UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS

College of Teacher Education

1st Trimester, AY 2023-2024

MODULE IN HISTORY OF AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE PHILIPPINES

Final Coverage
HIST 100 (Readings in Philippine History)
Instructor: JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

At the end of this chapter, the students are expected to:

• Effectively communicate, using various techniques and genres, historical analysis of a
particular event or issue that could help others understand the chosen topic;
• Propose recommendations or solutions to present day problems based on their
understanding of root causes, and their anticipation of future scenarios; and
• Display the ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team and contribute to a group endeavor.

Pre-Colonial Times (before 16th century)

The Philippines, even before being colonized by different countries, has already developed an
organization for their communities. The land owned by these communities is known as
barangay which consists of 30 - 100 families which is administered by different chiefs.

In these barangays, everyone regardless of status had access on the land and mutually shares
resources to the rest of the community. They believed in and practiced the concept of
'stewardship' where relationship between man and nature is important.

Land cultivation was done commonly by kaingin system or the slash and burn method wherein
land was cleared by burning the bushes before planting the crops or either land was plowed
and harrowed before planting. On the other hand, food production was intended for family
consumption only at first but later on neighboring communities which were engaged in a barter
trade, exchanging their goods with others. Some even traded their agricultural products with
luxury items of some foreign traders like the Chinese, Arabs and Europeans.

The only recorded transaction of land sale during that time was the Maragtas Code.This is the
selling of the Panay Island to the ten Bornean datus in exchange for a golden salakot and a
long gold necklace. Although the Code of Luwaran was one of the oldest written laws of the
Muslim society which contains provision on the lease of cultivated lands, there was no record
how the lease arrangement was practiced.

Spanish Era (1521-1896)

When the Spanish came to the country in 1521, they introduced "pueblo" agriculture system
wherein the native rural communities were organized into pueblo and each Christianized
native family is given out four to five hectares of land to cultivate, thus there is no landless
class.

1|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

Nonetheless, these native families are merely landholders and not legitimate landowners. By
law, the land assigned to them was the property of the Spanish King where they pay their
colonial tributes to the Spanish authorities in the form pf agricultutral producs that they
produced.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the Philippines as a colony of Spain implemented policies
that would mainstream the country into the world of capitalism. The economy was opened to
the world market as exporter of raw materials and importer of finished goods. The agricultural
exports were mandated and hacienda system was developed as a new form of ownership.
More people lost their lands and were forced to become tillers.

Agricultural tenancy during that time originated when the Spanish crown implemented the
Laws of the Indies. The law awarded vast tracts of land to the religious orders in the country.
Some of them were awarded to the Spanish military as reward for their service (also known
as repartiamentos), and to the other Spaniards known as encomienderos to manage and have
the right to receive tributes from the natives tilling the land also known as encomiendas.
Because of this, the natives within these areas became mere tillers working for a share of
crops. They did not have any rights to the land.

Ideally the purpose of the encomienda system is for the encomienderos to protect the natives
and further introduce them into Catholic faith in exchange for tribute from the natives. But
abusive encomienderos collected more tributes that became the land rentals from the natives
living in the area.

A compras y vandalas system was practiced wherein tillers were made to compulsory sell at
a very low price or surrender their agricultural harvests to Spanish authorities where
encomienderos can resell it for a profit. People of the encomiendas were also required to
render personal services on public and religious work and as a household help to the
encomienderos.

In 1865, there was a law made by the Spanish crown ordering landholders to register their
landholdings but only a few were aware of this decree so they were the only ones who were
able to register their lands. Ancestral lands were claimed and registered in other people's
names (Spanish officials, inquilinos and caciques or local chieftains). As a result, many
peasant families were driven out from the lands they have been cultivating for centuries or
were forced to become tillers.

In 1893, the Ley Hipotecaria or the Mortgage Law was introduced that provides the systematic
registration of titles and deeds as well as ownership claims. This law was mainly a law on
registration of properties rather than a mortgage law.

