Brief Historical Background of Agrarian Reform
Agrarian reform is referred to as the re distribution of land along with the other
resources pertaining to agriculture. Even though agrarian reform may lead to low
agricultural output (in the event of collectivization), productivity of land may increase if
land is transfered to the cultivator. Land reform in the Philippines had its beginnings in
1963, when Section 49 of Republic Act (RA) 3844, or the Agricultural Land Reform Code,
necessitated the creation of the Land Authority. This agency was tasked to implement
the policies set forth in RA 3844 and was created on August 8, 1963. Republic Act 3844
reorganized existing agencies involved in tasks related to land reform and realigned their
functions towards attaining the common objectives of the land reform program.
Land is one of the factors of production. As a factor of , agrarian reform law was
implemented to uplift the economic stability of the people, especially the farmers. Land
reform law was first implemented by former President Diosdado Macapagal in 1963
through R.A. No. 3844, followed by former President Ferdinand Marcos in 1971 through
R.A. No. 6389 and R.A. No. 639. During the time former President Corazon , she signed
R.A. No. 6657 known as the a Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law(CARL). Under the
said , the CARP was established. CARP has salient features intended for the farmers who
are landless.
Land reform means the improvement of
farmer's relationship to land he
cultivates. When a farmer is transformed from tenant into land owner, then great
improvement. While the agrarian reform is concerned with the and development of the
farmerseconomic, social and political transformation. If this is successfully attained,
then the small farmer become source of genuine strength in our democratic society.
Since 1930s, various agrarian reform laws are enacted supposedly to distribute
land peasants, regulate the exploitative landlord tenant relationship , among others.
However,these did not, in any way, lased the feudal and semi-feudal exploitation in the
countryside, laws were made to conform on the needs of farmers.
Roxas Administration (1946-1948)
In 1946, President Manuel Roxas proclaimed the Rice Share Tenancy act of 1933
effective throughout the country. Among the remedial measures enacted was R.A. No.
34 of 1946, known as Tenant Act. This provide for a 70-30 sharing arrangement and
regulated share-tenancy contracts. It was passed to resolve the ongoing peasant unrest
in Central Luzon.
The purpose of this act was to regulate the share-tenancy contracts by
establishing minimum standards. Primarily, the Act provided for better tenant-landlord
relationship, a 5050 sharing of the crop, regulation of interest to 10% per agricultural
year, and a safeguard against arbitrary dismissal by the landlord.
Quirino Administration (1948-1953)
President Elpidio Quirino announced the two main objectives of his administration:
economic reconstruction and restoration of the peoples faith and confidence in the
government.
As part of his Agrarian Reform agenda, President Elpidio Quirino issued on October
23, 1950 Executive Order No. 355 which 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.
Magsaysay Administration (1953-1957)
President Magsaysay signed two land-related bills into law: the Agricultural
Tenancy Act of 1954(R.A. No. 1199) and Land Reform Act of 1955(R.A. No. 1400). The
Agricultural Tenancy Act of 1954 allowed tenants to shift from share-tenancy to
leasehold. In leasehold system, a tenant would pay a fixed amount to the landlord
instead of variable share. The Land Reform Act of 1955 provided for expropriation of
private agricultural land over 300 hectares of contiguous areas, if owned by individuals.
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.
To amplify and stabilize the functions of the Economic Development Corps
(EDCOR), President Ramon Magsaysay worked for the establishment of the National
Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA), which took over from the
EDCOR and helped in the giving of some sixty-five thousand acres to three thousand
indigent families for settlement purposes.
Garcia Administration (1957-1961)
President Carlos Garcia carried on the land-related policies of Magsaysay as he had
promised in his inaugural address and implemented his own domestic and foreign
policies.
The performance of the Garcia administration was described as a stalemate
between landlords and their allies in congress and the executive department, and the
elements favoring land reform. It was then believed that at the rate of progress
maintained under Magsaysay and Garcia, it would take about 700 years to repurchase
and redistribute the 1.8 million hectares of tenanted agricultural land in the Philippines.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Books/References
Economics, Taxation and Agrarian Reform (Revised Edition)
Carlos L. Manapat, Fernando R. Pedrosa
Copyright 2014
Economics with Taxation and Agrarian Reform
Froilan Cruz Calilung, etal.
Copyright 2013
Introduction to Economics
Carlo M. Abreu, etal.
Copyright 2007
Internet:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_reform_in_the_Philippines
http://www.dar.gov.ph/9-main/996-dar-historical-background
http://www.academia.edu/1851380/Agrarian_Reform_History
