Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO.
INTRODUCED BY REP. MAXIMO, JR. Y. DALOG
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This Bill  seeks to recognize the significant role of Indigenous Peoples/Indigenous
Cultural  Communities  (lps/lccs)  in  biodiversity  conservation  in  the  country  by
establishing   a   system   of  identification,   registration,   protection,   promotion   and
recognition  of areas  within  their  ancestral  domains  and  lands  which  have  been
identified,  protected and sustainably used pursuant to their indigenous knowledge,
systems  and  practices  and  in  accordance  with  their  customary  laws  otherwise
known as Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (lccAs).
With the establishment of the  National  lccA Registry,  lccAs shall  be  registered
upon the submission of pertinent records and documentation by lccs/lps with the
assistance of the NCIP, DENR or other pertinent government and non-government
organizations.     Once the  lccAs  are  registered,  lccs/lps  concerned  shall  have
exclusive  use  and  shall  govern,  conserve,  manage  and  protect  them  with  the
assistance of national and  local government agencies.   Moreover,  the  registered
lccAs  shall   be  prioritized  for  biodiversity  conservation,   preservation  of  forest
cover,  protection of ancestral waters and as reforestation sites.
Hence,  with the approval  of this bill,  lccs/lps are given the  needed  support and
assistance  in  the  protection  and  conservation  of  key  biodiversity  areas  in  the
country.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought
`"``.`,:,``:=`-`.::.,I-


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HousE Bill No.  5853
INTRODll-6E'b|TEY REP. MAXIMO, JR. V. DALOG
AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS OF
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMIVIUNITIES,  ESTABLISHING  FOR
THE   PURPOSE   THE   NATloNAL   INDIGENOUS   COMMUNITY   CONSERVED
AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Short Ti-I/e. -This Act shall be known as the "/not.genous
Community Conserved Territories and Areas Act' .
Section 2. Dec/arati-on ofpo/i.cy. -ln accordance with the provisions
of  the   Constitution,   Republic  Act   No.   8371,   otherwise   known   as  the
"Indigenous  Peoples  Rights Act of  1997"  (lpRA),  and  the  United  Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), it is the policy
of the  State  to  recognize,  promote,  and  protect  the  rights  of  Indigenous
Cultural  Communities/Indigenous  Peoples  (lccs/lps),  particularly  to  their
ancestral domains.
The  state  also  recognizes  the  existing  customary  and  traditional
governance  by   lccs/lps  of  their  ancestral  domains  and   lands  as  an
effective measure of conserving key biodiversity areas. By this recognition,
the  State  acknowledges  the  significant  contribution  of  lccs/lps  to  the
country's efforts in the  protection  of the environment,  the conservation  of
biodiversity, and in the promotion of community resilience.
Towards this end, the State shall adopt measures to recognize and
respect the designation and declaration by lccs/lps of the conserved areas
within  their  ancestral  domains  and  to  promote  their  rights  to  manage,
maintain,  and sustainably develop the natural resources  by applying their


indigenous knowledge systems and practices within these areas under their
indigenous political structures and traditional governance systems.
For  this  purpose,   a   national  registry  for  all   lccs/lps  conserved
territories and areas shall be established to be the repository of information
on these conserved territories and areas.
Section 3. Deri.ni.fi.on of Terms. -As used un this Act:
a)  Env/.ronmenfa//y Cr/.i/.ca/ Areas /ECASJ refer to areas identified under
Presidential Proclamation No. 2146, Series of 1981 and herein further
classified as Strict Protection Zones (SPZ);
tj)  Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) rofer
to areas within ancestral domains and  lands,  and parts thereof, that
are   identified,    protected,   conserved,   and   sustainably   used   by
lccs/lps  pursuant  to  their  indigenous  knowledge,   systems,   and
practices, and in accordance with customary laws and other effective
means since time immemorial continuously to the present, subject to
the limitations imposed by the Constitution.
These  are  characterized  by  natural  or  modified  ecosystems,
containing significant biodiversity,  beneficial qualities and  is of great
cultural and spiritual value to the community.
c)  Key  bi.odt.versi.fy  areas  refer  to  the  sites  of  global  significance  for
biodiversity  conservation  that  are  identified  using  globally  standard
criteria and thresholds, based on the scale of the need for safeguards.
These  criteria   are   based   on  the  framework  of  vulnerability   and
irreplaceability used in systematic conservation planning;
d)  Ivaf/.ona/    /CCA     Regi.sfry    refers    to    the     national     information
management    system    that    contains    records    of   the    pertinent
information on lccAs;
e)  Sustainable Traditional Resource Rights (STRR) reifer to the r.ighis Of
lccs/lps to sustainably use,  manage,  protect and conserve 1) land,
air,  water,  and  minerals;  2)  plants,  animals and  other organisms;  3)
collecting, fishing and  hunting grounds; 4) sacred sites;  and 5) other
areas  of economic,  ceremonial  and  aesthetic value  in  accordance
with their indigenous knowledge, belief systems, and practices.
Section 4. Scope and Coverage. This Act shall apply to all ancestral
domains  and  lands  publicly  known  to  have  been  held  under  a  claim  of
ownership,  possession  and  occupation  based  on  native  title  since  time
immemorial  continuously  and  up  to  the  present,  or  formally  recognized


