HISTORY AND EVOLUTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM

YEARAGENCYLEGAL BASISFUNCTION

1936National Rice and CornCorporation (NARICC)

R.A. No. 663 Develop and improve the rice and corn industries in all their phases, of stabilizing the prices of rice and corn, and of promoting the social and economic conditions of the people who are engaged in the production of these staple food.[footnoteRef:1],[footnoteRef:2] [1: Section 1, R.A. No. 663.] [2: In 1962, the NARIC was abolished. The functions of the NARIC was transferred to the Rice and Corn Administration (RCA), under the Office of the President of the Philippines, by virtue of Republic Act No. 3452. In 1972, Presidential Decree No. 4 abolished the RCA and created the National Grains Authority (NGA) in lieu thereof. The NGA, in turn, was reconstituted to what is now the National Food Authority (NFA) through Presidential Decree No. 1770. ]

1939National Land Settlement Administration (NLSA)CA No. 441 Facilitate the acquisition, settlement and cultivation of lands whether acquired from the Government or from private parties; [footnoteRef:3] [3: Section 2 (a), Commonwealth Act No. 441. ]

Afford opportunity to own farms to tenant farmers and small farmers from congested areas, and to trainees who have completed the prescribed military training. [footnoteRef:4] [4: Section 2 (b), Commonwealth Act No. 441. ]

Encourage migration to sparsely populated regions, and facilitate the amalgamation of the people in different sections of the Philippines.[footnoteRef:5] [5: Section 2 (c), Commonwealth Act No. 441. ]

Develop new money crops to take the place of the present export crops which may suffer from the loss of preferences which they enjoy in the American market.[footnoteRef:6] [6: Section 2 (d), Commonwealth Act No. 441. ]

1950Land Settlement Development Corporation (LASEDECO)[footnoteRef:7] [7: Section 12, Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950: The National Land Settlement Administration, and the Rice and Corn Production Administration and the Machinery and Equipment Department of the National Development Company are hereby dissolved. Any reference to the National Land Settlement Administration, and the Rice and Corn Production Administration and the Machinery and Equipment Department of the National Development Company in any existing law, or in any Executive Order, Administrative Order, or Proclamation of the President of the Philippines shall, with respect to any duty or function assumed by the corporation created in this Order, be deemed hereafter to be reference to the LASEDECO.]

E.O. No. 355, s. 1950 Abolished the NLSA Facilitate the acquisition, settlement and cultivation of agricultural lands; [footnoteRef:8] [8: Section 2 (a), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

Afford opportunity to own farms to tenant farmers and small farmers from congested areas, to graduates of agricultural schools and colleges, to trainees who have completed the prescribed military training, to veterans and members of guerrilla organizations, and to other persons as may be determined by the Board of Directors with the approval of the Secretary of Economic Coordination; [footnoteRef:9] [9: Section 2 (b), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

Encourage migration to sparsely populated regions, and facilitate the amalgamation of the people in different sections of the Philippines; [footnoteRef:10] [10: Section 2 (c), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

Acquire by grant from the Republic of the Philippines unrestricted areas of public agricultural lands in order to carry out its objectives; to survey, subdivide and set aside lots or areas of such lands for farming, townsites, roads, parks, government centers, recreational centers and other public and civic improvements; and to dispose of farm lands and townsite lots to persons qualified and to the extent of areas authorized under the Constitution and the Public Land Act, subject to such other qualifications, and to prices, terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, with the approval of the Secretary of Economic Coordination, the proceeds from disposition of the same to accrue to the Corporation; Provided, however, That within a period of ten years after the final grant, the farm lands and townsite lots aforementioned shall not, except by inheritance, be encumbered, alienated or transferred, nor shall they become liable to the satisfaction of any debt contracted prior to the expiration of the said period; but the improvements or crops on such lands and lots may be mortgaged or pledged to credit agencies duly authorized therefor by the Board of Directors; [footnoteRef:11] [11: Section 2 (d), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

Establish and operate credit agencies, electric light and water plants, water supplies, irrigation systems, cooperative to engage in the buying and selling of commodities, and other services or conveniences for the well-being of the settlers; [footnoteRef:12] [12: Section 2 (e), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

Encourage mechanized farming; to operate tractor and agricultural machinery pools; and to maintain training centers for the operation and repair of agricultural machinery, tractors and the like; [footnoteRef:13] [13: Section 2 (f), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

Assist in the establishment of agricultural and other vocational schools within the areas under its territorial jurisdiction, and to allocate definite portions of farm lands and townsite lots with a view to enabling students successfully finishing courses prescribed in said agricultural and vocational schools to eventually acquire title thereto; [footnoteRef:14] [14: Section 2 (g), Executive Order No. 355, series of 1950.]

