MODULE 15 Flashcards
What is agrarian reform?
🔹 Answer: Agrarian reform covers the restructuring of tenure and the pre- and post-production support services structures in the agricultural sector.
How was land ownership structured during the pre-colonial period?
🔹
Answer:
The datu was the principal landowner.
The maharlika and timawa had access to land.
The alipin (slaves) worked the land.
Once an alipin was granted land, they were no longer considered slaves.
How did Spanish colonial rule affect land ownership?
🔹
Answer:
Spain declared all lands public domain under the King of Spain.
The King distributed land as rewards to Spanish military and civilians.
Private ownership of land became common.
What was the land ownership situation under American rule?
🔹
Answer:
93% of the land was controlled by the American colonial government.
Governor-General William Howard Taft wanted to sell land to American investors.
The 1902 Land Act limited ownership to:
16 hectares for American individuals.
1,024 hectares for American corporations.
The Land Registration Act of 1902 introduced the Torrens system for land titles.
The Public Land Act of 1903 introduced the homestead system.
The Tenancy Act of 1933 established a 50-50 crop-sharing system for rice and sugarcane lands.
How did the Japanese occupation impact land distribution?
🔹
Answer:
The Hukbalahap (Huks) controlled large areas in Luzon.
Landlords who collaborated with the Japanese lost their lands.
Peasants benefited from the new system and gained more land.
Awareness of landlord abuses grew, leading many peasants to join the Hukbalahap movement.
What was the kasama system?
🔹
Answer:
A form of shared tenancy between landowners and tenants.
The landlord provided land, seeds, and cash for planting/harvesting.
The tenant (kasama) provided labor and a carabao.
The yield was shared equally between the two parties.
Why did the kasama system fail?
🔹 Answer: It failed to address the demand for genuine agrarian reform, leading to:
The rise of socialist movements advocating for reform.
Landlords maintaining control over land.
Increased agrarian unrest.
How did land issues worsen under President Marcos?
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Answer:
Land grabbing increased.
Marcos cronies were awarded land concessions.
Corruption heightened calls for genuine agrarian reform.
What was the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)?
🔹
Answer:
Established under President Corazon Aquino in 1988.
Considered the most significant agrarian reform legislation.
A result of negotiations between lawmakers, landowners, and reform advocates.
Why did CARP fail to bring genuine agrarian reform?
🔹
Answer:
President Aquino allowed Congress to draft the program instead of using her legislative power.
Congress, controlled by the landed elite, weakened the law.
The law was seen as a compromise favoring landowners.
What is the current state of agrarian reform (as of 2018)?
🔹 Answer:
Agrarian issues persist.
Land redistribution is slow.
Successive administrations promised reforms but failed to deliver meaningful change.
