Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _________ 
Introduced by Rep. ALLEN JESSE C. MANGAOANG 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
     Section 16, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that the “State shall protect 
and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and 
harmony of nature”. It further states in Section 22 that the “State recognizes and promotes the rights of 
indigenous cultural communities within the framework of national unity and development”. 
     Since time immemorial our indigenous cultural communities (ICCs) and indigenous peoples 
(IPs) have always played an important role in the preservation and protection of our environment and 
natural resources within their ancestral domains. 
     To give effect to these constitutional mandates and for the Government to institutionalize the 
valuable role of the ICCs and IPs in the conservation of protected areas, it is imperative to establish a 
national Indigenous Community Conserved Area (ICCA) Registry that documents, registers, and gives 
due recognition to these Indigenous Cultural Conserved Areas (ICCAs) and creates mechanisms for 
them to be integrated in the government plans. 
 Immediate passage of this Bill is hereby sought. 
ALLEN JESSE C. MANGAOANG 
September 9, 2022
1:05 pm
4616


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
___________________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by REP. ALLEN JESSE C. MANGAOANG 
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
2 
SECTION 1.  Short Title. This Act shall be known as the "Indigenous Community 
3 
Conserved Territories and Areas Act". 
4 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, 
5 
Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the "Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997" 
6 
(IPRA), and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 
7 
it is the policy of the State to recognize, promote, and protect the rights of Indigenous Cultural 
8 
Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), particularly to their ancestral domains.  
9 
The State also recognizes the existing customary and traditional governance by 
10 
ICCs/IPs of their ancestral domains and lands as an effective measure of conserving key 
11 
biodiversity areas. By this recognition, the State acknowledges the significant contribution of 
12 
ICCs/IPs to the country’s efforts in the protection of the  environment, the conservation of 
13 
biodiversity, and in the promotion the community resilience.  
14 
Towards this end, the State shall adopt measures to recognize and respect the 
15 
designation and declaration by ICCs/IPs of the conserved areas within their ancestral domains 
16 
and to promote their rights to manage, maintain, and sustainably develop the natural resources 
17 
by applying their indigenous knowledge systems and practices within these areas under their 
18 
indigenous political structures and traditional governance systems. 
19 
For this purpose, a national registry for all ICCs/IPs conserved territories and areas shall 
20 
be established to be the repository of information on these conserved territories and areas. 
21 
4616


 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
1 
a) Environmentally critical areas (ECAs) refer to areas identified under Presidential 
2 
Proclamation No. 2146, Series of 1981 and herein further classified as Strict Protection 
3 
Zones (SPZ);  
4 
b) Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) refer to areas within 
5 
ancestral domains and lands, and parts thereof, that are identified, protected, conserved, 
6 
and sustainably used by ICCs/IPs pursuant to their indigenous knowledge, systems, and 
7 
practices, and in accordance with customary laws and other effective means since time 
8 
immemorial continuously to the present, subject to the limitations imposed by the 
9 
Constitution. 
10 
 
These are characterized by natural or modified ecosystems, containing 
11 
significant biodiversity, beneficial ecological qualities and is of great cultural and 
12 
spiritual value to the community. 
13 
c) Key biodiversity areas refer to the sites of global significance for biodiversity 
14 
conservation that are identified using globally standard criteria and thresholds, based 
15 
on the scale of the need for safeguards. These criteria are based on the framework of 
16 
vulnerability and irreplaceability used in systematic conservation planning; 
17 
d) National ICCA Registry refers to the national information management system that 
18 
contains records of the pertinent information on ICCAs; 
19 
e) Sustainable Traditional Resource Rights (STRR) refer to the rights of ICCs/IPs to 
20 
sustainably use, manage, protect and conserve 1) land, air, water, and minerals; 2) 
21 
plants, animals and other organisms; 3) collecting, fishing and hunting grounds; 4) 
22 
sacred sites; and, 5) other areas of economic, ceremonial and aesthetic value in 
23 
accordance with their indigenous knowledge, belief systems, and practices. 
24 
SEC. 4. Scope and Coverage. This Act shall apply to all ancestral domains and lands 
25 
publicly known to have been held under a claim of ownership, possession and occupation based 
26 
on native title since time immemorial continuously and up to the present, or formally 
27 
recognized under a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CALT) or Certificate of Ancestral 
28 
Land Title (CADT) issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 8371. 
29 
 