1954National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration (NARRA)[footnoteRef:15] [15: Abolished the LASEDECO. See Section 10, R.A. No. 1160: The Land Settlement and Development Corporation created under Executive Order Numbered Three hundred fifty-five, dated October twenty three, nineteen hundred and fifty, known for short as LASEDESCO (sic.), is hereby abolished, and all its obligations under said Executive Order, except its commercial accounts which are to be paid as hereinafter provided, are hereby transferred to the Treasury of the Philippines to be amortized over a period of fifteen years subject to the availability of funds of the Government.]

R.A. No. 1160 Free distribution of agricultural lands of the public domain to landless tenants and farm workers who are citizens of the Philippines and to encourage migration to sparsely populated regions pursuant to the fundamental policy of the government to promote the level of production, employment and living standards of the people.[footnoteRef:16] [16: Section 1, R.A. 1160. ]

Select and screen applicants for allocation within the areas set aside for purposes of settlement in the public domain [xxx];[footnoteRef:17] [17: Section 6(1), R.A. 1160.]

Assist settlers in transporting themselves, their belongings, work animals and farm equipment, if any, from the communities from which they are migrating to the settlement areas reserved for the purpose, and for subsistence necessary until credit can be provided by the Agricultural Credit and Cooperative Financing Administration (ACCFA) under section thirteen of this Act, or by any other credit institution by loaning to them the full amount required for such purposes. [xxx]; [footnoteRef:18] [18: Section 6(2), R.A. 1160.]

Assist the said settlers in securing equipment, supplies and materials needed in the settlement areas at the most advantageous prices or terms, and, if requested, to assist the cooperative associations of the new settlers in securing the most advantageous prices or terms on farm implements and supplies needed by the cooperative associations and their members; [footnoteRef:19] [19: Section 6(3), R.A. 1160.]

Help provide housing and other accommodations for the new settlers in the settlement areas upon arrival by locating them in properly surveyed and subdivided lots reserved for the purpose, to help organize community activities that the new settlers require upon arrival in the new settlement, and to cooperate with the agricultural extension service, the Bureau of Health, the Bureau of Public Schools and other pertinent agencies of the Government, in providing the services for the proper establishment of community facilities as well as the organization of collective efforts essential to development in the new settlement areas. [footnoteRef:20] [20: Section 6(4), R.A. 1160.]

Submit its annual report and balance sheets to the President and the Congress of the Philippines, as provided in sections five hundred and seventy-four to five hundred and seventy-seven of the Administrative Code; [footnoteRef:21] [21: Section 6(5), R.A. 1160.]

Appoint and fix the number and salaries, upon recommendation of the Office of Economic Coordination and with the approval of the President of the Philippines and subject to Civil Service Law and Rules and the salary law, of such subordinate personnel as may be necessary for the proper discharge of its duties and functions and upon recommendation of the Office of Economic Coordination and with the approval of the President, suspend, remove or otherwise discipline, any of its subordinate employees[footnoteRef:22]; and [22: Section 6(6), R.A. 1160.]

Perform such other related duties as may be assigned to it by the President of the Philippines from time to time. [footnoteRef:23] [23: Section 6(7), R.A. 1160.]

1963Land AuthorityRA No. 3844 [footnoteRef:24] [24: Agricultural Land Reform Code.]

Carry out the policy of establishing owner-cultivatorship and the economic family-size farm as the basis of Philippine agriculture and other policies enunciated in this Code, there is hereby created a Land Authority, hereinafter called the Authority, which shall be directly under the control and supervision of the President of the Philippines.[footnoteRef:25] [25: Section 49, R.A. No. 3844. ]

Initiate and prosecute expropriation proceedings for the acquisition of private agricultural lands as defined in Section one hundred sixty-six of Chapter XI of this Code for the purpose of subdivision into economic family-size farm units and resale of said farm units to bona fide tenants, occupants and qualified farmers;[footnoteRef:26] [26: Section 51 (1), R.A. 3844.]

Help bona fide farmers without lands or agricultural owner-cultivators of uneconomic-size farms to acquire and own economic family-size farm units; [footnoteRef:27] [27: Section 51 (2), R.A. 3844.]

