Chapter 4.6 •Post-1986 Agrarian Reform

Summary

The report discusses the Agrarian Reform in the Philippines after 1986, following the ousting of President Marcos and the adoption of the 1987 Constitution. President Corazon Aquino made land reform a central focus, aiming to redistribute large estates to tenant farmers. However, the process was complicated by her family’s ownership of Hacienda Luisita, leading to controversy. The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) was launched, but faced challenges like lack of funding, resistance from landowners, and limited success. The program continued under President Ramos, with some progress, but issues persisted, prompting further reforms in 1998.

Takeaways

• 📅 The post-1986 Agrarian Reform became a significant issue after Marcos was ousted and the 1987 Constitution was implemented.
• 👩‍⚖️ President Corazon Aquino aimed to prioritize land reform in her government after succeeding Marcos.
• 🌾 Agrarian reform is a process of dividing large estates and distributing them to farmers to provide them with their own land.
• 🏡 Many farmers in the Philippines did not own land and relied on wealthy landowners or 'hacienderos' for their livelihood.
• 🤔 Aquino faced challenges due to her wealthy background, particularly because her family owned Hacienda Luisita, a large estate.
• 📜 In 1987, Aquino issued Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229 to guide the land reform program.
• 🌱 The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), launched by Republic Act 6657 in 1988, aimed to distribute agricultural lands to tenant farmers.
• 💵 Landowners were compensated fairly by the government, and they could keep up to 5 hectares of their land under CARP.
• 🏢 For large corporate landowners, they could distribute shares of their companies to workers instead of land.
• ⏳ CARP faced slow progress due to lack of funds, political influence of wealthy landowners, and controversies like the stock distribution option at Hacienda Luisita.

Q & A

What was the significance of the post-1986 Agrarian Reform in the Philippines?

The post-1986 Agrarian Reform became a significant issue after the ousting of Marcos and the implementation of the 1987 Constitution. It was central to President Corazon Aquino's administration, aiming to distribute large hacienda lands to tenant farmers.

What was the goal of the Agrarian Reform under President Corazon Aquino?

The goal of the Agrarian Reform under President Corazon Aquino was to redistribute large estates, owned by wealthy landowners, to tenant farmers to give them their own lands to cultivate, thereby improving their livelihoods.

Why was President Corazon Aquino’s involvement in Agrarian Reform considered complicated?

President Corazon Aquino's involvement in Agrarian Reform was seen as complicated because she came from a wealthy family that owned Hacienda Luisita, a large estate in Tarlac. Many doubted whether she could fairly implement land reform, as her family would be directly affected.

What were Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229?

Presidential Proclamation 131 and Executive Order 229, issued by President Corazon Aquino in July 1987, provided the framework for her Land Reform Program.

What is Republic Act No. 6657, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL)?

Republic Act No. 6657, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), was enacted in 1988. It launched the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which aimed to redistribute agricultural lands to tenant farmers.

How did the CARP aim to compensate landowners?

Under CARP, landowners were compensated fairly by the government in exchange for the land they gave up to be redistributed to farmers. They were also allowed to retain up to five hectares of their land.

What was the 'stock distribution option' in relation to Hacienda Luisita?

The 'stock distribution option' allowed Hacienda Luisita, instead of distributing the land itself, to distribute shares of the corporation to the farmers. Critics saw this as a way for large landowners, including Aquino's family, to protect their interests.

Why was the CARP program criticized during Aquino's administration?

CARP was criticized for its slow progress and perceived favoritism towards large landowners, including Aquino’s family, due to the stock distribution option. Only 22.5% of the target land was redistributed within six years, partly due to lack of funding.

How did President Fidel Ramos attempt to address the slow progress of CARP?

President Fidel Ramos accelerated the implementation of CARP during his term. Despite logistical and funding challenges, he pushed for the continued distribution of land and extended the program's timeframe through Republic Act No. 8532.

What challenges did the CARP program face throughout its implementation?

CARP faced several challenges, including lack of sufficient funding, the reluctance of landowners to give up their lands, logistical difficulties, and political pressure from influential landowning families.