Agrarian Reform PDF

AGRARIAN REFORM A PRESENTATION BY SOFIA LEANA S. MATORRE LOUELA GRACE L. PALLADA DC 202 | BSDC 1-A HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM Agrarian reform is redistribution of land, as a land reform, combined with complementary programs to support the reform such as access to credit, infrastructure projects, i...

AGRARIAN REFORM A PRESENTATION BY SOFIA LEANA S. MATORRE LOUELA GRACE L. PALLADA DC 202 | BSDC 1-A HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM Agrarian reform is redistribution of land, as a land reform, combined with complementary programs to support the reform such as access to credit, infrastructure projects, irrigation, education, training, marketing facilities etc. HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM Today's reform in the Philippines is an agrarian reform. Instead of a land reform, an agrarian reform could include a tenancy reform or it could include both a tenancy reform and a land reform. In a tenancy reform legally binding contracts are to be used to reduce and/or stabilize rents paid by tenants and to give relatively secure access to the land they cultivate. In situations where these contracts are effectively enforced the resulting benefits can be much the same as if land ownership was redistributed. History of Agrarian Reform in the Philippines AMERICAN PERIOD PRE-SPANISH PERIOD COMMONWEALTH PERIOD SPANISH PERIOD JAPANESE OCCUPATION FIRST PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC Pre-Colonial Era HISTORY The Philippines has a very long and turbulent history of land reforms. To be able to understand today's situation and the problems of today's agrarian reform it is important to have an orientation of the Philippine history of landownership and land reforms. The information in this chapter is from H. T. Alvarez, 1986, page 6-11; J. L. Florentino, G. Hart, 1989, chapter 6 and Fely V. Sicam, 1998. Pre-Colonial Era Among the first nomadic inhabitants of the Philippines, the concept of private ownership of land was unknown. But as people settled down in communities, barangays, the idea of communal ownership was born. The four social groups found in the barangay were; The datu or the chiefly group, who were the leaders in the economic, military, social and religious affairs. The maharlika or freemen composed of privileged persons. The timagua or timawa, who were the common masses. The alipin, who were slaves. Pre-Colonial Era In pre-colonial Philippines, a feudal-like system emerged, similar to Medieval Europe, where the datu held total power over land ownership and distribution. The most fertile lands were allocated to the upper classes, while less productive lands were open for common use. Pre-Colonial Era This control of land became a symbol of power, leading to a system that recognized both private and communal landholdings. The unequal land distribution gave rise to a tenancy system, where commoners could work on productive lands owned by the elite in exchange for a fee or rent, marking the early roots of social inequality in land use. Pre-Colonial Era  Spanish Period At the beginning of the Spanish colonial period, which started 1565 and lasted until the end of the 19th century, lands were divided and granted to encourage Spanish settlers or reward Spanish soldiers. These grants were called encomiendas and the grantees encomenderos. The encomenderos had to defend the natives from external attack, maintain peace and order, support missionaries and in return they were allowed to collect tributes from the people of the encomienda.  Spanish Period The encomiendas were never meant to be grants of land, only the right to collect tributes. However, in many cases the system degenerated into abuse of power where the encomenderos authorizes tributes became cannons or land rents. The people within the encomienda became tenants and the encomenderos became the first group of haciendas in the country. Meanwhile, the colonial government took the place of the datus. The datus were now called cabezas de barangay but it was the encomenderos who held the real power in the community. Spanish Period 1. Land acquisition Spanish colonization replaced the communal land system in the Philippines with private ownership and land titling, claiming unoccupied lands for the Spanish Crown. Limited knowledge of this system among Filipinos allowed elites to register communal lands as their own. Practices like pacto de retroventa led farmers to mortgage their lands for loans, often resulting in loss of ownership and turning them into tenants, deepening social inequality in land control. Spanish Period 2. Venta Real Small landowners in need of money often sold their land to wealthy buyers at unfairly low prices, becoming tenants on their own land. Usurpacion involved land being taken from Filipinos through bribes and manipulation of the Spanish legal system. Many Filipinos didn't title their lands, making them vulnerable to these practices. Despite the unfairness, these actions didn't trigger agrarian unrest as they seemed legal and most Filipinos didn't understand the Spanish laws. Spanish Period 3. Land Owners During the Spanish era, four classes of estate owners existed in the Philippines: friars, Spanish proprietors, mestizos, and natives with small landholdings. The friars leased their vast estates to inquilinos, who then hired tenants to work the land. This system allowed inquilinos to earn more than the estate owners without direct labor. Despite royal decrees in the 1880s urging land titling, most peasants didn't secure titles due to their lack of understanding of the laws, leading to continued exploitation of tenant-tillers. First Philippine Republic After the Philippine Revolution of 1896, the first Philippine republic was established. The new government tried to confiscate large landed estates, especially the friar lands. However, since the Republic was short-lived, very little was done. First Philippine Republic “United we stand, divided we fall” When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the concept of encomienda (Royal Land Grants) was introduced. This system grants that 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). 