Administer and dispose of agricultural lands of the public domain under the custody and administration of the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration prior to the approval of this Code and such other public agricultural lands as may hereafter be reserved by the President of the Philippines for resettlement and sale [xxx}; [footnoteRef:28] [28: Section 51 (3), R.A. 3844.]

Develop plans and initiate actions for the systematic opening of alienable and disposable lands of the public domain for speedy, distribution to and development by deserving and qualified persons or corporations; [footnoteRef:29] [29: Section 51 (4), R.A. 3844.]

Recommend to the President, from time to time after previous consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, what portion of the alienable or disposable public lands shall be reserved for settlement or disposition under this chapter; [footnoteRef:30] [30: Section 51 (5), R.A. 3844.]

Give economic family-size farms to landless citizens of the Philippines who need, deserve, and are capable of cultivating the land personally, through organized resettlement, under the terms and conditions the Authority may prescribe, giving priority to qualified and deserving farmers in the province where such lands are located; [footnoteRef:31] [31: Section 51 (6), R.A. 3844.]

Reclaim swamps and marshes, obtain titles thereto whenever feasible and subdivide them into economic family-size farms for distribution to deserving and qualified farmers; [footnoteRef:32] [32: Section 51 (7), R.A. 3844.]

Undertake measures which will insure the early issuance of titles to persons or corporations who have actually settled and cultivated disposable alienable lands of the public domain; [footnoteRef:33] [33: Section 51 (8), R.A. 3844.]

Survey, subdivide and set aside lands or areas of landholdings under its administration for economic family-size farms, large-scale farm operations, town sites, roads, parks, government centers and other civic improvements as circumstances may warrant and to submit subdivision survey plans conducted either by the government or private surveyors on parcels of lands under its administration for verification and approval either by the Director of Lands or by the Land Registration Commission; [footnoteRef:34] [34: Section 51 (9), R.A. 3844.]

Inform the Agricultural Productivity Commission and the Office of the Agrarian Counsel of the problems of settlers and farmers on lands under its administration; [footnoteRef:35] [35: Section 51 (10), R.A. 3844.]

Acquire for agricultural lessees exercising their right of pre-emption under Chapter I of this Code, any landholdings mentioned thereunder; [footnoteRef:36] [36: Section 51 (11), R.A. 3844.]

Conduct land capability survey and classification of the entire country and print maps; [footnoteRef:37] [37: Section 51 (12), R.A. 3844.]

Make such arrangements with the Land Bank with respect to titles of agricultural lands of the public domain under its administration as will be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Code; [footnoteRef:38] [38: Section 51 (13), R.A. 3844.]

Expropriate home lots occupied by agricultural lessees outside their landholdings for resale at cost to said agricultural lessees; [footnoteRef:39] and [39: Section 51 (14), R.A. 3844.]

Submit to the President of the Philippines and to both Houses of Congress through their presiding officers, to the Secretary of Finance and to the Auditor General within sixty days of the close of the fiscal year, an annual report showing its accomplishments during the year; the expropriation proceedings it has undertaken; the expenditures it has incurred and other financial transactions undertaken with respect thereto. [footnoteRef:40] [40: Section 51 (15), R.A. 3844.]

1971Department of Agrarian Reform[footnoteRef:41] [41: A separate administrative agency for agrarian reform, replacing the Land Authority. See Section 12, R.A. No. 6389: The Land Authority under the Office of the President and a member-agency of the Land Reform Project Administration is hereby abolished; and its functions are transferred to the Department, together with applicable appropriations, records, equipment, property, and such personnel as may be necessary.]

RA No. 6389[footnoteRef:42] [42: The Code of Agrarian Reforms in the Philippines amended R.A. No. 3844. See Section 1, R.A. 6389: Section 1, 2, 3 and 4 of Republic Act No. thirty eight hundred and forty-four, otherwise known as the Agricultural Land Reform Code [xxx]; Governed the implementation of the agrarian reform in the Philippines. This law instituted the Code of Agrarian Reforms and significantly amended several provisions of Agricultural Land Reform Code or RA 3844. Accelerate the implementation of the of the agrarian reform program in the fields of land acquisition and agricultural credit.]

and RA 6390[footnoteRef:43] [43: An Act To Accelerate The Implementation Of The Agrarian Reform Program By Creating An Agrarian Reform Special Account In The General Fund, Providing The Necessary Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes.]

