SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B, Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No__1220

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 3153 by the
undersigned Rufus B. Rodriguez during the 14" Congress where it was
approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate. It
was again re-filed during the 15" Congress as House Bill No. 604 where it
was again approved by the Committee on National Cultural Communities and
substituted by House Bill No, 3747, approved on 2” reading, approved on 3°
reading and was transmitted to the Senate where it was not acted upon.

R.A. 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous People Rights Act of
1997 (IPRA) was a landmark legislation intended to address the concerns of
the cultural communities and indigenous people throughout the country.

While there are some constitutional and legal questions against certain
provisions of said law, the IPRA remains in effect. Under Section 64 of IPRA,
the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) is mandated to take
appropriate actions to recover legal domains which were illegally acquired.

The NCIP is given two (2) years to perform such functions as provided
for under Section 64 but the prescribed period has already expired on 22
November 1999.

This bill seeks to remedy this technical flaw in the law. Hence, it is
hereby proposed that the NCIP be granted a new ten (10) year period to
perform the same task as provided under Sec. 64 of the Indigenous People
Rights Act.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.



SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B, Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House BillNo._ 1220

AN ACT

EXTENDING THE PERIOD FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO EXERCISE THE OPTION TO
SECURE TITLE TO THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS UNDER LAND
REGISTRATION ACT 496 AND GRANTING A NEW FIVE (5)-YEAR
PERIOD TO THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
(NCIP) TO TAKE APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION FOR THE
CANCELLATION OF OFFICIALLY DOCUMENTED TITLES WHICH WERE.
ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 12
AND 64 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8371, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS ACT OF 1997”

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

SECTION 1. The option to secure a Certificate of Title under Commonwealth
Act 141, as amended, or the Land Registration Act 496 as provided for under
Section 12 of Republic Act No. 8371 is hereby extended for another twenty
(20) years effective upon the expiration of the first period

SEC. 2. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) is hereby
granted a new five (5)-year period within which to take appropriate legal
action for the cancellation of officially documented titles which were acquired
illegally, as provided for under Section 64 of Republic Act No. 8371

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in any
newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,