UNIT 4: SOCIAL, POLITICAL,

ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ISSUES

IN THE
PHILIPPINE HISTORY
Sub-topics:
Lesson i – Evolution of the Philippine Constitution
Lesson ii - The Agrarian Reform
Lesson iii - The Philippine Taxation
Lesson iv - Filipino Cultural Heritage
Lesson v - Government Peace Treaties with Muslim
Filipinos
 Lesson 1: History of
Agrarian Reforms
in the Philippines
UNIT 4: Social Political, Economic
and cultural issues in the
Philippine history
 Pre-Colonial Times (before 16th
century)
Pre-colonial communities in the
Philippines were organized into
small groups called barangays,
consisting of 30-100 families, led
by a chief.
Land was communally owned,
and resources were shared by
all members of the barangay,
promoting a collective
stewardship over nature and
resources.
 Pre-Colonial Times (before 16th
century)
• Land access was equitable regardless of social status.

• The community followed the concept of stewardship, valuing the relationship

between humans and the environment, with resources mutually shared.

• Farming Practices: Traditional farming involved the kaingin system or slash-and-

burn agriculture, where land was cleared by burning bushes for cultivation.

• This practice was primarily intended to produce food for family consumption but
expanded to barter trade with neighboring communities.
 Pre-Colonial Times (before 16th
century)
• Early barter trade emerged as communities exchanged goods, including
agricultural products, with neighboring communities and foreign traders (Chinese,
Arabs, Europeans).

• Foreign luxury goods were sometimes traded for local produce.

• The Maragtas Code documented the sale of Panay Island to ten Bornean datus in
exchange for a golden salakot (traditional headgear) and a gold necklace.

