QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 27)
PD 27 was issued on October 21, 1972 by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was promulgated by virtue of the powers vested by the Constitution as Commander-in-Chief and pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081 (Sept. 21, 1972) and General Order No. 1 (Sept. 22, 1972, as amended). It “decrees and orders the emancipation of all tenant farmers as this day, October 21, 1972.”
PD 27 applies to all tenant farmers of private agricultural lands primarily devoted to rice and corn under a system of share-crop or lease-tenancy, whether classified as landed estate or not.
The tenant farmer is deemed owner of a portion constituting a family-size farm of five (5) hectares if not irrigated and three (3) hectares if irrigated.
In all cases, the landowner may retain an area of not more than seven (7) hectares if such landowner is cultivating such area or will now cultivate it.
The value of the land is equivalent to two and one-half (2 1/2) times the average harvest of the three normal crop years immediately preceding PD 27.
The total cost of the land, including interest at six percent (6%) per annum, shall be paid by the tenant in fifteen (15) years of fifteen (15) equal amortizations.
If the tenant defaults, the amortizations due shall be paid by the farmer’s cooperative, which has a right of recourse against the tenant.
PD 27 provides that the government shall guarantee such amortizations with shares of stock in government-owned and government-controlled corporations.
Title to land acquired pursuant to PD 27 (or the Land Reform Program) shall not be transferable except by hereditary succession or to the Government, in accordance with PD 27, the Code of Agrarian Reforms, and other existing laws and regulations.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (through its Secretary) is empowered to promulgate rules and regulations for the implementation of PD 27.
Private agricultural lands primarily devoted to rice and corn, under a share-crop or lease-tenancy arrangement.
It applies “whether classified as landed estate or not,” meaning both types are covered as long as they are private agricultural lands primarily devoted to rice and corn under share-crop or lease-tenancy.
It states that all laws, executive orders, decrees and rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with PD 27 are repealed or modified accordingly.
The preamble states that the old concept of land ownership by a few spawned legitimate grievances leading to violent conflict and social tension, and that emancipation of the tiller of the soil from bondage is a fundamental objective of the New Society—thus aiming to address agrarian unrest through land transfer.