Agrarian Reform History

Pre-Spanish Period

This land is Ours God gave this land to us

Before the Spaniards ame to the Philippines! "ilipinos lived in villages or #arangays ruled #y hiefs or datus$ The datus omprised the no#ility$ Then ame the maharli%as &freemen'! follo(ed #y the aliping mamamahay &serfs' and aliping saguiguilid &slaves'$

Ho(ever! despite the e)isten e of different lasses in the so ial stru ture! pra ti ally everyone had a ess to the fruits of the soil$ *oney (as un%no(n! and ri e served as the medium of e) hange$

Spanish Period

+nited (e stand! divided (e fall ,hen the Spaniards ame to the Philippines! the on ept of en omienda &Royal -and Grants' (as introdu ed$ This system grants that .n omienderos must defend his en omienda from e)ternal atta %! maintain pea e and order (ithin! and support the missionaries$ /n turn! the en omiendero a 0uired the right to olle t tri#ute from the indios &native'$

The system! ho(ever! degenerated into a#use of po(er #y the en omienderos The tri#ute soon #e ame land rents to a fe( po(erful landlords$ And the natives (ho on e ultivated the lands in freedom (ere transformed into mere share tenants$

1st Philippine Repu#li

The yo%e has finally #ro%en

,hen the "irst Philippine Repu#li (as esta#lished in 1233! Gen$ .milio Aguinaldo de lared in the *alolos 4onstitution his intention to onfis ate large estates! espe ially the so- alled "riar lands$

Ho(ever! as the Repu#li (as short-lived! Aguinaldo5s plan (as never implemented$

Ameri an Period

-ong live Ameri a

Signifi ant legislation ena ted during the Ameri an Period6 Philippine Bill of 1378 9 Set the eilings on the he tarage of private individuals and orporations may a 0uire6 1: has$ for private individuals and 1!78; has$ for orporations$ -and Registration A t of 1378 &A t <o$ ;3:' 9 Provided for a omprehensive registration of land titles under the Torrens system$ Pu#li -and A t of 137= 9 introdu ed the homestead system in the Philippines$

Tenan y A t of 13== &A t <o$ ;7>; and ;11=' 9 regulated relationships #et(een lando(ners and tenants of ri e &>7->7 sharing' and sugar ane lands$

The Torrens system! (hi h the Ameri ans instituted for the registration of lands! did not solve the pro#lem ompletely$ .ither they (ere not a(are of the la( or if they did! they ould not pay the survey ost and other fees re0uired in applying for a Torrens title$

4ommon(ealth Period

Government for the "ilipinos

President *anuel -$ ?ue@on espoused the ASo ial Busti eA program to arrest the in reasing so ial unrest in 4entral -u@on$

Signifi ant legislation ena ted during 4ommon(ealth Period6 13=> 4onstitution 9 AThe promotion of so ial Custi e to ensure the (ell-#eing and e onomi se urity of all people should #e the on ern of the StateA 4ommon(ealth A t <o$ 1D2 &An Amendment to Ri e Tenan y A t <o$ ;7;>'! <ov$ 1=! 13=: 9 Provided for ertain ontrols in the landlord-tenant relationships <ational Ri e and 4orn 4orporation &<AR/4'! 13=: 9 .sta#lished the pri e of ri e and orn there#y help the poor tenants as (ell as onsumers$ 4ommon(ealth A t$ <o$ ;:1! 13=D 9 Spe ified reasons for the dismissal of tenants and only (ith the approval of the Tenan y Eivision of the Eepartment of Busti e$

Rural Program Administration! reated *ar h 8! 13=3 9 Provided the pur hase and lease of ha iendas and their sale and lease to the tenants$ 4ommon(ealth A t <o$ ;;1 ena ted on Bune =! 13=3 9 4reated the <ational Settlement Administration (ith a apital sto % of P87!777!777$

Bapanese O upation

The .ra of Hu%#alahap

The Se ond ,orld ,ar // started in .urope in 13=3 and in the Pa ifi in 13;1$

Hu%#alahap ontrolled (hole areas of 4entral -u@onF landlords (ho supported the Bapanese lost their lands to peasants (hile those (ho supported the Hu%s earned fi)ed rentals in favor of the tenants$

+nfortunately! the end of (ar also signaled the end of gains a 0uired #y the peasants$

+pon the arrival of the Bapanese in the Philippines in 13;8! peasants and (or%ers organi@ations gre( strength$ *any peasants too% up arms and identified themselves (ith the anti-Bapanese group! the H+GBA-AHAP &Hu%#o ng Bayan -a#an sa Hapon'$

Philippine Repu#li

The <e( Repu#li

After the esta#lishment of the Philippine /ndependen e in 13;:! the pro#lems of land tenure remained$ These #e ame (orst in ertain areas$ Thus the 4ongress of the Philippines revised the tenan y la($

