Agrarian Reforms: Policies & Consequences PDF

9 Policies of Agrarian Reform Presented by Group 1  cultivation of land make changes What is Agrarian Reform? Agrarian reform is the process of changing who owns and controls land, especia...

9 Policies of Agrarian Reform Presented by Group 1  cultivation of land make changes What is Agrarian Reform? Agrarian reform is the process of changing who owns and controls land, especially in rural areas. It usually involves giving land to farmers who don't have any and providing support to help them grow more food and improve their lives. Overview We’ll look at important agrarian reform policies and how they try to correct the unfair land ownership systems from Spanish colonial times. These systems include the way land was managed in pueblos, the encomienda system where Filipinos had to work for Spanish landowners, and the hacienda system that created large estates.  Agrarian Reform Policies L s r P i 01 02 03 04 05 Promotibg Land Improving Land Securing Land Rural sustainable redistribution Productivity Tenure Development practices  Agrarian Reform Policies 01 02 Land Redistribution Improving Agricultural Productivity Aim: Redistribute land to those who don’t Aim: Help farmers increase their own any, reducing inequality and giving productivity by providing them with the more Filipinos the chance to own and necessary resources such as training, cultivate their own land. credit, and modern technology. Context: Under the Spanish encomienda Context: During the Spanish colonial period, and hacienda systems, land was Filipinos were often forced to grow crops for concentrated in the hands of a few, such as the benefit of the encomenderos or religious orders, Spanish military personnel, hacienda owners, with little to no support and wealthy landowners, leaving many for improving their farming techniques or Filipinos without land rights. productivity.  Agrarian Reform Policies 03 04 Securing Land Tenure Rural Development Aim: Provide legal rights to land for small Aim: Improve infrastructure and services farmers, ensuring they have secure in rural areas to support farmers and ownership and protection against illegal improve their quality of life. claims. Context: Under Spanish rule, rural areas Context: The Spanish land registration were often neglected, and the focus was laws during the hacienda period often on extracting resources rather than resulted in fraudulent claims by powerful individuals, leading to the displacement of developing the communities that many peasant families. produced them. Agrarian Reform Policies 05 Promoting Sustainable Practices Aim: Encourage environmentally friendly farming techniques to ensure the long- term sustainability of agriculture. Context: The focus on cash crops during the Spanish period often led to the overexploitation of land, without regard for environmental sustainability. Land Ownership in the Philippines Under Spanish Rule Importance: Understanding historical land ownership is key to grasping why agrarian reform is necessary today. Focus:We'll examine the land systems under Spanish rule—pueblo agriculture, encomienda, and hacienda systems—and their long-term effects.  Spanish Colonization & Pueblo Agriculture Puebleo Agriculture: Town/Village Spaniards organized rural communities into pueblos, centralizing farming and Land Ownership: administration. Land belonged to the Spanish crown; Filipinos farmed the land but didn't own it. Tributes were paid to Spanish authorities in crops. or money  Land Distribution & the Encomienda System Law of the Indies Land was distributed to religious orders, military personnel, and encomenderos (land managers). Land Ownership: Spaniards controlled lands and required tributes and labor from Filipinos. Led to severe exploitation and hardship.  Issues with the Encomienda System Exploitation: Encomenderos exploited Filipinos, forcing them to sell crops at low prices and provide labor. Compras y Vándalas: Coerced low-priced sales and forced labor worsened the economic situation for Filipinos.  Transition to the Hacienda System Economic Shift Land Registration Hacienda System Issues In the 19th century, Spain focused on Large estates agricultural emerged; private Laws led to fraud, exports, leading to land ownership displacing many the hacienda became more peasant families. system. common.  Impact on Filipino Society Desire for land Agrarian Revolts Religious Orders ownership Unfair land Major landowners The struggle for practices led to often raised rents, land was a key frequent revolts. increasing factor in the exploitation. Philippine Revolution  Post-Revolutionary Period Revolutionary Government American Colonial Era American rule The government introduced new seized large land policies, estates to address continuing the land issues. struggle over land ownership.  Conclusion Key Takeaway: Spanish colonial land systems created deep social and economic divides, leading to lasting agrarian unrest. Legacy: The struggle for land and justice continued from the Spanish period into American rule and beyond.  Land Ownership in the Philippines Under American Rule Importance: The American period introduced significant changes to landownership but failed to address the core issues of landlessness. Focus: This report examines the land policies implemented by the American colonial government and their social and economic consequences in the Philippines.  American Land Policies Torrens System: Introduction of a modern land registration system to formalize land ownership Homestead Program (1903): Allowed tenants to acquire small farms, but was limited to certain regions (Northern Luzon, Mindanao). American Land Policies Friar Lands: Acquisition of lands from religious orders, with an intention to redistribute, but often sold to wealthy elites and corporations.  Challenges in Landownership Reform 01 02 Absence of Landholding Size Limited Accessibility Limits No restrictions on the size of Landownership and registration landholdings, allowing wealthy accessible primarily to those individuals and corporations to who could afford it, excluding amass large tracts of land. many landless peasants. Challenges in Landownership Reform 03 Misallocation of Friar Lands Redistribution of friar lands largely benefited American and Filipino elites rather than landless peasants.  