under  a  Certificate  of  Ancestral  Domain  Title  (CALT)  or  Certificate  of
Ancestral Land Title (CADT) issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 8371.
CHAPTER 11
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS
Section  5.  Gwi.di-ng Prr.nci.p/es. - The following guidelines shall be
observed    in    recognizing    the    indigenous    cultural    communities    and
indigenous peoples conserved territories and areas (lccAs):
a)  The    rights    to    land    and    self-determination    include    the   full
recognition  of  the  traditional  resources,  rights  and  practices  of
ICCs/lps,   as  well   as  their  right  to   access,   maintain,   protect,
conserve, regulate lccAs and exclude unauthorized intrusion into
these areas;
b)  The  customary  laws  and   indigenous  knowledge  systems  and
practices (lKSPs)  in the governance and  management of ICCAs
shall be recognized and respected provided that they are within the
framework of national unity and development as envisioned under
the Constitution.
c)  The  lccs/lps  shall  govern  their conserved  territories  and  areas
and  ensure  the  preservation,   restoration,  and  maintenance  of
ecological  balance  and  biodiversity  therein  in  consonance  with
existing   environmental    policies   and   with   the   assistance   of
government agencies;
d)  The  identification  and  declaration  of  ICCAs  shall  consider  duly
formulated  national,   regional,   provincial  and  municipal  policies,
plans and programs;
e)  The lccs/lps shall receive a fair and equitable share in the benefits
derived from the ecosystem services provided by lccAs and other
activities as authorized by the lccs/lps themselves in accordance
with existing environmental policies, rules and regulations; and
f)   ln   case   of   conflict   between    lcc/lps'   customary   laws   and
indigenous  knowledge  systems  and  practices  on  the  one  hand,
and  existing  environmental  laws,  rules  and  regulations,  on  the
other,  earnest efforts shall  be exerted to adopt an  interpretation
that will give effect to both.  Only when  it is clear that the two are
truly  irreconcilable will  environmental  laws,  rules  and  regulations
prevail,   but   such   construction   shall   always   be   supported   by
evidence attesting to the fact that the customary laws and  lKSPs
have no sound scientific basis and shall be guided by the pertinent
provisions of the Constitution.
Section 6. Recogn/.fi.on of /CCIAs. -The lccs/lps shall define and
declare the  conserved  areas within  their ancestral  domains  and  lands  in


