NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No.
“ •. 'ji 
A/"v. A • » 'V §
0[ I'ij' ©iT.'ri'iU'lJ
'22 JUL25 PI 32
RKEiVcOlii.
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO 
ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples' 
Rights Act (IPRA), was enacted into law in 1997 to give effect to the 
constitutional recognition and cognizance of the indigenous peoples in our 
country.
Despite concerted efforts, our indigenous peoples remain marginalized. 
Further, the reported grave human rights violations, displacement from the 
ancestral domain, and destruction of their natural environment and values call 
for an immediate measure to address the same.
In this regard, this bill seeks to establish resource centers that are 
ethnographically located, as may be determined by the National Commission 
on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The centers shall serve as access centers to 
enhance the delivery of basic, social, technical, and cultural services.


In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
SENATE
s. No. 838
'■V-T 
of Sill*
72 JUL25 PI :32
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO 
ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted in the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Resource Centers
2 
for Indigenous Peoples Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby the policy of the State to provide
4 
Indigenous Peoples (IPs) equal access to basic services and ensure the protection of
5 
their rights, taking into consideration their customs, traditions, values, and beliefs.
6 
Towards this end, there is a need to set up Resource Centers in all ethnographic
7 
regions to enhance the delivery of the government's basic services, enable them to be
8 
recognized, and freely engage in participatory development programs, projects, and
9 
activities.
10 
Sec. 3. Establishment of Resource Centers for IPs.-There shall be established IPs
11 
Resource Centers, hereinafter referred to as the "Center", in state universities and
12 
colleges, in strategic locations, as determined by the National Commission on
13 
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), hereinafter referred to as the "Commission," taking into
14 
consideration their ethnological locations and in coordination with the Commission
15 
on Higher Education (CHED). The concerned state universities and colleges shall each
16 
designate in their center a coordinating officer.
17 
Sec. 4. Composition and Functions of the Center. - The Center shall be composed


1 of the following three (3) major service areas and their respective functions, namely:
2 
a) Statistical Service Area - documents and recognizes the IPs and their
3 
indigenous knowledge, systems and practices, political structures, and
4 
customary laws through census, appraisal and baseline reports, and
5 
libraries;
6 
b) Human Development Index Service Area - addresses problems of
7 
ICCs/IPs and provides essential services through link-ups with
8 
concerned government agencies such as training programs, grants of
9 
scholarships, employment, livelihood, and health services; and
10 
c) Domains Management Service Area - promotes 
participatory
11 
programs, projects, and activities for IPs to effectively deliver their
12 
responsibility to maintain ecological balance, restore denuded areas,
13 
and ensure the implementation of the Ancestral Domains Sustainable
14 
Development and Protections Plans and other similar programs.
15 
Sec. 5. Monitoring Progress and Implementation and Impact of this Act. - The State
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Universities and Colleges where a Center is established shall submit an annual report
17 
of its accomplishments to Congress every three (3) years or as determined in the
18 
implementing rules and regulations.
19 
Sec. 6. Funding. - The initial funding requirements for the implementation of
20 
this Act shall be charged against the current appropriations of the concerned state
21 
universities and colleges. Thereafter, such sums as may be necessary for its continued
22 
implementation shall be included in the annual budget of the concerned state
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universities and colleges under the General Appropriations Act.
24 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days after the
25 
approval of this act, the Commission, together with the Commission on Higher
26 
Education, shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
27 
implementation of this Act.
28 
Sec. 8. Repealing Clause. - All laws, rules, and regulations or parts thereof
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
30 
accordingly.
31 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any part, section, or provision of this Act shall be


1 
held invalid or unconstitutional, no other part, section or provisions thereof shall be
2 
affected thereby.
3 
Sec. 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
4 
complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,