11
NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
`¢ftyRECEIVED
DATE:.OH|32o
TinE:Jfty
BY:-
Introduced b
resentative Rufus a.
House Bill No.  53 8 4
EXPLANATORY NOTE
There  are  various  indigenous  groups  in  our  country.  The  Cordillera  peoples,  also
known  as  /gorof,  are  living  in  the  highlands,  foothills  and  river  valleys  of  the  Cordillera
mountain ranges of Northern Luzon.  Tt.nggut.an, /sneg and IVorfhem Ka/t.nga are found in the
watershed areas of the Abulag, Tineg,  and  Chico rivers.  These groups are largely swidden
cultivators  who  depend  on  farming  rice,  root  crops,  and  vegetables.  Along  the  slopes  of
Mount Data and nearby areas are the Bontoc,  Sagada,  /fugao, and Sowfhem Ka/t.nga. They
are mainly wet-rice cultivators who grow their crops  both on  irrigated terraces and  swidden
fields.  The  lbaloi  and  Kankanaey  inhabit  the  southern  region  of  the  Cordillera  and  their
subsistence economy is based on wet and dry agriculture.
The  Negrito  groups  are  the  indigenous  groups  in  Tagalog  and  Bikol  region  whose
economies  have  depended  on  swidden  agriculture,  hunting  and  gathering,  fishing,  wage
labour  and  trade.  The  Mangyans  in   Mindoro  are  clustered   into  the  IVorfhem  Mangyan
(|adyayan, Alangpn_a_nd lraya) and the Southern Mangyan (Buhid, Taobuid and Hanuh-uo).
A small  group  called  Bangon  is  considered  a  branch  of the  TaobL/r.d.  Another small  group,
Rafagnon  on  Mindoro's  southernmost  tip,  is  closely  related  to  the  Cvyon/.n  of  Palawan.
Generally,  the  Mangyans  of  Mindoro  practice  swidden  agriculture  combined  with  hunting,
fishing, gathering and trade.
Mindanao is divided into More and Lwmad,  For the most part, the indigenous peoples
in  Mindanao  basically  subsist  through  swidden  and  wet  rice  cultivation,  hunting,  fishing,
gathering and the trade in locally manufactured items.
Considering the distinct ways of life our indigenous groups have retained,  there is a
need to create courts specifically for indigenous peoples.
In view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS                  )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES    )
First Regular session                            )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Introduced by Representative Rufus 8. Rodrig±±§z_
HouseBillNo.5384
AN ACT
CREATING COURTS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
Be it enacted  by the Senate and  House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
Section  1.  Dec/araf;on  of Po/i.cy.  -It  is  hereby  declared  policy  of  the  State  to
inorease access to justice  by the  indigenous  peoples  by creating  Regional  Trial  Courts for
them.
Sechi\on 2. Creation of Separate Courts for Indigenous Peoples.  - F`eg.iona\l Tr-ial
Courts for cases involving  indigenous peoples are hereby oreated  in  provinces where there
is some concentration of indigenous peoples.
Section  3.  Ru/es  and  Regu/af;ons.    The  Supreme  Court  shall  issue  rules  and
regulations  to  implement this Act.  Said  rules  shall  be  published  in  at  least two  (2)  national
newspapers of general ciroulation.
Section 4. Appropriafror]. I The amount of One Billion Pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) is
hereby appropriated out of any savings or unexpected balance in the National Treasury not
otherwise  appropriated.  Hereafter,  it shall  be  included  in  the  budget of the  Judiciary  in  the
General Appropriations Act for the corresponding fiscal year.
Section  5.  Separabi./ffy  C/arse.  -  Should  any  provision  of  this  Act  or  any  part
thereof be declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid
ones, shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 6.    Repea/fng C/ause. -  All laws, orders,  issuances, rules and regulations
or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section  7.      Eifecliv;fy.    -    This  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,