Philippine Agrarian Reform History Quiz

Study Notes

Objectives: Students should effectively communicate historical analyses, propose solutions to present-day issues, and work in multidisciplinary teams.

CARP is a program aimed at redistributing public and private agricultural lands to landless farmers, irrespective of tenurial arrangement.
The legal basis of CARP is Republic Act No. 6657, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL).
CARL was signed by President Corazon C. Aquino on June 10, 1988.
The vision of CARP is equitable land ownership with empowered agrarian reform beneficiaries who can manage their economic and social development.

Before the Spanish arrived, Filipinos lived in villages (barangays) led by chiefs (datus).
The social structure included nobility (datus), freemen (maharlikas), serfs (aliping mamamahay), and slaves (aliping saguiguilid).
Despite social classes, everyone had access to the land's resources. Rice was a primary food source, and money was not widely used.

The Spanish introduced the encomienda system (Royal Land Grants).
Encomenderos were responsible for defending their encomienda, maintaining peace, and supporting missionaries.
In return, they collected tributes from the indigenous people(Indios).
The encomienda system degenerated into abuse of power by encomienderos.
Tributes evolved into land rents. Indigenous people transformed into tenant farmers and laborers.

During the First Philippine Republic (1899), Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo intended to confiscate large estates, especially Friar lands. This, however, was short-lived.

Significant legislation was enacted, including the Philippine Bill of 1902.
This bill set ceilings on the hectarage of private individuals and corporations. It also introduced the homestead system.
The Torrens system was introduced as a land registration system, but did not entirely solve land ownership issues.
The Tenancy Act of 1933 regulated the relationship between landowners and tenants.

President Manuel L. Quezon advocated for a Social Justice program to combat social unrest in Central Luzon.
The 1935 Constitution promoted social justice.
Acts established price controls on rice and corn to help poor tenants.
The Rural Program Administration.

The Second World War led to the Hukbalahap movement, which consisted of Filipino peasants and workers who fought against Japanese occupation.
Landlords who supported the Japanese lost their lands.

After the establishment of Philippine Independence in 1946, land tenure issues remained, eventually prompting a revised tenancy law.
Several executive orders and republic acts were passed to address land reform issues during various presidencies.

Various laws and policies (such as the 1954 Agricultural Land Reform Code, the 1971 Agrarian Reform Code, the Land Reform Act of 1955, Republic Act No. 821 and various other Executive Orders) were enacted to address agrarian reform issues throughout history.
Key figures and administrations played key roles in implementing and modifying the policies across differing periods.

The Philippines' ongoing agrarian issues necessitate continuous attention and ongoing efforts to address these issues. There were ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, allocate resources, and create support systems.