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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E
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Introduced by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE INDIGENOUS 
PEOPLES 
AND 
LOCAL 
COMMUNITIES 
CONSERVED 
AREAS, 
RECOGNIZING 
THEIR 
CONTRIBUTION 
TO 
BIODIVERSITY 
CONSERVATION, 
ESTABLISHING 
FOR 
THE 
PURPOSE 
THE 
NATIONAL ICCA REGISTRY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Explanatory Note
Indigenous peoples communities have always played an important 
role in the conservation and preservation of the country’s protected 
areas. Known as indigenous communities conserved areas (ICCAs), 
“these are areas within ancestral domains including lakes, coastal 
seas, forests, and watershed imbued with deep spiritual and 
cultural values for indigenous peoples.”
A good example of an ICCA is the ancestral domain of the 
Tagbanuas in the island of Coron in northeastern Palawan. Only 
traditional fishing methods are allowed within its ancestral waters 
given the sacred nature of the place among the Tagbanuas.
It is about time that the national government give due importance 
and role to the indigenous communities as partners in the 
conservation of protected areas found within their ancestral 
domains.
For these reasons, immediate passage of the bill is sought.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
)
S E N A T E
S.B. No. 1185
(§f(irt of Ihe > fn  ?t.n ^
•16 OCT “4 P4 28
Introduced by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
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AN ACT PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING THE INDIGENOUS 
PEOPLES 
AND 
LOCAL 
COMMUNITIES 
CONSERVED 
AREAS, 
RECOGNIZING 
THEIR 
CONTRIBUTION 
TO 
BIODIVERSITY 
CONSERVATION, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL 
ICCA REGISTRY, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the
Peoples and Local Com munities Conserved Areas Act”.
“Indigenous
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to pursue 
sustainable development, recognition of the rights of Indigenous Cultural 
Communities/ Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), biodiversity conservation, and 
climate change mitigation and adaptation. Towards this end, the State 
adopts the principle of protecting Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and 
acknowledging the significant contribution of conservation areas managed 
by ICC/IPs in maintaining the country’s biodiversity as well as in climate 
change mitigation.
Consistent with the recognition and promotion of the rights of ICCs/IPs 
under the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Indigenous 
Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA), and the Universal Declaration of the 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the State shall recognize and respect 
the designation, declaration or establishment of Indigenous Community 
Conserved Areas (ICCAs) by ICC/IPs within their ancestral domains.
As a party to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), 
the State shall foster the recognition and promotion of other conservation 
area governance types aside from protected areas established under 
Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the National Integrated 
Protected Areas Stem (NIPAS) Act of 1992” and critical habitats designated 
as such under Republic Act No. 9174, otherwise known as the “Wildlife 
Resources Conservation and Protection Act”, among others.
SEC. 3. Guiding Principles. - In the promotion of the recognition of ICCAs, 
all concerned government agencies shall be guided by the following:
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e.
a. Recognition and promotion of ICC/IP rights to their ancestral 
domains includes the full recognition of ICCAs as well as the right of 
the ICCs/IPs to maintain, protect, and regulate access and prohibit 
unauthorized intrusion thereto;
b. As part of their responsibilities to their ancestral domain, ICCs/IPs 
shall have priority in the management of their conservation areas 
and the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of ecological 
balance and biodiversity therein, with the full and effective 
assistance of government agencies;
c. ICCAs shall be considered in the formulation of, and integrated in, 
national and subnational policies, plans and programs in 
recognition and respect of the right of the ICCs/IPs to preserve and 
develop their cultures, traditions, and institutions within the 
framework of national unity and development;
d. The positive contribution to biodiversity conservation of ICCAs and 
related 
sustainable 
traditional 
indigenous 
forest 
resources 
management systems and practices shall be fully acknowledged and 
included in the accounting and reporting of the national 
implementation of CBD obligations; and
ICCs/IPs shall have a fair and equitable share in the commercial 
profits of users of well-defined and confirmed ecosystem services 
provided by ICCAs, in recognition and respect of the right of the 
ICCs/IPs to benefit and share in the profits from the allocation and 
utilization of natural resources found in their ancestral domains.
