Republic of the Philippi
House of Representatives

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 889

Introduced by Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma
Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is declared policy of the State, according to Section 22, Article II of the 1987
Philippine Constitution that, “The State shall recognize and promote the rights in indigenous
cultural communities (ICCs) within the framework of national unity and development.

To accomplish this mandate, R.A. No. 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act of 1997 (IPRA) was enacted. Section 16 of this law provides that, ICCs/IPs
have the right to participate fully, if they so choose, at all levels of decision-making in matters
which may affect their rights, lives and destinies through procedures determined by them as.
well as to maintain and develop their own indigenous political structure. Consequently, the
State shall ensure that the ICCs/IPs shall be given mandatory representation in policy-making
bodies and other local legislative councils.”

However, despite the existence of the aforementioned provision of IPRA Law, the
ICCs/IPs remain underrepresented, particularly in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. Due to this
under representation in council or bodies that make decisions about the lives of the IPs, there
is a continuous struggle to uphold their already constitutionally-recognized rights. With this
reality, the State must be more vigilant in protecting the IPs in our country.

With the view of uplifting the welfare of the IPs, this bill seeks to institutionalize IPs
mandatory representation in the province of Nueva Vizcaya. It is hoped that with this bill, the
local government unit of Nueva Vizcaya will recognize and provide a representative from the
IP sector to their local legislative or Sanggunian. This will ensure a more coordinated effort
between the State and the IP sector in guaranteeing the protection of their rights.

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

Wks hk Re etpome


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

889

HOUSE BILL Ne

Introduced by Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma
Lone District of Nueva Vizcaya

AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING INDIGENOUES PEOPLES MANDATORY
REPRESENTATION IN THE PROVINCE OF NUEVA VIZCAYA AND
APPROPRIATING FUN! HERFOR.

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 “The Nueva Vizcaya IP
Representation Act”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy ~ Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act
No. 8371 otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997”, the State shall
recognize and promote all the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indi genous Peoples
(ICCs/IPs) particularly the following:

a) The State shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to preserve and
develop their cultures, traditions and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the
formulation of national laws and policies;

b) 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; and


c) The State recognizes its obligations to respond to the strong expression of the
ICCs/IPs for cultural integrity by assuring maximum ICC/IP participation in the
direction of education, health, as well as other services of ICCs/IPs, in order to
render such services more responsive to the needs and desires of these communities.

Towards these ends, 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, interests and institutions, and to adopt and implement measures to
protect their rights.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms — For the purpose of this Act, the following terms
are defined as follows:

a) Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) — refer to a group
of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription by others, who have
continuously lives as organized community on communally bounded and defined
territory, and who have, under claims of ownership since time immemorial,
occupied, possessed and utilized such territories, sharing common bonds of
language, customs, tradition and other distinctive cultural traits, or who have,
through resistance to political, social and cultural inroads of colonization , non-
indigenous religions and culture, became historically differentiated from the majority
of Filipinos. ICCs/IPs shall likewise include peoples who are regarded as indigenous
on account of their descent from the populations which inhabited the country, at the
time of conquest or colonization, or at the time of inroads of non-indigenous
religions and cultures, or the establishment of present boundaries, who retain some
or all of their own social, economic, cultural and political institutions, but who may
have been displaced from their traditional domains or who may have resettled
outside their ancestral domains;

Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative — refers to a person duly selected and
confirmed under the provisions of this Act to become an automatic member of the
local legislative as representative of the indigenous peoples sector;

Indigenous Political Structure — refers to the organizational and cultural leadership
systems, institutions, relationships, pattems and process for decision-making and
participation, identified by ICCs/IPs.

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) — refers to the office attached
under the Office of the President and created under Republic Act No. 8371. It is
currently the primary government agency responsible formulation and
implementation of policies, plans, and programs to recognize, protect and promote
the rights of the ICCs/IPs.

SECTION 4. Institution/Creation — There is hereby created/instituted a national

program for Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representation in the Province of Nueva

Vizcaya under the direct supervision of the NCIP in coordination with the Local

Government Unit of the Province.

SECTION 5. Scope of Application — The Indigenous Peoples Mandatory

Representation shall be applicable to the Province of Nueva Vizcaya. Each of the
recognized ICCs/IPs shall have its own representation.

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SECTION 6. Selection/Qualification — No person shall become an: Indigenous
Peoples Mandatory Representative (PMR), unless he or she is:

a) A bonafide member of the ICCs/IPs sought to be represented in the Province of

Nueva Vizcaya;
b) A bonafide member of an Indigenous Political Structure, accredited by the NCIP, of
the ICCs/IPs in the Province of Nueva Vizcaya;
Selected through customary laws and traditions by majority of the members of
ICCs/Ps sought to be represented and whose selection has been confirmed by the
NCIP;

d) Atleast twenty one (21) years of age;

e) Resident of the Province of Nueva Vizcaya; and

f) Of good moral character

SECTION 7. Term of Office — Any person whose selection has been confirmed by

the NCIP to become an IPMR shall become an automatic member of the local legislative or
the Sanggunian concemed as representative of the Indigenous Peoples sector.

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‘An IPMR stall serve in the local or Sanggunian for a period of three (3) years from
the time his or her selection shall have been confirmed by the NCIP. The confirmation of
the NCIP shall also serve as the appointment of the IPMR in the local legislative or
Sanggunian concemed.

No person shall serve the IPMR for more than three (3) consecutive terms in the
same local legislative or Sanggunian. In case of death, permanent incapacity, or voluntary
resignation or both, of an IPMR, the successor shall serve the unexpired portion of his or her
predecessor.

SECTION 8, Remuneration — Any person selected and confirmed as IPMR shall
receive from the NCIP his or her remuneration and benefits equivalent to the remuneration
and benefits given to members of the local legislative or Sanggunian where the IPMR shall
have become a member.

SECTION 9. League of Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative — There is
hereby created an association of all IPMRs. The association shall be called the “League of
Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (LIPMR)” as provided for under Title VI of
Republic Act. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code. The LIPMR shall
become a member of the umbrella organization of the Union of Local Authorities of the
Philippines.

SECTION 10. Implementation ~ Within sixty (60) days after the implementation of
this Act, the NCIP incoordination with TESDA, DepEd and CHED, shall promulgate the
necessary rules and regulation to govern the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 11. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act shall be included in the budget of concerned government agencies in the General
Appropriations Act of the year following its enactment into law and thereafter.

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SECTION 12. Repealing Clause.- All laws, decrees, executive orders,

administrative orders or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is held invalid or

unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and
effect.

SECTION 14, Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days

following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspaper of
general circulation.

Approved,