• The Code of Lowaran, an early Muslim law, had provisions regarding the leasing
of cultivated lands, although specific lease practices are unrecorded.
 Spanish Era (1521-1896)
pueblo system, organizing native communities into
structured villages where each Christianized family
received four to five hectares to cultivate. However, land
ownership remained with the Spanish Crown.
Natives were landholders but not owners, as the land was
legally property of the Spanish King. They paid tributes in
the form of agricultural products to Spanish authorities.
 Spanish Era (1521-1896)
By the early 19th century, Spain opened the Philippine
economy to global trade, focusing on agricultural exports. The
hacienda system became the new form of land ownership,
leading many Filipinos to lose land and become tenants.
The Laws of the Indies granted large tracts of land to
religious orders and military officials, creating encomiendas.
Natives in these areas became laborers with no land rights,
paying tribute to encomienderos who were supposed to
protect and convert them to Christianity, though abuse was
common.
 Spanish Era (1521-1896)
Abuses and Forced Sales (Compras y Vandalas):
they were often forced to sell their crops at low prices to Spanish
authorities or surrender them entirely, with the produce resold at a
profit. Encomienda residents were also required to provide labor for
public works and domestic help for encomienderos.
Land Registration Decrees and Loss of Ancestral Lands:
In 1865, the Spanish Crown ordered landholders to register their land,
but many peasants were unaware, leading to ancestral lands being
claimed by Spanish officials and local elites. The Ley Hipotecaria
(Mortgage Law) in 1893 aimed to systematize title registration but
further dispossessed local farmers.
 Spanish Era (1521-1896)
The Maura Law (1894):
This final Spanish agrarian law mandated that farmers register their
land within a year, or it would be declared state property, further
marginalizing native farmers.
Peasant Revolts and the 1896 Revolution:
Continued abuses led to widespread peasant uprisings in 1896,
marking the aspiration for agrarian reform and justice. Women also
played a significant role in the movement, participating in both
planning and action.
Following the revolution, the Malolos Constitution (1896, Article XVII)
led to the confiscation of large estates, particularly friar lands,
declaring them government property, laying an early foundation for
land reform.
 American Era (1898-1935)
Addressing Landlessness and
Social Unrest:
Recognizing that landlessness was a key
factor behind social unrest, the American
colonial government sought to address
tenant and small farmer hardships
through various land policies, aiming to
broaden land ownership among Filipinos.
Philippine Bill of 1902:
This law regulated public land
distribution, allowing individuals to own
up to 16 hectares and corporations up to
1,024 hectares, while also enabling
Americans to own agricultural land in the
Philippines.
 American Era (1898-1935)
Torrens System of Land Registration: The Torrens
system replaced the Spanish system to provide clear
land titles and address the issue of approximately 400,000
Filipino farmers without titles. The Land Registration Act of
1907 (Act No. 496) and the Cadastral Act (Act No. 2259)
accelerated title issuance through land surveys.
Homestead Program (1903): This program allowed
tenants to acquire 16 hectares of public land for farming
but was only implemented in parts of Mindanao and
Northern Luzon.
 American Era (1898-1935)
Public Land Acts:
• First Public Land Act (Act No. 926): Established guidelines for public
land sales, leasing, and the validation of Spanish titles.
• Second Public Land Act of 1919 (Act No. 2874): Restricted
agricultural land use to Filipinos, Americans, and certain other
nationals.
• Act No. 141: Amended the 1919 law, temporarily granting equal land
rights to Americans and Filipinos and consolidating previous public
land laws.
Friar Land Act (Act No. 1120): This act facilitated the leasing and
sale of friar lands to tenant farmers, aiming to address tensions from
land concentrated in religious orders.
 American Era (1898-1935)
Tenant-Landlord Regulations and Crop-Sharing Laws: The Rice
Share Tenancy Act of 1933 (Act No. 4054) introduced the first
regulation of landlord-tenant relationships, establishing a 50-50 crop-
sharing system. The Sugarcane Tenancy Contracts Act of 1933
(Act No. 4113) required formal tenancy contracts in sugarcane areas.
Unintended Outcomes and Concentration of Land: Despite reforms,
land ownership issues worsened as no limits were placed on
maximum landholdings. Wealthy individuals amassed large properties,
intensifying tenancy and displacing small farmers.
Peasant Uprisings: As a response to worsening conditions, militant
peasant groups such as the Colorum and Sakdalista emerged in
Luzon and Mindanao, leading revolts in the 1920s and 1930s against
landlord abuses, signifying widespread discontent with the American
land policies.
 Commonwealth Years (1935-1942)
 A stark contrast existed between wealthy, influential landlords and impoverished
tenant farmers. Landlords gained wealth and power, while tenant rights and
income suffered.
 Many landowners became absentee landlords, moving to cities and leaving
hacienda management to katiwalas (overseers), leading to mismanagement
and exploitation of tenants.
