Population Growth and Customary Land Law: The Case of Cordillera Villages in the Philippines

Abstract

This study examined the customary land law in Cordillera villages in the Philippines a traditional society with a communal tenure system that developed independently from other parts of the country. The main goal is to trace the implications of this customary law which consists of traditions and customs that determines the use and ownership of the land on the distribution of irrigated land. Using two villages to estimate the land acquisition function results indicate that families with more children are better able to increase the number of their rice fields by transforming parcels from commonly owned land. However compensation is far from complete since there are other mechanisms in the property rights system that provide for the matching of family resources with family needs. Increased population pressure and other cultural changes such as technological change emerging land markets and developing labor have affected the traditional property system. Migration and creation of nonfarming jobs are two affecting factors. Several recommendations addressing these issues are proposed.