State Policy on Agrarian Reform
- Abolition of feudalism and unjust tenurial arrangements.
- Establishment of owner-cultivated family-size farms and cooperatives.
- Prohibition of absentee land ownership.
- Diversion of landlord capital to industrial development.
- Protection and autonomy of farmers’ and farmworkers’ institutions.
- Just socio-economic structures through cooperatives.
- Accelerated land disposition to qualified beneficiaries.
- Government and farmer/farmworker partnership in program formulation and implementation.
- Provision of investment, employment opportunities, and adequate funding.
- Implementation of agricultural land tax to prevent hoarding/speculation.
Departmental Mandate
- Implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.
- Authority to acquire, value, subdivide, and develop private agricultural lands.
- Administer and dispose of alienable and disposable public agricultural lands.
- Acquire foreclosed real estate for agriculture.
- Land consolidation, reclamation, conservation activities.
- Facilitate landowner compensation.
- Issue emancipation patents.
- Provide free legal services and resolve agrarian conflicts.
- Develop alternative land tenure systems.
- Approve or disapprove land use conversion.
- Monitor and report program progress.
- Assist in legal reversion proceedings of illegally acquired lands.
Powers and Functions
- Advise the President and Presidential Agrarian Reform Council.
- Implement agrarian laws with quasi-judicial powers, including contempt and subpoena.
- Establish rules, policies, and priorities.
- Coordinate with Land Bank and other agencies.
- Conduct land surveys.
- Promote cooperatives and continuing education on agrarian reform.
- Approve/disapprove land conversions.
- Call on government and NGOs for support.
- Exercise additional powers to promote efficiency.
Organizational Structure
- Department Proper: Office of the Secretary, Undersecretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Public Affairs, Special Concerns Staff, Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board.
- Staff Bureaus: Land Acquisition and Distribution, Land Development, Agrarian Legal Assistance, Agrarian Reform Information and Education, Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development.
- Field offices: Regional, Provincial, and Municipal Agrarian Reform Offices.
Key Officers
- Secretary of Agrarian Reform: vested with supervision and control; appointed by President.
- Four Undersecretaries and seven Assistant Secretaries assist the Secretary.
- Public Affairs Staff handles public information.
- Special Concerns Staff addresses priority matters.
- Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board with quasi-judicial functions.
Planning and Management Offices
- Planning and Project Management Office: coordinates planning and monitors program implementation.
- Policy and Strategic Research Office: manages information systems and research.
- Finance, Management and Administrative Office: oversees fund allocation, asset management, and personnel services.
- Field Operations Offices: oversee regional agrarian reform implementation.
- Legal Affairs Office: handles contracts, legal assistance, and review.
Bureaus’ Roles
- Bureau of Land Acquisition and Distribution: manages policies and assistance related to land acquisition and distribution.
- Bureau of Land Development: focuses on surveys, land use, classification, and land development operations.
- Bureau of Agrarian Legal Assistance: provides legal guidelines and para-legal services.
- Bureau of Agrarian Reform Information and Education: conducts education and dissemination programs.
- Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development: works for community development and cooperative organization.
Regional and Local Offices
- 12 Regional Offices led by Regional Directors oversee regional implementation, technical assistance, research, coordination with agencies, and reporting.
- Provincial Offices replace previous district offices, headed by Provincial Agrarian Reform Officers, coordinating municipal offices, providing technical and legal assistance, conducting audits, and facilitating cooperation.
- Municipal Agrarian Reform Offices directly implement programs at the local level, handle identification, valuation, compensation, legal aid, cooperative development, and coordination with other agencies.
Attached Agency - FARM-Philippines
- Foundation for the Agrarian Reform Movement of the Philippines to be created for managing programs and livelihood projects.
- Authorized to raise funds, contract loans.
Transitory Provisions
- Transfer of functions includes all assets, liabilities, funds, records, and personnel in a hold-over capacity.
- Personnel not included in new staffing patterns are separated with appropriate benefits.
- In case of abolished units, assets revert to General Fund or are allocated as appropriate; liabilities handled per government auditing rules.
- Merger or consolidation includes transfer of assets and personnel, with similar hold-over and separation provisions.
New Structure and Staffing
- Officers and employees continue under hold-over while new structure is approved within 60 days.
- Separation benefits include retirement benefits or severance pay up to 12 months’ salary.
Periodic Performance Evaluation
- DAR must formulate and enforce a system for objective performance evaluation and report annually to the President.
Notice or Consent Requirement
- Reorganization changes prejudicing third-party rights require prior notice or consent of creditors as per contractual obligations.
Prohibition Against Structural Changes
- Any change to the reorganization requires prior presidential approval to ensure service efficiency.
Funding
- Implementation funds to come from available Department funds.
Implementing Authority
- Secretary empowered to issue necessary orders, rules, and regulations for effective implementation.
Separability Clause
- Unconstitutional provisions do not affect the rest of the Executive Order if the remaining can subsist independently.
Repealing Clause
- Inconsistent laws, ordinances, rules, and issuances are repealed or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Executive Order takes effect immediately upon issuance.