AGRARIAN LAW & SOCIAL LEGISLATION

STUDY GUIDE

MODULE 1 - GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS

&
THE EVOLUTION OF PHILIPPINE AGRARIAN REFORM

Social Justice Clause

The State shall promote social justice in all phases of national development (Sec. 10, Art. II, 1987
Constitution).
Social justice is “neither communism, nor despotism, nor atomism, nor anarchy,” but the
humanization of laws and the equalization of social and economic forces by the State so that justice
in its rational and objectively secular conception may at least be approximated. Social justice means
the promotion of the welfare of all the people, the adoption by the Government of measures
calculated to insure economic stability of all the competent elements of society, through the
maintenance of a proper economic and social equilibrium in the interrelations of the members of
the community, constitutionally, through the adoption of measures legally justifiable, or extra-
constitutionally, through the exercise of powers underlying the existence of all governments on the
time-honored principle of “salus populi est suprema lex.” Social justice, therefore, must be founded
on the recognition of the necessity of interdependence among divers and diverse units of a society
and of the protection that should be equally and evenly extended to all groups as a combined force
in our social and economic life, consistent with the fundamental and paramount objective of the state
of promoting the health, comfort, and quiet of all persons, and of bringing about “the greatest good
to the greatest number.” - Justice Jose P. Laurel in Calalang v. Williams, G.R. No. 47800,
December 2, 1940
“[S]ocial justice or any justice for that matter is for the deserving, whether he be a millionaire in
his mansion or a pauper in his hovel. It is true that, in case of reasonable doubt, we are called upon
to tilt the balance in favor of the poor, to whom the Constitution fittingly extends its sympathy and
compassion. But never is it justified to prefer the poor simply because they are poor, or to reject the
rich simply because they are rich, for justice must always be served, for poor and rich alike,
according to the mandate of the law.
Suffice it to say, the taking of the subject property by blatantly ignoring the facts and the law that
are clearly not supportive of the cause of the respondents would be tantamount to an oppressive and
unlawful act of the state against herein petitioners.” -- Justice Isagani Cruz, Land Bank of the
Philippines v. Court of Appeals, Pedro L. Yap, et. Al, 319 Phil. 246, 249-250 (1995)
"the policy of social justice is not intended to countenance wrongdoing simply because it is
committed by the underprivileged. At best it may mitigate the penalty but it certainly will not condone
the offense. Compassion for the poor is an imperative of every humane society but only when the
recipient is not a rascal claiming an undeserved privilege." -- Justice Francisco in Galay vs. CA,
250 SCRA 629
“Social justice cannot be invoked to trample on the rights of property owners, who under our
Constitution and laws are also entitled to protection. The social justice consecrated in our
Constitution was not intended to take away rights from a person and give them to another who is not
entitled thereto.” -- Justice Bidin in Caleon vs. Agus Development Corporation, 207 SCRA 748
“Under the policy of social justice, the law bends over backward to accommodate the interests of
the working class on the humane justification that those with less privileges in life should have more
privileges in law.” -- Justice Regalado in the case of Philippine Airlines, Inc. vs. Santos Jr., G.R.
No. 77875
“As between a laborer, usually poor and unlettered, and the employer, who has resources to
secure able legal advice, the law has reason to demand from the latter stricter compliance. Social
justice in these cases is not equality but protection.” -- Justice Fernando in the case Ondoy vs.
Ignacio, 97 SCRA 611
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. Describe Agrarian, Agrarian Law, Land Reform, and Agrarian Reform;
2. Explain the value and significance of Agrarian Reform;
3. Explain that Land Reform is not the only means of achieving social justice yet a potent tool
to economic and social development;
4. Explain the Feudalistic Nature of Landholding as a root cause of poor performance in
agriculture;
5. Describe how Agrarian Reform evolved in the Philippines considering the past eras in our
rich history;
6. Identify the Government Programs on Agrarian Reform under the stewardship of various
presidencies and administration;
7. Identify the constitutional bases of Agrarian Reform.

