TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
JiJL -9
SENATE 
S. No. ^11
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS OF 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, ESTABLISHING 
FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY CONSERVED 
AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 22, Article II of the Philippine Constitution provides that "[t]he State 
recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural communities within the 
framework of national unity and deveiopment." Further, Section 17, Article XIV states 
that "[t]he State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous cuitural 
communities to preserve and deveiop their cultures, traditions, and institutions. It shall 
consider these rights in the formulation of nationai plans and policies."
Indigenous communities have iong been guardians of the Philippines' natural 
forests, watersheds, and biodiversity. An estimated 60-65% of the country's remaining 
naturai forests, 75% of its key biodiversity areas, and around 90% of its vitai 
watersheds are iocated within ancestrai domains.1 These territories act as natural 
buffers against floods, landslides, and other ciimate-reiated disasters, protecting 
miliions of Filipinos. In many cases, conservation has succeeded through the strength 
of traditional governance systems and indigenous knowledge passed down through 
generations.
1 Philippine ICCA Consortium, (n.d.). ICCA Bill - Philippine ICCA Consortium. Retrieved 2 July 2025, from 
https ://icca. ph/advocacies/icca-bill/
1


Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCAs) represent 
some of the most ecologically significant and well-preserved landscapes in the country. 
Often overlapping with high-biodiversity zones and intact forest cover, ICCAs 
demonstrate the effectiveness of Indigenous stewardship in sustaining natural 
resources. Spatial analysis confirms that large portions of Key Biodiversity Areas 
(KBAs), particularly those outside legislated Protected Areas, are sustainably managed 
by Indigenous communities using long-held knowledge and customary practices.
This proposed measure affirms the vital role that ICCAs play in complementing 
the country's environmental conservation framework by providing formal recognition 
and support for these territories. It seeks to harmonize existing environmental laws 
and land governance mechanisms with indigenous knowledge systems, ensuring that 
the contributions of ICCs/IPs are recognized, documented, and supported as integral 
to national resilience and biodiversity conservation. It establishes a National ICCA 
Registry, enhances inter-agency coordination, and requires the integration of ICCAs 
into local development and land use plans. It affirms the rights of ICCs/IPs to govern 
their conserved territories in accordance with their customary laws, indigenous 
knowledge systems and practices, and ensures technical and financial support from 
national agencies. Crucially, it also provides for legal protections, imposes penalties 
for prohibited acts within ICCAs, and institutes procedures for conflict resolution that 
respect traditional mechanisms. In doing so, the bill clarifies the relationship between 
existing laws such as the IPRA and the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas 
System Act, ensuring that ICCAs are not subordinated to, but recognized at par with, 
other forms of protected areas.
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is earnestly 
sought.
LEGARDA


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
J!1-9 PA-U
SENATE
s.No. _.ai 1.
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda
1
2
AN ACT
RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS OF 
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, ESTABLISHING 
FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY CONSERVED 
AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3 
Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Indigenous Community
4 
Conserved Territories and Areas Act".
5 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - In accordance with the provisions of the
6 
Constitution, Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples
7 
Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
8 
Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), it is the policy of the State to recognize, promote, and
9 
protect the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs),
10 
particularly to their ancestral domains.
11 
The State also recognizes the existing customary and traditional governance by
12 
ICCs/IPs of their ancestral domains and lands as an effective measure of conserving
13 
key biodiversity areas. Through this recognition, the State acknowledges the
14 
significant contributions of ICCs/IPs to the country's efforts in protecting the
15 
environment, conserving biodiversity, and promoting community resilience.


