EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
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S E N A T E
‘ •' i iF 
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q1 ll.r
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•19 JUL 15 A9 51
In tro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO 
ENHANCE 
AND 
ENSURE 
DELIVERY 
OF 
ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
It is the declared policy of the State to recognize, respect, and protect the 
rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures, 
traditions, and institutions. No less than the Philippine Constitution, the highest law 
of the land, upholds this policy. Thus, Republic Act. No. 8371, otherwise known as 
the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, was enacted. This measure provided for the 
creation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), which will 
Implement the provisions of the said law.
Despite 
these efforts and 
so 
much 
more, 
the Indigenous 
Peoples' 
International Center for Policy Research and Education, reported in September 2016 
that "there continues to be a serious lack o f data on the number and distribution of 
indigenous peoples in the Philippines." Furthermore, they observed that "credibility 
of the results and enumeration methodology have been questioned."
If we are to effectively address the plight of our indigenous peoples, it is 
imperative that we are backed with accurate information based on scientific and


reliable data. This proposed measure seeks to establish resource centers for 
indigenous peoples so that we can gather precise information from the ground.
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
RAMOpj/eONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 
443
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• V ■' 
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'K- 
o f  I' ■
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*19 
JUL 15 
A 9 51
Intro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO 
ENHANCE 
AND 
ENSURE 
DELIVERY 
OF 
ESSENTIAL 
SERVICES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Resource Centers for
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Indigenous Peoples Act."
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Sec. 2. Declaration o f Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
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provide Indigenous Peoples (IPs) equal access to basic services and ensure
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protection of their rights, taking into consideration their customs, traditions, values
7 
and beliefs. Towards this end, there is a need to set up Resource Centers in all
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ethnographic regions to enhance the delivery of governments basic services and
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enable them to be recognized and to freely engage in participatory development
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programs, projects, and activities.
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Sec. 3. Establishment o f Resource Centers for ICC /  IP. - There shall be
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established IPs Resource Centers, hereinafter referred to as the "Center", in state
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universities and colleges in strategic locations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, as
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determined by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), hereinafter
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referred to as the "Commission", taking into consideration their ethnological
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locations.
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Sec. 4. s ta ff and Components of the ICC / IP Resource Centers. - The 
Commission shall designate in every Center a Chief Coordinating Officer, as well as 
staff members representing the concerned government departments and agencies.
Sec. 5. Composition and Functions o f the Center. - The Center shall be 
composed of the following three (3) major service areas and their respective 
functions, namely:
(A) Statistical Service Area -  documentation and recognition of ICCs / IPs 
their indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, political structures and 
customary laws through census, appraisal and baseline reports, and 
libraries;
(B) Human Development Index Service Area -  addresses problems of ICCs / 
IPs and provide basic and necessary services through link-up with 
concerned government agencies such as training programs, grant of 
scholarships, employment, livelihood and health services; and
(C) Domains 
Management 
Service 
Area 
-  
promotion 
of participatory 
programs, projects and activities for ICCs / IPs to effectively deliver their 
responsibility to maintain ecological balance, restore denuded areas, 
observe 
laws and 
the 
implementation 
of the Ancestral 
Domains 
Sustainable Development and Protections Plans and such other existing 
programs.
Sec. 6. Monitoring Progress and Implementation and Im pact o f this Act. -The 
Commission shall submit to Congress every three (3) years or as determined in the 
implementing rules and regulations, an annual report of its accomplishments.
Sec. 7. Funding. -The initial funding requirements for the implementation of 
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the agencies 
concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued 
implementation, shall be included in the agencies' yearly budget under the General 
Appropriations Act.


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Sec. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after 
the approval of this Act, the Commission, in coordination with the following 
concerned government agencies, to wit: Local Government Units (LGUs), the 
Philippines 
Statistics 
Authority 
(PSA), 
Department 
of 
Social 
Welfare 
and 
Development (DSWD), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA), Department of Education (DepEd). Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), Department of Justice (DOJ), 
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry 
(DTI), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), Department of Agriculture (DA), Land Management Bureau 
(LMB), Land Registration Authority (LRA), and such other concerned agencies, shall 
issue the necessary Rules and Regulations for the effective implementation of this 
Act.
Sec. 9. Repealing Cause. - All laws, decrees, letters of instructions, 
resolutions, orders, ordinances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Sec. 10. Separability Cause. - If any part, section or provision of this Act shall 
be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or provisions thereof shall 
be affected thereby.
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,