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  • Writer: Ziggurat Realestatecorp
    Ziggurat Realestatecorp
  • Jun 22
  • 4 min read

Raising the land ownership retention ceiling to at least 25 hectares.


This was pegged at 5 hectares for a married couple tilling the land and 3 hectares for an individual under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) of 1988. Note that the low land retention ceiling was intended to break up vast tracts of land under the ownership of a single individual or a family.


Agrarian reform advocates at that time said that this was meant to dismantle the monopoly hold of big landlords over local economies and politics, which had resulted in severe inequality and the exploitation of tenants and agricultural laborers.


So oppressive was the situation then that it led to a number of uprisings in the countryside, led by the communist insurgency. Hence, agrarian reform became an anti-insurgency instrument by successive political administrations.


There was the added argument, provided by liberal economists, that agrarian reform would result in greater productivity. They theorized that if the owners of the land were now the actual cultivators, there would be greater incentive to become efficient. No longer would the tillers have to share their harvests with their landlords.


Fast forward or nearly four decades after the CARL was passed, what were the results?

Undeniably, land ownership became more equitable as the average agricultural land holding is currently just a hectare. Now, one can hardly hear complaints about an evil landlord owning vast tracts of land and exercising the power of life and death over tenants.


As such, the anti-insurgency aim of the reform measure was successful. The communist movement never took over as a political power. Currently, its armed component has almost been decimated even in areas where they used to have effective control.


However, it is in the productivity or efficiency side that agrarian reform fared poorly. Overall, agricultural productivity is stagnant, averaging an annual growth of only 1 percent. It has not been able to keep pace with population growth, which has averaged 1.3-1.5 percent. Expectedly, our agricultural and food imports have kept on increasing.

Not surprisingly, agrarian reform advocates blame the government for this. They argue that the lack of government assistance is the reason why agrarian reform beneficiaries fail to significantly raise their productivity.


The argument is quite egregious. If the law wanted to turn our cultivators into farmer-entrepreneurs, why make them perpetually dependent on government assistance or subsidies to become successful? Isn't it the mark of a successful entrepreneur that of being innovative and resourceful? Don't real entrepreneurs value their independence as they find government regulation stifling to growth?


Unfortunately, one of the unintended consequences of the protracted implementation of the CARL is that it destroyed the middle-class farmers who could have transformed themselves into real agricultural entrepreneurs. The main reason is the low land ownership retention ceiling.


With the fragmentation of farm lands into miniscule sizes, there is no way that an agricultural venture can enjoy economies of scale and earn a decent income. A study by the late and revered friend Dr. Rolando Dy of the University of Asia and the Pacific's Center for Food and Agribusiness revealed that the economically viable land size for most crops is around 25 hectares (smaller for vegetables but larger for sugar).


Raising the land retention ceiling to 25 hectares will undoubtedly attract middle-class individuals to invest in agriculture as they have the means to buy the land, are educated enough to decide on the best agri-ventures to engage in, invest in technology to improve productivity and access greater markets for their products using e-commerce platforms.


It is a stylized fact in economic literature that investment is a function of savings and that growth is a function of investment. There are mainly two sources of investment for the agricultural sector: government and the private sector.


A study by another late colleague, Dr. Ramon Yedra, showed that there was little private sector investment in agriculture over the past three decades. There were hardly any new huge investments by big agribusiness corporations during that period, which coincided with the implementation of the CARL. This accounts for agriculture's stagnation as government resources are not enough to support the needs of various economic sectors.


There is a need to actively attract investments from the private sector, but until we are able to lift the low land ownership retention ceiling, this will remain an elusive goal.

But what about the government's farm clustering and consolidation effort so that economies of scale can be enjoyed by farms owned and operated by the small farmers? I am not too hopeful about it given the rigid and inflexible nature of our bureaucracy. Actually, the idea of farm clustering and consolidation started during the term of former Agriculture secretary William Dar.


After nearly four years since its introduction, nothing much has been attained. In other words, if we rely on the government to implement much-needed structural reforms to achieve an efficient, productive and competitive agricultural sector, it will take ages to happen without the guarantee that one will achieve the desired effect.


Just look at various government infrastructure projects: airports, a subway, reviving our rail system and now the EDSA upgrading. By the time these are completed, they will already be considered obsolete because they no longer meet the needs of their users, who have dramatically grown in size over the period the project was being constructed.


The best course of action is to rely on market forces, but this can only happen if we have the right policy framework that will be conducive for the private sector to participate in the agricultural economy to a greater degree. Absent that understanding from our agricultural policy makers, the sector will continue to be in deep trouble.


Source: Manila Times

The Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) on Wednesday urged lawmakers to immediately pass the 99-Year Land Lease Bill, seen as a “game-changing” reform that will help elevate the country’s global competitiveness and attract “transformative” investments.