Synopsis

The General Principles, Concepts and the Evolution of Philippine Agrarian Reform is a two-part
lecture.
 General Principles and Concepts
 Evolution of Philippine Agrarian Reform
 Historical Background
 Government Programs on Agrarian Reform
 Constitutional Bases of Agrarian Reform
You can refer to the website of the Department of Agrarian Reform for relevant data and
information. You will see some e-mail addresses beside the names of government officials and/or
employees listed in this module, please refrain from contacting the persons involved unless
necessary.
Welcome to Week 1.

PART 1 - GENERAL PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS

Please read pages 01-03 of the textbook Agrarian Law and Social Legislation (with Notes
and Comments [Volume III]) by Dean Salvador Alcantara Poquiz.

DISCUSSION OF KEY CONCEPTS

Learning Activity

Start learning today by watching your first video for the course. After you're done, continue on
and try finishing ahead of schedule.

Atty Sara Jane Suguitan (egYolkTV’s THE PRACTICE) had an in-depth discussion with her
guest, Atty. Christian Monsod, about Agrarian Reform and the concept of “social justice.”
https://youtu.be/ZVAKErMGjRc
 PART 2 – EVOLUTION OF PHILIPPINE AGRARIAN REFORM
(Historical Background, Government Programs on
Agrarian Reform and Constitutional Bases of Agrarian
Reform)

Please read pages 03-22 of the textbook Agrarian Law and Social Legislation (with Notes
and Comments [Volume III]) by Dean Salvador Alcantara Poquiz.

DISCUSSION OF KEY CONCEPTS

Kagawaran ng Repormang Pansakahan, Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines 1107
E-mail Address: [email protected]

Mandate and Functions

 To lead in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)
through Land Tenure Improvement (LTI), Agrarian Justice and Coordinated delivery of
essential Support Services to client beneficiaries.

 To provide Land Tenure security to landless farmers through land acquisition and
distribution; leasehold arrangements’ implementation and other LTI services;
 To provide legal intervention to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBS) through adjudication
of agrarian cases and agrarian legal assistance;
 To implement, facilitate and coordinate the delivery of support services to ARBs through
Social Infrastructure and Local Capability Building (SILCAB); Sustainable Agribusiness and
Rural Enterprise Development (SARED); and Access Facilitation and Enhancement Services
(AFAES).

Mission Statement
DAR is the lead government agency that holds and implements comprehensive and genuine
agrarian reform which actualizes equitable land distribution, ownership, agricultural productivity,
and tenurial security for, of and with the tillers of the land towards the improvement of their quality
of life.
Vision
A just, safe and equitable society that upholds the rights of tillers to own, control, secure, cultivate
and enhance their agricultural lands, improve their quality of life towards rural development and
national industrialization.

Image credit dar.gov.ph

DAR Logo

The logo shows the department's acronym representing the institution and its role as the lead
agency in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
The sun radiates its light into the field of green divided into 12 segments representing the original
12 regions covered by the program. Green stands for fertility and productivity while yellow
represents hope and a golden harvest of agrarian reform beneficiaries who are the recipients of the
services provided by department via CARP. Both colors imply the economic growth and sound rural
development can be achieved through agrarian reform.

Image credit dar.gov.ph

Darwin and Darla

The Department of Agrarian Reform’s mascots are Darwin and Darla. They are two frontline
service workers of the agency who are tasked to communicate the messages of DAR to its farmer-
 5

beneficiaries and the rest of the Filipinos. They represent the thousands of employees across the
nation who are of service to the landless farmers.
The couple usually sports a baseball cap, unbuttoned shirts over long-sleeved tees, and a pair of
boots. But they are never seen without a stalk of rice grains pinned on their ears, a reminder of their
commitment to serve the agrarian reform beneficiaries.