Initiate and prosecute expropriation proceedings for the acquisition of private agricultural lands [xxx];[footnoteRef:44] [44: Section 12 (1), R.A. No. 6389]

Acquire private agricultural lands regardless of area through negotiated purchase subject to approval of the court as to price for distribution and sale at cost to their actual occupants who are tillers of the land in lots of not more than six hectares [xxx]; [footnoteRef:45] [45: Section 12 (2), R.A. No. 6389]

Help bona fide farmers without lands or agricultural owner-cultivators of uneconomic size farms to acquire and own economic family-size farm units of not more than six hectares each; [footnoteRef:46] [46: Section 12 (3), R.A. No. 6389]

Administer and dispose of agricultural lands of the public domain under the custody and administration of the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration and the Economic Development Corps of the Armed Forces of the Philippines prior to the approval of this Amendatory Act and such other public agricultural lands as may hereafter be reserved by the President of the Philippines or by law for resettlement and sale, in accordance with such terms and conditions as are set forth under this chapter: Provided, That the exercise of the authority granted herein, as well as the preceding subparagraph, shall not contravene public policy on the permanency of forest reserves or other laws intended for the preservation and conservation of public national and municipal forests, parks and watersheds: Provided, further, That said authority shall not be construed to exclude the other modes of disposition of public agricultural lands under the public land Act or to contravene the authority granted by law to the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources over all public agricultural lands not covered by the Agrarian Reform Program: Provided, finally, That the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources shall within a period of ten years from the approval of this Amendatory Act, release to the Department of Agrarian Reform for resettlement and sale all lands of the public domain reserved for agricultural resettlement and sale except public agricultural lands which are reserved as settlements for the national cultural minorities under the administration of the Commission on National Integration; [footnoteRef:47] [47: Section 12 (4), R.A. No. 6389]

Develop plans and initiate actions for the systematic opening of alienable and disposable lands of the public domain for speedy distribution to and development by deserving and qualified persons who do not own any land in sizes of not more than six hectares; [footnoteRef:48] [48: Section 12 (4), R.A. No. 6389]

Recommend to the President, from time to time after previous consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, what portion of the alienable, or disposable public lands shall be reserved for resettlement or disposition under this Chapter; [footnoteRef:49] [49: Section 12 (5), R.A. No. 6389]

Give economic family-size farms of not more than six hectares to landless citizens of the Philippines who need, deserve, and are capable of cultivating the land personally, through organized resettlement, under the terms and conditions the Department may prescribe, giving priority to qualified and deserving farmers in the province where such lands are located; [footnoteRef:50] [50: Section 12 (6), R.A. No. 6389]

Reclaim swamps and marshes for agricultural purposes only, obtain titles thereto whenever feasible and subdivide them into economic family-size farms of not more than six hectares for distribution to deserving and qualified farmers; [footnoteRef:51] [51: Section 12 (7), R.A. No. 6389]

Undertake measures which will insure the early issuance of titles to persons or corporations who have actually settled and cultivated alienable lands of the public domain; [footnoteRef:52] [52: Section 12 (8), R.A. No. 6389]

Survey, subdivide and set aside lands or areas of land-holdings under its custody and administration for economic family-size farms, large-scale farm operations, town sites, roads, parks, government centers and other civic improvements as circumstances may warrant: Provided, That the Bureau of Lands and the Land Registration Commission, as the case may be, shall verify the said surveys or subdivisions, and after such verifications, approve or disapprove the same; and issue, in case of approval of said surveys or subdivisions, the corresponding patents and titles thereto; [footnoteRef:53] [53: Section 12 (9), R.A. No. 6389]

Inform the Agricultural Productivity Commission and the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the problems of settlers and farmers on lands under its administration and in land reform areas; [footnoteRef:54] [54: Section 12 (10), R.A. No. 6389]

Acquire for agricultural lessees exercising their right to pre-emption and redemption under Chapter I of this Code, any land-holdings mentioned thereunder; [footnoteRef:55] [55: Section 12 (11), R.A. No. 6389]

Conduct land capability survey and classification of the entire country and print maps; [footnoteRef:56] [56: Section 12 (12), R.A. No. 6389]

Make such arrangements with the Land Bank with respect to titles of agricultural lands of the public domain under its administration as will be necessary to carry out the objectives of this Code; [footnoteRef:57] [57: Section 12 (13), R.A. No. 6389]

Expropriate home lots occupied by agricultural lessees outside their landholdings for resale at cost to said agricultural lessees; [footnoteRef:58] [58: Section 12 (14), R.A. No. 6389]

