Legal basis and stated context
- The decree is issued under the President’s powers vested by the Constitution.
- The decree recognizes that the Department of Agrarian Reform exists to implement state policies and decrees on agrarian reform.
- The decree links the reform framework to Presidential Decree Nos. 2 and 27, which initiated an overhaul of land tenure to emancipate tenant-farmers from bondage.
- The decree states that implementation of Presidential Decree No. 27 has produced complex problems requiring greater concentration of efforts and resources.
- The decree directs an increase in the Department’s capability in developing and implementing plans and programs on land tenure improvement.
Policy direction and purpose of conversion
- The conversion is designed to increase capability in developing and implementing plans and programs on land tenure improvement.
- The decree reorients field and institutional functions to concentrate efforts and resources on land-tiller-landowner identification, tenurial security, leasehold arrangements, and related land tenure improvements.
- The decree aims to support implementation of agrarian reform programs while addressing complexities created by land tenure reform under Presidential Decree No. 27.
- The decree maintains continuity in field implementation by preserving key ongoing team functions during reorientation.
Creation of Bureau and leadership structure
- The Bureau of Farm Management is converted into the Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement within the Department of Agrarian Reform.
- The Bureau is headed by a Director.
- The Director may be assisted by an Assistant Director.
Bureau functions and responsibilities
- The Bureau provides staff services for developing policies, plans and programs, and standard operating procedures on land tenure improvement.
- The Bureau covers land-tiller-landowner identification, tenurial security, and leasehold arrangements.
- The Bureau covers land transactions leading to the transfer of land ownership to tenant-farmers, including related records.
- The Bureau covers land valuation and landowners compensation.
- The Bureau undertakes land tenure research.
- The Bureau conducts joint projects with other government offices and private institutions to be established in tenanted areas and landed estates to improve land tenure and land use.
- The Bureau establishes and operates a monitoring and information system on land tenure improvement.
- The Bureau performs other functions the Secretary may assign pertaining to land tenure improvement.
Internal divisions of the Bureau
- The Bureau has two functional divisions: (1) Land Transactions Division and (2) Land Tenure Research and Projects Division.
- The Land Transactions Division develops programs for the identification and maintenance of a current inventory of tillers, landowners, landholdings (including crops and production), and relevant particulars.
- The Land Transactions Division handles transactions involving tenurial security, leasehold arrangements, land transfers, and change in land use.
- The Land Transactions Division develops standards for valuation of lands acquired by the government under the agrarian reform program and for payment of landowners.
- The Land Transactions Division establishes and operates a monitoring and information system on land tenure improvement.
- The Land Tenure Research and Projects Division prepares research designs on land tenure improvements.
- The Land Tenure Research and Projects Division develops joint projects with other government offices and private institutions in tenanted areas and landed estates to improve land tenure and land use.
Transfer of assets, personnel, and reorientation
- All personnel, appropriations, records, equipment, and property of the converted Bureau of Farm Management are transferred to the Bureau of Land Tenure Improvement.
- Field personnel of the Department of Agrarian Reform, particularly those assigned to the Agrarian Reform Project Teams, are reoriented to assume primary responsibility for implementing agrarian reform programs, especially land-tiller-landowner identification, tenurial security, leasehold arrangements, land transactions leading to transfer of land ownership to tenant-farmers (including related records), land valuation, landowners’ compensation, land tenure research, and other functions the Office of the Secretary assigns pertaining to land tenure improvement.
- Agrarian Reform Project Teams continue ongoing functions and activities related to project identification and formulation, organization of compact and/or integrated farms, and the establishment of cooperative-cultivatorship schemes to avoid disrupting integrated field implementation.
- To avoid duplication with the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Agrarian Reform does not undertake agricultural, home and youth development extension activities.
- The Department of Agriculture assumes primary responsibility for providing agricultural extension services in agrarian reform areas.
- Agricultural extension workers in agrarian reform areas are assigned to specific coverage areas through consultation with the Department of Agrarian Reform.
Repeals and modification of inconsistent rules
- All laws, rules and regulations that are inconsistent with Presidential Decree No. 980 are repealed or modified accordingly.