Learning Activity

Watch this video from Michael Racho entitled “The Philippines and Agrarian Reform
(Philippine History Project).” There is visual information you can get about our course.
https://youtu.be/Kzwy3al6o8U

This is video “History of Agrarian Reform in The Philippines” by Rag Doll is much
comprehensive. Excuse the narrator for her pronunciations of “barangay,” “Panay,” “Mindanao,”
etc.,
https://youtu.be/STY8iCIBJ0g

Pre-Spanish Period
“This land is Ours God gave this land to us”

Before the Spaniards came to the Philippines, Filipinos lived in villages or barangays ruled by
chiefs or datus. The datus comprised the nobility. Then came the maharlikas (freemen), followed by
the aliping mamamahay (serfs) and aliping saguiguilid (slaves).
However, despite the existence of different classes in the social structure, practically everyone
had access to the fruits of the soil. Money was unknown, and rice served as the medium of exchange.

Spanish Period
“United we stand, divided we fall”

When the Spaniards came to the Philippines, the concept of encomienda (Royal Land Grants) was
introduced. This system grants that Encomienderos must defend his encomienda from external attack,
maintain peace and order within, and support the missionaries. In turn, the encomiendero acquired
the right to collect tribute from the indios (native).
The system, however, degenerated into abuse of power by the encomienderos The tribute soon
became land rents to a few powerful landlords. And the natives who once cultivated the lands in
freedom were transformed into mere share tenants.

First Philippine Republic

“The yoke has finally broken”

When the First Philippine Republic was established in 1899, Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo declared in
the Malolos Constitution his intention to confiscate large estates, especially the so-called Friar lands.
However, as the Republic was short-lived, Aguinaldo’s plan was never implemented.

American Period
“Long live America”

Significant legislation enacted during the American Period:

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 Philippine Bill of 1902 – Set the ceilings on the hectarage of private individuals and
corporations may acquire: 16 has. for private individuals and 1,024 has. for corporations.

Public Land Act of 1902 - Also known as the “Philippine Bill of 1902” or “1902 Land Act”.
This bill limited private individual landholdings to 16 hectares, and corporate landholdings
to 1024 hectares. It also gave the Americans the right to acquire agricultural lands and enabled
American agricultural interests to control huge tracts of land for large-scale farming. It
offered homestead plots not exceeding 16 hectares to families who had occupied and
cultivated the land they were residing since August 13, 1898.

Friar Lands Act - This Act instituted transfer of friar lands to the tenants to diffuse the peasant
unrest which found expression in the 1898 Revolution against Spain. The American
government purchased some of the 23 large friar estates covering 166,000 hectares for $7
million, which it resold to 60,000 tenants at full cost plus interest. The prices were beyond
the reach of most tenants and some could not understand why they had to buy back the land
which had belonged to their parents. In fact, most of the lands transferred as a result of this
Act were those in which agrarian unrest was widespread. This act was later amended to allow
the sale of friar lands (which were prime lands) not only to Filipino tillers but to foreign
nationals as well. In a short time, the Sugar Trust, an American corporation, purchase the San
Jose Estate.

 Land Registration Act of 1902 (Act No. 496) – Provided for a comprehensive registration of
land titles under the Torrens system.

Land Registration Act of 1902- On November 6, 1902, the Philippine Commission enacted
Act No. 496 known as the Land Registration Act. Under Act 496, Section 1., “The short title
of this Act shall be “The Land Registration Act.” This provided for the creation of the Court
of Land Registration (CLR), the offices of the Register of Deeds and the institution in this
country of the Torrens system of registration whereby real estate ownership may be judicially
confirmed and recorded in the archives of the government. Five judges were appointed by
the Governor-General with the advice and consent of the Philippine Commission. One Judge
was designated Judge of Court; the rest were assigned Associate Judges. Other members of
the court were a clerk and assistant clerk, both appointed by the Attorney General with the
approval of the Secretary of Finance and Justice. Along with the court were established the
Registries of Deeds. Landowners under this Act were required to register their landholdings
and acquire Torrens titles to land properties. The system, however, actually took effect on
February 1, 1903.