accordance with their indigenous political structures, cultures and traditions
provided that the identified area is not earlier proclaimed or declared as a
protected  area  under  Republic  Act  No.  7586,  otherwise  known  as  the
"National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992" as amended by
Republic  Act  no.11038,   otherwise  known   as  the  "Expanded   National
Integrated  Protected  Areas  System  Act  of  2018"  and  other  presidential
proclamations.
The declaration  of lccAs shall  be respected  as an  exercise of the
self-governance,  self-determination  and  sustainable  traditional  resource
rights of the  lccs/lps.  It shall  be recognized  by all  national agencies and
local government units (LGUs) as another category of protected areas that
are  owned,  controlled,  governed  and  managed  by  lccs/lps themselves.
The lccAs, their respective locations, names in indigenous language, and
components therein,  shall  be  respected  used,  and  promoted  in  all  official
documents.
No   provision   in   this  Act   granting   or   recognizing   the   rights   and
privileges  of lccs/lps  in  the  ICCAs  shall  be  constructed  to  diminish  their
rights and privileges in non-lccA areas of the ancestral domains or lands.
Section 7. Protecfl.on of /CCAs. - Subject to the provisions of the
Constitution,   Republic  Act   No.   8371,   and   Republic  Act   No.   7586,   as
amended, the lccAs shall  be reserved for the exclusive use of lccs/lps
exercising their sustainable traditional resource rights. It shall be the duty of
the  lcc/lps  to  govern,  conserve,  manage  and  protect  lccAs  with  the
assistance of government agencies.
Secti\on 8. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System. -For
the purposes of this act,  all ICCAs shall be considered as environmentally
critical areas.
All projects outside the ICCA that have potential adverse impacts on
the conserved territories and areas are subject to EIA.
The participation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
is  required  in  the  conduct  of  the  EIA  outside  the  ICCAs  but  within  the
ICC/lps ancestral domain.
The  customary  laws,  the  lKSPs  of  the  lccs/lps  and  the  social
acceptability  of the  reported  for  consideration  during  the  Free  and  Prior
Informed  Consent (EPIC)  process,  as provided for under Section  3 (g) of
Republic Act No. 8371.


Se®tlion 9. ICCAs in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). - Subject to
the   Constitution,   the   lccs/lps   shall   govern,    maintain,    restore   and
sustainably develop the ICCAs' key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in accordance
with  their  customary  laws,   IKSP,  and  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the
sustainable   use  and   conservation  of  biodiversity  found  therein  and   in
accordance with existing environmental policies, rules and regulations.
CHAPTER Ill
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS
REGISTRY
Section 10. The Wafi.ona/ /CCA Regi.stryL -To ensure the availability
of  official  information  on  lccAs,  a  National  lccA  Registry,  hereinafter
referred to as the "Regi.sfly',  is hereby established.  The Registry shall  be
the official  information  management system that shall contain all  pertinent
records on the lccAs that are voluntarily submitted by the ICCs/lps as the
lccA registrant. The Registry shall contain the following information:
a)  Name of the ICCs/lps;
b) A  map  generated  from  the  delineation  of  the  lccAs  with  the
corresponding technical description by the DENR;
c)  Brief description of governance structure;
d)  Policies on resource conservation and sustainable use;
e)  CADT and CALT, if applicable;
f)   Relevant     portions     of    the    Ancestral     Domain     Sustainable
Development     and     Protection     Plan     (ADSDPP)     containing
information on the lccAs; and
g)  Contact Persons.
Sectlion 11. Operational Structures of the Registlry. -The DEENF`,
through  the  Biodiversity  Management  Bureau  (BMB),  shall  be  the  main
repository  and  administrator  of the  Registry.  It  shall  organize,  store,  and
update all information that may be contained  in the Registry,  and shall  be
responsible for the documentation,  administration and maintenance of the
Registry.
All  information  and  data  in  the  Registry  shall  be  obtained  from  the
lccs/lps who registered an provided such information. The information and
data submitted shall be considered as part of the community's intellectual
property rights.
The intellectual property rights of the lccs/lps shall be protected and
respected.


