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

RECEIVED
DATE 30 JUN 207°

Twentieth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No._621

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This is a refiled bill from last Congress and was taken up by the Committee on
Government Reorganization but due to time constraint the Technical Working
Committee work did not take off.

Given the significance of this measure, we seek to push for this bill as it seeks to
rationalize the administration and adjudication of ancestral lands by amending
Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the “Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of
1997."

The protection and promotion of the rights of Indigenous Cultural
Communities/indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) is firmly enshrined in the 1987
Constitution. Specifically

Article ll, Section 22 declares:

“The State recognizes and promotes the rights of indigenous cultural
communities within the framework of national unity and development.”

Article XII, Section 5 affirms:

“The State, subject to the provisions of this Constitution and national
development policies and programs, shall protect the rights of indigenous
cultural communities to their ancestral lands to ensure their economic,
social, and cultural well-being.”

Moreover, Congress is empowered under the same provision to provide for the
applicability of customary laws in determining property rights and the extent of
ancestral domains.

Article XIII, Section 6 further provides that:

“The State shall apply the principles of agrarian reform or stewardship,
whenever applicable, in accordance with law, in the disposition or
utilization of other natural resources, including lands of the public
domain... subject to prior rights, homestead rights of small settlers, and
the rights of indigenous communities to their ancestral lands."

Despite these constitutional guarantees, the implementation of the Indigenous
Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) continues to face challenges. The National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), tasked with upholding the law, has been hampered by
issues such as



* The proliferation of fraudulent claims over ancestral lands and domains;

+ The absence of clear institutional checks and balances;

+ And instances where non-ICCs/IPs are involuntarily subjected to customary
processes that do not apply to them.

These systemic gaps have led to numerous disputes, undermining the credibility of the
ancestral land titling process and eroding public trust in the institutions mandated to
protect ICCs/IPs.

To address these challenges, this bill proposes a structural reform

+The Ancestral Domains Office (ADO) under the NCIP is transferred to the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and reorganized as
the Ancestral Land Registration and Administration Office (ALRAO).

+The creation of the Ancestral Lands Administration and Adjudication Board

(ALAAB) under the Office of the President, which will serve as an independent
and impartial body for adjudicating disputes related to ancestral lands and
domains.

This reform ensures a more transparent, accountable, and equitable process for the
recognition and administration of ancestral domains. It reinforces the original intent of
the IPRA while adapting to emerging concerns that threaten the realization of
indigenous peoples’ rights.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this)¥ill is earnestly sought.

Jui ‘SUS M. ROMUALDO


Noe

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 821

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE JURDIN JESUS M. ROMUALDO

AN ACT
RATIONALIZING THE ANCESTRAL LANDS ADMINISTRATION AND
ADJUDICATION PROCESS AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 8371, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS
ACT OF 1997”

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

assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 40 of Republic Act No. 8371 is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 40. Composition. — The NCIP shall be [as-independentageney]
under THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF the Office of the President and shall be
composed of seven (7) Commissioners belonging to ICCs/IPs, one (1) of whom shall be
the Chairperson, The Commissioners shall be appointed by the President of the
Philippines from a_ list of recommenders submitted by authentic ICCs/IPs: Provided, That
the seven (7) Commissioners shall be appointed specifically from each of the following
ethnographic areas: Region I and the Cordilleras; Region Il; the rest of Luzon; Island
Groups including Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Panay and the rest of the Visayas;
Northern and Western Mindanao; Southern and Eastern Mindanao; and Central
Mindanao: Provided, That at least two (2) of the seven (7) Commissioners shall be

women.”
SEC. 2. Section 44 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 44, Powers and Functions, - To accomplish its mandate, the
NCIP shall have the following powers, jurisdiction and function:

“a) XXX}

oXXX


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“e) Fok ficate-of-ancesiraltand/demain_tides] TO RECOMMEND AN
ICCS/IPS REPRESENTATIVE TO THE ANCESTRAL LANDS ADMINISTRATION
AND ADJUDICATION BOARD ESTABLISHED UNDER SECTION 46 OF THIS
ACT;

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“{e}] M) To promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the implementation

of this Act;

“[p}] N) To exercise such other powers and functions as may be directed by the

President of the Republic of the Philippines; and

“[q}] 0) To represent the Philippines [CCs/Ips in all international conferences and

conventions dealing with indigenous peoples and other related concerns.”