CHAPTER II 
30 
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 
31 
CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS 
32 
 
SEC. 5. Guiding Principles. The following guidelines shall be observed in recognizing 
33 
the indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples conserved territories and areas 
34 
(ICCAs): 
35 
a) The rights to land and self-determination  include the full recognition of the 
36 
traditional resources, rights and practices of ICCs/IPs, as well as their right to 
37 
access, maintain, protect, conserve, regulate ICCAs and exclude unauthorized 
38 
intrusion into these areas; 
39 
b) The customary laws and indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSPs) in 
40 
the governance and management of ICCAs shall be recognized and respected 
41 


 
provided that they are within the framework of national unity and development as 
1 
envisioned under the Constitution. 
2 
c) The ICCs/IPs shall govern their conserved territories and areas and ensure the 
3 
preservation, restoration, and maintenance of ecological balance and biodiversity 
4 
therein in consonance with existing environmental policies and with the assistance 
5 
of government agencies;  
6 
d) The identification and declaration of ICCAs shall consider duly formulated 
7 
national, regional, provincial and municipal policies, plans and programs; 
8 
e) The ICCs/IPs shall receive a fair and equitable share in the benefits derived from 
9 
the ecosystem services provided by ICCAs and other activities as authorized by the 
10 
ICCs/IPs themselves in accordance with existing environmental policies, rules and 
11 
regulations; and 
12 
f) In case of conflict between ICC/IPs’ customary laws and indigenous knowledge 
13 
systems and practices on the one hand, and existing environmental laws, rules and 
14 
regulations, on the other, earnest efforts shall be exerted to adopt an interpretation 
15 
that will give effect to both. Only when it is clear that the two are truly irreconcilable 
16 
will environmental laws, rules and regulations prevail, but such construction shall 
17 
always be supported by evidence attesting to the fact that the customary laws and 
18 
IKSPs have no sound scientific basis and shall be guided by the pertinent provisions 
19 
of the Constitution. 
20 
SEC. 6. Recognition of ICCAs. The ICCs/IPs shall define and declare the conserved 
21 
areas within their ancestral domains and lands in accordance with their indigenous political 
22 
structures, cultures and traditions provided that the identified area is not earlier proclaimed or 
23 
declared as a protected area under Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the “National 
24 
Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992” as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, 
25 
otherwise known as the “Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018” 
26 
and other presidential proclamations. 
27 
The declaration of ICCAs shall be respected as an exercise of the self-governance, self-
28 
determination and sustainable traditional resource rights of the ICCs/IPs. It shall be recognized 
29 
by all national agencies and local government units (LGUs) as another category of protected 
30 
areas that are owned, controlled, governed and managed by ICCs/IPs themselves. The ICCAs, 
31 
their respective locations, names in indigenous language, and components therein, shall be 
32 
respected used, and promoted in all official documents. 
33 
No provision in this Act granting or recognizing the rights and privileges of ICCs/IPs 
34 
in the ICCAs shall be construed to diminish their rights and privileges in non-ICCA areas of 
35 
the ancestral domains or lands. 
36 
SEC. 7. Protection of ICCAs. Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, Republic 
37 
Act No. 8371, and Republic Act No. 7586, as amended, the ICCAs shall be reserved for the 
38 
exclusive use of ICCs/IPs exercising their sustainable traditional resource rights. It shall be the 
39 
duty of the ICC/IPs to govern, conserve, manage and protect ICCAs with the assistance of 
40 
government agencies.  
41 
SEC. 8. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System. For the purposes of this 
42 
Act, all ICCAs shall be considered as environmentally critical areas. 
43 


