAN REFORM

RA NO. 6390 CREATED DEPT OF AGRARIAN REFORM &
AGRARIAN REFORM SPECIAL ACCOUNT
FUND

PRES. DEC. NO. 2 DECLARED THE COUNTRY UNDER LAND

REFORM, ACTIVATED AGRARIAN REFORM
COORDINATING COUNCIL

PD NO. 27 RESTRICTED THE SCOPE : RICE AND CORN

LANDS ONLY
RETENTION LIMIT WAS 7 HAS.

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 PRES. CORAZON C. AQUINO (1986-1992)

GAVE OWNERSHIP TO QUALIFIED

EXEC. ORDER NO. 228 FARMERS UNDER PD 27
EXEC. ORDER NO. 229 IMPLEMENTATION ASPECT OF THE CARP

PROCLAMATION NO. 131 AGRARIAN REFORM FUND (WITH 50B PESOS) FOR THE
PERIOD 1987-1992

EXEC. ORDER NO. 129-A DAR POWERS EXPANDED

RA NO. 6657 COMPRE AGRARIAN REFORM LAW, BASIS OF THE LAND

REFORM PROGRAM UNTIL PRESENT

EXEC. ORDER NO. 405 LBP TO SET VALUE AND COMPENSATION OF LANDS

EXEC. ORDER NO. 407 SPED UP THE ACQUISITION AND DISTRIB. OF LANDS OF
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN

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PRES. FIDEL V. RAMOS (1992-1998)

RA NO. 7881 EXEMPTED FISHPONDS AND

PRAWNS FROM THE CARP
RA NO. 7905 STRENGTHENED THE CARP IMPLEMENTATION

EXEC. ORDER NO. 363 PROTECTION OF AREAS NON-NEGOTIABLE FOR

CONVERSION

RA NO. 8435 AGRI & FISHERIES MODERNIZ ACT FOR

PROFITABILITY AND SUPPORT

RA 8532 STRENGTHENED CARP + 50B PESOS,

EXTENSION OF 10 YEARS

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 PRES. JOSEPH E. ESTRADA (1998-2000)

FARMERS’ TRUST FUND;

EXEC. ORDER NO. 151 MOBILIZED PRIVATE SECTOR CAPITAL
FOR RURAL DEVT

MAGSASAKA MAGKABALIKAT PARA SA KAUNLARANG

AGRARYO
JOINT VENTURES (DAR & PRIVATE
INVESTORS) IN AGRI

AGRIKULTURANG MAKA MASA ACHIEVED OUTPUT GROWTH OF 6% IN

AGRI;
LOWERED INFLATION RATE FROM 11%
TO A LITTLE OVER 3%

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PRES. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (2001-2010)

DAR BECAME DEPT OF LAND

REFORM
EXEC. ORDER NO 379 SUPERVISED PHIL COMMISSION
ON URBAN POOR AND THE
NATL COMMISSION ON
INDIGINOUS PEOPLES

MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 4 KAPITBISIG LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN

AGRARIAN REFORM ZONES (KALAHI
ARZONES)

RA NO. 9700 STRENGTHENED THE CARP AND EXTENDED

IT

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PRES. BENIGNO SIMEON CONJUANCO AQUINO (2010-2016)

CARPER – COMPRE MULTI-STAKHOLDERS

AGRARIAN REFORM MECHANISM: GOVT,
PROGRAM CHURCH, NGOS, POs,
EXTENTION WITH FARMERS’ GROUPS to
REFORMS MONITOR THE
IMPLEMENTATIONOF THE
CARP

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PRES. RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE (2016-PRESENT)

NUMBER 6 OF Ensure security of

PRES. DUTERTE’S land tenure
10-POINT SOCIO- (HOLDING) to
ECONOMIC encourage
AGENDA investments, and
address bottlenecks
in land management
and titling agencies.

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