SEC. 3. Section 46 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 46. Offices [within—the-NCIP] RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICIES OF THE ICCs/IPs.
= The [NCIP shall have the] following offices [which] shall be responsible for the

implementation of the policies hereinafter provided:

“a) Ancestral [Domains] LANDS REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Office— The Ancestral [Domain] LANDS REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Office (ALRAO) IN COORDINATION WITH THE NCIP shall be responsible for the
identification, delineation and recognition of ancestral lands/domains. It shall also be
responsible for the management of ancestral lands/domains in accordance with a master
plan as well as the implementation of the ancestral domain rights of the ICCs/IPs as
provided in Chapter III of this Act. It shall also issue, upon the free and prior informed

consent of the ICCs/IPs concerned, certification prior to the grant of any license, lease


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or permit for the exploitation of natural resources affecting the interests of ICCs/IPs or
their ancestral domains and to assist the ICCs/IPs in protecting the territorial integrity of all
ancestral domains. THE ALRAO SHALL BE UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR). It shall likewise perform
such other functions as the [Commission] DENR may deem appropriate and necessary;

XXX

“H) ANCESTRAL LANDS ADMINISTRATION AND ADJUDICATION
BOARD. — THE ANCESTRAL LANDS ADMINISTRATION AND
ADJUDICATION BOARD (ALAAB) IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED,
WHICH SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SETTLING DISPUTES INVOLVING
ANCESTRAL LANDS AND DOMAINS INCLUDING THEIR USES AND
UTILIZATIONS. THE ALAAB SHALL ONLY HAVE JURISDICTION IF THE
PARTIES APPEAR AND FAIL TO SETTLE BEFORE THE NCIP ACTING AS A
MEDIATION BODY.

“1) THE ALAAB SHALL BE COMPOSED OF THE FOLLOWING:

“1) ONE (1) INDIGENOUS PERSON WHO IS AN EXPERT IN
THE ICCs/IPs CUSTOMARY LAW AND A RESPECTEDMEMBER
OF THE ICC, APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT FROM A LIST
OF NOMINEES SUBMITTED BY AUTHENTIC ICCS/IPS;

“I1) CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCIP;

“I1) SECRETARY OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES OR THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;

“IV) SECRETARY OF JUSTICE OR = THE AUTHORIZED
TIVE;

“V) SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OR THE AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE;


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“VI) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT (LGU) THAT HAS JURISDICTION OVER
THE ANCESTRAL AND SUBJECT OF THE CONTROVERSY; AND

“VII) ONE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CONCERNED
ICCs/IPs.

“THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE LGU SHALL BE APPOINTED
BY THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AND THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CONCERNED ICCs/IPs SHALL
BE APPOINTED BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE NCIP.

“2) THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE ALAAB SHALL
BE AS FOLLOWS:

"TD TO SETTLE DISPUTES INVOLVING ANCESTRAL LANDS/
DOMAINS;

“II) TO ISSUE APPROPRIATE CERTIFICATION AS A PRE-
CONDITION TO THE GRANT OF PERMIT, LEASE, GRANT, OR
ANY OTHER SIMILAR AUTHORITY FOR THE DISPOSITION,
UTILIZATION, MANAGEMENT AND APPROPRIATION BY ANY
PRIVATE INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATE ENTITY OR ANY
GOVERNMENT AGENCY, CORPORATION OR SUBDIVISION
THEREOF OR ANY PART OR PORTION OF THE ANCESTRAL
DOMAINS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CONSENSUS
APPROVAL OF THE ICCS/IPS CONCERNED; AND

“II) TO ACT AS AN APPELLATE BODY FOR DENIALS OF
CLAIMS OR TITLING FOR ANCESTRAL LANDS/DOMAINS;

“THE ALAAB SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS
FROM THE PASSAGE OF THIS ACT.

SEC. 4. Section 52 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 52. Delineation Process. - The identification and delineation of

ancestral domains shall be done in accordance with the following procedures:

Ma) xXx;


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“b) Petition for Delineation. ~ The process of delineating a specific perimeter
may be initiated by the [NCIP] ALRAO IN COORDINATION WITH THE NCIP
AND with the consent of the ICC/IP concerned, or through a Petition for Delineation
filed with the [NCW] ALRAO BY THE NCIP UPON THE PETITION OF [by]

a majority of the members of the ICCs/IPs;

“c) Delineation Proper. ~The official delineation of ancestral domain boundaries
including census of all community members therein, shall be immediately undertaken by
the [Ancestral Domains Office] ALRAO upon filing of the application by the ICCs/IPs
concerned. Delineation will be done in coordination with the community concerned and
shall at all times include genuine involvement and participation by the members of the

communities concerned;

XXX:

“e) Preparation of Maps. ~ On the basis of such investigation and the findings
of fact based thereon, the [Ancestral Domains—Office] ALRAO of the [NCIP] DENR
shall prepare a perimeter map, complete with technical descriptions, and a description

of the natural features and landmarks embraced therein;

