FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1006 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article XIV, Section 17 of the 1987 Constitution provides that "The 
State shall recognize, respect, and protect the rights of indigenous cultural 
communities to preserve and develop their cultures, traditions, and 
institutions. 
It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national 
plans and policies." 
This section stresses that it is the people and the cultural 
communities, not the state, which will preserve and enrich the culture. 
Civilization as the lowlanders see it may be a death knell to the 
indigenous cultural communities and upland families' way of life. 
This Act seeks to integrate indigenous cultural communities with the 
local government by establishing a forest management, utilization, 
conservation 
and 
preservation 
centers 
in 
provinces 
inhabited 
predominantly by members of indigenous cultural communities and upland 
families. 
The Forest Management,: Utilization, Conservation and Preservation 
Center will be tasked to design and implement a forest management, 
utilization, conservation and preservation program appropriate to the 
locality, incorporating therein indigenous and traditional customs and 
practices pertaining to the proper utilization of forests and its resources and 
to the effective protection, conservation, preservation and sustainable 
management of forest resources. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earne§~, ~~ 
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Senator 
( 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. laOS 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Manuel "Lito" M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
FOREST 
MANAGEMENT, 
CONSERVATION AND 
PRESERVATION 
CENTERS 
UTILIZATION, 
IN 
PROVINCES 
INHABITED 
PREDOMINANTLY 
BY 
MEMBERS 
OF 
INDIGENOUS 
CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND UPLAND FAMILIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. 
Creation of a Forest Management, Utilization, Conservation 
and Preservation Center. - There is hereby created a Forest Management, Utilization, 
Conservation and Preservation Center hereinafter referred to as the "Center", under the 
direct supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 
every province inhabited predominantly by members of indigenous cultural communities 
and upland families. 
SEC. 2. 
Powers and Functions of the Center. - The Center shall exercise 
the following powers and functions: 
(a) 
Design and implement a forest management, utilization, conservation and 
preservation program appropriate to the locality, incorporating therein indigenous and 
traditional customs and practices pertaining to the proper utilization of forests and its 
resources and to the effective protection, conservation, preservation and sustainable 
management of forest resources; 
(b) 
Develop and implement a continuing education program for leaders and 
members of indigenous communities aimed at building awareness of the importance of 
proper utilization of forest resources as well as the effective conservation, protection, 
preservation and sustainable management of the same; 
(c) 
Serve as a clearing house in the awarding of reforestation project 
contracts and all other related livelihood projects designed to promote natural resources 
conservation and protection in the locality; 
(d) 
Enter into contract of any kind to enable it to manage its own activities and 
carry out its objectives and functions; 
(e) 
Develop a fund mobilization and generation program directed to any 
department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the government as well as other 
local and foreign donor agencies/organizations focusing on environment conservation 
and protection with the aim of generating/securing the necessary resources for projects 
1 


aimed 
at 
promoting 
environment conservation, 
protection, 
rehabilitation 
and 
preservation; 
(f) 
Formulate and recommend measures and programs designed to achieve 
effective forest management among indigenous cultural communities; 
(g) 
Undertake other activities as may be necessary to ensure attainment of its 
objectives; and 
(h) 
To provide support in the implementation of the StrategiC Environmental 
Plan pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611, the DENR shall carry out the provisions of this 
Act and shall constitute the necessary administrative and organizational set-up of the 
Center which shall be headed by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources 
(PENRO) and promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act, taking Into consideration indigenous laws, customs and 
practices: Provided, That a center may also be established in any other province as 
may be recommended by a member of Congress. 
SEC. 4. 
Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the implementation of 
this Act shall be included on the budget of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) in the annual General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 5. 
Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 6. 
Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or Circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the 
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 7. 
Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
2