In 1894, the last Spanish land law promulgated in the Philippines was the Maura Law or Royal
decree of 1894. This law states that farmers and landholders were given one year to register
their agricultural lands to avoid declaration of it as a state property.

With the encomienda system still being used despite the different laws passed by the Spanish
crown more and more tillers were abused, exploited and deprived of their nights. The
revolution of peasants and farmers in 1896 articulated their aspirations for agrarian reform and

2|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

for a just society. Women also fought for freedom and played an important role in the planning
and implementing the activities of the revolutionary movements.

The result of this revolution has made the government confiscate the large landed estates,
especially the friar lands and declared these lands as properties of the government.

American Era (1898-1935)

Realizing that being landless was the main cause of social unrest and revolt at that time, the
Americans sought to put an end to the miserable conditions of the tenant tillers and small
farmers by passing several land policies to widen the base of small landholdings and distribute
land ownership among the greater number of Filipino tenants and farmers.

The first of which, the Philippine Bill of 1902 was passed which provided regulations on the
disposal of public lands wherein a private individual can own 16 hectares of land while the
corporate land holdings can avail of 1,024 hectares. This also gave the rights to the Americans
to own agricultural lands.

The Torrens system of land registration was also introduced during the American colonial
period. This was made to replace the registration system that was implemented by the
Spaniards. The reason why they made a different system of registration was that some
400,000 native farmers were without titles at the start of the American era and this situation
was also aggravated by the absence of records of issued titles and accurate land surveys.

The Land Registration Act of 1902 or Act No. 496 placed all private and public lands under
Torrens system. While the Cadastral Act or Act No. 2259 speeds up the issuance of Torrens
titles. This was done by surveying a municipality and presented the result to the land
registration court.

A program called the Homestead Program was introduced in 1903 that allowed an enterprising
tenant to acquire a farm of at least 16 hectares to cultivate. However, the program was not
implemented nationwide and was introduced only in some parts of Mindanao and Northern
Luzon, where there were available public alienable and disposable lands.

There are also other agrarian laws that were introduced during the American era like the First
Public Land Act or Act No. 926 which provided rules and regulations for selling and leasing
portions of the public domain, completing defective Spanish land titles, canceling and
confirming Spanish concessions. Another is the Second Public Land Act of 1919 or Act 2874
which limits the use of agricultural lands to Filipinos, Americans, and citizens of other
countries. On the other hand, the Act No. 141 amended the Second Public Act of 1919 or Act
No. 2874. The revision consists of a temporary provision of equality on the rights of American
and Filipino citizens and corporations. It also compiled all pre-existing laws relative to public
lands into a single instrument.

There is also the Friar Land Act or Act No. 1120 which provided the administrative and
temporary leasing and selling of friar lands to its tillers. The first legislation regulating the
relationship of landlord and tenants and the first law to legalize a 50-50 crop sharing
arrangement was also introduced in the American era and is known as the Rice Share

3|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

Tenancy Act of 1933 or Act No. 4054. There is also the Sugarcane Tenancy Contracts Act of
1933 or Act No. 4113 which regulated the relationship of landlord and tenants in the sugarcane
fields and required tenancy contracts on land planted to sugarcane.

However, despite the different land policies passed during that time, the farmers' situation did
not improve at all. In fact, it further worsened the land ownership situation, where there was
no limit on the size of landholdings one could possess. Landholdings were once again
concentrated in the hands of fewer individuals who can afford to buy, register, and acquire
fixed titles of their properties. Therefore, more lands were placed under tenancy.

As a result, there were widespread peasant uprisings, headed by the armed peasants' groups
known as Colorum and Sakdalista of Luzon and Northeastern Mindanao, respectively. These
uprisings resulted to social disorder in 1920's and 1930's. Hence, more militant peasants and
workers' organizations bonded together for a more collective action against the abuses of
landlords and unjust land ownership situation. This gave birth to the Communist Party of the
Philippines.

Commonwealth Years (1935-1942)

During these years the situation of land ownership and tenancy were characterized by the
contrasting economic and political lifestyle between tenant and the landlord. Landlords
became richer and powerful while the tenants were deprived of their rights, became poorer
and absentee landowners increased. They preferred to go after new opportunities in the cities
and left their farms idle to the management of 'katiwalas'. As a result, haciendas were poorly
and unjustly managed.