Torrens System of Land Registration - In this system, title by registration takes the place of
“title by deeds” of the system under the “general” law. A sale of land for example is effected
by a registered transfer, upon which a certificate of title is issued. Certificate is guaranteed by
statute, and with certain exceptions, constitutes indefeasible title to the land mentioned
therein. Under old system, the same sale would be effected through conveyance, depending
on its validity, apart from intrinsic flaws, on the correctness of a long series of prior deeds,
wills, etc. Object of the Torrens system: to do away with the delay, uncertainty, and expense
of the old conveyancing system. Generally, by “Torrens” systems are meant those systems
of registration of transactions with interest in land whose declared object is, under
governmental authority, to establish and certify to the ownership of an absolute and
indefeasible title to realty, and to simplify its transfer.

 Public Land Act of 1903 – introduced the homestead system in the Philippines.
 Tenancy Act of 1933 (Act No. 4054 and 4113) – regulated relationships between landowners
and tenants of rice (50-50 sharing) and sugar cane lands.

Rice Share Tenancy Act of 1933 - Public Act No. 4054 which was passed on February 27,
1933 by the Philippine Legislative during the time of Governor-General Theodore Roosevelt,
aimed at protecting tenants against abuses of landlords. This Act provided for a 50-50 sharing

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 7

of the crop, an interest rate ceiling at 10 percent per crop year, safeguards against arbitrary
dismissal of tenants by landlords. However, the law could go into effect “only in provinces
where the majority of the municipal councils shall, by resolution, petition for its application
to the Governor-General.” With this provision, the law was ineffective because members of
the landed elite controlled the municipalities. Subsequent amendments to make the law
effective were also invalidated by
landlord resistance

Sugarcane Tenancy Contracts Act of 1933 - Enacted on January 01, 1934, this law governed
the relationship between landowners and tenants in sugarlands which makes it a duty of the
sugar central where the sugarcanes are milled by the landowner thereat, upon the demand of
the said tenant, which receipt shall be the basis of the computation of the tenant’s share from
the cane harvested. Basically, this Act makes it a duty of the sugar central to exhibit to the
tenants the receipts of the number of tons milled by the landowner thereat.
 When the cane is not milled at the central but in the private mill of the landowner, the
latter, shall stipulate with his tenant the necessary expenses of milling, cutting and
hauling the cane from field to mill, and of purchasing all necessary ingredients for
boiling the sugar and all materials for proper packing of product
 When there is no written agreement concerning the value of the share of the tenant,
the landowner shall not sell said share without the knowledge and written consent of
the tenant or his representative. When the tenant does not consent to the sale, the
landowner shall have the right to sell the same after the lapse of thirty days.
 The settlement of accounts between landowner and tenants and the distribution of the
crop shall be made immediately after each milling season
 Any violation to this Act shall be punished by a fine not less than twenty-five pesos
nor more than two hundred pesos, or by imprisonment for not less than ten days nor
more than sixty days, or both, in the discretion of the court

The Torrens system, which the Americans instituted for the registration of lands, did not solve the
problem completely. Either they were not aware of the law or if they did, they could not pay the
survey cost and other fees required in applying for a Torrens title.

Commonwealth Period
“Government for the Filipinos”

President Manuel L. Quezon espoused the "Social Justice" program to arrest the increasing social
unrest in Central Luzon.
Significant legislation enacted during Commonwealth Period:
 1935 Constitution – "The promotion of social justice to ensure the well-being and economic
security of all people should be the concern of the State"
 Commonwealth Act No. 178 (An Amendment to Rice Tenancy Act No. 4045), Nov. 13, 1936
– Provided for certain controls in the landlord-tenant relationships
 National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARIC), 1936 – Established the price of rice and corn
thereby help the poor tenants as well as consumers.
 Commonwealth Act. No. 461, 1937 – Specified reasons for the dismissal of tenants and only
with the approval of the Tenancy Division of the Department of Justice.
 Rural Program Administration, created March 2, 1939 – Provided the purchase and lease of
haciendas and their sale and lease to the tenants.
 Commonwealth Act No. 441 enacted on June 3, 1939 – Created the National Settlement
Administration with a capital stock of P20,000,000.

Japanese Occupation
“The Era of Hukbalahap”

The Second World War II started in Europe in 1939 and in the Pacific in 1941.