In a strongly worded statement, the business group framed the proposal as a “historic opportunity” for the Philippines to align itself with Asia’s top-performing economies by offering long-term land lease options to foreign investors.


The bill seeks to allow qualified foreign investors to lease private land for up to 99 years, a model already adopted by regional neighbors such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.


“This is not merely a policy adjustment; it is a strategic leap forward, aligning the Philippines with Asia’s most dynamic economies. The time to act is now,” FFCCCII president Victor Lim said.


To address national security and land ownership concerns, the FFCCCII proposed certain safeguards. These include strict oversight by the Department of Trade and Industry and investment promotion agencies, anti-speculation provisions requiring projects to start within three years and compliance with agrarian reform laws.

“Just like Singapore and Hong Kong, we can attract big investments while keeping sovereignty intact,” the FFCCCII said.


Catalyst for industrialization


The group pointed to long-term land lease models in other Southeast Asian countries as catalysts for industrialization and investment. Singapore’s transformation into a global financial and tech hub and Indonesia’s expansion in renewable energy and agro-industrial development were among the examples cited.


The business group said the impact would spread throughout the economy, driving job creation, boosting tax revenues and strengthening local enterprises.


“This reform will help unlock multibillion-dollar investments in advanced manufacturing, tourism, agro-industry, and renewable energy,” the FFCCCII read. “The ripple effect? Millions of high-quality jobs, stronger MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and higher tax revenues for infrastructure, health care and education,” it added.


The group emphasized that global investors were watching how the Philippines would respond, especially as regional competitors continued to implement pro-investment reforms.


It warned that delays in passing the measure could undermine the country’s competitiveness in the region.


“Global capital flows where policies are welcoming. While Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and others aggressively court investors, the Philippines cannot afford hesitation,” the statement said.


Source: Inquirer

  • Writer: Ziggurat Realestatecorp
    Ziggurat Realestatecorp
  • Jun 11
  • 2 min read

Question:

My parents bought a certain land, but the title was transferred to my brother. We are all living in the house built on said property. When my brother died, his heirs claimed ownership over the property, arguing that their father was the owner as reflected in the Torrens Title. My mother reminded them that their father has no financial capacity to purchase the land. Who is the real owner of said property? Can my parents present proof that my brother is not its real owner?


This is a classic case where legal ownership (as shown in the Torrens Title) and equitable ownership (who actually paid for the property) are in conflict. Here's how the situation breaks down legally and what options may be available:


Legal Context

Under the Torrens system, the person whose name appears on the certificate of title is presumed to be the lawful owner of the property. However, this presumption is not absolute and can be overturned with clear, strong, and convincing evidence.


Key Facts in Your Case

  1. Title is under your brothers name – so, on paper, he's the legal owner.

  2. Your parents paid for the land – they're claiming they are the true buyers.

  3. Everyone lived in the house together – shows cohabitation but not necessarily ownership.

  4. Your brother had no financial capacity to purchase the land – this is a critical point if provable.

  5. Now that your brother is dead, his heirs are asserting ownership – they are legally standing in his shoes.


What Your Parents Can Do

Yes, your parents can present evidence to rebut the title in Jeff's name and establish a "resulting trust" or "implied trust." This is a legal concept where:


A trust is presumed in favor of the real buyer (your parents) if they can show they provided the purchase money, and the title was placed in another’s name for convenience or other reasons.


Types of Proof Your Parents Should Gather:

  • Receipts or proof of payment (checks, bank withdrawals, sale agreements)

  • Deed of sale naming them as the real buyers

  • Affidavits from witnesses (e.g., the seller, neighbors, family, etc.)

  • Lack of income or financial capacity of Jeff at the time of purchase

  • Any written or oral admission by Jeff that he was not the real owner


Possible Legal Remedies

If amicable settlement fails, your parents may:

  1. File a case in court to establish a resulting trust or reconveyance of the property.

  2. Argue that Jeff held the title in trust for your parents, not in his own right.

  3. Ask the court to order the cancellation of the title in Jeff’s name and issue a new one in your parents’ name.


Important Caveats

  • Statute of limitations may apply depending on how long ago this happened. Usually, it's 10 years from discovery of fraud or denial of the trust.

  • The burden of proof is on your parents since the title is not in their name.

  • This can be a long and potentially costly legal battle, so legal advice is a must.


Next Steps

  1. Consult a lawyer specializing in property or family law.

  2. Start collecting any and all documentation that proves your parents paid for the land.

  3. Try amicable settlement or mediation with your brother's heirs, if possible.


© Copyright 2018 by Ziggurat Real Estate Corp. All Rights Reserved.

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