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. FIRSTKerala PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC HISTORY After the Philippine Revolution A presentation is a structured process of communicating information, ideas, or proposals to an audience using visual, of 1896, the first Philippine verbal, and sometimes interactive elements. It typically involves a republic was established. The speaker or group of speakers delivering content in a formal or informal setting, new government tried to often supported by visual aids such as slides, charts, videos, or demonstrations. confiscate large landed estates, especially the friar lands. However, since the Republic was short-lived, very little was done. FIRSTKerala PHILIPPINE REPUBLIC HISTORY A presentation is a structured process The yoke has finally broken” of communicating information, ideas, or proposals to an audience using visual, When the First Philippine Republic was verbal, and sometimes interactive elements. It typically involves a established in 1899, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo speaker or group of speakers delivering content in a formal or informal setting, declared in the Malolos Constitution his often supported by visual aids such as slides, charts, videos, or intention to confiscate large estates, demonstrations. especially the so-called Friar lands. However, as the Republic was short-lived, Aguinaldo’s plan was never implemented. American Period Colonial Transition: Following Spain’s defeat in 1898, the Philippines transitioned to a U.S. colony, disregarding the nation's newly declared independence. American rule spanned roughly 40 years. Land Ownership Issues: Approximately 400,000 Filipinos had no land titles, with widespread sharecropping practices. Lack of records and surveys intensified land disputes and agrarian issues. Land Policy Focus: The Philippine Organic Act of 1902 aimed to regulate public land acquisitions. Free patents were granted to those cultivating public lands, though the landlord-tenant dynamics often mirrored near- slavery conditions. “Long live America” Significant legislation enacted during the American Period: 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 Torrens system, which the Americans instituted for the registration of lands, did not solve the problem completely. Either they were not aware of the law or if they did, they could not pay the survey cost and other fees required in applying for a Torrens title. Commonwealth Period Commonwealth Regime and Agrarian Challenges Political and Economic Instability: The 1930s saw significant instability due to peasant uprisings, revealing deep political and economic challenges. Agrarian Reforms: The Commonwealth government established the National Land Settlement Administration and the Rural Progress Administration to encourage small land ownership. Laws aimed to prevent tenant ejection, and the Rice Share Tenancy Act introduced a 50- 50 harvest split between landowners and tenants. Commonwealth Period Limitations and Impact of Agrarian Reforms Ineffective Legislation: Many reforms failed due to lack of support and large loopholes, as lawmakers were often landowners themselves. Rice Share Tenancy Act: Required provincial council approval, yet councils dominated by landowners opposed it, blocking its enforcement. As a result, agrarian unrest persisted and real change was limited. “Government for the Filipinos” President Manuel L. Quezon espoused the "Social Justice" program to arrest the increasing social unrest in Central Luzon. Significant legislation enacted during Commonwealth Period: 1935 Constitution – "The promotion of social justice to ensure the well-being and economic security of all people should be the concern of the State" Commonwealth Act No. 178 (An Amendment to Rice Tenancy Act No. 4045), Nov. 13, 1936 – Provided for certain controls in the landlord-tenant relationships  National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC), 1936 – Established the price of rice and corn thereby help the poor tenants as well as consumers. Commonwealth Act. No. 461, 1937 – Specified reasons for the dismissal of tenants and only with the approval of the Tenancy Division of the Department of Justice. Rural Program Administration, created March 2, 1939 – Provided the purchase and lease of haciendas and their sale and lease to the tenants. Commonwealth Act No. 441 enacted on June 3, 1939 – Created the National Settlement Administration with a capital stock of P20,000,000. Japanese Occupation During the Japanese occupation of the Philippines (1942-1944) in World War II, the monopolistic power of the landholding elite weakened as food production declined, causing urban landowners and non-farmers to experience shortages. This shift elevated the status of farmers, who began to recognize their own importance in society and in the agrarian sector. As a result, many farmers formed organizations to advocate for agrarian equity, challenging the traditional control of landowners and reshaping the agrarian landscape.  