Consequences of American Land Policies Worsening Landlessness Peasant Uprising and Tenancy Colorum Uprising: Response to worsening Increased concentration tenancy conditions. of land under wealthy landowners, worsening Sakdal Uprising (1935): the plight of tenant Major peasant rebellion farmers. driven by frustrations over land issues and exploitation.  The Commonwealth Government’s Agrarian Reform Efforts President Quezon’s Social Justice Program: Initiatives aimed at purchasing and redistributing large estates to tenants. National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC): Support for farmers in legal battles and agricultural issues  The Commonwealth Government’s Agrarian Reform Efforts National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA): Continued efforts to settle landless farmers, though limited by budget constraints and increasing unrest.  Impact of the World War II Disruption of Agrarian Japanese Occupation Reforms World War II halted all Further complicated ongoing land reform the land ownership efforts as Japanese situation, forces occupied the exacerbating existing Philippines. issues.  Conclusion Key Takeaway: American land policies, while introducing modern systems, ultimately failed to address the deep-rooted issue of landlessness, leading to increased social unrest and peasant uprisings. Legacy: The unresolved land issues from the American period set the stage for ongoing struggles for land reform in the Philippines.  Post-War Interventions toward Agrarian Reform in the Philippines Post War Rehabilitation efforts of President Roxas (1946-1948) In the aftermath of World War II, the administration of President Roxas initiated efforts to rehabilitate the Philippine agricultural sector, which had been severely damaged by the war. One of the key legislative measures introduced was Republic Act No. 34, which aimed to reform the sharecropping system prevalent in the countryside. Republic Act No. 34 established a 70-30 sharing arrangement between tenants and landlords, with tenants receiving 70% of the produce and landlords 30%. This was intended to make the system more equitable for tenants, who previously often received much less. - Another aspect of this law was the reduction of interest on loans provided by landlords to tenants to 6% or lower, easing the financial burden on Post War Rehabilitation efforts of President Roxas (1946-1948) Another aspect of this law was the reduction of interest on loans provided by landlords to tenants to 6% or lower, easing the financial burden on small farmers. Challenges: Despite these reforms, the redistribution of large haciendas (estates) was largely unsuccessful, as many small farmers who received land lacked the necessary support services to make their farms viable. The lack of government assistance in terms of credit, infrastructure, and market access hindered the effectiveness of these reforms.  President Elpidio Quirino’s Initiatives Under President Elpidio Quirino (1948-1953), the government LASEDECO aimed to help resettle created the Land Settlement peasants on newly opened Development Corporation public lands, giving them (LASEDECO) to accelerate the opportunities to farm and start resettlement of landless farmers in new lives. However, the program areas outside of their home faced several logistical provinces. This was part of a challenges, including inadequate broader strategy to alleviate infrastructure in resettlement landlessness and rural poverty, areas and insufficient support particularly in Central Luzon, where services for settlers. social unrest was growing.  Agrarian Reforms under President Ramon Magsaysay National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) President Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957) took a more aggressive stance on agrarian reform, recognizing that social unrest, particularly the Hukbalahap insurgency, was rooted in landlessness and the exploitation of tenant-farmers The NARRA replaced LASEDECO and aimed to provide agricultural lands to landless farmers and peasants. NARRA also attempted to convince members of the Huk movement to return to peaceful civilian life by resettling them in areas where they could farm and live independently.  Agrarian Reforms under President Ramon Magsaysay Republic Act No. 199 (Agricultural Tenancy Act) One of Magsaysay’s key legislative accomplishments was the passage of the Agricultural Tenancy Act (Republic Act No. 199), which aimed to regulate the relationship between landholders and tenants. The law sought to protect the rights of tenant farmers by securing their tenurial rights and preventing arbitrary evictions by landowners. It also established the Court of Agricultural Relations to resolve disputes between tenants and landlords, ensuring that both parties were treated fairly. The Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA) was created to provide farmers with access to credit and assist them in marketing their agricultural products.  Challenges During Magsaysay’s Era Funding and Support Issue: Despite the Magsaysay administration's ambitious agrarian reform agenda, its efforts were hampered by a lack of government funding. The government struggled to provide sufficient financial support and services to small farmers, including access to affordable credit, irrigation, and market access. As a result, many of the resettlement programs under NARRA were only partially successful. Resistance from Landed Elite: Agrarian reform faced significant resistance from the landed elite, who dominated the political landscape. Many landowners viewed these reforms as a threat to their economic and political power, and they actively worked to undermine the implementation of land distribution policies. This lack of cooperation severely limited the effectiveness of agrarian reform during this period.  