DAVAO ORIENTAL STATE UNIVERSITY

ASYNCHRONOUS MODE OF LEARNING

HISTORY 11 - READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

CHAPTER 4:
Social, Political and Cultural issues in Philippine History

Lesson Objectives:
• Explain the historical evolution of Agrarian Reform Policies and Philippine Taxation.
• Propose recommendations/solutions to present- day problems based on their understanding of
root causes and their anticipation of future scenarios.
• Examine the relevance of social, political, economic, and cultural issues in the 21st century.

LESSON TIME
The content/information below are only key-points relevant to what is presented in our subject’s
PowerPoint (ppt) file.

CHAPTER 4.1: AGRARIAN REFORM POLICIES

Agrarian issues have been a major concern in the Philippine economy for decades. The historical evolution
of agrarian policies provides insight into the structural problems in land ownership and agricultural
development. A common misconception in this discussion is the interchangeable use of the terms land
reform and agrarian reform. Understanding their differences is essential.

• Land Reform - Process of redistributing land from the landlords to tenant-farmers in order that they
will be given a chance to own a piece of land improve their plight.
• Agrarian Reform - Concerned with the total development of the farmer’s economic, social and
political transformation. It is defined as the rectification of the whole system of agriculture

In other words, land reform focuses solely on the redistribution of land from landlords to tenant-farmers
and granting them ownership. Meanwhile, agrarian reform puts emphasis on providing support services to
farmers such as access to land, equipment, infrastructure, and financial assistance.

One of the major flaws in the Philippine

agrarian structure is the prevalence of share
tenancy, a system where tenants cultivate the
land owned by landlords in exchange for a
portion of their harvest. This often leads to
exploitation as tenants are left with minimal
income after paying their share to landowners.

This problem is rooted in the Latifundia or

Cacique system, a colonial-era structure where
large estates (haciendas) were owned by elite
families. These landowners exercised vast
economic and political power, leaving tenant
farmers in a cycle of dependency and poverty.

Why do we have to address agrarian issues in the country? Agrarian reform has several effects to economy
in terms of:
1. Agricultural Productivity – Securing land ownership encourages farmers to invest in their land,
improving crop yields and efficiency.
2. Poverty Reduction - Land ownership provides farmers with a stable livelihood, reducing their
dependence on landlords.
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HISTORY 11 - READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

3. Income and Living Standards - With proper agrarian policies, farmers gain access to better
resources leading to increased income. Additionally, higher agricultural production results in more
affordable food prices where both producers and consumers can benefit.
4. Employment - A well-managed agrarian reform program creates jobs in farming, agribusiness, and
related industries
5. Investment and Capital Formation - Agriculture is the backbone of the Philippine economy.
Government support in modernizing this sector can attract investments. With an efficient agrarian
system, the Philippines can become a major exporter of agricultural products boosting foreign
exchange earnings.
6. Impartiality on Rural Population - Equitable land distribution reduces economic disparity
between rural and urban populations. The increase in agricultural output creates economic
opportunities in rural areas. With this, rural employment opportunities discourage migration to
urban areas reducing congestion in cities.

History of Agrarian Reform in the Philippines

Before the Philippines was colonized, personal ownership of land does not exist. Lands were commonly
owned by the community where members had equal access and use for farming, hunting, and gathering.
This ensured food security and social equity within early Filipino societies. An example of this practice was
the barangay system, where communal lands were managed under the leadership of a datu, and members
in barangay regardless of status has access on the land and mutually shares resources and fruits of their
labor.

However, this system was disrupted during the Spanish colonization.

a) SPANISH PERIOD - Three major land ownership systems were introduced during the Spanish
rule, replacing the communal land tenure system:
1. System of Pueblo Agriculture
When the Spaniards colonized the country, they brought with them the system of pueblo
agriculture, where rural communities were organized into a pueblo and given land to cultivate.
From communal property, all lands in the country automatically became under the ownership
of the King of Spain. It also prohibited the Filipinos from owning lands.Not only it prohibited
them, but the Filipinos were “assigned” to these lands to cultivate them, and they paid their
colonial tributes (taxes) to the Spanish authorities in the form of agricultural products.