 Tenants faced excessive fines, high taxes, and usurious practices, with limited
access to credit or fair marketing channels for rice. This led to very low returns
for farmers and frequent peasant uprisings.
 President Manuel L. Quezon recognized the need for land reform. Plans
included the purchase of friar lands and expanding the Homestead Program into
a large-scale resettlement effort, although these plans were not fully realized.
 Japanese Era (1942-1945):
Formation of the HUKBALAHAP: The Hukbong Bayan Laban sa mga
Hapon (HUKBALAHAP) was formed on March 29, 1942, as an anti-
Japanese, pro-peasant organization advocating for land redistribution
and farmer rights.
Land Redistribution Efforts by the HUKBALAHAP: During the Japanese
occupation, the HUKBALAHAP took over large tracts of land,
distributing them to farmers as part of their grassroots efforts to support
the peasantry.
Post-War Repossession by Landlords: Despite wartime gains, landlords
regained their lands after the war with support from military police and
civilian guards, reversing many of the land redistributions made by the
HUKBALAHAP.
EVOLUTION OF
INITIATIVES ON
LAND REFORMS
 During President Quezon’s Administration:
•Rice Share Tenancy Act (RA 4054):
This act legalized a 50-50 crop-sharing arrangement between landlords and tenants
and included protections for tenants against landlord abuses. However, it was poorly
implemented, as local councils were dominated by landlords, resulting in only one
municipality enforcing it. Most councils petitioned for its repeal to the Governor-
General.
•Social Justice and Expropriation in the 1935 Constitution:
The 1935 Constitution included provisions aimed at promoting social justice and
expropriating large estates for tenant distribution to address land ownership and
tenancy issues.
•Commonwealth Act No. 461:
This act required that any tenant dismissal receive approval from the Tenancy
Division within the Department of Justice, aiming to protect tenants from arbitrary
eviction.
 During President Quezon’s Administration:
•Commonwealth Act No. 608:
This act further strengthened tenant rights by establishing security of tenure, prohibiting landowners from evicting
tenants without legitimate legal reasons.
•Quezon’s Social Justice Program and Initiatives:
Quezon’s administration focused on land reform through social justice measures. It purchased large haciendas to
divide and sell to tenants, established the National Rice and Corn Corporation (NARICC) to help farmers, and
assigned public defenders to assist peasants in legal cases for land rights.
•Court of Industrial Relations (CIR):
The CIR was established to handle disputes between agricultural workers and landowners, and the Rice Tenancy
Act was amended to improve tenant-landlord relations.
•Homestead Program and National Land Settlement Administration (CA No. 441):
Quezon continued the Homestead Program by creating the National Land Settlement Administration, which aimed
to support tenant farmers but was limited by insufficient budget allocations.
•Challenges to Implementation:
Land reform efforts faced obstacles due to budget constraints, landlord resistance to the Rice Share Tenancy Act,
and ongoing peasant uprisings. The onset of World War II further interrupted these reforms.
 Manuel Roxas Administration (1946-1948)
1.Republic Act No. 34 (70-30 Sharing Arrangement):
RA 34 was enacted to create a 70-30 crop-sharing
arrangement between tenant and landlord, where 70%
of the harvest went to the tenant who covered
planting, harvesting, and work animal costs. This law
aimed to reduce interest rates imposed on tenants.
2.Land Purchase in Batangas:
Roxas negotiated the purchase of 8,000 hectares of
land in Batangas from the Ayala-Zobel family. These
lands were sold to landless farmers; however, due to a
lack of support facilities, the redistribution proved
ineffective. Many lands eventually reverted to the
landowning class, raising doubts about the
effectiveness of the land reform program.
 Elpidio Quirino Administration (1948-
1953)
1.Establishment of LASEDECO:
Through an Executive Order, Quirino established the
Land Settlement Development Corporation
(LASEDECO) to accelerate and expand the peasant
resettlement program, intending to support landless
farmers.
2.Challenges Due to Limited Resources:
Post-war resource limitations hindered the success of
LASEDECO, making it challenging to provide adequate
support to resettled farmers and leading to limited
overall impact.
 Ramon Magsaysay (1953-1957)
R.A. No. 1199 (1954) – Agricultural Tenancy Act:
Established to govern the relationship between landlords and tenant-farmers,
this law protected tenant tillers' rights and enforced fair tenancy practices to
secure tenure rights and establish fair terms.
R.A. No. 1160 (1954) – National Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Administration (NARRA):
This act created NARRA to support the resettlement and rehabilitation of
agricultural land, accelerating free distribution of land to landless tenants and
farmers.
R.A. No. 1400 (1955) – Land Reform Act ("Land to the Landless"):
Known as the "Land to the Landless" program, this act aimed to improve land
tenure, providing for the expropriation of all tenanted estates for redistribution.
R.A. No. 1266 (1955) – Expropriation of Hacienda del Rosario:
This law led to the expropriation of Hacienda del Rosario in Cabanatuan City for
land reform purposes.
 Under Carlos P. Garcia (1957-1961)