President *anuel Ro)as &13;:-13;2' ena ted the follo(ing la(s6 Repu#li A t <o$ =; -- .sta#lished the D7-=7 sharing arrangements and regulating sharetenan y ontra ts$ Repu#li A t <o$ >> -- Provided for a more effe tive safeguard against ar#itrary eCe tment of tenants$

President .lpidio ?uirino &13;2-13>=' ena ted the follo(ing la(6 .)e utive Order <o$ =>> issued on O to#er 8=! 13>7 -- Repla ed the <ational -and Settlement Administration (ith -and Settlement Eevelopment 4orporation &-AS.E.4O' (hi h ta%es over the responsi#ilities of the Agri ultural *a hinery .0uipment 4orporation and the Ri e and 4orn Produ tion Administration$

President Ramon *agsaysay &13>=-13>D' ena ted the follo(ing la(s6 Repu#li A t <o$ 11:7 of 13>; -- A#olished the -AS.E.4O and esta#lished the <ational Resettlement and Reha#ilitation Administration &<ARRA' to resettle dissidents and landless farmers$ /t (as parti ularly aimed at re#el returnees providing home lots and farmlands in Pala(an and *indanao$ Repu#li A t <o$ 1133 &Agri ultural Tenan y A t of 13>;' -- governed the relationship #et(een lando(ners and tenant farmers #y organi@ing share-tenan y and leasehold system$ The la( provided the se urity of tenure of tenants$ /t also reated the 4ourt of Agrarian Relations$ Repu#li A t <o$ 1;77 &-and Reform A t of 13>>' -- 4reated the -and Tenure Administration &-TA' (hi h (as responsi#le for the a 0uisition and distri#ution of large tenanted ri e and orn lands over 877 he tares for individuals and :77 he tares for orporations$

Repu#li A t <o$ 281 &4reation of Agri ultural 4redit 4ooperative "inan ing Administration' -- Provided small farmers and share tenants loans (ith lo( interest rates of si) to eight per ent$

President 4arlos P$ Gar ia &13>D-13:1'

4ontinued the program of President Ramon *agsaysay$ <o ne( legislation passed$

President Eiosdado *a apagal &13:1-13:>' ena ted the follo(ing la(6 Repu#li A t <o$ =2;; of August 2! 13:= &Agri ultural -and Reform 4ode' -- A#olished share tenan y! institutionali@ed leasehold! set retention limit at D> he tares! invested rights of preemption and redemption for tenant farmers! provided for an administrative ma hinery for implementation! institutionali@ed a Cudi ial system of agrarian ases! in orporated e)tension! mar%eting and supervised redit system of servi es of farmer #enefi iaries$

The RA (as hailed as one that (ould eman ipate "ilipino farmers from the #ondage of tenan y$

President "erdinand *ar os &13:>-132:'$ Pro lamation <o$ 1721 on Septem#er 81! 13D8 ushered the Period of the <e( So iety$ "ive days after the pro lamation of *artial -a(! the entire ountry (as pro laimed a land reform area and simultaneously the Agrarian Reform Program (as de reed$

President *ar os ena ted the follo(ing la(s6 Repu#li A t <o$ :=23! &4ode of Agrarian Reform' and RA <o$ :=37 of 13D1 -- 4reated the Eepartment of Agrarian Reform and the Agrarian Reform Spe ial A ount "und$ /t strengthen the position of farmers and e)panded the s ope of agrarian reform$

Presidential Ee ree <o$ 8! Septem#er 8:! 13D8 -- Ee lared the ountry under land reform program$ /t enCoined all agen ies and offi es of the government to e)tend full ooperation and assistan e to the EAR$ /t also a tivated the Agrarian Reform 4oordinating 4oun il Presidential Ee ree <o$ 8D! O to#er 81! 13D8 -- Restri ted land reform s ope to tenanted ri e and orn lands and set the retention limit at D he tares$

President 4ora@on 4$ A0uino &132:-1338'

The 4onstitution ratified #y the "ilipino people during the administration of President 4ora@on 4$ A0uino provides under Se tion 81 under Arti le // that The State shall promote omprehensive rural development and agrarian reform$

On Bune 17! 1322! former President 4ora@on 4$ A0uino signed into la( Repu#li A t <o$ ::>D or other(ise %no(n as the 4omprehensive Agrarian Reform -a( &4AR-'$ The la( #e ame effe tive on Bune 1>! 1322$

Su#se0uently! four Presidential issuan es (ere released in Buly 132D after ;2 nation(ide onsultations #efore the a tual la( (as ena ted$

President 4ora@on 4$ A0uino ena ted the follo(ing la(s6 .)e utive Order <o$ 882! Buly 1:! 132D 9 Ee lared full o(nership to 0ualified farmer#enefi iaries overed #y PE 8D$ /t also determined the value remaining unvalued ri e and orn lands su#Ce t of PE 8D and provided for the manner of payment #y the "Bs and mode of ompensation to lando(ners$ .)e utive Order <o$ 883! Buly 88! 132D 9 Provided me hanism for the implementation of the 4omprehensive Agrarian Reform Program &4ARP'$ Pro lamation <o$ 1=1! Buly 88! 132D 9 /nstituted the 4ARP as a maCor program of the government$ /t provided for a spe ial fund %no(n as the Agrarian Reform "und &AR"'!