Agrarian Reforms under President Diosdado Macapagal Under President Diosdado The law sought to convert tenant- Macapagal (1961-1965), a major farmers into owner-cultivators, with breakthrough in agrarian reform the ultimate goal of ensuring that came with the passage of the small farmers would own the land Agricultural Land Reform Code they worked on. It emphasized (Republic Act No. 3844) in 1963. This farmer independence, equity, and law marked a significant shift in the increased agricultural productivity government's approach to land through land redistribution. This law reform by abolishing the exploitative aimed to establish economic share tenancy system and replacing family-size farms as the foundation it with a leasehold system, wherein of Philippine agriculture, thereby tenants would pay a fixed rental fee promoting efficiency and to the landowner rather than a sustainability. percentage of their crops. Implementation Issues with RA No. 3844 Lack of Fundings Partial Success While Republic Act No. 3844 was one Despite its limitations, the law did of the most comprehensive agrarian see some success in the areas reform laws ever passed in the where it was pilot-tested. However, Philippines, it faced the same its national impact was minimal due problem as earlier reforms: a lack of to the lack of political will and the funding. Congress, dominated by the limited reach of government landed elite, did not allocate programs designed to support small sufficient resources to ensure the full farmers. implementation of the law. Agrarian Reform under President Ferdinand Marcos  Agrarian Reform under President Ferdinand Marcos When President Ferdinand Marcos declared Martial Law in 1972, he used his expanded executive powers to push forward agrarian reform. Without the obstruction of a landlord-dominated Congress, Marcos sought to address the deep structural issues in the countryside Presidential Decree No. 27, issued in October 1972, became the cornerstone of Marcos' agrarian reform program. This decree focused primarily on rice and corn lands and sought to transfer ownership of these lands from landlords to tenant-farmers.  Key Provisions of Presidential Decree No. 27 Tenant farmers on rice and corn lands were given ownership of a family-size farm of up to 5 hectares if not irrigated, or 3 hectares if irrigated. Landowners were allowed to retain up to 7 hectares of land if they cultivated it themselves. The government provided tenant farmers with a payment plan to purchase the land over a 15-year period, with interest.  Challenges During Marcos’ Regime Circumvention by Landed Elite While the Marcos regime made strides in agrarian reform, many landowners found ways to circumvent the law. For instance, some landowners shifted their focus from rice to other crops, such as coconuts or sugar, which were exempt from land reform. Corruption and Inefficiency Agrarian reform under Marcos was also plagued by corruption, particularly among his cronies who held significant power in the agricultural sector. The implementation of the land reform program was often inefficient and failed to achieve its intended outcomes. Many small farmers remained landless, and social unrest continued in rural areas.  Post-1986 Agrarian Reform  Post - 1986 Agrarian Reform Overthrow of Marcos President Corazon and 1987 Constitution Aquino’s Administration After the fall of the Marcos regime In 1987, President Aquino issued in 1986, the new administration of Presidential Proclamation 131 and President Corazon Aquino sought Executive Order 229, which laid the to revitalize agrarian reform. The groundwork for a new land reform 1987 Constitution mandated that program. The following year, agrarian reform be a top priority Republic Act No. 6657, or the for the government. Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law  President Fidel V. Ramos’ Enhancements Acceleration of CARP Amendment and Implementation Extension of CARP Recognizing the slow progress of Faced with the impending the Comprehensive Agrarian deadline of CARP, President Ramos Reform Program (CARP) under signed Republic Act No. 8532 in previous administrations, President 1998, which amended the original Ramos prioritized the acceleration Comprehensive Agrarian Reform of agrarian reform to meet Law (CARL) and extended the established targets. Ramos aimed program by an additional ten to intensify land distribution efforts years. to ensure that more farmers benefitted from agrarian reform within the stipulated timeframe.  CARPER and the Future of Agrarian Reform Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER), signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2009,was a critical step in continuing the agrarian reform efforts initiated under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). CARP's original deadline expired in 2008, with over a million farmer beneficiaries still waiting for land distribution. To address this, CARPER extended the land redistribution deadline until 2014 and included provisions to resolve all pending agrarian reform cases. It also emphasized improved support services for farmers, such as credit access, technical assistance, and infrastructure development, with a particular focus on reaching marginalized farmers who had not benefitted from earlier phases of the program. Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Between 2009 and 2014, CARPER managed to distribute one million hectares of agricultural land to 900,000 farmer beneficiaries. However, despite this progress, approximately 500,000 hectares of land remained undistributed, revealing the persistent challenges in fully implementing agrarian reform. The government agencies responsible for carrying out CARPER—the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)—faced significant obstacles in achieving complete success. Even after the expiration of CARPER in 2014, efforts to distribute the remaining lands continued, albeit at a slower pace.  Challenges Elite Resistance Fuding limitations Powerful and influential landowners Inadequate resources to sustain uses legal loopholes to avoid agrarian reform redistribution. Bureaucratic Inefficiencies Legal Barriers Slow processing and corruption Complex legal frameworks slowing within government agencies. down redistribution  Path Forward Legistative and Policy Empowering Farmers Reform New laws to close loopholes and Providing credit, market, access, streamline processes and technical assistance Enhanced Bureaucracy Combating Corruption Improved training and coordination Strengthen accountability within among agencies implementing agencies Thank you very much!