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms 
shall have the corresponding meanings:
(a) “Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan 
(ADSDPP)” refers to the document consolidating the plans of the 
ICC/IP for the sustainable management and development of the land 
and natural resources as well as human resources within their 
ancestral domains based on their indigenous knowledge systems 
and practices and the principle of self-determination;
(b) “Biological Diversity” or “Biodiversity” refers to the variety and 
variability among all living organisms and the ecological complex in 
which they occur;
(c) “DENR” refers to the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources;
(d) “Ecosystem services” refer to environmental goods, and regulating, 
supporting, and cultural services provided by ecosystems that are 
directly enjoyed, consumed or used to further human well-being; or 
benefits that people derive from an ecosystem;
(e) “Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs)” 
refer to a group of people or homogenous societies as defined under 
Republic Act No. 8731, otherwise known as “The Indigenous Peoples 
Rights Act of 1997”;
(f) “Indigenous Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs)” are natural 
and/or modified ecosystems containing significant biodiversity 
values, ecological services and cultural values, voluntarily conserved 
by indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples through 
customary laws or other effective means;
(g) “Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)” refer to sites of global significance 
for biodiversity conservation identified using globally standard 
criteria and thresholds, based on the needs of biodiversity requiring 
safeguards at the site scale. These criteria are based on the


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framework of vulnerability and irreplaceability widely used in 
systematic conservation planning;
(h) “NCIF’ refers to the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples;
(i) "National ICCA Registry’ refers to the database maintained jointly by 
the NCIP and the DENR containing qualitative, quantitative and 
spatial data on ICCAs as determined by ICCs/IPs themselves;
(j) “Protected Areas” refer to identified portions of land and water set 
aside by reason of their unique physical and biological significance, 
managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against 
destructive human exploitation and included as a component of the 
National Integrated Protected Area System (NIPAS);
(k) “Sustainable Traditional Indigenous Forest Resources Management 
Systems and Practices (STIPMSP)” refer to those systems and 
practices of ICCs/IPs formally recognized, registered, confirmed, and 
duly verified jointly by the DENR and the NCIP to be the sustainable 
forest management system and practice in the forest/watershed 
area within the ancestral domain/land of the concerned ICC/IP;
(l) “Sustainable Traditional Resource Rights” refer to the rights to 
ICCs/IPs to sustainably use, manage, protect and conserve a) land, 
air, water, and minerals; b) plants, animals and other organisms; c) 
collecting, fishing and hunting grounds; d) sacred sites; and e) other 
areas of economic ceremonial and aesthetic value in accordance 
with their indigenous knowledge, belief systems, and practices;
CHAPTER II
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS
SEC. 5. Recognition of ICCAs. — ICCAs shall be respected as an exercise by 
the ICC/IP of their ancestral domain rights as well as of their sustainable 
traditional resource rights. ICCAs shall be accorded special protection and 
full recognition by all national agencies and local government units (LGUs). 
Except for documentation and mapping and biodiversity conservation- 
related activities involving the full participation of the concerned ICC/IP, the 
requirements for free and prior informed consent (FPIC) shall be strictly 
followed for all other allowable activities activities within ICCAs.
SEC. 6. Protection of ICCAs. — ICCAs shall be declared no-go zones for all 
forms of mining whether large-scale or small-scale and other destructive 
forms of natural resource exploration, development and utilization. These 
activities shall likewise be prohibited outside the ICCAs if they will adversely 
impact the ICCA.
SEC. 7. Zones. — ICCs/IPs may establish zones within their ICCAs and 
provide for the management and use of such zones in accordance with their 
customary laws, traditions, customs or practices.
SEC. 8. ICCAs in Key Biodiversity Areas. — ICCAs within or encompassing 
KBAs shall be maintained, managed and sustainably developed in a manner 
consistent with conservation of the biodiversity found therein. As habitats of 
threatened species of Philippine wildlife, KBAs are environmentally critical 
areas (ECAs) in the context of the Philippine Environmental Impact 
Statement System. KBAs shall be those identified by the Philippine 
Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting program and its iterations as 
updated by the DENR in consultation with other concerned government 
agencies, the academe, private sector and civil society.