A small plot of land cultivated by an average peasant farmer could not sustain a decent living
for his family. Tenants and farmers shouldered excessive fines, unfair taxation and usury.
Systems for credit and marketing of rice were lacking thus, farmers réceived a very low selling
price. Consequently, peasant uprising became widespread all over the country.

As a response to these situations, the government under the stewardship of President Manuel
L. Quezon realized that land reform programs should be implemented immediately. They saw
the purchase of friar lands as a possible way to solve the problem of inequitable land
ownership. They also saw that the Homestead Program could be transformed into a massive
resettlement program if properly implemented.

Japanese Era (1942-1945)

During the Japanese occupation, peasants and workers organized the HUKBALAHAr
(Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga Hapon) on March 29, 1942 as an anti-Japanese group. They
took over vast tracts of land and gave the land to the people. For them, the war was a golden
opportunity for people's initiative to push pro-poor programs. Landlords were overpowered by
the peasants but unfortunately at the end of the war, through the help of the military police and
civilian guards, landlords were able to retrieve their lands from the HUKBALAHAP.

4|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

Evolution of Initiatives on Land Reform
Some of the agrarian reform laws were passed during the administration of President
Quezon.

1. RA 4054 or the Rice Tenancy Law was the first law on crop sharing which legalized
the 50-50 share between landlord and tenant with corresponding support to tenants
protecting them against abuses of landlords. However, this law was hardly implemented
because most of the municipal councils were composed of powerful hacienderos and big
landlords. In fact, only one municipality passed a resolution for its enforcement and
majorities have petitioned its application to the Governor General. The 1935 Constitution
provided specific provisions on social justice and expropriation of landed estates for
distribution to tenants as a solution to the land ownership and tenancy problems.

2. Commonwealth Act No. 461 specified that dismissal of a tenant should first have the
approval of Tenancy Division of the Department of Justice.

3. Commonwealth Act No. 608 was enacted to establish security of tenure between
landlord and tenant. It prohibited the common practice among landowners of ejecting
tenants without clear legal grounds. President Quezon's program on land reform includes
making a laid down social justice program that focused on the purchase of large
haciendas which were divided and sold to tenants. This administration was also
responsible in establishing the National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARICC) and
assigning public defenders to assist peasants in court battles for their rights to till the land.

4. During this period, the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR) was set up to exercise
jurisdiction over disagreements arising from agri-workers and landowner relationship. It
was also during this time that the Rice Tenancy Act (Act No. 4054) was amended.

5. The Homestead Program continued through the creation of the National Land
Settlement Administration (CA No. 441) and tenancy problems were covered through CA
Nos. 461 and 608.

But the implementation of land reform during Quezon's administration was hindered because
of the budget allocation for the settlement program made it impossible for the program to
succeed. Also, most landlords did not comply with the Rice Share Tenancy Act.
Widespread peasant uprisings against abusive landlords also continued. In addition, the
outbreak of the World War II put a stop to the land ownership and tenancy interventions during
this period.

Under Manuel Roxas Administration (1946-1948)

The Republic Act No. 34 was passed during the administration of President Manuel Roxas
and it was enacted to establish a 70-30 sharing arrangement between tenant and landlord.
The 70% of the harvest will go to the person who shouldered the expenses for planting,
harvesting and for the work animals. With this, it reduced the interest of landowners' loans to
tenants at not more than 6%.

5|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

President Roxas also negotiated for the purchase of 8,000 hectares of lands in Batangas
owned by the Ayala-Zobel family. These were sold to landless farmers.

However, due to lack of support of facilities, the farmers were forced to resell their lands to the
landowning class. This failure gave basis to doubt the real meaning of land reform program.

Under Elpidio R. Quirino (1948-1953)

During Elpidio Quirino's administration, the Executive Order No. 355, the Land Settlement
Development Corporation (LASEDECO) was established to accelerate and expand the
peasant resettlement program of the government. However, due to limited postwar resources,
the program was not successful.