See to it that all agricultural lands, either public or private, distributed by the government to the beneficiaries of the Agrarian Reform Program shall be sold only by the said beneficiaries to the government; [footnoteRef:59] and [59: Section 12 (15), R.A. No. 6389]

Submit to the President of the Philippines and to both Houses of Congress through their presiding officers, to the Secretary of Finance and to the Auditor General within sixty days of the close of the fiscal year, an annual report showing its Accomplishments during the year; the expropriation proceedings it has undertaken; the expenditures it has incurred and other financial transactions undertaken with respect thereto. [footnoteRef:60] [60: Section 12 (16), R.A. No. 6389]

1978Ministry of Agrarian Reform--

Under the parliamentary form of government, the DAR was renamed the Ministry of Agrarian Reform

1987Ministry of Agrarian ReformEO 129[footnoteRef:61],[footnoteRef:62] [61: Reorganization Act of the Ministry of Agrarian Reform.] [62: Section 20, E.O. No. 129: Change of Nomenclature. In the event of the adoption of a New Constitution which provides for a presidential form of government, the Ministry shall be called Department of Agrarian Reform and the titles of Minister, Deputy Minister and Assistant Minister shall be changed to Secretary, Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively.]

Acquire, determine the value of, subdivided into family-size farms or organize into collective or cooperative farms and develop private agricultural lands for distribution to qualified tillers, actual occupants, and displaced urban poor; [footnoteRef:63] [63: Section 4(a), E.O. No. 129. ]

Administer and dispose of all cultivable portions of the public domain proclaimed/reserved as resettlement areas for agricultural purposes by the President; [footnoteRef:64] [64: Section 4(b), E.O. No. 129. ]

Acquire, by purchase or grant, real estate properties suited for agriculture that have been foreclosed by the national government; [footnoteRef:65] [65: Section 4(c), E.O. No. 129. ]

Undertake land consolidation, land reclamation, land forming, and conservation in areas subject to agrarian reform; [footnoteRef:66] [66: Section 4(d), E.O. No. 129. ]

Compensate the landowners covered by agrarian reform; [footnoteRef:67] [67: Section 4(e), E.O. No. 129. ]

Issue emancipation patents to farmers and farmworkers who have been given lands under the agrarian reform program as may be provided for by law; [footnoteRef:68] [68: Section 4(f), E.O. No. 129. ]

Provide free legal services to agrarian reform beneficiaries and resolve agrarian conflicts and land tenure problems; [footnoteRef:69] [69: Section 4(g), E.O. No. 129. ]

Develop and implement alternative land tenure systems such as cooperative farming and agro-industrial estates, among others; [footnoteRef:70] [70: Section 4(h), E.O. No. 129. ]

Undertake extensive information and education programs on agrarian reform among the beneficiaries, the government sector, and the general public; [footnoteRef:71] [71: Section 4(i), E.O. No. 129. ]

Undertake land use management and land development studies and projects in agrarian reform areas; [footnoteRef:72] [72: Section 4(j), E.O. No. 129. ]

Approve or disapprove the conversion, restructuring or readjustment of agricultural lands into non-agricultural uses; [footnoteRef:73] [73: Section 4(k), E.O. No. 129. ]

Monitor and evaluate the progress of agrarian reform implementation; [footnoteRef:74] [74: Section 4(l), E.O. No. 129. ]

Assist the Office of the Government General Counsel (Office of the Solicitor General) in providing evidence for the reversion proceedings to be filed with respect to lands of the public domain, occupied by private individuals and their tenants or farm workers which are subject to land reform, and real rights connected therewith which have been acquired in violation of the Constitution or the public land laws, or through corrupt practices; no transfer or disposition of such lands or real rights shall be allowed until after the lapse of one year from the ratification of the new Constitution; [footnoteRef:75] [75: Section 4(m), E.O. No. 129. ]

Submit progress reports to the Office of the President, to Congress, and to the people at the end of each year and at all times make available to the general public information on the current status of its programs. [footnoteRef:76] [76: Section 4(n), E.O. No. 129. ]

1987Department of Agrarian ReformEO 129-A[footnoteRef:77] [77: Reorganization Act of the Department of Agrarian Reform.]