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SBC. 9. Respect for the names and designations made by the ICC/IP. _
Place names and designations of ICCAs in the native dialect of the ICCs/IPs 
shall be accorded and used in all official publications of government.
CHAPTER III
REGISTRATION AND MAINSTREAMING OF ICCAS
SEC. 10. National ICCA Registry. — To ensure the availability of official 
information on ICCAs, there is hereby established a centralized information 
management system to be known as the National ICCA Registry. The 
National ICCA Registry shall contain records of all pertinent information 
voluntarily submitted by the concerned ICC/IP regarding their respective 
ICCAs using a template to be designed by the DENR and NCIP .
SEC. 11. Implementing Arrangements and Operational Structures. — The 
lead in the establishment of the National ICCA Registry and shall be jointly 
responsible for its management and maintenance: Provided, that all 
information in the National ICCA Registry shall be owned by the ICC/IP
providing such information as part of their community intellectual propertv 
rights.
SEC. 12. Inclusion in the Comprehensive Land Use Plans and Forest Land 
Use Plans. — ICCAs recorded in the National ICCA Registry shall be 
included and duly reflected in the Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) of 
the concerned LGU. National government agencies shall likewise ensure that 
ICCAs are recognized in land use plans covering lands under public 
domains.
SEC. 13. Formal recognition and listing of ICCAs. — Within six (6) months 
from the effectivity of this Act, the NCIP and the DENR, in consultation with 
the ICCs/IPs, shall jointly issue the procedural rules and regulations for the 
recording and listing of ICCAs in the National ICCA Registry. The procedure 
shall provide guidelines for the documentation and mapping of ICCAs by the 
ICCAs themselves or with the assistance of government and non-government 
entities at the option of the ICC/IP. It shall also provide for the incorporation 
of ICCA in the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection 
Plan (ADSDPP).
CHAPTER IV
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
SEC. 14. Role of the NCIP. — The NCIP shall be the primary government 
agency responsible for the full implementation of this Act and shall protect 
and promote the interest and well-being of the ICCs/IPs in the context of 
biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation and adaptation. The 
NCIP shall convene periodic national and subnational conventions of 
ICCs/ps, government agencies, private sector and civil society organizations 
to review, assess as well as propose policies or plans to further promote 
ICCAs. It shall also ensure that ICCA concerns and issues are included and 
addressed in the ADSDPP of the concerned ICC/IP.
SEC. 15. Role of the DENR. — The DENR shall provide technical assistance 
to requesting ICCs/IPs biodiversity assessments and survey, mapping of the 
ICCA. Upon the formal request of the concerned ICC/IP, the DENR shall 
provide technical assistance for the international recognition of ICCAs 
through their listing or registration with the ICCA Registry, the World ICCA


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Database, or other similar global platforms or networks, among others. The 
DENR shall likewise provide information on the location of KBAs identified 
in the Philippine Biodiversity Conservation Priority Setting Program and its 
iterations or updates.
SEC. 16. Role of Other Government Agencies. — Consistent with their 
respective mandates and upon formal request of an ICC/IP, national 
government agencies shall provide technical assistance in building and 
strengthening the capacity of the requesting ICC/IP to manage their ICCA.
The Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher 
Education (CHED), the Technical Education and Skills Development 
Authority (TESDA), in coordination with the DENR and the NCIP, and other 
relevant agencies, shall integrate ICCAs and KBAs in the school curricula 
under environmental education at the appropriate educational level/s.
SEC. 17. Role of the Private Sector and Civil Society. — The NCIP and DENR 
shall actively engage and collaborate with the private sector and civil society 
in raising public awareness and recognition of ICCAs and in obtaining 
specialized assistance and service, subject to the free and prior informed 
consent requirements of the concerned ICC/IP. Public participation in 
protection, conservation and sustainable use activities, especially at the 
local level, shall be encouraged to maximize conservation and community 
benefits.