Under Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957)

When President Magsaysay was elected as the president of the country, he realized the
importance of pursuing a more honest-to-goodness land reform. So he convinced the elite
controlled congress to pass several legislations to improve the land reform situation in the
country. Some of these are:
1. R.A. No. 1199 (1954) The Agricultural Tenancy Act basically governed the relationship
between landholders and tenant-farmers. This law helped protect the tenure rights of
tenant tillers and enforced fair tenancy practices.
2. R.A. No. 1160 (1954) Free distribution of resettlement and rehabilitation of agricultural
land and an Act establishing the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration
(NARRA).
3. R.A. No. 1400 (1955) Land Reform Act or known as "Land to the Landless" Program
which sought improvement in land tenure and guaranteed the expropriation of all tenanted
landed estates.
4. R.A. No. 1266 (1955) Expropriation of Hacienda del Rosario, situated at Valdefuente,
Cabanatuan City.

Magsaysay implemented the Agricultural Tenancy Act by establishing the Court of Agricultural
Relations in 1955 to improve tenancy security, fix the land rentals on tenanted farms and to
resolve the many land disputes filed by the landowners and peasant organizations.

He also created the Agricultural Tenancy Commission to administer problems arising from
tenancy. Through this Commission, about 28,000 hectares were issued to settlers.

Under President Magsaysay, the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration
(ACCFA) was created. This is a government agency formed to provide warehouse facilities
and assist farmers market their products and established the organization of the Farmers
Cooperatives and Marketing Associations (FACOMAs).

With the passing of R.A. 1160 of 1954, President Magsaysay pursued the resettlement
program through the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA).
This law established the government's resettlement program and accelerated the free
distribution of agricultural lands to landless tenants and farmers. It particularly aimed to

6|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

convince members of the HUKBALAHAP movement to return to a peaceful life by giving them
home lots and farmlands.

This administration also spearheaded the establishment of the Agricultural and Industrial Bank
to provide easier terms in applying for homestead and other farmlands.

With all the programs and bills passed under his administration, out of the targeted 300
haciendas for distribution, only 41 were distributed after its 7 years of implementation. This
was due to lack of funds and inadequate support services provided for these programs.

As a result, landlords continued to be uncooperative and critical to the program and

landownership and tenancy problems continued.

Under Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)

There was no legislation passed in President Carlos Garcia's term but he continued to
implement the land reform programs of President Magsaysay.

Under Diosdado Macapagal (1961-1965)

It was during President Diosdado Macapagal that the Agricultural Land Reform Code or R.A.
No. 3844 was enacted more specifically on August 8, 1963. This was considered to be the
most comprehensive piece of agrarian reform legislation ever enacted in the country that time.
Because of this, President Macapagal was considered as the "Father of Agrarian reform."

The R.A. No. 3844 was considered the most comprehensive because this Act abolished share
tenancy in the Philippines. It prescribed a program converting the tenant farmers to lessees
and eventually into owner-cultivators. Moreover, it aimed to free tenants from the bondage of
tenancy and gave hope to poor Filipino farmers to own the land they are tilling. Finally, it
emphasized owner-cultivator relationship and farmer independence, equity, productivity
improvement, and the public distribution of land.

However, the landed Congress did not provide effort to come up with a separate bill to provide
funding for its implementation. The act was piloted on the provinces of Pangasinan, Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Occidental Mindoro, Camarines Sur, and Misamis Oriental.
It acquired a total of 18,247.06 hectares or 99.29% out of the total scope of 18,377.05
hectares. The program benefited 7,466 farmer beneficiaries.

Under Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-1986)

When President Marcos assumed office, he immediately directed the massive implementation
of the leasehold phase of the land reform program by signing into law the Code of Agrarian
Reforms in the Philippines or R.A. No. 6389 and its companion bill R.A.No. 6390. The Code
of Agrarian Reforms or R.A. No. 6389 governed the implementation of the agrarian reform in
the Philippines. This law instituted the Code of Agrarian Reforms and significantly amended
several provisions of Agricultural Land Reform Code or R.A. 3844 of President Macapagal. It
created the Department of Agrarian Reform, a separate administrative agency for agrarian
reform, replacing the Land Authority.

