Republis of tye Uhilippines
House of Representatives

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL. no, 3483

Introduced by Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma
Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF
NUEVA VIZCAYA TO ESTABLISH AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RESOURCE AND
TRAINING CENTER FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE CULTURAL IDENTITIES,
LANGUAGES OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING THEM
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, SEMINARS AND
LITERACY PROGRAMS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

No less than our 1987 Philippine Constitution guarantees the protection of the Indigenous
Peoples (IPs). As stated in section 22, Article II of the fundamental law of the land, it is a declared
policy that, “The State recognizes and promotes the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities
(ICCs) within the framework of national unity and development.”

As a concrete step towards realizing this mandate, R.A. No. 8371, otherwise known as the
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) was enacted. It is a landmark legislation intended to
address the concerns of the cultural communities and indigenous people throughout the country.
However, despite the passage of this law, the IPs are still related to the sidelines. Their rich culture is
continually pushed to the brink of survival.

The IPS represents nearly 14% of the Philippine population, Over thousands of years, they
have developed rich sets of knowledge about rites, rituals, health, survival techniques and access to
land and territories, their indigenous cultures, including the customary laws and folklore, have been
undermined and are now threatened with extinction.

‘This bill seeks to require all state colleges and universities in the province of Nueva Vizcaya
to establish an IP resource and training center for the preservation of the cultural identities, languages
of the indigenous communities and for providing them livelihood opportunities through education,
seminars and literacy programs. It is hoped that through this bill. Nueva Vizcaya will have awareness
and informed public education. The creation of these IP resource and training centers will be a
significant breakthrough to guarantee the realization of the State policy aforementioned.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Pern Flicdin, Cle berty:
-/ LUISA LLOREN CUARESMA



Republis af the Uyilippines

House of Representatives

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3463

Introduced by Rep. Luisa Lloren Charisma
Lone District of Nueva Vizeaya

AN ACT
MANDATING ALL STATE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE PROVINCE OF
NUEVA VIZCAYA TO ESTABLISH AN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RESOURCE AND
TRAINING CENTER FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE CULTURAL IDENTITIES,
LANGUAGES OF THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING THEM
LIVELIHOOD OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION, SEMINARS AND
LITERACY PROGRAMS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

Section 1. Short Title — This Act shall be known as the “Nueva Vizcaya IP Resource and
Training Center Act”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy — Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act No.
8371 otherwise known as “The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997”, the State shall recognize
and promote all the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs)
particularly the following:

a) The State shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to preserve and
develop their cultures, traditions and institutions, It shall consider these rights in the formulation of
national laws and policies:

b) 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; and

©) The State recognizes its obligations (o respond to the strong expression of the ICCs/IPs for
cultural integrity by assuring maximum ICC/IP participation in the direction of education, health, as
well as other services of ICCs/IPs, in order to render such services more responsive to the needs and
desires of these communities. Towards these ends, the State shall institute and establish the necessary
mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the realization of these rights taking into consideration their
customs, traditions. values, belief’, interests and institutions and to adopt and implement measures to
protect their rights.

Section 3. Definiton of Terms — For the purpose of this Act, the following terms are defined
as follows:

a) Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) — refer to a group of
people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription by others, who have continuously lived
as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory, and who have, under claims
of ownership since time immemorial, occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing
common bonds of language, customs, tradition and other distinetive cultural traits, or who tiave,
through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization, non-indigenous religions
and culture, became historically differentiated from the majority of Filipinos.


ICCS/IPs shall likewise include people who are regarded as indigenous on account of their
descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the time of conquest or colonization or
at the time of inroads on non-indigenous religions and cultures or the establishment of present
boundaries, who retain some or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions,
but who may have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled outside
their ancestral domains;

b) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) ~ refers to the office attached under
the Office of the President and created under Republic Act No. 8371. It is currently the primary
government agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, plans, and
programs to recognize, protect and promote the rights of the ICCs/IPs.

Section 4. Institution/Creation of indigenous Peoples Resource and Training Center —
‘The NICO in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya, the Technical
Education and Skills development Authority (TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd) and
Commission on Higher Education (CHED). shall establish an Indigenous Peoples (IP) Resource and
Training Center in all State Colleges and Universities in its Province.

Section 5. Functions of the Indigenous Peoples Resource and Training Center — For the
purpose of this Act, the following are the functions of the IP Resource and Training Center:

a) The IP Resource and Training Center shall be a place where the NCIP can ensure the
preservation and promotion of the unique identities of each tribe in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya
by displaying and showcasing their skills, artistry, crafis and archeological objects through exhibition
at the IP Resource and Training Center;

b) The IP Resource and Training Center shall be a place where skills trainings and leaning
sessions shall be conducted:

©) The IP Resource and ‘Training Center shall be a place where learning programs and
livelihood seminars relevant to the needs of the concerned ICCs/IPs formulated by NCIP in
coordination with TESDA shall be conducted.

d) The concemed agencies shall hire instructors or teachers within the tribe to reach the
native language to the young generations.

©) The concerned agencies shall also hire scholars, educators, experts or representatives from
each tribe to document the language and cultural identities of each tribe in the Province.

Section 6. Creation of a Board of Trustees - There shall be a Board of Trustees with a
collegial body composed of the following:

a) Regional Director of the NCIP;

b) Regional head of the TESDA;

c) Regional head of the DepEd;

) Regional head of the CHED;

e) Representatives from each recognized tribes of the Province;
f) Head of the State College or University; and

g) Representatives from the Local Government Unit

Section 7. Duties and Functions of the Board of Trustees ~ The Board of Trustees shall
have the following duties and responsibilities:

1) To enforce the provisions of this Act:
2) Recommend agenda for the conduct and support of research and development initiatives
different ICCs/IPs to identify relevant research opportunities;

3) Promote coordination and cooperation among institutions involved in researches on
ICCs/Ps;

4) Enter into agreements with and award research grants for centers for researches doing
studies on ICCs/IPs;

5) Prepare annual reports describing the research and development activities supported by the
Office, and identifying projects that should be conducted in the future on ICCs/IPs;


6) Evaluate activities of the NCIP in the management of information system and unsure that
IP registry is current and useful;

7) Establish a referral system to facilitate employment of IPs;

8) Liaise with national and international organizations working in ICCs/IPs;

9) Adopt measures as may be deemed necessary to ensure inclusion ICCs/IPs in the society:
10) To hire educators or experts for the education and livelihood seminars of the IPs;

11) To gather training and resource materials for education and livelihood seminars;

12) To advocate respect and awareness and the efforts made to improve the quality of life of
persons with Down syndrome and their families;

13) To research on viable occupations well suited to ICCs/IPs;

14) To preserve the cultural and traditional identities of each ICCs/IPs in the Province;

15) To provide methods and enter into partnership with different institutions and
organizations in preserving cultural identities of each ICCs/IPs;

16) To transcribe native language of each ICCs/IPs;

17) To have a record of all chants and songs of each ICCs/IPs;

18) To promote awareness of the different culture and traditions of cach ICCs/Ps in the
Province; and

19) Other methods or means to preserve and promote the cultural identity of each ICCs/IP in
the Province.

Section 8. Implementation — Within sixty (60) days after the implementation of this Act, the
NCIP in coordination with TESDA, DepEd and CHED, shall promulgate the necessary rules
and regulations to govern the effective implementations of this Act.

Section 9. Appropriations — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the General
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

Section 10. Repealing Clause — All laws, decrees, executive orders, administrative orders or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or
modified accordingly.

Section 11. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

Section 12. Effectivity Clause ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
completed publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers or general
circulation.

Approved,