Continuation of Existing Reforms:

Garcia did not pass new legislation
but continued the agrarian reform
programs initiated by President
Ramon Magsaysay.
Under Diosdado Macapagal (1961-1965):
R.A. No. 3844 – Agricultural Land Reform
Code (1963):
1. Abolished share tenancy in the Philippines and
converted tenant farmers into leaseholders with
eventual ownership rights.
2. Established farmer independence and security,
aimed to empower tenant farmers, and sought
to improve productivity.
3. Though highly ambitious, it lacked funding
support from Congress and was implemented
only in select provinces, acquiring over 18,000
hectares and benefiting 7,466 farmers.
4. Earned Macapagal the title "Father of Agrarian
Reform."
 Under Ferdinand E. Marcos (1965-1986)
R.A. No. 6389 and R.A. No. 6390 (1969):
1. These laws established the Department of Agrarian
Reform (DAR) to replace the Land Authority and
accelerated land acquisition and agricultural credit.
2. Created an Agrarian Reform Special Account in the
General Fund for exclusive program financing.
Presidential Decrees No. 2 and No. 27:
3. Presidential Decree No. 2 declared the entire country
a land reform area.
4. Presidential Decree No. 27 aimed to emancipate
tenants by granting ownership rights on rice and corn
lands to those who tilled them. This decree:
1. Set a landholding ceiling of 7 hectares.
2. Allowed tenants to buy the land they farmed if the holding
exceeded 7 hectares; those on less than 7 hectares became
leaseholders.
•Comprehensive Support Programs:
Marcos’ agrarian reform included credit support,
infrastructure, farm extension, legal assistance,
electrification, and institution-building efforts for rural
development.
Divided into five core components: Land Tenure,
Institutional Development, Physical Development,
Agricultural Development, and Human Resources.
•Implementation Under Martial Law:
Marcos' program, termed "revolutionary," was implemented
during Martial Law, allowing rapid enactment without
legislative barriers.
Limitations included its limited scope, focusing only on rice
and corn lands, and continued dominance of private
interests in coconut and sugar industries.
Martial Law also led to farmer leader arrests without due
process, impacting farmer representation.
 President Corazon Aquino’s administration
(1986-1992)
•Constitutional Mandate:
•The 1987 Constitution set agrarian reform as a
key national priority, stating that "The State shall
promote comprehensive rural development and
agrarian reform" (Article 2, Section 21).
•Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program
(CARP):
Proclamation 131 established CARP as a major
national program, creating a 60 billion-peso
Agrarian Reform Fund (ARF) to support the
program from 1987-1997.
Executive Order 129 reorganized and expanded
the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to
better handle CARP’s implementation.
 President Corazon Aquino’s administration (1986-1992)
Policy Guidelines to Support CARP:
•Several DAR Administrative Orders (AOs) were issued to guide CARP’s land acquisition and
distribution:
• DAR AO No. 2 (1992): Procedures for expired pasture and timber lease agreements.
• DAR AO No. 1 (1993): Revised rules on voluntary land sales and compulsory
acquisition.
• DAR-LBP AO No. 3 (1994): Land distribution guidelines for areas affected by the Mt.
Pinatubo eruption.
• DAR AO No. 1 (1995): Rules for land under sequestration by the PCGG or APT.
• DAR AO No. 2 (1995): Voluntary Land Transfer or Direct Payment Scheme.
• DAR AO No. 2 (1996): Voluntary and compulsory land sales.
• DAR AO No. 2 (1997): Procedures for mortgaged or foreclosed lands.
• DAR AO No. 8 (1998): Guidelines on compensable agricultural land under VLT/Direct
Payment Scheme.
• DAR AO No. 7 (1993): Guidelines on distribution of public agricultural lands from the
National Livelihood and Support Fund.
 Joseph Ejercito Estrada (1998-2001)
MAGSASAKA Program:
1. Magkabalikat Para sa Kaunlarang Agraryo (MAGSASAKA) aimed to attract investors for capital,
technology, and management support, allowing farmers to contribute their land. The initiative
promoted joint ventures and contract growing, intended to improve farmer income, efficiency,
and global competitiveness.
2. Estrada’s administration emphasized integrated land distribution and support services by
setting specific targets for hectares of land distributed and focusing on the needs of
beneficiaries.
Land Occupation and Agrarian Justice Fund:
3. DAR worked with local government units (LGUs) and security forces to facilitate land
occupation, securing land for farmer claimants.
4. An Agrarian Justice Fund was created to aid farmer beneficiaries and DAR workers in cases
involving opposition from landowners.
International Alliances and Development:
5. Estrada’s administration prioritized national and international partnerships, such as the
International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development, to enhance DAR’s role in
development planning and gain support from international donors.
6. DAR-DA-DENR Convergence Initiative sought to unify efforts across departments for agrarian
reform.
 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-2010)
Bayan-Anihan Framework:
1. Implemented as the guiding framework for CARP, “Bayan-Anihan” emphasized
collaborative effort across government and communities for effective agrarian reform.
2. Key strategies included:
1.Salin-Lupa: Accelerating land transfer.
2.Katarungan: Fair resolution of agrarian disputes.
3.Bayanihan: Mobilizing ARBs and enhancing government support.
4.Kamalayan: Raising awareness about agrarian reform.
KARZONES Program:
3. Kapit Bisig sa Kahirapan Agrarian Reform Zones (KARZONES) promoted partnerships
aimed at poverty reduction, food security, productivity, and empowerment of ARBs.
4. KARZONES focused on forming agrarian reform communities (ARCs) and non-ARC
zones with a goal of promoting sustainable farming and community development.
 Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (2001-2010)
•Support Programs:
Gulayan Magsasakang Agraryo: A program focused on income
generation and food security for farmer families.
•Diosdado Macapagal Scholar Program: An educational initiative
benefiting children and dependents of ARBs.
•Improved Agrarian Case Resolution:
Arroyo’s administration introduced a quota system for agrarian case
resolutions to expedite the process and trained farmers as paralegals
to assist with legal matters.
 Under President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
III (2010-2016)
Strategic Directions for Agrarian Reform
1. Completing Land Acquisition and Distribution (LAD):
1. Focus on large-sized private agricultural lands to meet the targets set by R.A. No.
9700 (CARPER).
2. Redeploy competent DAR personnel to provinces with high LAD demands.
3. Streamline LAD processes and procedures for efficiency.
4. Enhance databases of landholdings to improve targeting and monitoring.
2. Prioritizing Collective CLOAs:
1. Focus on the subdivision of Certificates of Land Ownership Awards (CLOAs)
involving compensable lands.
3. Fast-tracking Compensation Documentation:
1. Expedite the documentation and settlement of landowner compensation for
already distributed lands.
Under President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
III (2010-2016)
Strategic Directions for Agrarian Reform