7|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

R.A. 6390 was enacted to accelerate the implementation of the agrarian reform program in
the fields of land acquisition and agricultural credit. Through the Code, an AR Special Account
in the General Fund was created that exclusively finance the agrarian reform program.

The core of the Agrarian Reform Program of President Marcos was Presidential Decree No.
2, proclaiming the entire country as a land reform area and Presidential Decree No. 27,
decreeing the emancipation of tenants from the bondage of soil, transferring to them the
ownership of the land they till and providing the needed instruments and mechanisms. This
law provided for tenanted lands devoted to rice and corn to pass ownership to the tenants. It
also lowered the ceilings for landholdings to 7 hectares. The law stipulated that share. tenants
who worked from a landholding of over 7 hectares could purchase the land they tilled, while
share tenants on land less than 7 hectares would become leaseholders.

This agrarian reform program was designed to uplift the farmers from poverty and ignorance
and to make them useful, dignified, responsible and progressive partners in nation-building.
This AR program was a package of services extended to farmers in the form of credit support,
infrastructure, farm extension, legal assistance, electrification, and development of rural
institutions.

President Marcos' Agrarian Reform program is characterized by five major components and
these are Land Tenure Program, Institutional Development, Physical development,
Agricultural Development, and Human Resources.

The Agrarian Reform Program was also labeled as "revolutionary" by some sectors because
it was pursued under Martial Law and intended to make quick changes without going through
legislature or technical processes and another reason is that it was the only law in the
Philippines ever done in handwriting.

Nevertheless, the program also posed some limitations which includes limited scope of the
program since it was only directed for the tenanted, privately-owned rice and corn lands, there
was monopoly of businessmen in both coconut and sugar industries, foreign and local firms
were allowed to use large tracks of land for their business; and because of the declaration of
Martial Law, several farmer leaders were arrested without due process of law.

Under Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992)

The 1987 Constitution set the direction of agrarian reform in the Aquino administration. The
1987 Constitution affirmed that "The State shall promote comprehensive rural development
and agrarian reform" (Article 2, Section 21).

When President Cory Aquino served as the President of the country, several legislations and
issuances on Agrarian Reform were passed. Some of them are:

1. Proclamation 131 instituted the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) as

a major program of the government. It provided for a special fund known as the Agrarian
Reform Fund (ARF) in the amount of 60 billion pesos to cover the estimated cost of the
program for the period 1987-1997.

8|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

 2. Executive Order 129 reorganized the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and
expanded its power and operations. It is known that the record and legacy of the
Aquino administration in agrarian reform is the Executive Summary, Planning Service and
DAR
3. Executive Order 228 declared full ownership of the land to qualified farmer-
beneficiaries covered by P.D. 27. It also regulated the value of remaining rice and corn
lands for coverage provided for the manner of payment by the farmer-
4. Executive Order 229 provided the administration processes for land registration or
LISTASAKA program, acquisition of private land and compensation procedures for
landowners. It specified the structure and functions of units that will coordinate and
supervise the implementation of the program.
5. R.A. 6657 or Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law is an act instituting a
comprehensive agrarian reform program to promote social justice and industrialization,
providing the mechanism for its implementation and for other purposes.

To strengthen CARP and fasttrack its implementation, President Aquino issued the following
Executive Orders:
1. E.O. No. 405 gave the Land Bank of the Philippines the primary responsibility for the
land valuation function in order for DAAR to concentrate its efforts on the identification of
landholdings and beneficiaries, the distribution of acquired lands, and the other sub-
components of the program.
2. E.O. No. 406 emphasized that CARP is central to the government's effort to hasten
countryside agro-industrial development and directed and implementing agencies to align
their respective programs and projects with CARP.