 
All projects outside the ICCA that have potential adverse impacts on the conserved 
1 
territories and areas are subject to EIA.  
2 
 The participation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) and the 
3 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is required in the conduct of the 
4 
EIA outside the ICCAs but within the ICC/IPs ancestral domain. 
5 
 The customary laws, the IKSPs of the ICCs/IPs and the social acceptability of the 
6 
project shall be considered in the assessment of such projects. 
7 
 In the interest of transparency and full disclosure, the EIA should be concluded and 
8 
reported for consideration during the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process, as 
9 
provided for under Section 3 (g) of Republic Act  No. 8371. 
10 
SEC. 9. ICCAs in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). Subject to the Constitution, the 
11 
ICCs/IPs shall govern, maintain, restore and sustainably develop the ICCAs’ key biodiversity 
12 
areas (KBAs) in accordance with their customary laws, IKSP, and in a manner consistent with 
13 
the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity found therein and in accordance with 
14 
existing environmental policies, rules and regulations. 
15 
 
CHAPTER III 
16 
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS 
17 
PEOPLES CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS REGISTRY 
18 
 
SEC. 10. The National ICCA Registry. To ensure the availability of official 
19 
information on ICCAs, a National ICCA Registry, hereinafter referred to as the “Registry,” is 
20 
hereby established. The Registry shall be the official information management system that shall 
21 
contain all pertinent records on the ICCAs that are voluntarily submitted by the ICCs/IPs as 
22 
the ICCA registrant. The Registry shall contain the following information: 
23 
a) Name of the ICCs/IPs; 
24 
b) A map generated from the delineation of the ICCAs with the corresponding 
25 
technical description by the DENR; 
26 
c) Brief description of governance structure; 
27 
d) Policies on resource conservation and sustainable use; 
28 
e) CADT and CALT, if applicable; 
29 
f) Relevant portions of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and 
30 
Protection Plan (ADSDPP) containing information on the ICCAs; and 
31 
g) Contact persons. 
32 
SEC. 11. Operational Structures of the Registry. The DENR, through the Biodiversity 
33 
Management Bureau (BMB), shall be the main repository and administrator of the Registry. It 
34 
shall organize, store, and update all information that may be contained in the Registry, and 
35 
shall be responsible for the documentation, administration and maintenance of the Registry. 
36 
All information and data in the Registry shall be obtained from the ICCs/IPs who 
37 
registered and provided such information. The information and data submitted shall be 
38 
considered as part of the community’s intellectual property rights.  
39 
The intellectual property rights of the ICCs/IPs shall be protected and respected. 
40 


 
SEC. 12. Creation of a Steering Committee. A Steering Committee is created to define 
1 
policy, provide directions and perform oversight functions in the administration and 
2 
maintenance of the Registry. 
3 
 
It shall be chaired by a representative from the NCIP. 
4 
 
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following: 
5 
a) A representative from the DENR; 
6 
b) A representative from the NCIP; 
7 
c) A representative from the Department of the Interior and Local Government 
8 
(DILG); 
9 
d) A representative from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban 
10 
Development (DHSUD); 
11 
e) A representative from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); 
12 
f) A representative from recognized civil society organizations (CSOs); and 
13 
g) Three (3) representatives of the ICCs/IPs who are themselves members of the 
14 
indigenous cultural community; and 
15 
h) A representative from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP). 
16 
 
SEC. 13. ICCA Registration. The ICCs/IPs shall initiate the documentation and 
17 
registration of their ICCAs in the Registry with appropriate financial and technical support 
18 
from the NCIP, the DENR, or other assisting organizations. 
19 
 
