Agrarian Reform in the Philippines

The Agrarian Problem

Two important dimensions
o The agrarian problem has two important dimensions: the land and the people; the
agricultural and the social; productivity and the human rights. It consists in this: that the
person who tills the land does not own it and the person who owns the land does not till it.
This imbalance of gap, starting at the economic sphere, permeates the cultural, social, and
the political spheres and each sphere reinforces the others, thus creating a vicious circle of
poverty and injustices.
A basic problem of the Philippine Society
o Because of the agrarian problem, the farmer is poor. Thus, he will never afford to pay the
taxes and the government cannot raise sufficient funds for the poor farmers resulting in
fewer farmers and therefore will result to less agricultural products.
Basically a question of land distribution and utilization
o The national structure has become an inverted pyramid, a position which stunts economic
development and put the nation in a precarious socio-political situation.
Right to own property universal but limited
A derivative of the right to use
o Land is a basic and primary necessity for human survival and development.
Corollary
o Since the right to property is a derivative of the right to use, it becomes limited. In other
words, while the right to own is derived from right to use, the right to own is further
qualified by its proper use.
Histo-political survey of the agrarian problem and legislations:
The Pre-spanish land situation
Land patterns:
o The tribal hunters and gatherers existed in their resource ranges then, much as they do
now, with no system of land ownership.
o Shifting cultivators regarded all land as their public domain.
o There was a rudimentary form of private ownership but there was no formal deed of
ownership.
o There was the Muslim system of land ownership
Social classess:
o Barangay Datu
o Maharlika - nobles/freemen
o Timawa serfs
o Alipin slaves
Development of tenancy under Spain
Encomienda system
o the system naturally resulted in the exploitation of the inhabitants and their land
particularly since the land now had to support the agriculturally unproductive
Spaniards.
Rise of the cacique class:

o
o

o
o

Pueblo/Muicipio:
a group of several barangays
Cabeza de barangay/Barrio tinientes
a person, particularly a datu that facilitates a barangay
Gobernadorcillo
a person that governs a municipio
Tao
commoners/ common people

Early rebellions
o As the cacique system grew, it became more and more oppressive. This led to occasional
rebellions during 18th century which tended to occur in the areas of greatest agricultural
activity such as Central Luzon.
Conflicts of land ownership:
o During the 19th century, several developments took place which tended to solidify the land
tenure system and arouse antagonism over its injustices and inequalities. The Spaniards
issued a decree in 1894 that granted landowners one year in which to secure legal title to
their land or suffer its forfeiture.
Friar lands
o Friar lands are areas of land under the management of the Christian church and other
religious groups in the Philippines. Tenants living in church lands paid a tax known as
canon to the friars.
The Philippine revolution:
o During the revolution, Church estates were confiscated by Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and
landless peasants were allowed to settle on church lands.
The land tenure situation under American rule 1898 1935
o At the beginning of the American rule, Spanish land records that had existed were either
destroyed or lost, leaving the legal situation with regard to holdings very complicated.
Actual increase in tenancy rate:
o During the occupation of the Americans, from 1903 1938, land ownership decreased by
31.6% from 80.8% to 49.2% while tenancy is increased by15.8% from 19.2% to 35.0%.
Purchase of friar lands.
o The land was subdivided and offered for sale to the Filipinos residing on it at a rate of 8%
interest over a 25-year period. However, this program was not well understood by the
people.
Homesteading:
o The Public Land Act of July 1, 1902 became effective on July 26, 1904, offering homestead
plots not in excess of 16 hectares to families who had occupied and cultivated the tract
they were residing on since August 1, 1898.
Peasants rebellions and opposition:
o Tayug incident
Occurred in 1931 were armed peasants looted and destroyed land records in the
Tayug City Hall.
o Sakdalsta movement
Initiated in 1930 by Benigno Ramos, an official who opposed the forthcoming
commonwealth during Quezons rule.
o Rice Share Tenancy Act (Act no. 4050)

Its principal purpose war the regulation of tenancy share contracts by establishing
minimum standards especially in terms of rice production.
Sugar Cane Tenancy Contracts Act (Act no.4113)
This second piece of legislation regulated the relationships of landowners and
tenants on sugar land

Prepared by:
Nino Brian V. Vasquez
BS Biology I