Sect]ion  12.  Creation  of  a  Steering  Committee.  -  A  Steer-ing
Committee  id  created  to  define  policy,   provide  directions  and  perform
oversight functions in the administration and maintenance of the Registry.
It shall be chaired by a representative from the NCIP.
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following:
a) A representative from the DENR;
b) A representative from the NCIP;
c)  A  representative  from  the  Department  of the  Interior  and  Local
Government (DILG);
d) A representative form the Department of Human Settlements and
Urban Development (DHSUD);
e)  A representative from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);
f)   A   representative   form    recognized    civil    society   organization
(CSOs); and
g)  Three  (3)  representatives  of the  lccs/lps  who  are  themselves
members of the indigenous cultural community; and
h)  A   representative   from   the   Union   of   Local   Authorities   of  the
Philippines (ULAP).
Section  13.  /CCA  Regi.slratfon.  -The  lccs/lps  shall  initiate  the
documentation   and   registration   of   their   lccAs   in   the   Registry   with
appropriate financial  and  technical  support from  the  NCIP,  the  DENR,  or
other assisting organizations.
If the lccs/lps seek the assistance of the NCIP and the DENR in the
registration of the lccAs, the following steps shall be undertaken:
a)  The  NCIP  shall  assist the community in  documenting the  lccAs
and,  with  the  support  of  the  DENR,  delineate  the  metes  and
bounds of the said lccA;
b)  The    NCIP    shall   facilitate   the   formulation    of   a    Community
Conservation   Plan   in   collaboration   with   the   DENR   and   the
municipal and provincial local government units; and
c)  The NCIP shall submit the documentation of the ICCAs and other
pertinent documents to the DENR for inclusion in the Registry.
In  case  the  lccs/lps  decide  to  undertake  the  documentation  by
themselves with  the  support of assisting  organizations,  the  NCIP,  DENR
and  the  municipal  and  provincial  local  government  units  concerned,  shall
verify  and  afrirm  the  documentation  and  pertinent  documents  submitted
before the lccAs may be included in the Registry.


The  map,  the  technical  description  of the  specific  ICCA,  and  brief
description of the natural features and landmarks of the lccA sought to be
registered   and   included   in  the   Registry  shall   be  posted   at  the   local,
provincial,   and   regional   office   of  the   NCIP,   shall   be   published   in   a
newspaper of general circulation once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks
to allow concerned parties to formally submit their written opposition within
fifteen (15) days.
Seedion 14.  Procedure for Delisting from the Registry. - It the
ICCs/lps determine that the lccA no longer serves the purpose for which it
was defined and declared, the ICCs/lps may cause the delisting of the same
through a procedure to be provided in the rules and regulations to be issued
by the NCIP and the DENR to implement this Act.
Se®tiion 15. Inclusion of ICCAs in the LGus plan. -The LGUs shall
include  in  their  Regional  Physical  Framework  Plans,  Provincial  Physical
Framework Plans, Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans, Community
Development Plans, Forest Land Use plans, Barangay Development Plans,
the Ancestral Domains Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, and
other relevant harmonized plans on the lccAs that have been declared and
recorded in the Registry by the ICCs/lps.
Section 16. /CCA Governance. -The lccAs shall be governed by
the   ICCs/lps   in   accordance   with   their   customary   laws,    indigenous
knowledge systems and practices,  structures and mechanisms:  Prov/.dec/,
That any  co-management with,  or  relinquishment of management  by the
lccs/lps, shall be temporary in nature and subject to regular renewal by the
lccs/lps  in  accordance  with  Section  58  of  Republic Act  No.  8371,  and
Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended.
The  application  of customary  laws.  Indigenous  knowledge  systems
and  practices,  structures  and  mechanisms  by  the  lccs/IPs  within  and
outside their lccAs shall enjoy the presumption of being indigenous and a
sustainable traditional resource right, and shall not require prior approval or
validation   provided   tat   such   customary   laws,   indigenous   knowledge
systems and practices and sustainable traditional resource right has been
earlier acknowledged and  recognized  by the NCIP. Towards this end, the
NCIP shall endeavor to codify these customary laws, indigenous knowledge
systems   and   practices   and   sustainable   traditional   resource   right   in
accordance  with  Section  46   (b)  of  Republic  Act  No.   8371   and   NCIP
Administrative Order No.1, Series of 2012.
Any conflict on matters of governance that may arise within the lccAs
shall  be  primarily resolved through  customary laws and traditional  conflict
resolution mechanisms.