4. Synergizing Efforts:
Rationalize the collaboration of CARP implementing agencies in LAD processes.
5. Partnerships with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs):
Collaborate with CSOs to improve the delivery of LTI services, particularly in large-
sized private agricultural lands.
6. Job-sharing Scheme:
Implement the ONE-DAR concept, allowing provinces to share responsibilities to
reduce the need for new hires.
7. Utilization of Geodetic Engineers:
Increase the use of geodetic engineers for assistance in land acquisition
processes.
Under President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
III (2010-2016)
Program Beneficiaries Development (PBD) Priorities:
1.Convergence Initiatives:
Collaborate with rural development agencies to enhance resources and streamline DAR efforts
alongside the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR).
2.Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs):
Develop collaboration models and business strategies in agrarian reform areas with the involvement of
CSOs, academic institutions, and research entities.
3.Augmenting Income through ODA:
Expand the official development assistance (ODA) portfolio to support income generation for
beneficiaries.
4.Shift Focus to PBD:
Transition from low-LAD provinces to prioritize Program Beneficiaries Development.
5.Unlocking Credit Facilities:
Facilitate access to credit for agrarian reform beneficiaries through capacity development for credit
providers and farmer-borrowers.
 Under President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino
III (2010-2016)
Agrarian Justice Delivery (AJD) Objectives:

1. Legal Framework for Expediency:

Establish legal frameworks to expedite LAD processes and ensure free,
informed consent from agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) on agribusiness
agreements.
2. Common Legal Templates:
Develop standardized templates and legal outlines to assist DAR lawyers
and paralegals in handling cases.
3. Improving Legal Capabilities:
Enhance the skills and capabilities of DAR lawyers and legal officers.
4. Utilizing ICT for Legal Work:
Employ information and communication technology (ICT) to improve legal
processes and efficiency.
 Have a great day ahea!

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