Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. 7119

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/ INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN EVERY REGION OF THE
COUNTRY TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL
SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines Constitution recognizes the protection, promotion,
and fulfillment of the rights of indigenous peoples (IPs). In addition, the
Republic Act No. 8371, also known as the “Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of
1997” or IPRA, upholds the right of IPs to manage their ancestral domains,
and has become the cornerstone of current national policies on indigenous
peoples.

Majority of the estimated 14-17 million population of Indigenous
Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous People (IPs) in the Philippines
reside in the uplands which they claim are part of their traditional
territories. They are mainly concentrated in Northern Luzon especially the
Cordillera Administrative Region (33%), and Mindanao (61%), with some
groups in the Visayas area!. The indigenous communities represent nearly
16% of the country’s population.

* UNDP Philippines. 2013. “Fast Facts: Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines”
https://www.ph.undp.org/content/philippines/en/home/library/democratic_governance/FastFacts-
1Ps.html



However, despite financial aid and technical assistance from various
international donor agencies, they are among the poorest and the most
disadvantaged social groups in the country. As a result, the incidence of
illiteracy, unemployment, and poverty is much higher among the IPs,
compared to the rest of the population. One of the major causes of their
deprivation on access to basic services is the remoteness of the IP
settlements and residence from main service delivery areas.

Considering the above premises, it is of vital importance that resource
centers be established in every region of the country covering all settlements
and residence of ICCs and IPs which are ethnographically determined by the
National Commission for Indigenous People (NCIP). These centers shall
enhance and ensure the delivery of basic, social, technical, and legal
services to the ICCs/IPs.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this measure is
earnestly sought.

FRED VARGAS



Republic of the Philippines
Aouse of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bill No. ea

INTRODUCED BY
REP. ALFRED VARGAS

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/ INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN EVERY REGION OF THE
COUNTRY TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL
SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Resource
Centers for Indigenous Peoples Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall recognize, respect,
and protect the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities ([CCs) and
Indigenous People (IPs), to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions,
and institutions. The State shall consider their rights in the formulation of
national laws and policies. Furthermore, the State shall take measures, with
the participation of the ICCs/IPs concerned, to protect their rights and
guarantee respect for their cultural integrity, and to ensure that members of
the ICCs/IPs benefit on an equal footing from the rights and opportunities
which national laws and regulations grant to other members of the
population.

SECTION 3. Establishment of Resource Centers for ICCPs/IPs. - There
shall be established ICC/IP Resource Centers, hereinafter referred to as the
“Center”, in such strategic places in every region of the country as may be
determined by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP),


hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”, taking into consideration their
ethnological locations.

SECTION 4. Staff and Components of the ICC/IP Resource Centers. —
The Commission shall designate in every Resource Center a Chief
Coordinating Officer. Concerned government departments and agencies and
local governments shall assign staff members to the Resource Center.

SECTION 5. Composition and Functions of the Center. - The Center
shall be composed of the following three (3) major service areas with their
respective functions, namely:

(a) Statistical Service Area — Documentation and recognition of
ICCs/IPs, their indigenous knowledge, systems and practices,
political structure and customary laws through census, appraisal and
baseline reports and libraries;

(b) Human Development Index Service Area — Addressing of problems
of concerned government department and agencies, such as training
programs, scholarship grants, employment, livelihood and enterprises
and health services; and

(c) Domains Management Services Area — Promotion of participatory
programs, projects and activities for ICCs/IPs to effectively deliver
their responsibility of maintaining ecological balance, restore denuded
areas, observing laws and ensuring the implementation of the
Ancestral Domains Sustainable Development and Protections Plans
and such other existing programs.

SECTION 6. Monitoring Progress and Implementation and Impact of
this Act. - The Commission shall submit to Congress every three (3) years
or as determined in the implementing rules and regulations, an annual
report of its accomplishments.

SECTION 7. Appropriations. - The initial funding requirement for the
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the agencies concerned. Thereafter, such sums as may be
necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the
agencies’ yearly budgets under the General Appropriations.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90)
days after the approval of this Act, the Commission shall issue the
necessary Rules and Regulations for the effective implementation of this Act,
in coordination with the following concerned government agencies to wit:


* Local Government Units (LGUs);
* Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA);

* Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD);

* Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);
* Department of Education (DepEd);

* Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

* Commission on Human Rights (CHR);

* Department of Justice (DOJ);

© Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);

* Department of Trade and Industry (DTI);

* Department of Health (DOH);

* Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

* Department of Agricultures (DA);

* Land Management Bureau (LMB);

* Land Registration Authority (LRA);

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules and regulations or part
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
modify accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. ~ If any part, section or provision of
this Act shall be held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or
provisions thereof shall be affected thereby.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or two (2)

newspapers of general circulation

Approved,