If the ICCs/IPs seek the assistance of the NCIP and the DENR in the registration of the 
20 
ICCAs, the following steps shall be undertaken: 
21 
a) The NCIP shall assist the community in documenting the ICCAs and, with the 
22 
support of the DENR, delineate the metes and bounds of the said ICCA;  
23 
b) The NCIP shall facilitate the formulation of a Community Conservation Plan in 
24 
collaboration with the DENR and the municipal and provincial local government 
25 
units; and 
26 
c) The NCIP shall submit the documentation of the ICCAs and other pertinent 
27 
documents to the DENR for inclusion in the Registry. 
28 
In case the ICCs/IPs decide to undertake the documentation by themselves with the 
29 
support of assisting organizations, the NCIP, DENR and the municipal and provincial local 
30 
government units concerned, shall verify and affirm the documentation and pertinent 
31 
documents submitted before the ICCAs may be included in the Registry. 
32 
The map, the technical description of the specific ICCA, and a brief description of the 
33 
natural features and landmarks of the ICCA sought to be registered and included in the Registry 
34 
shall be posted at the local, provincial, and regional office of the NCIP, and shall be published 
35 
in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks to allow 
36 
concerned parties to formally submit their written opposition within fifteen (15) days. 
37 
SEC. 14. Procedure for Delisting from the Registry. If the ICCs/IPs determine that the 
38 
ICCA no longer serves the purpose for which it was defined and declared, the ICCs/IPs may 
39 
cause the delisting of the same through a procedure to be provided in the rules and regulations 
40 
to be issued by the NCIP and the DENR to implement this Act. 
41 
SEC. 15. Inclusion of ICCAs in the LGUs Plan. The LGUs shall include in their 
42 
Regional Physical Framework Plans, Provincial Physical Framework Plans, Comprehensive 
43 


 
Land and Water Use Plans, Community Development Plans, Forest Land Use Plans, Barangay 
1 
Development Plans, the Ancestral Domains Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, and 
2 
other relevant harmonized plans on the ICCAs that have been declared and recorded in the 
3 
Registry by the ICCs/IPs. 
4 
SEC. 16. ICCA Governance. The ICCAs shall be governed by the ICCs/IPs in 
5 
accordance with their customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and practices, structures 
6 
and mechanisms: Provided, That any co-management with, or relinquishment of management 
7 
by the ICCs/IPs, shall be temporary in nature and subject to regular renewal by the ICCs/IPs in 
8 
accordance with Section 58 of Republic Act No. 8371, and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 
9 
7586, as amended. 
10 
 
The application of customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and practices, 
11 
structures, and mechanisms by the ICCs/IPs within and outside their ICCAs shall enjoy the 
12 
presumption of being indigenous and a sustainable traditional resource right, and shall not 
13 
require prior approval or validation provided that such customary laws, indigenous knowledge 
14 
systems and practices and sustainable traditional resource right has been earlier acknowledged 
15 
and recognized by the NCIP. Towards this end, the NCIP shall endeavor to codify these 
16 
customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and practices and sustainable traditional 
17 
resource right in accordance with Section 46 (b) of Republic Act No. 8371 and NCIP 
18 
Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 2012.  
19 
 
Any conflict on matters of governance that may arise within the ICCAs shall be 
20 
primarily resolved through customary laws and traditional conflict resolution mechanisms. 
21 
 
CHAPTER IV 
22 
INCENTIVES 
23 
 
SEC. 17. Incentive Scheme.  The ICCAs listed in the Registry shall be prioritized for 
24 
biodiversity conservation, preservation of forest cover, protection of ancestral waters, and as 
25 
reforestation project sites. Where appropriate and available, government financial institutions 
26 
and other government agencies shall provide financial and technical assistance to ICCs/IPs for 
27 
the protection and promotion of their registered conserved territories and areas, particularly in 
28 
the establishment and implementation of payment schemes for ecosystem services provided by 
29 
the ICCAs. 
30 
 
In all cases, the rights, interests and well-being of the ICCs/IPs shall be of paramount 
31 
concern. 
32 
 
CHAPTER V  
33 
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
34 
 
SEC. 18. Role of the NCIP. The NCIP shall be the primary government agency 
35 
responsible for the full implementation of this Act. It shall protect and promote the interest and 
36 
well-being of the ICCs/IPs in the context of biodiversity conservation and community 
37 
resilience. 
38 
 