(ith an initial amount of Php>7 #illion to over the estimated ost of the program from 132D-1338$ .)e utive Order <o$ 183-A! Buly 8:! 132D 9 streamlined and e)panded the po(er and operations of the EAR$ Repu#li A t <o$ ::>D! Bune 17! 1322 &4omprehensive Agrarian Reform -a(' 9 An a t (hi h #e ame effe tive Bune 1>! 1322 and instituted a omprehensive agrarian reform program to promote so ial Custi e and industriali@ation providing the me hanism for its implementation and for other purposes$ This la( is still the one #eing implemented at present$ .)e utive Order <o$ ;7>! Bune 1;! 1337 9 Hested in the -and Ban% of the Philippines the responsi#ility to determine land valuation and ompensation for all lands overed #y 4ARP$ .)e utive Order <o$ ;7D! Bune 1;! 1337 9 A elerated the a 0uisition and distri#ution of agri ultural lands! pasture lands! fishponds! agro-forestry lands and other lands of the pu#li domain suita#le for agri ulture$

President "idel H$ Ramos &1338-1332' ,hen President "idel H$ Ramos formally too% over in 1338! his administration ame fa e to fa e (ith pu#li s (ho have lost onfiden e in the agrarian reform program$ His administration ommitted to the vision "airer! faster and more meaningful implementation of the Agrarian Reform Program$

President "idel H$ Ramos ena ted the follo(ing la(s6 Repu#li A t <o$ D221! 133> 9 Amended ertain provisions of RA ::>D and e)empted fishponds and pra(ns from the overage of 4ARP$ Repu#li A t <o$ D37>! 133> 9 Strengthened the implementation of the 4ARP$ .)e utive Order <o$ =:=! 133D 9 -imits the type of lands that may #e onverted #y setting onditions under (hi h limits the type of lands that may #e onverted #y setting

onditions under (hi h spe ifi ategories of agri ultural land are either a#solutely nonnegotia#le for onversion or highly restri ted for onversion$ Repu#li A t <o$ 2;=>! 133D &Agri ulture and "isheries *oderni@ation A t A"*A' 9 Plugged the legal loopholes in land use onversion$ Repu#li A t 2>=8! 1332 &Agrarian Reform "und Bill' 9 Provided an additional Php>7 #illion for 4ARP and e)tended its implementation for another 17 years$

President Boseph .$ .strada &1332-8777' .RAP PARA SA *AH/RAP5$ This (as the #attle ry that endeared President Boseph .strada and made him very popular during the 1332 presidential ele tion$

President Boseph .$ .strada initiated the ena tment of the follo(ing la(6 .)e utive Order <7$ 1>1! Septem#er 1333 &"armer5s Trust "und' 9 Allo(ed the voluntary onsolidation of small farm operation into medium and large s ale integrated enterprise that an a ess long-term apital$

Euring his administration! President .strada laun hed the *ag%a#ali%at Para sa Gaunlarang Agraryo or *AGGASAGA$ The EAR forged into Coint ventures (ith private investors into agrarian se tor to ma%e "Bs ompetitive$

Ho(ever! the .strada Administration (as short lived$ The masses (ho put him into offi e demanded for his ouster$

President Gloria *a apa al-Arroyo &8777-present' The agrarian reform program under the Arroyo administration is an hored on the vision To ma%e the ountryside e onomi ally via#le for the "ilipino family #y #uilding partnership and promoting so ial e0uity and ne( e onomi opportunities to(ards lasting pea e and sustaina#le rural development$

-and Tenure /mprovement - EAR (ill remain vigorous in implementing land a 0uisition and distri#ution omponent of 4ARP$ The EAR (ill improve land tenure system through land distri#ution and leasehold$ Provision of Support Servi es - 4ARP not only involves the distri#ution of lands #ut also in luded pa %age of support servi es (hi h in ludes6 redit assistan e! e)tension servi es! irrigation fa ilities! roads and #ridges! mar%eting fa ilities and training and te hni al support programs$ /nfrastru re ProCe ts - EAR (ill transform the agrarian reform ommunities &AR4s'! an area fo used and integrated delivery of support servi es! into rural e onomi @ones that (ill help in the reation of Co# opportunities in the ountryside$ GA-AH/ ARIone - The GA-AH/ Agrarian Reform &GAR' Iones (ere also laun hed$ These @ones onsists of one or more muni ipalities (ith on entration of AR4 population to a hieve greater agro-produ tivity$ Agrarian Busti e - To help lear the #a %log of agrarian ases! EAR (ill hire more paralegal offi ers to support undermanned adCudi atory #oards and introdu e 0uota system to ompel adCudi ators to (or% faster on agrarian reform ases$ EAR (ill respe t