CHAPTER V 
INCENTIVES
SEC. 18. Incentive Scheme. — ICCAs listed in the National ICCA Registry 
shall be prioritized for biodiversity conservation and reforestation project 
sites. Where appropriate and available, government financial institutions 
and other government agencies shall provide financial and technical 
assistance to ICCs/IPs for the protection and promotion of their listed 
ICCAs, particularly in the establishment and implementation of payment 
schemes for ecosystem services provided by the ICCAs.
SEC. 19. Sustainable Livelihood. — The DENR, in coordination with the 
NCIP, shall develop sustainable livelihood opportunities for ICCs/IPs that 
are consistent with traditional practices and resource use, thus ensuring the 
sustainable development and proper management of ICCAs. In all cases, the 
interests and well-being of the ICC/IP concerned shall be paramount.
CHAPTER VI 
PENAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 20. Prohibited Acts. — It shall be unlawful for any person to commit 
the following acts within an ICCA:
(a) Unauthorized and/or unlawful intrusion upon, or use of any portion 
of, the ICCA;
(b) Mineral exploration, extraction and development, quarrying and 
other destructive forms of natural resource exploration, development 
and utilization;
(c) Logging, except in instances of sustainable traditional indigenous 
forest resource management practices of the ICC/IP;
(d) Mutilating, defacing, removing or otherwise destroying objects that 
have cultural, spiritual or ecological significance to the ICC/IP;
(e) Dumping of waste products detrimental to flora and fauna;


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SEC. 21. Penalties. — Any individual, corporation, partners.hip, association, 
or other juridicial entity that commits any of the prohibited acts provided for 
under section 20 of this Act shall be prosecuted and upon conviction shall 
suffer a fine of not less than SIX THOUSAND PESOS (PhP 6,000.00) or any 
amount not to exceed FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (PhP
500.000. 00) or imprisonment of not less than SIX (6) MONTHS AND ONE (1) 
DAY or more than SIX (6) YEARS, or both, at the discretion of the court, 
including perpetual disqualification from public office if the offender is a 
public officer, and confiscation or forfeiture in favor of the government of the 
objects and the instrumentalities used in committing any of herein 
prohibited acts. If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, 
or other juridical entity, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or 
officers of the corporation, partnership, association or entity responsible for 
the violation without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of these 
entities license or accreditation issued to them by any licensing or 
accredited body of the government. If such offender is an alien, he or she 
shall, in addition to the penalties prescribed in this Act, be deported without 
further proceedings after service of the sentence.
However, the prosecution for offenses set forth in Section 20 of this Act shall 
be without prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 8371, 
as amended, otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 
1997”, and other criminal or civil liabilities.
CHAPTER VII 
FINAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 22. Annual Report. — On or before March 30 of every year following 
the effectivity of this Act, the NCIP shall submit to the President and to the 
Senate and the House of Representatives a progress report on the status of 
the implementation of this Act and on the implementation of the National 
ICCA Program. The Council shall recommend legislation, where applicable 
and necessary.
SEC. 23. Construction. — The provisions of this Act shall be construed 
liberally in favor of ICCs/IPs and in consideration of the protection and 
conservation of biodiversity.
SEC. 24. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The NCIP, in coordination 
with the DENR and other concerned government agencies and members of 
the civil society, shall, within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act, 
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the enforcement of the 
provisions of this Act.
SEC. 25. Appropriations. — The sum of TWENTY MILLION PESOS (PhP
20.000. 000.00) is hereby appropriated as initial operating fund. Thereafter, 
the amount necessary to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act shall 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
In succeeding years, in additional to the annual appropriations to be 
provided for the implementation of this Act, the fines to be collected as 
penalties under Section 20 shall also be added for the implementation of 
this law.
SEC. 26. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of 
this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 27. Saving Clause. — This Act shall not in any manner adversely 
affect the rights and benefits of the ICCs/IPs under other conventions, 
recommendations, international treaties, national laws, awards, customs 
and agreements.
SEC. 28. Separability Clause. — If any part or provision of this Act is held 
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not 
affected shall continue to remain in full force and effect.
SEC. 29. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following 
completion of its publication in at least two (2) newspaper of general 
circulation.
Approved,