1 
Towards this end, the State shall adopt measures to recognize and respect the
2 
designation and declaration by ICCs/IPs of the conserved areas within their ancestral
3 
domains and to promote their rights to manage, maintain, and sustainably develop
4 
the natural resources by applying their indigenous knowledge systems and practices
5 
within these areas under their indigenous political structures and traditional
6 
governance systems.
7 
For this purpose, a national registry for all ICCs/IPs conserved territories and
8 
areas shall be established as the repository of information on these conserved
9 
territories and areas.
10 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
11 
(a) Environmentally critical areas (EGAs) refer to areas identified under
12 
Presidential Proclamation No. 2146, Series of 1981, and herein further
13 
classified as Strict Protection Zones (SPZ);
14 
(b) Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) refer to
15 
areas within ancestral domains and lands, and parts thereof, that are
16 
identified, protected, conserved, and sustainably used by ICCs/IPs
17 
pursuant to their indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices, and in
18 
accordance with customary laws and other effective means since time
19 
immemorial continuously to the present, subject to the limitations imposed
20 
by the Constitution. These are characterized by natural or modified
21 
ecosystems that contain significant biodiversity, beneficial ecological
22 
qualities, and are of great cultural and spiritual value to the community;
23 
(c) Key biodiversity areas refer to the sites of global significance for
24 
biodiversity conservation that are identified using globaliy standard criteria
25 
and thresholds, based on the scale of the need for safeguards. These
26 
criteria are based on the framework of vulnerability and irreplaceability
27 
used in systematic conservation planning;
28 
(d) National ICCA Registry refers to the national information management
29 
system that contains records of the pertinent information on ICCAs;
30 
(e) Sustainable Traditional Resource Rights (STRR) refer to the rights of
31 
ICCs/IPs to sustainably use, manage, protect and conserve:
32 
(i) land, air, water, and minerals;
2


1 
(ii) plants, animals, and other organisms;
2 
(iii) collecting, fishing, and hunting grounds;
3 
(iv) sacred sites; and
4 
(v) other areas of economic, ceremonial, and aesthetic value in
5 
accordance with their indigenous knowledge, belief systems, and
6 
practices.
7 
Sec. 4. Scope and Coverage. -This Act shall apply to all ancestral domains and
8 
lands publicly known to have been held under a claim of ownership, possession, and
9 
occupation based on native title since time immemorial continuously and up to the
10 
present, or formally recognized under a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CALT)
11 
or Certificate of Ancestral Land Title (CADT) issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 8371.
12 
CHAPTER II
13 
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
14 
CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS
15 
Sec. 5. Guiding Principies. - The following guidelines shall be observed in
16 
recognizing the ICCs/IPs conserved territories and areas (ICCAs):
17 
(a) The rights to land and self-determination include the full recognition of
18 
the traditional resources, rights, and practices of ICCs/IPs, as well as their
19 
right 
to
20 
access, maintain, protect, conserve, regulate ICCAs and exclude
21 
unauthorized intrusion into these areas;
22 
(b) The customary laws and indigenous knowledge systems and practices
23 
(IKSPs) in the governance and management of ICCAs shall be recognized
24 
and respected, provided that they are within the framework of national
25 
unity and development as envisioned under the Constitution;
26 
(c) The ICCs/IPs shall govern their conserved territories and areas and ensure
27 
the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of ecological balance and
28 
biodiversity therein in consonance with existing environmental policies and
29 
with the assistance of government agencies;


1 
(d) The identification and declaration of ICCAs shall consider duly formulated
2 
national, regional, provincial, and municipal policies, plans and programs;
3 
(e) The ICCs/IPs shall receive a fair and equitable share of the benefits derived
4 
from the ecosystem services provided by ICCAs and other activities as
5 
authorized by the ICCs/IPs themselves in accordance with existing
6 
environmental policies, rules, and regulations; and
7 
(f) In case of conflict between ICC/IPs customary laws and indigenous
8 
knowledge systems and practices on the one hand, and existing
9 
environmental laws, rules and regulations on the other, earnest efforts
10 
shall be exerted to adopt an interpretation that will give effect to both. Only
11 
when it is clear that the two are truly irreconcilable will environmental laws,
12 
rules and regulations prevail, but such construction shall always be
13 
supported by evidence attesting to the fact that the customary laws and
14 
IKSPs have no sound scientific basis and shall be guided by the pertinent
15 
provisions of the Constitution.
16 
Sec. 6. Recognition of ICCAs. - The ICCs/IPs shall define and declare the
17 
conserved areas within their ancestral domains and lands in accordance with their
18 
indigenous political structures, cultures and traditions provided that the identified area
19 
is not earlier proclaimed or declared as a protected area under Republic Act No. 7586,
20 
otherwise known as the "National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992" as
21 
amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded National
22 
Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018" and other presidential proclamations.
23 
The declaration of ICCAs shall be respected as an exercise of the self-
24 
governance, self-determination, and sustainable traditional resource rights of the
25 
ICCs/IPs. It shall be recognized by all national agencies and local government units
26 
(LGUs) as another category of protected areas that are owned, controlled, governed,
27 
and managed by ICCs/IPs themselves. The ICCAs, their respective locations, names
28 
in indigenous language, and components therein, shall be respected, used, and
29 
promoted in all official documents.
30 
No provision in this Act granting or recognizing the rights and privileges of
31 
ICCs/IPs in the ICCAs shall be construed to diminish their rights and privileges in non-
32 
ICCA areas of the ancestral domains or lands.
4


