History of Agrarian Reform in The Philippines

Summary

The history of agrarian reform in the Philippines traces its roots from pre-colonial times to the present. From communal land ownership in barangays to Spanish and American colonial policies, land distribution and tenant rights have been central to the country’s social struggles. Agrarian reforms, including the enactment of various laws and programs, aimed to address the inequities of land ownership, benefiting farmers and tenants. Despite several attempts at reform throughout various administrations, challenges such as inadequate resources, landlord resistance, and insufficient support services have hindered meaningful progress, leaving agrarian issues as a key concern in Filipino society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pre-Colonial Philippines had a community-based land ownership system within the barangay, where land was shared and cultivated collectively through practices like kaingin (slash and burn).
• 😀 The Spanish colonial period introduced an exploitative land system, with land granted to religious orders and military personnel, leading to a sharecropper class of landless peasants who worked under abusive conditions.
• 😀 The 1896 Philippine revolution articulated the need for agrarian reform and a fairer distribution of land, highlighting the exploitation of peasants during Spanish rule.
• 😀 The American era introduced land policies like the Philippine Bill of 1902 and Homestead Program of 1903, but these efforts were hampered by uneven implementation and widespread land concentration.
• 😀 Under the Commonwealth, land reform was recognized as essential, with early attempts to buy friar lands and implement resettlement programs under President Quezon.
• 😀 The Japanese occupation during World War II saw peasants taking control of land and redistributing it, though landlords regained control post-war.
• 😀 Post-independence administrations, such as those of Manuel Roxas and Elpidio Quirino, continued efforts for land reform, but the programs often faced obstacles like lack of funding and political resistance.
• 😀 President Diosdado Macapagal's Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963 was the most comprehensive agrarian reform effort at the time, aiming to transfer land to tenant farmers.
• 😀 Ferdinand Marcos' agrarian reform, while extensive, had limited impact due to issues such as Martial Law, land concentration, and insufficient support services for farmers.
• 😀 Successive administrations, from Corazon Aquino to Benigno Aquino, continued agrarian reform efforts, emphasizing land tenure improvement, farmer support, and justice delivery, with mixed results due to political and financial challenges.

Q & A

What was the land ownership structure in the Philippines during the pre-colonial period?

In the pre-colonial period, land was commonly owned by the community, known as a barangay, which consisted of 30-100 families. Everyone in the barangay, regardless of status, had access to land and shared resources, practicing the concept of 'stewardship' with a strong connection between man and nature.

How did the Spanish colonial system affect land ownership in the Philippines?

During the Spanish era, the colonial government introduced a system called 'pueblo agriculture' where native families were given land to cultivate. However, the land was technically owned by the Spanish Crown, and families paid colonial tribute in the form of agricultural products. Large tracts of land were granted to religious orders, the military, and Spanish officials, leading to widespread landlessness and exploitation of peasants.

What role did the Spanish encomienda system play in the agrarian structure?

The encomienda system granted Spanish settlers (encomienderos) vast tracts of land, and they had the right to collect tributes from the native inhabitants working the land. This system led to abuse, with the encomienderos exploiting the labor of native peasants and forcing them into poverty through compulsory sales of their crops.

What significant agrarian reforms were introduced during the American era?

The Americans introduced the Philippine Bill of 1902, allowing private individuals to own up to 16 hectares of land and corporations up to 1,024 hectares. The Torrens system was also established to replace the Spanish registration system. The Homestead Program of 1903 allowed farmers to acquire land, although its implementation was limited. Despite these efforts, landholdings became concentrated again in the hands of a few wealthy individuals.

What was the significance of the Malolos Constitution in relation to agrarian reform?

The Malolos Constitution, which emerged during the Philippine Revolution, included provisions that supported agrarian reform. The revolutionary government sought to confiscate large landed estates, particularly friar lands, and redistribute them as government property in an effort to address landlessness and inequality.

How did President Manuel L. Quezon address agrarian issues during the Commonwealth years?

President Quezon recognized the importance of agrarian reform and aimed to solve the problem of inequitable land ownership by purchasing friar lands and resettling farmers. However, these efforts were hindered by a lack of resources, and widespread peasant uprisings against landlords continued.

What challenges did agrarian reform face during the post-WWII period under Manuel Roxas?

Under President Manuel Roxas, Republic Act No. 34 established a 70-30 sharing arrangement between landlords and tenants. The government purchased large tracts of land, such as those owned by the Ayala-Zobel family, but farmers often had to resell their lands due to lack of support services, leading to doubts about the effectiveness of land reform programs.

What was the significance of the Agricultural Land Reform Code of 1963 under President Diosdado Macapagal?

The Agricultural Land Reform Code (RA No. 3844) enacted under President Macapagal was a comprehensive piece of agrarian reform legislation aimed at redistributing land to farmers. The law was piloted in select provinces and successfully distributed a significant portion of land, benefiting thousands of farmers.

What were the main features of President Ferdinand Marcos' agrarian reform program under Martial Law?

President Marcos' agrarian reform program, particularly through Presidential Decree No. 27, aimed to transfer ownership of tenanted rice and corn lands to the tenants. The program also sought to reduce landholdings to 7 hectares. The reform package included credit support, infrastructure development, and farm extension services, but it was criticized for its limited scope, particularly since it only covered certain crops and excluded larger landholdings.

What were the achievements and limitations of agrarian reform during the Corazon Aquino administration?

During President Aquino's administration, agrarian reform was prioritized, with an emphasis on land tenure improvement, beneficiary development, and agrarian justice delivery. Despite these efforts, the administration faced challenges such as budget shortfalls, lack of political will, and inconsistent leadership within the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), which hindered the program's full success.