FIFTEENTH 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, 4701

EXPLANATORY NOTE

As of 2009, the estimated population of the Philippines is 92,226,600
people. Various studies place the number of ethnolinguistic groups in the
Philippines at over 100, making the country one of the most ethnically diverse
in Asia. The 2000 Philippine Census estimates 6.3 million Indigenous Peoples
(IPs) belonging to 85 ethnolinguistic group. The National Commission on
Indigenous People (NCIP) however, has different data sets based on
“unofficial surveys" of population by ethnographic region. An International
Labor Organization publication for instance cites NCIP data estimating the
number of IPs at 13.5 million. This information is also outdated, being based
on the 1996 listings of the defunct Offices of the Southern Cultural
Communities and Northern Cultural Communities. These discrepancies are
not only due to classification limitations, or other factors, but also because
some indigenous peoples have difficulties in registering marriages, births, or
deaths. It therefore becomes apparent that many IPs are not registered.
Without a legal birth record, an individual does not officially exist and therefore
lacks legal access to the privileges and protection of a nation.

Birth registration is not generally known among disadvantaged
Filipinos particularly in Indigenous Peoples and underprivileged families with
children in need of special protection. Among these groups, birth registration
remains insignificant. Many of them understand the implications of non-
régistration only when they get to experience problems in transactions
requiring proofs of name, age or nationality.


This lack of birth registration is often caused by the fact that many of
these IPs are indigent and lack the necessary finances to be able to register.
There is thus a need to encourage these IPs into registering in order for the
State to afford them the necessary protection they deserve.

It is in this light that the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly
sought.

RUFWS B. RODRIGUEZ

MY
MAXIMO’B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS, )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —_)
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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

4701

House Bill No.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE FREE BIRTH REGISTRATION OF INDIGENOUS
PEOPLES

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

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy — It is the policy of the State to recognize
and promote all the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous
Peoples (ICCs/IPs) within the framework of the Constitution. Towards this
end, the State shall institute and establish the necessary mechanisms to
enforce and guarantee the realization of these rights, taking into consideration
their customs, traditions, values, beliefs, their rights to their ancestral
domains.

SEC. 2. It is hereby mandated that all the fees arising from or related to the

birth registration of all members of ICCs/IPs, timely or otherwise shall be
waived.

SEC. 3. All Civil Registrars are hereby enjoined to accept both timely and
delayed birth registration of members of ICCs/IPs.

SEC. 4. Any person caught charging any form of fee or payment for the
registration of birth in contravention of the provisions of this Act shall be held
liable for imprisonment of not more than six (6) months or a fine of not more
than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000) or both.


SEC. 5. Implementing Rules — The Department of Interior and Local
Government, the National Statistics Office and the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples shall issue such orders, rules and regulations and other
issuances as may be necessary to ensure the effective implementation of this
Act

SEC. 6. Separability Clause — If for any reason, any part of or provision of this
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, such parts not affected thereby
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC. 7. Repealing Clause ~ Any law, executive order, letter of instruction,
tules and regulations, circulars, issuances or any part thereof inconsistent
with any of the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 8. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,