2. Encomienda System
Under the Law of the Indies, the King of Spain granted parcels of land to:
➢ Religious orders (churches and missionaries)
➢ Spanish military officers as rewards for their service
➢ Spanish Encomenderos – individuals entrusted to govern an encomienda or a piece of
land where they collected tribute and provided religious instruction to the indigenous
people. The encomenderos had significant control over land and labor, leading to the
exploitation of Filipino tenants who worked the land under harsh conditions.

3. Hacienda System
In the 1860s, Spain implemented a law requiring landholders to register their landholdings.
However, only those who were aware of this law mainly Spanish landlords and elite Filipinos
(principalia) were able to secure legal land ownership. As a result, vast estates or haciendas
were controlled by a few wealthy families, while tenant-farmers worked under oppressive
conditions, continuing the cycle of landlessness and poverty.

This is the primary reason why revolts in the Philippines were often agrarian in nature.
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HISTORY 11 - READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

b) AMERICAN PERIOD - The Americans were aware that the main cause of social unrest in the
Philippines was landlessness, and they attempted to put an end to the bad conditions of the landless
farmers by passing several land policies to distribute land ownership to a bigger number of Filipino
farmers. However, instead of solving them, the land problems worsened during this period due to
several reasons:
➢ Not all friar lands acquired by the Americans were given to landless farmers. Many
of the friar lands ended up being sold to wealthy individuals and corporations instead of
tenant farmers.
➢ Some lands were sold or leased to American or Filipino businesses. Large agricultural
companies owned by elites acquired vast tracts of land which led to the commercialization
of agriculture and further displacement of Filipino farmers.
➢ Early land reform programs were implemented without support mechanisms.
Farmers who acquired land through early programs often lacked capital, irrigation, modern
equipment, and technical support, making it difficult for them to sustain productivity and
ownership.
➢ Wealthy Filipinos purchased or forcefully took over lands from farmers who could
not afford to pay their debts. Many small farmers who benefited from land distribution
lost their land due to unfair lending practices, forcing them back into tenancy or
landlessness.

c) POST-WAR PERIOD - After World War II, the Third Republic of the Philippines was established,
and several land reform policies were implemented in an attempt to redistribute land to landless
farmers. The following are the major land and agrarian laws enacted after the colonial period:
1. Agricultural Land Reform Code (Republic Act No. 3844)
- Aimed to abolish share tenancy and promote owner-cultivatorship by distributing lands to
tenant-farmers. The reform sought to transfer ownership to the farmers allowing them to
own the land they tilled instead of being perpetual tenants. It also mandated fair
compensation for landlords whose lands were expropriated.
- Led to the creation of the Land Bank of the Philippines to finance land acquisition and
distribution.
- However, the program ultimately failed due to poor implementation, inadequate funding,
and lack of support services for beneficiaries. The law also failed due to elite resistance
and the influence of landed politicians whom were also hacienda owners. Political
interference hindered its implementation and many landowners found loopholes to avoid
redistribution.

2. Masagana 99
- A government initiative aimed at increasing rice productivity to achieve self-sufficiency.
- The law emphasized land distribution to farmers who cultivated rice fields, ensuring that
those working directly in rice production had secure land tenure. Farmers were also
provided with credit assistance, high-yielding rice varieties, and modern farming
techniques to enhance their output.
- However, many elite landowners intentionally converted their lands to coconut and corn
fields to prevent their land from being distributed, undermining the program’s
effectiveness.

3. Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) (Republic Act No. 6657)

- The most extensive agrarian reform law, which aimed to distribute all agricultural lands
regardless of crops grown. Included both private and public lands in the redistribution
program.
- Provided support services such as credit assistance, infrastructure, and agricultural training.
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HISTORY 11 - READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM (CARP)

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), otherwise known as the Comprehensive Agrarian
Reform Law (CARL), was instituted to promote social justice and industrialization by providing a
mechanism for its implementation and ensuring equitable land ownership in the Philippines.

VISION SCOPE

to have an equitable land ownership with The ownership or control of about 10.3 million
empowered agrarian reform beneficiaries who can hectares of agricultural land, representing about
effectively manage their economic and social one-third of the total land area of the Philippines,
development to have a better quality of life. shall be transferred over a ten-year period to an
estimated 3.9 million beneficiaries.