1 
Sec. 7. Protection of ICCAs. - Subject to the provisions of the Constitution,
2 
Republic Act No. 8371, and Repubiic Act No. 7586, as amended, the ICCAs shail be
3 
reserved for the exciusive use of ICCs/IPs exercising their sustainabie traditionai
4 
resource rights. It shail be the duty of the ICC/IPs to govern, conserve, manage, and
5 
protect ICCAs with the assistance of government agencies.
6 
Sec. 8. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System. - For the purposes of
7 
this Act, aii ICCAs shail be considered as environmentaliy criticai areas.
8 
Aii projects outside the ICCA that have potentiaily adverse impacts on the
9 
conserved territories and areas are subject to EIA.
10 
The participation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
11 
and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is required in the
12 
conduct of the EIA outside the ICCAs but within the ICC/IPs ancestral domain.
13 
The customary laws, the IKSPs of the ICCs/IPs and the social acceptability of
14 
the project shali be considered in the assessment of such projects.
15 
In the interest of transparency and fuli disciosure, the EIA should be concluded
16 
and reported for consideration during the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC)
17 
process, as provided for under Section 3 (g) of Republic Act No. 8371.
18 
Sec. 9. ICCAs in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). - Subject to the Constitution,
19 
the ICCs/IPs shall govern, maintain, restore, and sustainably develop the ICCAs' key
20 
biodiversity areas (KBAs) in accordance with their customary laws, IKSP, and in a
21 
manner consistent with the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity found
22 
therein and in accordance with existing environmental policies, rules and regulations.
23 
CHAPTER III
24 
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS
25 
PEOPLES CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS REGISTRY
26 
Sec. 10. The National ICCA Registry. - To ensure the availability of official
27 
information on ICCAs, a National ICCA Registry, hereinafter referred to as the
28 
"Registry," is hereby established. The Registry shall be the official information
29 
management system, containing all pertinent records on the ICCAs that are voluntarily


1 
submitted by the ICCs/IPs as ICCA registrants. The Registry shali contain the foliowing
2 
information:
3 
(a) Name of the ICCs/IPs;
4 
(b) A map generated from the delineation of the ICCAs with the corresponding
5 
technical description by the DENR;
6 
(c) Brief description of governance structure;
7 
(d) Policies on resource conservation and sustainabie use;
8 
(e) CADT and CALT, if appiicabie;
9 
(f) Relevant portions of the Ancestrai Domain Sustainable Development and
10 
Protection Plan (ADSDPP) containing information on the ICCAs; and
11 
(g) Contact persons and information.
12 
Sec. 11. Operational Structures of the Registry. - The DENR, through the
13 
Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), shali be the main repository and
14 
administrator of the Registry. It shail organize, store, and update all information
15 
contained in the Registry, and shali be responsible for the documentation,
16 
administration, and maintenance of the Registry.
17 
Ail information and data in the Registry shail be obtained from the ICCs/IPs
18 
that registered and provided such information. The information and data submitted
19 
shail be considered as part of the community's inteilectual property rights.
20 
The intellectual property rights of the ICCs/IPs shall be protected and respected.
21 
Sec. 12. Creation of a Steering Committee. - A Steering Committee is created
22 
to define policy, provide directions, and perform oversight functions in the
23 
administration and maintenance of the Registry.
24 
It shail be chaired by a representative from the NCIP.
25 
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following:
26 
(a) A representative from the DENR;
27 
(b) A representative from the NCIP;
28 
(c) A representative from the Department of the Interior and Local
29 
Government (DILG);
30 
(d) A representative from the Department of Human Settiements and Urban
31 
Deveiopment (DHSUD);
32 
(e) A representative from the Phiiippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
6


