SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Sessioll 
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'14 
GEC 17 P5 :04 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 2f)24 
Introduced by Senatol' Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
AN ACT MANDATIN·G THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 
TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND NON-MONETARY ASSISTANCE TO 
INDIGENT LITIGANTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL 
COMMUNITIES WHILE IN ATTENDANCE OF HEARINGS OR PROCEEDINGS IN 
TI-IE NCIP 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
It has come to om attention that many of our poor countrymen who are members of the 
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples are not able to adequately protect their 
rights under Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act ("IPRA") on account of 
lack of transportation Ii·om their respective residences or even their inability to pay for 
transportation from their respective residence to Regional I-Iearing Offices of the National 
Commission on Indigenous Peoples ("NCIP"). Moreover, as many of the Regional Hearing 
Offices are located in cities, they can barely afford to pay for their food while attending to the 
hearings on their complaints and other legal concerns. 
Given the above situation, it appears that many of the cases of our ICCIlP brothers and sisters 
have been dismissed for lack .01' interest to prosecute. In essence, justice is being denied to 
them solely on the account of their poverty or inability to attend to the most basic necessities 
while attending hearings. 
We note that the NCIP is sufficiently clothed with authority to charge reasonable 
administrative fees and charges, the funds of which can be diverted or allocated to support the· 
intent of this proposed legislation. 
We understand that majority of those requesting for 
Certificate Precondition pursuant to Section 59 of the IPRA for instance, can pay for said 
reasonable fees and charges. The NCIP should be expressly given authority to allocate li.ll1ds 
ti'om this source. 
For the above reasons, the passage of this bill is earnestly requested. 
~a/ 
MARIA LOURJ;;JvJANCY S. BlNA Y 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE l'HlLIPPINES 
) 
'\4 
DEC 17 P5 :04 
Second Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. NO. 2.5 2 4 
Introduced by Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay 
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AN ACT MANDATING TI-IE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 
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TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, FOOD AND NON-MONETARY ASSISTANCE TO 
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INDIGENT LITIGANTS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL 
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COMMUNITIES WHILE IN ATTENDANCE OF HEARINGS OR PROCEEDINGS IN 
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THE NCIP 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
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assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Section 44 of Republic Act 8371 is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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Section 44. Powers and Functions. - To accomplish its mandate, the NCII' shall have 
the following powers, jurisdiction and [unction: 
a) To serve as the primary government agency through which ICCs/IPs can seek 
government assistance and as the medium, thorough which such assistance may be 
extended[;], AND TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, AND OTHER 
NON-MONETARY 
ASSISTANCE TO 
INDIGENT 
ICCS/IPS 
WHO 
ARE 
LITIGANTS BEFORE ANY PROCEEDINGS; 
b) To review and assess the conditions of ICCs/IPs including eXlst1l1g laws and 
policies pertinent thereto and to propose relevant laws and policies to address their 
role in national development; 
c) To formulate and implemcnt policies, plans, programs and projects for tbe 
economic, social and cultural development of the ICCs/IPs and to monitor the 
implementation thereof; 
cl) To request and engage the services and support of experts from other agencies of 
government or employ private experts and consultants as may be required in the 
pursuit of its objectives; 
e) To issue certillcate of ancestrallancl/domain title; 
I) Subject to existing laws, to enter into contracts, agreements, or arrangement, with 
government or private agencies or entities as mal' be necessary to attain the objectives 


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of this Act, and subject to the approval of the President, to obtain loans from 
government lending institutions and other lending institutions to finance its programs; 
g) To negotiate for funds and to accept grants, donations, gifts and/or properties in 
whatever form and from whatever source, local and international, subject to the 
approval of the President of the Philippines, for the benefit of I CCs/IPs and 
administer the same in accordance with the terms thereof; or in the absence of any 
condition, in such manner consistent with the interest of ICCs/IPs as well as existing 
laws; 
h) To coordinate development programs and projects for the advancement of the 
ICCs/JPs and to oversee the proper implementation thereof; 
i) To convene periodic conventions or assemblies of IPs to review, assess as well as 
propose policies or plans; 
j) To advise the President of the Philippines on all malleI'S relating to the lCCs/lPs 
and to submit within sixty (60) days after the close of each calendar ycar, a report of 
its operations and achievements; 
k) To submit to Congress appropriate legislative proposals intended to carry out the 
policies under this Act; 
1) To prepare and submit the appropriate budget to the OfIice of the President; 
111) To issue appropriate certification as a pre-condition to thc grant of permit, lease, 
grant, or any other similar authority tor the disposition, utilization, management and 
appropriation by any private individual, corporate entity or any government agency, 
corporation or subdivision thereof on any part or portion of the ancestral domain 
taking into consideration the consensus approval of the ICCs/IPs concerned[;] AND 
TO IMPOSE REASONABLE ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES AND FEES FOR 
SUCI-I CERTIFICATIONS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ABILITY TO 
PAY OF THE APPLICANT FOR CERTIFICATION; 
n) To decide all appeals from the decisions and acts of all the various olfices within 
the Commission: 
0) To promulgate the necessary rules and regulations [or the implementation of this 
Act; 
p) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be directed by the President of 
the Republ ic of the Philippines; and 
q) To represent the Philippine ICCslIPs in all international conferences and 
conventions dealing with indigenous peoples and other related concerns. 
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SECTION 2. 
Funding and Appropriations. A budget of Twenty Million Pesos 
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(1'20,000,000.00) is hcreby appropriated for the implementation of the program of indigent 
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ICC/II' litigants. The NCIl' is hereby empowered to allocate collections [rom administrative 
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fees and charges lor plllposes of the program for indigent litigants. 


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SECTION 3. Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations, rules and 
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regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
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are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 4. Separability Clause. If, Cor any reason, any section or provision of this Act is 
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held unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions hereof shall not be affected 
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thereby. 
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SECTION 5. Effectivity. This Act shall take eflect fifteen (J 5) days after its complete 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,