The 10.3 million hectares of land subject to redistribution include:

1. Alienable and disposable lands of the public domain
- These are government-owned lands that are suitable for agriculture and can be legally
transferred to individuals or groups for productive agricultural use.
2. Lands of the public domain in excess of specific limits set by Congress
- Public lands beyond what the government has reserved for other uses can be redistributed
under CARP.
3. Other government-owned lands devoted to or suitable for agriculture
- Includes lands owned by state institutions or agencies that are not currently utilized for
public service or infrastructure.
4. Private agricultural lands
- Lands owned by individuals or corporations that are being used or can be used for
agricultural production.

CARP consists of three major components:

1. Land Tenure Improvement - Focuses on land redistribution to landless farmers and ensures
secure land ownership. (Example: A tenant farmer receives a Certificate of Land Ownership
Award (CLOA) after passing qualifications)
2. Program Beneficiaries Development - Provides support services such as agricultural training,
credit assistance, and infrastructure. (Example: Farmer cooperatives receive government funding
for farm equipment)
3. Agrarian Justice Delivery - Ensures legal support and protection for beneficiaries against illegal
evictions and unfair landowner practices. (Example: Legal aid for farmers facing disputes over
land ownership)
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HISTORY 11 - READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

WHO ARE THE BENEFICIARIES OF CARP?

✓ Agricultural lessees and share tenants
✓ Agricultural graduates
✓ Rural women
✓ Veterans and relatives of enlisted personnel
✓ Retirees of the AFP and the Integrated National
Police
✓ Rebel returnees and surrenderees
UNFAIR?!

The list are the possible beneficiaries for CARP, but an individual can only receive and enjoy the
provisions of this law if they pass the qualifications set. To be eligible for CARP benefits, one must:

Be landless Be at least 15 years old or Have the willingness,

the head of a family at the ability, and aptitude to
time of land transfer. cultivate the land
productively.

For instance, a retired AFP member who already owns one hectare of land is disqualified as they are no
longer landless. Another example for disqualification is an agricultural graduate who refuses to
cultivate the land and does not engage in farming as CARP aims to distribute land to productive farmers.

Proof of Ownership given to Beneficiaries or Documents Issued to Qualified Beneficiaries.

1. Emancipation Patents (EPs) – Issued for Operation Land Transfer (OLT) lands.
2. Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) – Given for lands under compulsory acquisition
(CA), voluntary offer to sell (VOS), and Executive Order 407 lands, including resettlement areas
and landed estates.
3. Free Patents – Issued for public lands.

WHY CLOAS instead of LAND TITLES? The

government avoids issuing land titles to prevent
beneficiaries from reselling the land. CLOAs ensure
that land remains under agricultural use, preventing
speculative selling and keeping the intent of CARP
intact.

Despite its promising objectives, CARP faced several issues that hindered its success:
• The program stopped at the land redistribution and failed to provide the other companion
measures necessary for success
• The farmers are not prepared to take over the responsibilities given to them because they were
not organized and did not have proper orientation needed for such undertaking
• There was haphazard planning on the part of the government officials who were initiating the
program
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HISTORY 11 - READINGS IN PHILIPPINE HISTORY

ACTIVITY: NEW POLICY FORMULATION FOR CARP

You are tasked to formulate a new policy proposal for the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Program (CARP), addressing its shortcomings and improving its effectiveness for future
implementation.

Instructions:
1. Review the Learning Guide – Analyze the challenges, limitations, and key provisions of
CARP.
2. Identify the Gaps – Based on your understanding, determine the weak points of CARP that
need reform or enhancement.
3. Propose a New Policy – Your proposal should include:
a) Title of the Policy
b) Objectives – What problems does it aim to solve?
c) Key Provisions – Specific reforms or new mechanisms to improve land distribution,
farmer support, and agrarian justice.
d) Implementation Plan – How will the policy be enforced effectively?
e) Expected Impact – How will this policy benefit farmers and the economy?
4. Provide Justifications – Support your policy with logical reasoning, historical insights, and
potential benefits.