1 
(f) A representative from recognized civil society organizations (CSOs); and
2 
(g) Three (3) representatives of the ICCs/IPs who are themselves members of
3 
the indigenous cultural community; and
4 
(h) A representative from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines
5 
(ULAP).
6 
Sec. 13. ICCA Registration. -The ICCs/IPs shall initiate the documentation and
7 
registration of their ICCAs in the Registry with appropriate financial and technical
8 
support from the NCIP, the DENR, or other assisting organizations.
9 
If the ICCs/IPs seek the assistance of the NCIP and the DENR in the registration
10 
of the ICCAs, the following steps shall be undertaken:
11 
(a) The NCIP shall assist the community in documenting the ICCAs and, with
12 
the support of the DENR, delineate the metes and bounds of the said ICCA;
13 
(b) The NCIP shall facilitate the formulation of a Community Conservation Plan
14 
in collaboration with the DENR and the 
municipal and provincial local
15 
government units; and
16 
(c) The NCIP shall submit the documentation of the ICCAs and other pertinent
17 
documents to the DENR for inclusion in the Registry.
18 
In the event that the ICCs/IPs decide to undertake the documentation by
19 
themselves with the support of assisting organizations, the NCIP, DENR, and the
20 
concerned municipal and provincial local government units shall verify and affirm the
21 
documentation and pertinent documents submitted before the ICCAs may be included
22 
in the Registry.
23 
The map, the technical description of the specific ICCA, and a brief description
24 
of the natural features and landmarks of the ICCA sought to be registered and included
25 
in the Registry shall be posted at the local, provincial, and regional office of the NCIP,
26 
and shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two (2)
27 
consecutive weeks to allow concerned parties to formally submit their written
28 
opposition within fifteen (15) days.
29 
Sec. 14. Procedure for Deiisting from the Registry. - If the ICCs/IPs determine
30 
that the ICCA no longer serves the purpose for which it was defined and declared, the
31 
ICCs/IPs may cause the delisting of the same through a procedure to be provided in


1 
the rules and regulations to be issued by the NCIP and the DENR to implement this
2 
Act.
3 
Sec. 15. Inclusion ofICCAs in the LGUs Plan. -The LGUs shali inciude in their
4 
Regional Physical Framework Plans, Provincial Physical Framework Plans,
5 
Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans, Community Deveiopment Plans, Forest
6 
Land Use Plans, Barangay Development Plans, the Ancestral Domains Sustainable
7 
Development and Protection Plan, and other relevant harmonized plans on the ICCAs
8 
that have been declared and recorded in the Registry by the ICCs/IPs.
9 
Sec. 16. ICCA Governance. -The ICCAs shall be governed by the ICCs/IPs in
10 
accordance with their customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and practices,
11 
structures, and mechanisms: Provided, that any co-management with, or
12 
reiinquishment of management by the ICCs/IPs, shall be temporary in nature and
13 
subject to regular renewal by the ICCs/IPs in accordance with Section 58 of Republic
14 
Act No. 8371, and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended.
15 
The application of customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and
16 
practices, structures, and mechanisms by the ICCs/IPs within and outside their ICCAs
17 
shall enjoy the presumption of being indigenous and a sustainable traditional resource
18 
right and shail not require prior approval or validation provided that such customary
19 
laws, indigenous knowiedge systems and practices and sustainable traditional
20 
resource right has been earlier acknowledged and recognized by the NCIP. Towards
21 
this end, the NCIP shall endeavor to codify these customary laws, indigenous
22 
knowledge systems and practices, and sustainabie traditional resource right in
23 
accordance with Section 46 (b) of Republic Act No. 8371 and NCIP Administrative
24 
Order No. 1, Series of 2012.
25 
Any conflict on matters of governance that may arise within the ICCAs shall be
26 
primarily resolved through customary laws and traditional conflict resolution
27 
mechanisms.
28
29
CHAPTER IV 
INCENTIVES
8