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 8

HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon) controlled whole areas of Central Luzon;
landlords who supported the Japanese lost their lands to peasants while those who supported the Huks
earned fixed rentals in favor of the tenants.
Unfortunately, the end of war also signaled the end of gains acquired by the peasants.
Upon the arrival of the Japanese in the Philippines in 1942, peasants and workers’ organizations
grew strength. Many peasants took up arms and identified themselves with the anti-Japanese group,
the Hukbalahap.

Philippine Republic
“The New Republic”

After the establishment of the Philippine Independence in 1946, the problems of land tenure
remained. These became worst in certain areas. Thus the Congress of the Philippines revised the
tenancy law.

President Manuel A. Roxas (1946-1948) enacted the following laws:

 Republic Act No. 34 -- Established the 70-30 sharing arrangements and regulating share-
tenancy contracts.
Agricultural Sharing - Approved on September 30, 1946, this law was passed during the
incumbency of President Manuel Roxas, which amended certain sections of the Rice Share
Tenancy Act of 1933 providing for a 70 - 30 crop-sharing method. It further provides that in
the case the land is planted with rice on a second cropping or other auxiliary crops, all
expenses of production shall be shouldered by the tenant, but the sharing arrangement shall
be 80% for the tenant, and 20% for the landowner of the net harvest. Aside from the change
in the sharing system, the legislation also provided for a home lot for the tenant which is not
less than 600 square meters.
 Republic Act No. 55 -- Provided for a more effective safeguard against arbitrary ejectment of
tenants.

Elpidio R. Quirino (1948-1953) enacted the following law:

Executive Order No. 355 issued on October 23, 1950 -- Replaced the National Land Settlement
Administration with Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO) which takes over the
responsibilities of the Agricultural Machinery Equipment Corporation and the Rice and Corn
Production Administration.

Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957) enacted the following laws:

 Republic Act No. 1160 of 1954

National Resettlement and Rehabilitation - Abolished the LASEDECO and established the
National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA) to resettle dissidents and
landless farmers. It was particularly aimed at rebel returnees providing home lots and
farmlands in Palawan and Mindanao.
 Republic Act No. 1199 (Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954)
Tenancy Rights -- governed the relationship between landowners and tenant farmers by
organizing share-tenancy and leasehold system. The law provided the security of tenure of
tenants. It also created the Court of Agrarian Relations.
 Republic Act No. 1400 (Land Reform Act of 1955) -- Created the Land Tenure
Administration (LTA) which was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of large
tenanted rice and corn lands over 200 hectares for individuals and 600 hectares for
corporations.
 Republic Act No. 821 (Creation of Agricultural Credit Cooperative Financing
Administration) -- Provided small farmers and share tenants’ loans with low interest rates of
six to eight percent.

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 9

President Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)

Continued the program of President Ramon Magsaysay. No new legislation passed.

President Diosdado P. Macapagal (1961-1965) enacted the following law:

Republic Act No. 3844 of August 8, 1963 (Agricultural Land Reform Code) -- Abolished share
tenancy, institutionalized leasehold, set retention limit at 75 hectares, invested rights of preemption
and redemption for tenant farmers, provided for an administrative machinery for implementation,
institutionalized a judicial system of agrarian cases, incorporated extension, marketing and
supervised credit system of services of farmer beneficiaries.
The RA was hailed as one that would emancipate Filipino farmers from the bondage of tenancy.

DAR Leaders

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 10

President Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-1986)