This created CARP implementing teams from the national to the municipal levels and gave
priority to 24 strategic operating provinces where the bulk of CARP workload lies.
1. E.O. No. 407 directed all government financing institutions (GFIs) and government
owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) to immediately transfer to DAR all their
landholdings suitable for agriculture.
2. E.O. No. 408 pursued the policy that government should lead the efforts in placing
lands for coverage under CARP. It directed the immediate turn-over to government
reservations. No longer needed, and that are suitable for agriculture.

Some of the accomplishments achieved during the Aquino administration with regards to the
implementation of the Agrarian Reform Programs are the grants and budgetary support from
official development assistance (ODA) circles poured in during this administration. Various
sectors likewise recognize agrarian reform as a worthwhile social investment. In terms of the
tenant-tiller status, it improved particularly those within landowners' retained areas or on
landholdings subject for coverage.

It is also during this administration that the present adjudication system was introduced.
This gave DAR the original and exclusive jurisdiction over agrarian disputes as quasi-judicial
powers.

Also, the livelihood and agro-industrial projects promoted and the program of support Services
were intensified to help farmer beneficiaries become productive and transform them into
entrepreneurs.

9|HIST-100 RPHILHIS- JOHN BILLY B. SORIANO

The administration, received much support and active involvement in program implementation
from key stakeholders such as people's organization, farmer s association, NGO's and from
prominent landowners themselves.

On the other hand, the administration also faces challenges in the implementation of CARP
tor example on land evaluation, one very specific case is the Garchitorena land scam. There
were also issues on the absence of a clear-cut guideline that would answer problems on land
use conversion. Minimal efforts were exerted to discouraged and/or prevent conversion of
lands into other use.

Despite the Agrarian Reforms Fund (AR), the administration experienced a major budgetary
shortfall due to low remittances from the Asset Privatization Trust the Presidential Commission
on Good.

The administration also experienced constant changes in DAR leadership. This led to lack of
continuity of priority programs and projects.

Allegation on lack of political wills leadership and genuine commitment to implement the
program. Critics say that the President could have implemented a genuine agrarian reform
program because of her revolutionary powers after People Power 1.

The Ramos administration is recognized for bringing back support of key stakeholders of
CARP by bridging certain policy gaps on land acquisition and distribution, land evaluation, and
case resolution. It is also credited for enhancing internal operating system and strengthening
the capabilities of the DAR bureaucracy and for tapping more resources to help implement the
program.

During this time guidelines and procedures were formulated to facilitate acquisition and
distribution of lands:

1. DAR AO No. 2 (1992) consists of rules and procedures governing the distribution of
cancelled or expired pasture lease agreements and Timber License Agreements under EO
407.
2. DARAO No. 1 (1993) is the amendments to certain provisions of the Administrative Order
No. 9 Series of 1990, entitled "Revised Rules and Regulations Governing the Acquisition of
Agricultural Lands Subject of Voluntary Offer to Sell and Compulsory Acquisition Pursuant to
RA 6657.
3. Joint DAR-LBP AO No. 3 (1994) is the policy guidelines and procedures governing the
acquisition and distribution of agricultural lands affected by the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
4. DAR AO No. 1 (1995) consists of the rules and procedures governing the Acquisition and
Distribution of all Agricultural Lands Subject of Sequestration Acquisition by the PCGG and
APT whose ownership is Under Court Litigation.
5. DAR AO No. 2(1995) is the revised rules and procedures governing the acquisition of
Private Agricultural Lands Subjects of Voluntary Lang Transfer or a Direct Payment Scheme
(VLT/DPS) Pursuant to RA 6657.
6. DAR A0 No. 2 (1996) is the rules and regulations governing the Acquisition of
Agricultural Lands Subject of Voluntary Order to Sell and Compulsory Acquisition Pursuant to
RA 6657.