Acquire, determine the value of, subdivide into family-size farms or organize into collective of cooperative farms and develop private agricultural lands for distribution to qualified tillers, actual occupants, and displaced urban poor;[footnoteRef:78] [78: Section 4(a), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Administer and dispose all cultivable portions of the public domain declared as alienable and disposable for agricultural purposes transferred to it by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;[footnoteRef:79] [79: Section 4(b), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Acquire, by purchase or grant, real estate properties suited for agriculture that have been foreclosed by the national government; [footnoteRef:80] [80: Section 4(c), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Undertake land consolidation, land reclamation, land forming, and conservation in areas subject to agrarian reform; [footnoteRef:81] [81: Section 4(d), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Facilitate the compensation of landowners covered by agrarian reform; [footnoteRef:82] [82: Section 4(e), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Issue emancipation patents to farmers and farmworkers who have been given lands under the agrarian reform program as may be provided for by law; [footnoteRef:83] [83: Section 4(f), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Provide free legal services to agrarian reform beneficiaries and resolve agrarian conflicts and land tenure problems; [footnoteRef:84] [84: Section 4(g), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Develop and implement alternative land tenure systems such as cooperative farming and agro-industrial estates, among others; [footnoteRef:85] [85: Section 4(h), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Undertake land use management and land development studies and projects in agrarian reform areas; [footnoteRef:86] [86: Section 4(i), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Approve or disapprove the conversion, restructuring or readjustment of agricultural lands into non-agricultural uses; [footnoteRef:87] [87: Section 4(k), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Monitor and evaluate the progress of agrarian reform implementation; [footnoteRef:88] [88: Section 4(l), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Assist the Office of the Solicitor General in providing evidence for the reversion proceedings to be filed with respect to lands of the public domain, occupied by private individuals and their tenants or farmworkers which are subject to land reform, and real rights connected therewith which have been acquired in violation of the Constitution or the public land laws or through corrupt practices;[footnoteRef:89] [89: Section 4(m), E.O. No. 129-A.]

Submit progress reports to the Office of the President, to Congress, and to the people at the end of each year and at all times make available to the general public information on the current status of its programs.[footnoteRef:90] [90: Section 4(n), E.O. No. 129-A.]

1988Department of Agrarian ReformR.A.6657[footnoteRef:91] [91: Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988]

The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in coordination with the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) shall plan and program the acquisition and distribution of all agricultural lands through a period of ten (10) years from the effectivity of this Act. Creation of Support Services Office.[footnoteRef:92] [92: SECTION 35. Creation of Support Services Office. There is hereby created the Office of Support Services under the DAR to be headed by an Undersecretary. The Office shall provide general support and coordinative services in the implementation of the program particularly in carrying out the provisions of the following services to farmer-beneficiaries and affected landowners: 1) Irrigation facilities, especially second crop or dry season irrigation facilities; 2) Infrastructure development and public works projects in areas and settlements that come under agrarian reform, and for this purpose, the preparation of the physical development plan of such settlements providing suitable barangay sites, potable water and power resources, irrigation systems and other facilities for a sound agricultural development plan; 3) Government subsidies for the use of irrigation facilities; 4) Price support and guarantee for all agricultural produce; 5) Extending to small landowners, farmers' organizations the necessary credit, like concessional and collateral-free loans, for agro-industrialization based on social collaterals like the guarantees of farmers' organization: 6) Promoting, developing and extending financial assistance to small-and medium-scale industries in agrarian reform areas; 7) Assigning sufficient numbers of agricultural extension workers to farmers' organizations; 8) Undertake research, development and dissemination of information on agrarian reform and low-cost and ecologically sound farm inputs and technologies to minimize reliance on expensive and imported agricultural inputs; 9) Development of cooperative management skills through intensive training; 10) Assistance in the identification of ready markets for agricultural produce and training in other various prospects of marketing; and cdtai 11) Administration operation management and funding of support services, programs and projects including pilot projects and models related to agrarian reform as developed by the DAR.]

2004Department of Land ReformE.O. No. 364, series of 2004 Department of Agrarian Reform is hereby transformed into the Department of Land Reform. It shall be responsible for all land reform in the country, including agrarian reform, urban land reform, and ancestral domain reform. The PCUP is hereby placed under the supervision and control of the Department of Land Reform. The Chairman of the PCUP shall be ex-officio Undersecretary of the Department of Land Reform for Urban Land Reform. The NCIP is hereby placed under the supervision and control of the Department of Land Reform.

2005Department of Agrarian Reform E.O. No. 456, s. 2005 Department of Land Reform was renamed as Department of Agrarian Reform.