The NCIP shall create the Ancestral Domain Protection and Sustainable Development 
39 
Office, and shall coordinate with the DENR on all activities related to the documentation, 
40 


 
community conservation, planning, and registration of ICCAs. It shall provide full and 
1 
effective financial and technical assistance on the following: 
2 
a) Capacity building and enhancement in the identification, documentation, and 
3 
recognition of ICCAs; 
4 
b) Preparation of Community Conservation Plans (CCP), and integrating them in the 
5 
ADSDPP; and 
6 
c) Interfacing of the ADSDPP into other relevant planning frameworks. 
7 
The NCIP shall also be responsible for the verification and affirmation of information 
8 
submitted by the ICCs/IPs who undertake the documentation by themselves, for inclusion in 
9 
the Registry of ICCAs. 
10 
The NCIP shall take into account the issues and concerns on ICCAs in all management 
11 
planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs. 
12 
The NCIP shall also be represented in the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) 
13 
created for each protected area pursuant to Republic Act No. 7586, as amended. 
14 
The NCIP, through its provincial offices, shall have original and exclusive jurisdiction 
15 
over all claims and disputes involving ICCAs: Provided, however, That no such dispute shall 
16 
be brought to the NCIP unless the parties have exhausted all remedies provided under their 
17 
customary laws: Provided further, That the indigenous conflict resolution should not apply if 
18 
one of the parties is a non-member of an ICC/IP, and such dispute may be filed directly with 
19 
the NCIP. 
20 
The decision of the provincial office can be appealed to the regional office and the 
21 
Commission proper. 
22 
SEC. 19. Role of the DENR. The DENR shall, upon the formal request of the ICCs/IPs, 
23 
provide financial and technical support for delineation and mapping, and biodiversity 
24 
assessment of ICCA and in the listing or registration of ICCA with the Registry and similar 
25 
global platforms or networks. 
26 
 
Enforcement of the preventive mechanisms and penal provisions of this Act shall also 
27 
be vested in the DENR. 
28 
 
The agency shall also take into account the issues and concerns on ICCAs in all 
29 
management planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs. 
30 
 
The government shall provide funds for the publication of the list of verified ICCAs. 
31 
SEC. 20. Role of Other Government Agencies and LGUs. Consistent with their 
32 
respective mandates and upon formal request by ICCs/IPs, national government agencies and 
33 
LGUs shall provide financial and technical assistance in building and strengthening the 
34 
capacity of the requesting ICCs/IPs to manage their ICCA. 
35 
The NCIP and the DENR, in partnership with the DILG, shall device an incentive 
36 
scheme for LGUs that will adopt and include ICCAs in the harmonized Regional and Provincial 
37 
Physical Framework Plans, Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans, Community 
38 
Development Plan, Forest Land Use Plan and other relevant plans and programs. 
39 
The NCIP and the DENR shall, in partnership with the Department of Information and 
40 
Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), create or 
41 
improve on existing data gathering methods for a complete and centralized ICCA registry.  
42 
The NCIP shall, in coordination with the DENR, the National Economic Development 
43 
Authority (NEDA), the DILG, the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB), and 
44 


 
the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), formulate guidelines for the prioritization 
1 
of programs and projects that support ICCAs. 
2 
SEC. 21. Engagement with the Private Sector and Civil Society to Recognize ICCAs.  
3 
The  ICCs/IPs, the NCIP and the DENR shall actively engage and collaborate with the private 
4 
sector and civil society in raising public awareness and recognition of ICCAs, and in obtaining 
5 
specialized assistance and services, subject to FPIC requirements of the concerned ICCs/IPs. 
6 
Public participation in the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of ICCAs in 
7 
accordance with the ICCs/IPs customary law and IKSP, especially at the local level, shall be 
8 
encouraged to maximize conservation and community benefits. 
9 
SEC. 22. Sustainable Livelihoods. Subject to the provisions of the Constitution, the 
10 
NCIP, the DENR, and other relevant government agencies shall support sustainable livelihood 
11 
opportunities, including biodiversity-friendly livelihoods that are identified and defined by 
12 
ICCs/IPs consistent with traditional practices and resource use in accordance with ICCs/IPs 
13 
customary law and IKSP that contribute to the sustainable use and proper management of the 
14 
ICCAs. 
15 
 