1 
Sec. 17. Incentive Scheme. -The ICCAs listed in the Registry shall be prioritized
2 
for biodiversity conservation, preservation of forest cover, protection of ancestral
3 
waters, and as reforestation project sites. Where appropriate and available,
4 
government financial institutions and other government agencies shall provide
5 
financial and technical assistance to ICCs/IPs for the protection and promotion of their
6 
registered conserved territories and areas, particularly in establishing and
7 
implementing payment schemes for ecosystem services provided by ICCAs.
8 
In all cases, the rights, interests, and well-being of the ICCs/IPs shall be of
9 
paramount concern.
10
11
CHAPTER V
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
12 
Sec. 18. Role of the NCIP. -The NCIP shall be the primary government agency
13 
responsible for the full implementation of this Act. It shall protect and promote the
14 
interests and well-being of the ICCs/IPs in the context of biodiversity conservation and
15 
community resiiience.
16 
The NCIP shall create the Ancestral Domain Protection and Sustainable
17 
Development Office and shall coordinate with the DENR on all activities related to the
18 
documentation, community conservation, planning, and registration of ICCAs. It shall
19 
provide full and effective financial and technical assistance on the following:
20 
(a) Capacity building and enhancement in the identification, documentation,
21 
and recognition of ICCAs;
22 
(b) Preparation of Community Conservation Plans (CCP), and integrating them
23 
in the ADSDPP; and
24 
(c) Interfacing of the ADSDPP with other relevant planning frameworks.
25 
The NCIP shall also be responsible for verifying and affirming the information
26 
submitted by ICCs/IPs that undertake documentation themselves, for inclusion in the
27 
Registry of ICCAs.
28 
The NCIP shall consider the issues and concerns on ICCAs in all management
29 
planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs.


1 
The NCIP shall also be represented in the Protected Area Management Board
2 
(PAMB) created for each protected area pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, as
3 
amended.
4 
The NCIP, through its provincial offices, shall have original and exclusive
5 
jurisdiction over ali claims and disputes involving ICCAs: Provided, however. That no
6 
such dispute shail be brought to the NCIP unless the parties have exhausted ail
7 
remedies provided under their customary iaws: Provided further, That the indigenous
8 
conflict resoiution shouid not appiy if one of the parties is a non-member of an ICC/IP,
9 
and such dispute may be filed directly with the NCIP.
10 
The decision of the provincial office can be appealed to the regional office and
11 
the Commission proper.
12 
Sec. 19. Roie of the DENR. -The DENR shall, upon the formal request of the
13 
ICCs/IPs, provide financial and technical support for delineation and mapping, and
14 
biodiversity assessment of ICCA, and in the listing or registration of ICCA with the
15 
Registry and similar global platforms or networks.
16 
Enforcement of the preventive mechanisms and penal provisions of this Act
17 
shali aiso be vested in the DENR.
18 
The agency shali aiso consider the issues and concerns of ICCAs in ail
19 
management planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs.
20 
The government shali provide funds for the publication of the iist of verified ICCAs.
21 
Sec. 20. Roie of Other Government Agencies and LGUs. -Consistent with their
22 
respective mandates and upon formai request by ICCs/IPs, national government
23 
agencies and LGUs shail provide financial and technical assistance in buiiding and
24 
strengthening the capacity of the requesting ICCs/IPs to manage their ICCA.
25 
The NCIP and the DENR, in partnership with the DILG, shall devise an incentive
26 
scheme for LGUs that wili adopt and include ICCAs in the harmonized Regionai and
27 
Provincial Physical Framework Plans, Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans,
28 
Community Development Plan, Forest Land Use Plan, and other relevant plans and
29 
programs.
30 
The NCIP and the DENR shall, in partnership with the Department of
31 
Information and Communications Technoiogy (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics
10


