sRepublic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES
LAOANG CAMPUS
Laoang, Northern Samar
Web: [Link] Email: ueplaoangcampus2000@[Link]
MODULE IN GE 4
Readings in Philippine History
(AGRARIAN REFORM IN THE
PHILIPPINES)
Prepared by:
RIO T. SAPA
Special Lecturer
Agrarian Reform in the Philippines
Introduction:
Agrarian reform is a government initiative aimed at redistributing agricultural
land to promote social justice and improve the lives of landless farmers. It seeks to
correct historical inequalities in land ownership by providing fair access to land,
resources, and opportunities. Through agrarian reform, farmers are empowered to
become more productive, self-reliant, and active contributors to national
development.
Reform means to make changes or improvements to something — usually
a system, law, or institution — in order to make it better, fairer, or more
effective.
• Land reform refers to a government program or policy that redistributes
agricultural land to make ownership and use of land more equitable and
productive.
• In the Philippines it is a process of redistributing land from the landlords to
tenants-farmers in order that they will be given a chance to own a piece of
land to improve their plight.
Key Objectives of Land Reform:
1. Promote social justice – Give fair access to land for those who work on it.
2. Reduce inequality – Narrow the gap between rich landowners and poor farmers.
3. Increase productivity – Encourage farmers to work more efficiently when they
own the land they till.
4. Eliminate tenancy or sharecropping – Ensure farmers are not just renters but
actual owners.
Agrarian Reform
• Agrarian reform refers to a government program that redistributes
agricultural land and provides support to farmers to improve their lives,
promote social justice, and boost agricultural productivity.
• Agrarian reform is defined as the rectification of the whole system of
agriculture.
• Agrarian reform is concerned with the relation between production and
distribution of land among farmers.
• The process of raw materials that are produced by farming the land from the
perspective industries.
4 Main Components of Agrarian Reform:
1. Land Redistribution - This involves transferring ownership of land from large
landowners to landless farmers and tenants.
2. Support Services- After receiving land, farmers also need assistance to make it
productive.
• Support services include credit or loans, farming tools and inputs (like
seeds and fertilizers), training, irrigation systems, and market access so
farmers can sell their products at fair prices
3. Rural Development
This focuses on improving the overall quality of life in farming communities.
• It includes building roads, schools, health centers, and other
infrastructure that help farmers connect to markets, get education, and
access social services.
• 4. Institutional reform refers to changes or improvements in the
organizations, systems, and structures that manage and support the
implementation of agrarian reform programs. It focuses on creating or
strengthening institutions that ensure fair land distribution and provide
continuous assistance to farmers.
Here are examples of agencies involved in institutional reforms under agrarian
reform in the Philippines:
1. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) – Leads the implementation of land
distribution and provides support services to agrarian reform beneficiaries.
2. Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) – Finances the agrarian reform
program, compensates landowners, and grants credit or loans to farmers.
3. Department of Agriculture (DA) – Provides technical support, farm inputs,
and training to help farmers improve productivity.
4. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – Handles
land surveys, land classification, and the distribution of public agricultural
lands.
5. Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) – Promotes and regulates
cooperatives that help farmers manage and market their produce collectively.
6. Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) – Offers insurance
protection to farmers against crop loss due to natural disasters, pests, or
diseases.
7. Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs) – Local farmer
groups or cooperatives that help manage collective farms, access credit, and
improve marketing.
HISTORY of AGRARIAN REFORM
It is a 100-year history of unfinished reforms after the colonizers invaded the
country.
Before the Hispanic period, there were no owner-cultivators only communal
lands.
During the Spaniard, they implemented:
Encomienda – Royal land grants
Maura Decree – 1 year for title
Unrecognized of local customs.
Establishments of pueblos
Mortgage (pagsasangla)
Inquilinos (friars’ tax)