10 | H I S T - 1 0 0 R P H I L H I S - J O H N B I L L Y B . S O R I A N O
7. DAR AO No. 2 (1997) is the rules and regulations for the Acquisition of Private Agricultural
Lands and Subject of Mortgage or Foreclosure of Mortgage.
8. DAR AO No. 8 (1998) is the revised guidelines on the Acquisition and Distribution of
Compensable Agricultural Lands under VLT/Direct Payment Scheme.
9. DAR AO No. 7(1993) refers to the implementing guidelines on the Distribution and Tilling of
the Public Agricultural Lands turned over by the National Livelihood and Support Fund to the
DAR for distribution under the CARP pursuant to EO 407, Series of 1990 as amended by EO
448, Series of 1991 and as clarified under Memorandum Order No. 107 of the President of
the Philippines dared March 23, 1993.

Despite all of these, there are challenges that the administrative faced during implementation
of the program, one of which is the failure in enforcing the installation of some farmer
beneficiaries on awarded lands. Critics also say that "non-physical of FBs has been the norm
rather than the exception.

Some sectors also complained on the slowness of this administration in the acquisition and
distribution of privately-owned lands. Although this administration was credited foe having the
biggest accomplishment in terms of LAD, critics say this is because the land acquired and
distributed were more on public lands and rice and corn lands.

Under Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1998-2001)

During this administration the Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo (MAGSASAKA)
which was launched which is directed for the investors to bring in capital, technology and
management support while the farmers will contribute, at most, the use of their land itself.

The MAGSASAKA aims to encourage investors to bring investments into the countryside and
to enhance the income of the farmers through joint venture schemes and contract growing
schemes. The program also aims to enable the farmers to be more efficient and be globally
competitive.

This administration saw the urgency of land' distribution. And believed it can be served if it is
built on farmers' capacities to pursue their own development. One of the first things
administration did was to rework performance targets-by focusing on the number of hectares
of land distributed coupled with an accounting of farmer beneficiaries and the specific
croplands and farm systems covered. This approach sought to integrate land distribution and
support services. It was during this period that DAR launched a series of and occupation by
working with the farmer claimants, the LGU and government security forces.

To help speed up litigation, DAR also helped set up the agrarian justice fund for farmer
beneficiaries as well as DAR field workers who, due to nature of the job, are named as
respondents in cases filed by recalcitrant landowners. Support services took a much more
entrepreneurial approach during this administration. Sustainable rural development district
Program, were designed to help farmers attain a level of economic viability.

It has forged alliances among countries implementing AR through the International

Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development. The department then began
aggressively to assert its place in national development planning processes to raise DAR's

11 | H I S T - 1 0 0 R P H I L H I S - J O H N B I L L Y B . S O R I A N O
profile both in national and international for a. with this, DAR was able to secure a seat in the
annual consultative group meeting between the Philippine's economic management team and
the donor community. This period also launched the DAR-DA-DENR convergence initiative.
But there were also some hindrances that the administration faced like the fiscal constraints
encountered that resulted to unpaid or delayed payment of landowners covered the
compulsory acquisition and VOS schemes.

There were also issues on inter and intra ARBs conflicts due to arguments for control over
negotiations with prospective joint venture partners, some of which became violent.

Under Gloria Macapagal- Arroyo (2001-2010)

The GMA administration has adopted the BAYAN-ANIHAN concepts as the implementing
framework for CARP. Bayan means people means a united people working together for the
successful implementation of agrarian reform.

The Bayan-Anihan Framework has different implanting strategies namely.

Salin-Lupa: Accelerating land transfer and improving land tenure.

Katarungan: Prompt and fair settlement of agrarian disputes and delivery of agrarian
reform justice.
Bayanihan: Better delivery by the government of appropriate support services to ARBs
and the mobilization of the ARBs themselves in the transformation of the agrarian reform
communities into an agrarian reform zones and into progressive farming.

Katarungan or the Konsehong Bayan Para sa Anihan: Institutionalization not only of

the system of dialogue and consultation but also joint problem solving with AR stakeholders,
particularly people's organization, cooperatives and NGOs.

Kamalayan: Raising the awareness of DAR personnel, agrarian reform beneficiaries

and the general public on agrarian reform and its contribution to social justice and
development.

