September 2, 2025
8:00 am
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
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Introduced by 
Rep. Gil “KabarangayJr” A. Acosta, Rep. Jose C. Alvarez 
and  Rep. Franz Vincent F. Legazpi 
AN ACT 
CREATING A TRIBAL BARANGAY TO BE KNOWN AS BARANGAY MANUEL CURSOD 
FROM THE EXISTING ANCESTRAL DOMAIN OF TAGBANUA INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 
IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ABORLAN, PROVINCE OF PALAWAN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
Section 1. Creation. – There is hereby created a tribal barangay to be 
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known as “Barangay Manuel Cursod”, which shall be carved out of the 
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ancestral domain of the Tagbanua Indigenous Cultural Communities located 
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in Barangay Apurawan, Municipality of Aborlan, Province of Palawan, as 
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classified and recognized by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples 
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(NCIP). 
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The creation of said barangay is in recognition of the right to self-
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governance and self-determination of the Tagbanua people pursuant to the 
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Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act (IPRA) and is intended to enhance the delivery 
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of basic services to the concerned indigenous population. 
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Sec. 2. Territory. – The territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Manuel Cursod 
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shall encompass the area covered by the recognized ancestral domain of the 
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Tagbanua Indigenous Cultural Communities in Barangay Apurawan, 
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Municipality of Aborlan, Province of Palawan, as delineated and certified by 
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the NCIP. 
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Sec. 3. Plebiscite. – The creation of Barangay Manuel Cursod shall take 
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effect upon approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite to be 
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conducted within the affected area, specifically within the proposed territorial 
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jurisdiction of the barangay. 
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The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) shall conduct the plebiscite 
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within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, in coordination with the 
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Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the NCIP, and the 
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municipal government of Aborlan. 
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Sec. 4. Transfer of Assets and Liabilities. – All public infrastructure, facilities, 
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and improvements existing within the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Manuel 
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Cursod at the time of the approval of this Act shall be transferred to and shall 
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be administered by the newly created barangay without cost or 
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compensation. 
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Sec. 5. National Tax Allotment Share. – Barangay Manuel Cursod shall be 
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entitled to its share in the National Tax Allotment (NTA) pursuant to Section 285 
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of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 
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1991, and subsequent amendments or relevant laws. 
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Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared 
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unconstitutional or invalid, the other provisions not affected thereby shall 
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remain in full force and effect. 
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Sec. 7. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
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orders, memoranda, circulars, and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are 
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inconsistent with the Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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Sec. 8. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
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after its publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved,
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