Agrarian Reform in the Philippines

Agrarian reform aims to address problems related to landlessness, which negatively impacts food security, productivity, and economic growth.

The United Nations views agrarian reform as a comprehensive approach that encompasses various aspects of agricultural institutions, including land ownership, production processes, support services, rural governance, and social welfare.

The World Bank highlights five key dimensions of agrarian reform: (1) market liberalization, (2) land reform, (3) agricultural processing, (4) urban finance, and (5) market institutions.

Agrarian reform goes beyond simply distributing land. It aims to improve agricultural production, secure land tenure, regulate production, and enhance economic efficiency.

Before Spanish colonization, Filipinos enjoyed communal ownership and utilization of land, where everyone had access for farming, harvesting, and residence.

The Spanish colonial period introduced policies that restricted land use and ownership, replacing the pre-existing communal system.

During pre-colonial times, Filipinos practiced stewardship, taking care of the environment as the primary source of their needs.

The Maragtas Code, the first recorded land sale in the Philippines, highlights a legend of ten datus buying the island of Panay from Marikudo, the leader of Aetas, for a gold salakot.

The total number of completed, ongoing and approved projects in the Philippines related to a particular sector.

The total estimated cost of all the projects mentioned.

Percentage of people living below the poverty line in a specific region.

Poverty levels in rural areas of the Philippines in different years.

Poverty levels in urban areas of the Philippines in different years.

A law passed in 1902 that gave Filipinos basic rights like freedom of speech and religion, and the right to own property.

A system of land registration where the government keeps a record of land ownership.

A law passed in 1902 that established the Court of Land Registration and introduced the Torrens System of land registration.

A section of the Philippine Bill of 1902 placed limits on the amount of land an individual or corporation could own.

A law passed in 1903 that allowed people to buy or lease public lands and established the Homestead System.

A way to gain ownership of public land for farming purposes.

The process of receiving official documents proving the ownership of a piece of land.

Land that is available for purchase or use by the public.

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) aims to address the issue of landlessness and poverty by distributing land to farmers and farmworkers. It involves the redistribution of agricultural lands to qualified beneficiaries, promoting their rights and welfare to improve their social and economic standing.

Public lands, including those under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and areas considered as 'idle or swampy lands' (ISF), are targeted for redistribution under the CARP.

The CARP aims to implement agrarian reforms, including land distribution, through a systematic process of land acquisition, evaluation, and distribution to qualified beneficiaries. This includes the establishment of Agrarian Reform Communities (ARC).

The King of Spain granted vast tracts of land to individuals and groups in the Philippines. These land grants were not actual ownership but rather a form of stewardship, with the recipients responsible for managing and cultivating the land.

The KBLSK program was a national program that aimed at addressing poverty by coordinating various government agencies, including the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), to address poverty through agrarian reform and community development.

Agrarian Reform Zones (ARZones) are designated areas focused on promoting agrarian reform initiatives. These zones were intended to be a key part of the "Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan" (KBLSK) program, which aimed to combat poverty nation-wide.

Friars or religious orders received large land grants in the Philippines during Spanish rule. They were responsible for cultivating these lands and collecting tribute from the native tillers.

Spanish military personnel were awarded land grants in the Philippines, called "repartimentos", as a reward for their service. This practice was similar to the encomienda system, where Spanish officials were granted land and power to collect tributes from the natives.

The Encomienda system granted Spanish officials, elites, and chieftains control of specific areas of land in exchange for their loyalty to the Crown. They also collected tributes from the native population.

Pueblo agriculture was an agricultural system in which Christianized native families were granted 4-5 hectares of land within a pueblo or town. This was a way of encouraging agriculture amongst the native population.

Although granted vast tracts of land, the recipients were only landholders, not owners, during the Spanish era. They were responsible for managing, protecting, and cultivating the land in exchange for collecting tributes from native tillers.

Some encomienderos abused their power and collected excessive tributes from native tillers. They also forced the natives to sell their harvests at low prices, allowing the encomienderos to profit from resale.

In 1894, the Maura Law compelled all landholders to register their land holdings within a year or risk the land being declared state property. While many Spanish landholders quickly complied, few native Filipinos registered their land, leading to the loss of peasant lands.

It aims to provide agrarian reform beneficiaries with support services to help them successfully manage and utilize the land they received. This includes support for enhancing production, improving land tenure, and developing their businesses.

This program was created to help farmers in the Philippines get help with land management and production. It was a key initiative during the presidency of Benigno Aquino III.

It seeks to promote collaboration between different government agencies, like the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The program is a comprehensive approach that aims to improve environmental sustainability by planting trees and fostering responsible stewardship. It is carried out through a coordinated effort involving various governmental and non-governmental organizations.

It emphasizes the importance of land redistribution as a key tool for achieving economic development and social justice. The goal is to empower farmers and make land ownership more equitable.

The program brings together various government agencies, including the Department of Education, to promote environmental awareness and education.

It seeks to address issues surrounding land ownership and agricultural production, aiming to foster greater productivity and boost the overall agricultural sector.

These reforms have been shaped by specific social, economic, and political contexts. They have aimed to improve the lives of farmers and promote economic growth.