 
CHAPTER VI  
16 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
17 
 
      
SEC. 23. Prohibited Acts. Any act inconsistent with the policies of conservation and 
18 
protection, and prohibited in Republic Act No. 8371 and Republic Act No. 7586, as amended, 
19 
is prohibited. 
20 
SEC. 24.  Penalties. Any individual, corporation, partnership, association or juridical 
21 
entity who commits any acts in violation of Section 23 of this Act shall upon conviction, be 
22 
punished by imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than six (6) years or a fine 
23 
of not less than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) but not more than Fifty million pesos 
24 
(P50,000,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court. 
25 
 
After finding of a probable cause, the proper court where the information is filed shall 
26 
immediately conduct a summary hearing to determine the propriety of issuing a Temporary 
27 
Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) and shall simultaneously hear the criminal case to 
28 
determine the urgency of issuing of a writ of kalikasan. This is without prejudice to the other 
29 
provisional remedies provided under Rule 127 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure. 
30 
 
The offender, upon conviction, shall also provide restitution commensurate to the cost 
31 
of the destroyed ecosystem and the cost of rehabilitation of the same as agreed upon with the 
32 
ICCs/IPs. 
33 
 
If the offender is a government official or employee, the offender shall, in addition to 
34 
imprisonment and fine, be perpetually disqualified to hold public office.  
35 
 
Any object and instrumentality used in committing any of the prohibited acts under 
36 
Section 23 of this Act shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the government. 
37 
 
If the offender is a juridical entity, the penalty of imprisonment and fine shall be 
38 
imposed upon its manager, director, representative or employee responsible for the violation 
39 
without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation of the license or accreditation of the 
40 
offender, issued by any licensing or accredited body of the government. 
41 


 
 
If the offender is an alien, the offender shall be deported immediately after service of 
1 
the sentence. 
2 
The prosecution of offenses under Section 23 of this Act shall be without prejudice to 
3 
any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 8371 or other criminal and civil liabilities under 
4 
existing laws. 
5 
 
 
CHAPTER VII 
6 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
7 
 
SEC. 25.  Annual Report. The Chairperson of the NCIP shall submit to the President 
8 
of the Philippines and to the Congress an annual progress report on the implementation of this 
9 
Act. The report shall be posted in the website of the NCIP. 
10 
SEC. 26. Construction.  The provisions of this Act shall be construed liberally in favor 
11 
of ICCs/IPs and the protection and conservation of biodiversity.  In no way shall it be 
12 
interpreted as an instrument to exploit ICC/IPs or undermine the intent of this Act to conserve 
13 
and protect ICCAs. 
14 
This Act shall not in any manner adversely affect the rights and benefits of the ICCs/IPs 
15 
under Republic Act No. 8371, international conventions, recommendations, international 
16 
treaties, national laws, awards, customs and agreements. 
17 
SEC. 27. Appropriations. The amount necessary to cover the initial implementation of 
18 
this Act shall be charged against the current year’s appropriations of the concerned departments 
19 
or agencies. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall 
20 
be included in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
21 
SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days from the 
22 
approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the NCIP and the Secretary of the DENR shall, in 
23 
consultation with appropriate government agencies and with the full participation of ICCs/IPs, 
24 
issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.   
25 
SEC. 29.  Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is declared invalid 
26 
or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not affected shall remain in full force and 
27 
effect. 
28 
SEC. 30.  Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and other 
29 
issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
30 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
31 
SEC. 31. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
32 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
33 
Approved, 
34