Proclamation No. 1081 on September 21, 1972 ushered the Period of the New Society. Five days
after the proclamation of Martial Law, the entire country was proclaimed a land reform area and
simultaneously the Agrarian Reform Program was decreed.
President Marcos enacted the following laws:
 Republic Act No. 6389, (Code of Agrarian Reform) and RA No. 6390 of 1971 -- Created the
Department of Agrarian Reform and the Agrarian Reform Special Account Fund. It
strengthens the position of farmers and expanded the scope of agrarian reform.
 Presidential Decree No. 2, September 26, 1972 -- Declared the country under land reform
program. It enjoined all agencies and offices of the government to extend full cooperation
and assistance to the DAR. It also activated the Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council.
P. D. No. 2 of 1972 - PROCLAIMING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AS A LAND REFORM
AREA PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 2 provides that:
All agencies and office of the Government are enjoined to extend full cooperation and
assistance to the Department of Agrarian Reform to insure the successful prosecution of
the Agrarian Reform Program.
The Agrarian Reform Coordinating Council created under Executive Order Mo. 387,
series of 1971, is hereby directed to convene immediately to exercise its functions.
The Secretary of Agrarian Reform shall take necessary steps for the prompt and effective
implementation of this decree.
 Presidential Decree No. 27, October 21, 1972 -- Restricted land reform scope to tenanted rice
and corn lands and set the retention limit at 7 hectares.

DAR Leader

President Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992)

The Constitution ratified by the Filipino people during the administration of President Corazon
C. Aquino provides under Section 21 under Article II that “The State shall promote comprehensive
rural development and agrarian reform.”
On June 10, 1988, former President Corazon C. Aquino signed into law Republic Act No. 6657
or otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL). The law became effective
on June 15, 1988.
Subsequently, four Presidential issuances were released in July 1987 after 48 nationwide
consultations before the actual law was enacted.

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 11

President Corazon C. Aquino enacted the following laws:

 Executive Order No. 228, July 16, 1987 – Declared full ownership to qualified farmer-
beneficiaries covered by PD 27. It also determined the value remaining unvalued rice and
corn lands subject of PD 27 and provided for the manner of payment by the FBs and mode of
compensation to landowners.
 Executive Order No. 229, July 22, 1987 – Provided mechanism for the implementation of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
 Proclamation No. 131, July 22, 1987 – Instituted the CARP as a major program of the
government. It provided for a special fund known as the Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF), with
an initial amount of Php50 billion to cover the estimated cost of the program from 1987-1992.
 Executive Order No. 129-A, July 26, 1987 – streamlined and expanded the power and
operations of the DAR.
 Republic Act No. 6657, June 10, 1988 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law) – An act
which became effective June 15, 1988 and instituted a comprehensive agrarian reform
program to promote social justice and industrialization providing the mechanism for its
implementation and for other purposes. This law is still the one being implemented at present.
 Executive Order No. 405, June 14, 1990 – Vested in the Land Bank of the Philippines the
responsibility to determine land valuation and compensation for all lands covered by CARP.
 Executive Order No. 407, June 14, 1990 – Accelerated the acquisition and distribution of
agricultural lands, pasture lands, fishponds, agro-forestry lands and other lands of the public
domain suitable for agriculture.

DAR Leaders

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 12

President Fidel V. Ramos (1992-1998)

When President Fidel V. Ramos formally took over in 1992, his administration came face to face
with publics who have lost confidence in the agrarian reform program. His administration committed
to the vision “Fairer, faster and more meaningful implementation of the Agrarian Reform Program.
President Fidel V. Ramos enacted the following laws:
 Republic Act No. 7881, 1995 – Amended certain provisions of RA 6657 and exempted
fishponds and prawns from the coverage of CARP.
 Republic Act No. 7905, 1995 – Strengthened the implementation of the CARP.
 Executive Order No. 363, 1997 – Limits the type of lands that may be converted by setting
conditions under which limits the type of lands that may be converted by setting conditions
under which specific categories of agricultural land are either absolutely non-negotiable for
conversion or highly restricted for conversion.
 Republic Act No. 8435, 1997 (Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act AFMA) –
Plugged the legal loopholes in land use conversion.
 Republic Act 8532, 1998 (Agrarian Reform Fund Bill) – Provided an additional Php50 billion
for CARP and extended its implementation for another 10 years.

