RA 6657 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law)
1. Definition
Republic Act No. 6657 (commonly known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988) is the landmark Philippine social legislation that established the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Signed by President Corazon Aquino on June 10, 1988, the law mandates the redistribution of agricultural lands to landless farmers and farmworkers to promote social justice, agricultural development, and land tenure security. (Official Gazette)
2. Alternate Names
- RA 6657
- Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL)
- CARP Law
- CARL
3. Recognized Identities
| Source Type | Identity |
|---|---|
| Wikipedia | Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program |
| Wikidata | Q5156557 |
| DBpedia | Comprehensive_Agrarian_Reform_Program |
| ProductOntology | N/A |
| Wiktionary | agrarian |
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) | Land reform — Law and legislation — Philippines |
| MeSH | N/A |
| NCBI Taxonomy | N/A |
| AGROVOC | N/A |
| Google Scholar | Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law RA 6657 CARP land conversion DAR |
| ConceptNet | N/A |
| OpenCyc | N/A |
4. Examples of Usage
- Land Acquisition and Distribution: The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) acquiring a large private sugarcane plantation and distributing it to local agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs).
- Agricultural Land (Philippines): The main canonical article details the soil classes, crop regions, land ownership structures, and conversion permits.
5. Usage Scenarios
1. Applying for land conversion
A real estate developer files an application with the DAR to convert an idle agricultural plot into a residential subdivision, verifying CARL exemptions.
2. Verifying property titles
A land buyer checks the Title history at the Register of Deeds to confirm a property is not covered by a CARP Emancipation Patent.
6. Strategies
- Cross-reference land use conversion steps and property registries with the main Agricultural Land (Philippines) article.
- Verify that agricultural lands purchased have passed the 10-year holding period restriction mandated by RA 6657 before proceeding with transfer negotiations.
7. Security and Safety Measures
- Ensure that agrarian reform beneficiaries holding Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) do not illegally sell or transfer their land rights before legal amortization is paid.
- Maintain strict compliance with DAR zoning clearances to avoid criminal penalties for unauthorized land conversions.
8. Historical Context
Signed on June 10, 1988, RA 6657 was the center-piece of the Aquino administration’s social justice program, seeking to break up large private estates. The program was extended under RA 8532 and subsequently under the CARP Extension with Reforms (CARPER) law (Republic Act No. 9700), which concluded its land acquisition phase in 2014, though land distribution and agricultural support services continue under DAR supervision.
9. Challenges and Controversies
Land Valuation Disputes
Disagreements between landowners and the government regarding the fair valuation of acquired lands led to long legal battles and delayed distribution.
Post-Distribution Support Gaps
Many reform beneficiaries received land but lacked access to capital, irrigation, and modern farm equipment, forcing some to illegally lease out their lands.
10. Related Topic
- [[Agricultural Land (Philippines)]]
- [[Comprehensive Land Use Plan]]
- [[Real Estate Investment]]
- [[Raw Land]]