CHAPTER IV
INCENTIVES
Section 17. /ncenfi.res Scheme. -The ICCAs listed in the Registry
shall be prioritized for biodiversity conservation, preservation of forest cover,
protection  of ancestral  waters,  and  as  reforestation  project  sites.  Where
appropriate   and   available,   government  financial   institutions   and   other
government  agencies  shall  provide  financial  and  technical  assistance  to
ICCs/lps  for  the  protection  and  promotion  of their  registered  conserved
territories and  areas,  particularly in the establishment and  implementation
of payment schemes for ecosystem services provided by the lccAs.
In all cases, the rights,  interests and well-being of the ICCs/lps shall
be of paramount concern.
CHAPTER V
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Section  18.  Ro/e  of the  WC/P.  -The  NCIP  shall  be  the  primary
agency responsible for the full implementation of this Act. It shall protect and
promote  the  interest  and  well-being  of  the  ICCs/lps  in  the  context  of
biodiversity conservation and community resilience.
The   NCIP   shall   create   the   Ancestral    Domain   Protection   and
Sustainable Development Office, and shall coordinate with the DENR on all
activities related to the documentation,  community conservation,  planning,
and  registration  of  lccAs.  It  shall  provide full  and  effective financial  and
technical assistance on the following:
a)  Capacity    building     and    enhancement    in    the    identification,
documentation, and recognition of lccAs;
b)  Preparation    of   Community   Conservation    Plans   (CCP),    and
integrating them in the ADSDPP; and
c)  lnterfacing    of    the    ADSDPP    into    other    relevant    planning
frameworks.
The NCIP shall also be responsible for the verification and affirmation
of information submitted by the ICCs/lps who undertake the documentation
by themselves, for inclusion in the Registry of lccAs.
The NCIP shall take into account the issues and concerns on lccAs
in   all   management   planning   and   decision-making   processes   of   the
lccs/lps.


The   NCIP   shall   also   be   represented    in   the   Protected   Area
Management  Board  (PAMB) created for each  protected area  pursuant to
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended.
The   NCIP,   through   its  provincial   offices,   shall   have  original   and
exclusive   jurisdiction   over   all   claims   and   disputes   involving   lccAs:
Provi.ded,  however,  That  no  such  dispute  shall  be  brought  to  the  NCIP
unless  the  parties  have  exhausted   all   remedies  provided   under  their
customary  laws:  Prov/.dec/ further,  That the  indigenous  conflict  resolution
should  not apply if one of the parties is a  non-member of an  lcc/lp,  and
such dispute may be filed directly with the NCIP.
The decision of the provincial office can be appealed to the regional
office and the Commission proper.
Section 19. Ro/e of the DEWR. -The DENR shall,  upon the formal
request   of  the   ICCs/lps,   provide   financial   and   technical   support   for
delineation and mapping,  and biodiversity assessment of lccA and in the
listing or registration of lccA with the Registry and similar global platforms
or network.
Enforcement of the preventive mechanisms and  penal  provisions of
this Act shall also be vested in the DENR.
The agency shall also take into account the issues and concerns on
ICCs  in  all  management  planning  and  decision-making  processes  of the
lccs/IPs.
The government shall  provide funds for the publication  of the list of
verified lccAs.
Seedion 20.  Role of Other Government Agencies and  LGus. -
Consistent  with  their  respective  mandates  and  upon  formal  request  by
lccs/lps,  national government agencies and  LGUs shall  provide financial
and technical assistance in  building and strengthening the capacity of the
requesting lccs/lps to manage their lccA.
The NCIP and the DENR,  in  partnership with the DILG,  shall device
an  incentive  scheme  for  LGUs  that will  adopt  and  include  ICCAs  in  the
harmonized     Regional     and     Provincial     Physical     Framework     plans,
Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans, Community Development Plan,
Forest Land Use plan and other relevant plans and programs.
The NCIP and the DENR shall, in partnership with the Department of
Information  and  Communications  Technology  (DICT)  and  the  Philippine