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 13

DAR Leader

President Joseph E. Estrada (1998-2000)

“ERAP PARA SA MAHIRAP’. This was the battle cry that endeared President Joseph Estrada
and made him very popular during the 1998 presidential election.
President Joseph E. Estrada initiated the enactment of the following law:
 Executive Order N0. 151, September 1999 (Farmer’s Trust Fund) – Allowed the voluntary
consolidation of small farm operation into medium and large scale integrated enterprise that
can access long-term capital.
During his administration, President Estrada launched the Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang
Agraryo or MAGKASAKA. The DAR forged into joint ventures with private investors into agrarian
sector to make FBs competitive.
However, the Estrada Administration was short lived. The masses who put him into office
demanded for his ouster.

DAR Leader

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 14

President Gloria Macapacal-Arroyo (2000-2010)

The agrarian reform program under the Arroyo administration is anchored on the vision “To make
the countryside economically viable for the Filipino family by building partnership and promoting
social equity and new economic opportunities towards lasting peace and sustainable rural
development.”
Land Tenure Improvement - DAR will remain vigorous in implementing land acquisition and
distribution component of CARP. The DAR will improve land tenure system through land
distribution and leasehold.
Provision of Support Services - CARP not only involves the distribution of lands but also included
package of support services which includes: credit assistance, extension services, irrigation facilities,
roads and bridges, marketing facilities and training and technical support programs.
Infrastrucre Projects - DAR will transform the agrarian reform communities (ARCs), an area
focused and integrated delivery of support services, into rural economic zones that will help in the
creation of job opportunities in the countryside.
KALAHI ARZone - The KALAHI Agrarian Reform (KAR) Zones were also launched. These
zones consist of one or more municipalities with concentration of ARC population to achieve greater
agro-productivity.
Agrarian Justice - To help clear the backlog of agrarian cases, DAR will hire more paralegal
officers to support undermanned adjudicatory boards and introduce quota system to compel
adjudicators to work faster on agrarian reform cases. DAR will respect the rights of both farmers and
landowners.

DAR Leaders

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 15

President Benigno Aquino III (2010-2016)

President Benigno Aquino III vowed during his 2012 State of the Nation Address that he would
complete before the end of his term the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), the
centerpiece program of the administration of his mother, President Corazon Aquino.
The younger Aquino distributed their family-owned Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. Apart from the
said farm lots, he also promised to complete the distribution of privately-owned lands of productive
agricultural estates in the country that have escaped the coverage of the program.
Under his administration, the Agrarian Reform Community Connectivity and Economic Support
Services (ARCCESS) project was created to contribute to the overall goal of rural poverty reduction
especially in agrarian reform areas.
Agrarian Production Credit Program (APCP) provided credit support for crop production to newly
organized and existing agrarian reform beneficiaries’ organizations (ARBOs) and farmers’
organizations not qualified to avail themselves of loans under the regular credit windows of banks.
The legal case monitoring system (LCMS), a web-based legal system for recording and
monitoring various kinds of agrarian cases at the provincial, regional and central offices of the DAR
to ensure faster resolution and close monitoring of agrarian-related cases, was also launched.
Aside from these initiatives, Aquino also enacted Executive Order No. 26, Series of 2011, to
mandate the Department of Agriculture-Department of Environment and Natural Resources-
Department of Agrarian Reform Convergence Initiative to develop a National Greening Program in
cooperation with other government agencies.

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DAR Leaders

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte (2016 – present)

Under his leadership, the President wants to pursue an “aggressive” land reform program that
would help alleviate the life of poor Filipino farmers by prioritizing the provision of support services
alongside land distribution.
The President directed the DAR to launch the 2nd phase of agrarian reform where landless farmers
would be awarded with undistributed lands under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP).
Duterte plans to place almost all public lands, including military reserves, under agrarian reform.
The President also placed 400 hectares of agricultural lands in Boracay under CARP.
Under his administration the DAR created an anti-corruption task force to investigate and handle
reports on alleged anomalous activities by officials and employees of the department.
The Department also pursues an “Oplan Zero Backlog” in the resolution of cases in relation to
agrarian justice delivery of the agrarian reform program to fast-track the implementation of CARP.

