Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No, 223.4

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Constitution recognizes the protection, promotion, and
fulfillment of the rights of IPs. In addition, Republic Act 8371, also known as the
“Indigenous Peoples Rights Act” (1997, IPRA), upholds the right of IPs to manage

their ancestral domains; in fact the said law has become the cornerstone of
current national policies on IPs.

Majority of the 17 Million population of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICs)
and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the Philippines reside in the uplands which they claim
as part of their traditional territories. They are mainly concentrated in Northern
Luzon specifically the Cordillera Administrative Region ( 33%), and Mindanao
(61%), with some groups in the Visayas area.

‘The IPs represent nearly 14% of the country's population.

However, despite financial aid and technical assistance from various
international donor agencies, they are among the poorest and the most disadvantaged
social groups in the country. As a result, the incidence of illiteracy, unemployment and
Poverty is much higher among the IPs, compared to the rest of the population. One of

the major causes is that the IP settlements are remote, which resulted to deprivation in
the access to basic services.

Considering the above premises,

Centers be established in all ICCs/IPs

determined by the National Commission
centers shall enhance the delivery of basi:
the ICCs/IPs,

it is of vital importance that Resource
which are ethnographically located as
for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). These
ic, social, technical and legal services to


In view of the foregoing, the immediate gnactment of this measure is
earnestly sought.

LFRED VARGAS.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 723.4

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives ofthe Philippines in Congress
assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Resource Centers for
Indigenous Peoples Act of 2018."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. The State shall recognize, respect and protect the
rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs)/ Indigenous Peoples (IPs), to preserve
and develop their cultures, traditions and institutions. It shall consider these rights in
the formulation of national laws and policies; Furthermore, the State shall take
measures, with the participation of the ICCs/IPs concerned, to protect their rights and
guarantee respect for their cultural integrity, and to ensure that members of the
ICCs/IPs benefit on an equal footing from the rights and opportunities which national
laws and regulations grant to other members of the population.

SECTION 3. Establishment of Resource Centers for ICCs/IPs. There shall be
established ICCs/IPs Resource Centers, hereinafter referred to as the “Center”, in such
Strategic places as may be determined by the National Commission on Indigenous
Peoples (NCIP), hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”, taking into consideration
their ethnological locations.

SECTION 4. Staff and Components of the ICC/IP Resource Centers, The Commission
shall designate in every Resource Center a Chief Coordinating Officer. Concerned

Bovernment departments and agencies and local governments shall assign staff
members to the Resource Centers,

SECTION S. Composition and Functions of the Center. The Center shall be composed
of the following three (3) major service areas with their respective functions, namely:


(a) Statistical Service Area - Documentation and recognition of ICCs/IPs, their
Indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, political structures and
Customary laws through census, appraisal and baseline reports and libraries

(b) Human Development Index Service Area - Addressing of problems of
1CCs/IPs and provision of basic and necessary services through link-up with
concerned government department and agencies, such as training programs,
scholarship grants, employment, livelihood and enterprises and health
services; and

(6) Domains Management Service Area ~ Promotion of participatory programs,
Projects and activities for ICCs/IPs to effectively deliver their responsibility
of maintaining ecological balance, restore denuded areas, observing laws and
ensuring the implementation of the Ancestral Domains Sustainable
Development and Protections Plans and such other existing programs,

SECTION 6. Monitoring Progress and Implementation and Impact of this Act. The
Commission shall submit to Congress every three (3) years or as determined in the
Implementing rules and regulations, an annual report of its accomplishments,

SECTION 7, Funding. The initial funding requirements for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the agencies concerned,
Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be
Included in the agencies yearly budgets under the General Appropriations Act,

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). Within ninety (90) days

after the approval of this Act, the Commission, shall issue the necessary Rules and

regulations for the effective implementation of this Act, in coordination with the

following concerned government agencies to wit:

* Local Government Units (LGUs);

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD);

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);

Department of Education (DepEd);

Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

Commission on Human Rights (CHR);

Department of Justice (DOJ);

Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

Department of Health (DOH);

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

Department of Agriculture (DA);

Land Management Bureau (LMB);

Land Registration Authority (LRA);

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. All laws, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modify accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clat
held invalid or unconstitution:
affected thereby.

use. If any part, section or provision of this Act shall be
ial, no other part, section or Provisions thereof shall be

4


SECTION 11. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following the

completion of its publication in the Officuial Gazette or two (2) newspapers of general
circulation,

Approved,