Statistics  Authority  (PSA),  create  or  improve  on  existing  data  gathering
methods for a complete and centralized ICCA registry.
The   NCIP   shall,    in   coordination   with   the   DENR,   the   National
Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the DILG, the Housing and Land
Use   Regulatory   Board   (HLURB),   and  the   Department  of  Budget  and
Management (DBM), formulate guidelines for the prioritization of programs
and projects that support lccAs.
Sectiion 21. Engagement with the Private Sector and Civil Society
fo  Recogni.ze  /CCAs.  -  The  ICCS/lps,  the  NCIP  and  the  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 services,  subject to FPIC  requirements of the
concerned  lccs/lps.  Public  participation  in  the  protection,  conservation,
and sustainable use of lccAs in accordance with the lccs/lps customary
law and IKSP, especially at the local level, shall be encouraged to maximize
conservation and community benefits.
Section 22. Susfa/-nab/e i/.ye/jhoods. -Subject to the provisions of
the  Constitution,  the  NCIP,  the  DENR,  and  other  relevant  government
agencies   shall   support   sustainable   livelihood   opportunities,    including
biodiversity-friendly liveljhoods that are identified and defined  by  ICCs/IPs
consistent with  traditional  practices  and  resource  use  in  accordance with
lccs/lps customary  law and  lKSP  that contribute to the  sustainable  and
proper management of the lccAs.
CHAPTER VI
PENAL PROVISIONS
Section 23. Priohi.bi.fedActs. -any act inconsistent with the policies
of conservation and protection, and prohibited in Republic Act No. 8371  and
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended, is prohibited.
Section  24.  Pena/fi.es.  -  Any  individual,  corporation,  partnership,
association orjudicial entity who commits any acts in violation of Section 23
of this Act shall  upon conviction,  be punished  by imprisonment of not less
than six months but not more than six (6) years or a fine of not less than
Fifty Thousand  Pesos (P50,000.00)  but not more than  Fifty Million  Pesos
(P50,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.
After  finding   of  a   probable   cause,   the   proper  court  where  the
information   is   filed   shall   immediately   conduct   a   summary   hearing   to
determine the  propriety of issuing  a Temporary  Environmental  Protection
Order (TEPO) and shall simultaneously hear the criminal case to determine


the urgency of issuing of a writ of ka/7.kasan. This is without prejudice to the
other provisional remedies provided under Rule 127 of the Revised  Rules
on Criminal Procedure.
The    offender,    upon    conviction,    shall    also    provide    restitution
commensurate  to  the  cost  of the  destroyed  ecosystem  and  the  cost  of
rehabilitation of the same as agreed upon with the lccs/lps.
If the offender is a government official or employee, the offender shall,
in  addition  to  imprisonment  and  fine,  be  perpetually  disqualified  to  hold
public office.
Any   object   and   instrumentality   used   in   committing   any   of   the
prohibited  acts  under  Section  23  of  this  Act  shall  be  confiscated  and
forfeited in favor of the government.
If the offender is a juridical entity, the penalty of imprisonment and fine
shall  be imposed  upon  its manager,  director,  representative or employee
responsible   for  the   violation   without   prejudice   to   the   cancellation   or
revocation  of the  license  or accredjtation  of the  offender,  issued  by  any
licensing or accredited body of the government.
If the offender is an alien, the offender shall be deported immediately
after service of the sentence.
The  prosecution  of offenses  under  Section  23  of this  Act  shall  be
without  prejudice  to  any  liability for violation  of Republic Act  No.  8371  or
other criminal and civil liabilities under existing laws.
CHAPTER Vll
FINAL PROVIsloNS
Section  25. Amua/ Report. -The Chairperson  of the  NCIP  shall
submit to the President of the Philippines and to the Congress an annual
progress report on the implementation of this Act. The report shall be posted
in the website of the NCIP.
Section  26.  Constmcfi.on.  -  The  provisions  of  this  Act  shall  be
constructed    liberally   in   favor   of   lccs/lps   and   the   protection    and
conservation   of  biodiversity.   In   no  way,   shall   it   be   interpreted   as  an
instrument to exploit [CC/lps or undermine the intent of this Act to conserve
and protect ICCAs.
This  Act  shall  not  in  any  manner  adversely  affect  the  rights  and
benefits   of  the   lccs/lps   under   Republic  Act   No.   8371,   international


conventions,    recommendations,    international    treaties,    national    laws,
awards, customs and agreements.
Section 27. ApproprJ.afi.ons. - The amount necessary to cover the
initial implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year's
appropriations of the concerned departments or agencies. Thereafter, such
sums  as  may  be  necessary  for  its  continued  implementation  shall  be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
Sect_.Ion ZP. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -W.iHhiin hiinerty
(90) days from the approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the NCIP and the
Secretary of the DENR shall,  in  consultation with  appropriate government
agencies and with full participation of lccs/lps,  issue the necessary rules
and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 29. Separabi./i-fy C/arse. -if any part or provision of this Act
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not
affected shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 30. Repea/i.ng C/arse. -All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations  and  other issuances,  or parts thereof,  which  are  inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 31. Effecl7-y/.fy. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after  its  publication  in  the  Off/.c/.a/  Gazeffe  or  in  a  newspaper  of general
circulation.
Approved,