1 
Authority (PSA), develop or enhance existing data gathering methods for a
2 
comprehensive and centraiized ICCA registry.
3 
The NCIP shaii, in coordination with the DENR, the Department of Economy,
4 
Pianning, and Deveiopment (DEPDev), the DILG, the Housing and Land Use
5 
Regulatory Board (HLURB), and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM),
6 
formulate guidelines for the prioritization of programs and projects that support ICCAs.
7 
Sec. 21. Engagement with the Private Sector and Civii Society to Recognize
8 
ICCAs. -The ICCs/IPs, the NCIP and the DENR shaii actively engage and collaborate
9 
with the private sector and civil society in raising pubiic awareness and recognition of
10 
ICCAs, and in obtaining specialized assistance and services, subject to FPIC
11 
requirements of the concerned ICCs/IPs.
12 
Public participation in the protection, conservation, and sustainabie use of ICC
13 
As in accordance with the ICCs/IPs customary law and IKSP, especially at the local
14 
level, shall be encouraged to maximize conservation and community benefits.
15 
Sec. 22. Sustainable Livelihoods. - Subject to the provisions of the Constitution,
16 
the NCIP, the DENR, and other reievant government agencies shaii support
17 
sustainable livelihood opportunities, inciuding biodiversity-friendiy livelihoods that are
18 
identified and defined by ICCs/IPs consistent with traditional practices and resource
19 
use in accordance with ICCs/IPs customary iaw and IKSP that contribute to the
20 
sustainable use and proper management of the ICCAs.
21
22
CHAPTER VI 
PENAL PROVISIONS
23 
Sec. 23. Prohibited Acts. - Any act inconsistent with the poiicies of conservation
24 
and protection and prohibited in Repubiic Act No. 8371 and Republic Act No. 7586, as
25 
amended, is prohibited.
26 
Sec. 24. Penalties. - Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or
27 
juridical entity who commits any acts in violation of Section 23 of this Act shaii upon
28 
conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not iess than six months but not more
29 
than six (6) years or a fine of not iess than Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000.00) but not
30 
more than fifty miliion pesos (P50,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
11


1 
After finding a probable cause, the proper court where the information is fiied
2 
shali immediately conduct a summary hearing to determine the propriety of issuing a
3 
Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) and shali simultaneously hear the
4 
criminal case to determine the urgency of issuing a writ of kalikasan. This is without
5 
prejudice to the other provisionai remedies provided under Rule 127 of the Revised
6 
Rules on Criminal Procedure.
7 
The offender, upon conviction, shali also provide restitution commensurate with
8 
the cost of the destroyed ecosystem and the cost of rehabilitation of the same as
9 
agreed upon with the ICCs/IPs.
10 
If the offender is a government official or employee, the offender shall, in
11 
addition to imprisonment and fine, be perpetuaily disqualified from holding public
12 
office.
13 
Any object or instrumentaiity used in committing any of the prohibited acts under
14 
Section 23 of this Act shali be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government.
15 
If the offender is a juridical entity, the penaity of imprisonment and fine shall
16 
be imposed upon its manager, director, representative, or employee responsible for
17 
the violation without prejudice to the canceliation or revocation of the license or
18 
accreditation of the offender, issued by any iicensing or accredited body of the
19 
government.
20 
If the offender is an aiien, the offender shali be deported immediately after the
21 
service of the sentence.
22 
The prosecution of offenses under Section 23 of this Act shall be without
23 
prejudice to any liabiiity for violation of Republic Act No. 8371 or other criminal and
24 
civil liabilities under existing iaws.
25
26
CHAPTER VII 
FINAL PROVISIONS
27 
Sec. 25. Annual Report. - The Chairperson of the NCIP shail submit to the
28 
President of the Phiiippines and to the Congress an annuai progress report on the
29 
implementation of this Act. The report shail be posted on the website of the NCIP.
12


1 
Sec. 26. Construction. -The provisions of this Act shall be construed liberally
2 
in favor of ICCs/IPs and the protection and conservation of biodiversity. In no way
3 
shall it be interpreted as an instrument to exploit ICC/IPs or undermine the intent of
4 
this Act to conserve and protect ICCAs.
5 
This Act shall not in any manner adversely affect the rights and benefits of the
6 
ICCs/IPs under Republic Act No. 8371, international conventions, recommendations,
7 
international treaties, national laws, awards, customs, and agreements.
8 
Sec. 27. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to cover the initial
9 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's appropriations
10 
of the concerned departments or agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be
11 
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the annual General
12 
Appropriations Act.
13 
Sec. 28. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within ninety (90) days from
14 
the approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the NCIP and the Secretary of the DENR
15 
shall, in consultation with appropriate government agencies and with the full
16 
participation of ICCs/IPs, issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
17 
implementation of this Act.
18 
Sec. 29. Separabiiity Ciause. - If any part or provision of this Act is declared
19 
invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain
20 
in full force and effect.
21 
Sec. 30. Repeaiing Ciause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations,
22 
and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of
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this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
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Sec. 31. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,
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