Agrarian reform is crucial for the Philippine economy, as nearly half of the population works in agriculture and lives in rural areas. It focuses on the relationship between land production and distribution among farmers, aiming to uplift the agricultural sector and address long-standing issues of poverty and discontentment. Understanding its development requires looking into the country's colonial past.

During Spanish colonization, Filipinos were not allowed to own land, which was considered property of the King of Spain. Filipinos cultivated these lands and paid tributes in agricultural products. The 'Law of Indis' later awarded land to religious orders, Spanish military, and encomenderos. The encomienda system, and subsequently the hacienda system, led to abuse, exploitation, and land dispossession, causing many agrarian revolts. Religious orders became the largest landowners and a major source of exploitation.

The Americans recognized landlessness as a major cause of social unrest and implemented policies like the Philippine Bill of 1902 and the Land Registration Act (Torrens system) to increase small landholders. The homestead program was introduced, allowing tenants to acquire land. However, these policies did not significantly improve land ownership for Filipinos; in fact, it worsened due to a lack of limits on land holdings and accessibility issues. Wealthy Filipinos and Americans acquired land, leading to more tenancy and peasant uprisings.

After World War II, efforts focused on solving past land problems. President Roxas enacted Republic Act number 34, establishing a 70/30 sharing arrangement between tenants and landlords. President Quirino established the Land Settlement Development Corporation, which later became the National Resettlement and Rehabilitation Administration under President Magsaysay. President Magsaysay also pushed for the Agricultural Tenancy Act (RA 1199) to govern landholder-tenant relationships and created the Court of Agricultural Relations and the Agricultural Tenancy Commission to protect tenant rights.

President Macapagal's Land Reform Code aimed to free tenants from tenancy, emphasizing owner-cultivatorship and farmer independence. Despite being a comprehensive piece of legislation, Congress did not provide a separate bill to fund its implementation, hindering its effectiveness despite its proven benefits in pilot areas.

The history of agrarian reform in the Philippines is marked by continuous struggles against land disputes and discontentment, stemming from Spanish and American colonial policies. While various laws have been enacted to protect tenant farmers and ensure fair land distribution, issues of funding and full implementation have persisted, highlighting the ongoing importance of agricultural law to protect both landholders and tenants.

During the Commonwealth government, peasant uprisings escalated. President Quezon initiated a social justice program focusing on purchasing haciendas to be divided and sold to tenants. His administration also established the National Rice and Corn Corporation and the Court of Industrial Relations to assist peasants with land rights and disputes.