Under Arroyo's administration introduced the Kapit Bisig sa Kahirapan Agrarian Reform Zones
(KARZONEs) as a program strategy of the DAR in CARP implementation. KARZONEs is a
partnership and convergence strategy aimed at achieving asset reform, poverty reduction,
food sufficiency, farm productivity, good governance, social equity and empowerment of
agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) both in ARCs and non-ARCs.

Other specific programs under this administration to enhance CARP were also implemented
like the Gulayan Magsasakang Agraryo. This intends to add income and food security to
farmer's children and dependents through the Diosdado Macapagal Scholar Program.

This administration is also accredited in heightening agrarian case resolution by introducing a

quota system to compel adjudicators to work faster on agrarian cases and train farmers into
paralegals.

12 | H I S T - 1 0 0 R P H I L H I S - J O H N B I L L Y B . S O R I A N O
Under Benigno Simeon NoyNoy" C Aquin 11 2010-2016)
Under implementation is President Noynoy Aquino, the DAR which is the lead agency for
CARP implementation is bent on sustaining the gains of agrarian reform through its three
major components and Tenure Improvement (LTI), Program Beneficiaries Development
(PBD) and Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD). The following are the strategic directions of the
Aquino Administration for the agrarian reform program:

To substantially complete asset reform as mandated by R.A. No. 9700 by:

1. Completing the land, acquisition and distribution (LAD) in the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) or Republic Act 9700 balance
through: Focus on large-sized private agricultural lands; Redeployment of competent
DAR personnel to the 20 high LAD provinces; Streamline LAD processes and procedures;
and Enhance the database of landholdings for ease in targeting and monitoring the LAD;
2. Prioritizing the subdivision of collective Certificates of Land Ownership Awards
(CLOAs) involving LBP compensable lands;
3. Fast tracking the documentation and settlement of landowner compensation for already
distributed lands;
Synergizing and rationalizing the efforts of the CARP implementing agencies in all
processes of LAD;
5. Partnership with the civil society organizations (CSOs) in the delivery of LIl services,
particularly the large-sized private agricultural lands. (PAL);
6. Adopting a job-sharing scheme wherein under the ONE-DAR concept, provinces will
share responsibilities (low-LAD provinces with high LAD provinces) to minimize the need
to hire new personnel; and
7. Increasing the utilization of the services of geodetic engineers to assist the provincial
and municipal offices in land acquisition considering the difficulty of hiring new personnel
and the demands of a post 2014 scenario.

Under President Aquino's administration, the DAR's Program. Beneficiaries Development

(PBD) priorities are geared in:
1. Undertaking convergence initiatives with rural development agencies to complement
the resources and streamline the efforts of DAR, DA and DENR.
Inking public-private partnerships (PPPs) develop models of collaboration and business
models in AR areas with the participation of the CSOs, academe, research and
development institutions and LGUs.
3. Expanding official development assistance (ODA) portfolio in order to augment
incomes for PBD;
4. Integrating LTI and PBD on a province-to-province basis.
5. Shifting focus of low-LAD balance provinces to PBD; and
6. Unlocking credit facilities for the agrarian reform beneficiaries through capacity
development for credit providers and farmer-borrowers.

To speed up resolution of AR-related case, the Agrarian Justice Delivery component is geared
at:
1. Putting the legal framework in place to expedite the LAD process and undertake PBD
lawyering to ensure ARB's free and informed consent on agribusiness
agreements.

13 | H I S T - 1 0 0 R P H I L H I S - J O H N B I L L Y B . S O R I A N O
 2. Developing common templates and legal outlines in order to nationalize the DAR
lawyer's to paralegal's appreciation and decision on cases.
3. Improving the capabilities of DAR lawyer and legal officer; and
4. Utilizing information, communication technology (ICT) to enhance legal work.

Together with the efforts to fight graft and corruption by the President, it is imperative to have
institutional reforms within DAR as a complement to the above-mentioned DAR components
as well as give credence, transparency and accountability at all sectors of the DAR
bureaucracy.

Source: DAR Website

14 | H I S T - 1 0 0 R P H I L H I S - J O H N B I L L Y B . S O R I A N O