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DAR Leader

Image credit dar.gov.ph

Department Secretary - December 1, 2017 - Present

SECRETARY (Atty.) John Rualo Castriciones graduated as Magna cum Laude with a
bachelor’s degree in political science at the then Trinity College of Quezon City, now Trinity
University of Asia. He studied in the Philippine Military Academy and is a member of the PMA
Maharlika Class 1984 before studying law at the San Beda College of Law and Arellano Law School
where he was a consistent Dean’s Lister. After passing the bar exams in 1993, he pursued further
studies and obtained a master’s degree in comparative government and international law from the
prestigious Notre Dame University in London Law Centre, UK. His masteral thesis, “The Viability
and Wisdom of Adopting the Jury System in the Philippines Legal System” earned him a Grade A,
which was consequently published in the Arellano Policy Review.
Secretary John is also a tenured professor of law and the social sciences. Apart from teaching
subjects at Xavier School Greenhills for five years, and lecturing to police officers in Philippine
Public Safety College, he also taught several law subjects at the Arellano Law School for more than
nine years, including Corporate Law, Obligations and Contracts, Sales, Investment Law, Practicum
1 and 2, Legal Ethics, Public and Private International Law and Criminal Procedure. He was also an

UNC School of Law / Juris Doctor Degree / LEB Course: LAW 216aa / 1st Semester A/Y 2020-2021
©2020 Atty. Alex C. Tejerero. All Rights Reserved.
 18

MCLE lecturer for three years for subjects in International Law, Arbitration Law and Adoption Law,
among others.
Moreover, Secretary John has authored several books such as: Internal Revolution: Political
Vengeance and Societal Perdition, published in 2011, endorsed by Bishop Broderick Pabillo and Fr.
Ted Gonzales; “A Risen Catholic Christian Soldier,” endorsed by the late Archbishop Cardinal Sin,
published in 1998; Philippine Military Academy Hazing Case: A General’s Son Dies, published in
1990; and Sagutin Natin, published in 1984, endorsed by the late Msgr. Cesar F. Solomon and Bishop
Pelayo of the military diocese.
For more than 23 years, Secretary John was a law practitioner who appeared in inferior and
superior courts throughout the country. During this period, he also served as legal counsel for several
corporations and top government officials in controversial and precedent-setting cases.
In 2009, He served as Director for Investigation, Security and Law Enforcement Services (ISLES)
of the Department of Transportation and Communication, and as assistant spokesman and deputy
chairman of the Task Force Gabay of the Tagapagligtas sa Karagatan. In the beginning of the current
administration, he served as undersecretary for operations for the Department of the Interior and
Local Government until his recent appointment.
At present, Department of Agrarian Reform Secretary Castriciones is the national president of
Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Committee (MRRD-NECC); and
founding senior partner of the Castriciones Legal Consultancy, where his children, who are also
lawyers, practice their profession.

You should know by now that the DAR Leaders are different from the DAR Officials. The
government posts for DAR Officials are listed below. I had the other list of officials strategically
placed in some parts of this module.

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Bicol Regional Director Engr. Arnel Dizon

Image credit dar.gov.ph

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©2020 Atty. Alex C. Tejerero. All Rights Reserved.
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©2020 Atty. Alex C. Tejerero. All Rights Reserved.
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©2020 Atty. Alex C. Tejerero. All Rights Reserved.
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©2020 Atty. Alex C. Tejerero. All Rights Reserved.
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SUMMARY

Congratulations! You’ve just finished the very first Module of the course. You’ve learned
through your textbook and the supplemental readings from this module the General Principles,
Concepts and the Evolution of Philippine Agrarian Reform. I hope you enjoyed the historical
background, government programs on agrarian reform brought about by different presidencies and
their respective administrations.
As you go along, you will realize that every module from weeks 01 to 12 starts with a
Constitutional Basis/ses of Agrarian Law. That is for emphatic purposes.
You can now proceed to Module 2.

END OF MODULE READING

UNC School of Law / Juris Doctor Degree / LEB Course: LAW 216aa / 1st Semester A/Y 2020-2021
©2020 Atty. Alex C. Tejerero. All Rights Reserved.