Japanese Occupation “The Era of Hukbalahap” The Second World War II started in Europe in 1939 and in the Pacific in 1941. Hukbalahap controlled whole areas of Central Luzon; landlords who supported the Japanese lost their lands to peasants while those who supported the Huks earned fixed rentals in favor of the tenants. Unfortunately, the end of war also signaled the end of gains acquired by the peasants. Upon the arrival of the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942, peasants and workers organizations grew strength. Many peasants took up arms and identified themselves with the anti-Japanese group, the HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon). Philippine Republic After regaining independence in 1946, the Philippines experienced a shift in social power, with industrialists overtaking landowners due to declining agricultural exports. New politicians sought support from farmers, leading to agrarian reforms: share-tenancy contracts were regulated in 1946, tenant security of tenure was established in 1954, and the Land Reform Act of 1955 created an agency for land redistribution. The 1963 Agricultural Land Reform Code aimed to abolish share-cropping and became the basis for future agrarian reform, though its implementation faced challenges due to opposition from landowners and limited funding. Philippine Republic “The New 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. Philippine Republic Roxas (1946-1948): President Manuel A. Roxas implemented significant agrarian laws, including Republic Act No. 34, establishing a 70-30 profit- sharing arrangement for tenant farmers, and Republic Act No. 55, which protected tenants from arbitrary eviction. Quirino (1948-1953): Elpidio R. Quirino replaced the National Land Settlement Administration with the Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO) through Executive Order No. 355, focusing on land settlement and management for landless farmers. Philippine Republic Magsaysay (1953-1957): Ramon Magsaysay established the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) to assist landless farmers and enacted the Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954 to regulate landlord-tenant relationships, ensuring security of tenure. Garcia (1957-1961): Carlos P. Garcia maintained agrarian reform initiatives established by Magsaysay but did not introduce any significant new legislation during his term, continuing the focus on land tenure improvement. Philippine Republic Macapagal (1961-1965): Diosdado P. Macapagal's administration passed the Agricultural Land Reform Code (Republic Act No. 3844), which abolished share tenancy and granted tenant farmers preemption and redemption rights. Marcos (1965-1986): Ferdinand E. Marcos prioritized agrarian reform, proclaiming the entire country a land reform area and implementing the Tenant Emancipation Act (Presidential Decree No. 27) to provide ownership rights to tenants. Aquino (1986-1992): Corazon C. Aquino's administration emphasized comprehensive agrarian reform through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), signed on June 10, 1988, to address land distribution and promote social justice. Philippine Republic Ramos (1992-1998): Fidel V. Ramos focused on a fair and effective implementation of CARP, introducing amendments and regulations to strengthen the program and ensure land conversion practices were properly managed. Estrada (1998-2000): Joseph E. Estrada initiated the Farmer’s Trust Fund to help small farmers consolidate operations and gain access to capital, although his presidency ended abruptly due to public demand for his ouster. Arroyo (2000-2010): Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's administration aimed to improve rural economic viability by enhancing land tenure systems and providing comprehensive support services for agrarian reform beneficiaries. Philippine Republic Aquino III (2010-2016): Benigno Aquino III pledged to complete CARP, notably distributing Hacienda Luisita, and launched initiatives like the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) for rural poverty reduction. Duterte (2016-2022): Rodrigo Roa Duterte aimed for an aggressive land reform program, redistributing undistributed lands and establishing an anti-corruption task force within the Department of Agrarian Reform to expedite agrarian-related case resolutions. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was initiated in July 1988 by President Corazon Aquino under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) and older agrarian laws, such as Presidential Decree 27. Its main aim was to achieve an equitable distribution of land ownership, fostering long-term economic development and addressing peasant unrest. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) CARP aimed to cover 8.1 million hectares of agricultural land, focusing on land acquisition and distribution to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, accompanied by support services. The program was implemented by various agencies including the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Land Bank of the Philippines. Funding was secured from the national budget as well as foreign grants and loans to ensure the program’s implementation.  Why a new agrarian reform? The unequal distribution of land in the Philippines has historically been linked to social hierarchies and persistent peasant unrest. While various land and agrarian reform programs were introduced throughout the 20th century to address these disparities, their success was limited. Key failures included insufficient political commitment to close legal loopholes and inadequate resources for effective implementation. Addressing this imbalance is crucial to reducing poverty and inequality, as neglecting it could result in ongoing social and political instability. Thank you! "May we never deny the farmers the right to feed themselves." Sofia Leana Matorre Louella Grace Pallada