“f) Report of Investigation and Other Documents. - A complete copy of the
preliminary census and a report of investigation, shall be prepared by the [Ancestral
Domains Office of the NCIP] ALRAO;

“g) Notice and Publication. - A copy of each document, including a
translation in the native language of the ICCs/IPs concerned shall be posted in a
prominent place therein for at least fifteen (15) days. A copy of the document shall also

|, provincial and regional offices of the NCIP AND DENR, and

be posted at the loca
shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation once a week for two (2)
consecutive weeks to allow other claimants to file opposition thereto within fifteen

(15) days from date of such publication: Provided, That in areas where no such

newspaper exists, broadcasting in a radio station will be a valid substitute: Provided,
further, That mere posting shall be deemed sufficient if both newspaper and radio station
are not available;

“h) Endorsement to [NCH] DENR. - Within fifteen (15) days from publication,
and of the inspection process, the [Ancestral Domains Office] ALRAO shall prepare a

report to the [NEH] DENR endorsing a favorable action upon a claim that is deemed to

have sufficient proof. However, if the proof is deemed insufficient, the [Aneestral
Demains-Office] ALRAO shall require the submission of additional evidence: Provided,
That the [Aneestral_Demains—Offiee] ALRAO shall reject any claim that is deemed


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patently false or fraudulent after inspection and verification: Provided, further, That in
case of rejection, the [Ancestral Domains Office) ALRAO shall give the applicant
due notice, copy furnished all concerned, containing the grounds for denial. The
denial shall be appealable to the (NCIP] ALAAB: Provided, furthermore, That in cases
where there are conflicting claims among ICCs/IPs on the boundaries of ancestral domain
claims, the [Aneestra—Domains—Office] ALRAO shall cause the contending parties to

meet and assist them in coming up with a preliminary resolution of the conflict, without

prejudice to its full adjudication according to the section below!-.):

“i) Turnover of Areas Within Ancestral Domains Managed by Other Government
Agencies. - The Chairperson of the [NCH] DENR shall certify that the area covered is
an ancestral domain. The secretaries of the Department of Agrarian Reform,
(Department-of-Environment—and-Natural Resources], Department of the Interior and
Local Government, and Department of Justice, the Commissioner of the National
Development Corporation, and any other government agency claiming jurisdiction over the
area shall be notified thereof. Such notification shall terminate any legal basis for the

jurisdiction previously claimed;

“j) Issuance of CADT. - ICCs/IPs whose ancestral domains have been
officially delineated and determined by the [NCP] DENR shall be issued a CADT in the
name of the community concerned, containing a list of all those identified in the census;

and
“k) Registration of CADTs. - The [NCP] DENR shall register issued
certificates of ancestral domain titles and certificates of ancestral lands titles before the

Register of Deeds in the place where the property is situated.”

SEC. 5. Section 53 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 53. Identification, Delineation and Certification of Ancestral Lands.

“ay XX Xp

“b) Individual and indigenous corporate claimants of ancestral lands which are
not within ancestral domains, may have their claims officially established by filing
applications for the identification and delineation of their claims with the [Aneestrat
Domeins-Offiee] ALRAO. An individual or recognized head of a family ot clan may file
such application in his behalf or in behalf of his family or clan, respectively;

SCX XS


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“d) The [Ancestral Demains-Offiee] ALRAO may require from each ancestral
claimant the submission of such other documents, Sworn Statements and the like, which

in its opinion, may shed light on the veracity of the contents of the application/claim:

“e) Upon receipt of the applications for delineation and recognition of ancestral
land claims, the [Ancestral Domains-Office] ALRAO shall cause the publication of the
application and a copy of each document submitted including a tanslation in the native
language of the ICCs/IPs concerned in a prominent place therein for at least fifteen (15)
days. A copy of the document shall also be posted at the local, provincial, and
regional offices of the NCIP AND DENR and shall be published in a newspaper of
general circulation once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks to allow other
claimants to file opposition there to within fifteen (15) days from the date of such
publication: Provided, That in areas where no such newspaper exists, broadcasting in a
radio station will be a valid substitute: Provided, further, That mere posting shall be

deemed sufficient if both newspapers and radio station are not available;

“f) Fifteen (15) days after such publication, the [Ancestral Domains—Office]
ALRAO IN COORDINATION WITH THE NCIP shall investigate and inspect each
application, and if found to be meritorious, shall cause a parcellary survey of the area
being claimed. The [Ancestral Domains—Office] ALRAO shalll reject any claim that is
deemed patently false or fraudulent after inspection and verification, In case of
rejection, the [Ancestral Domains-Office] ALRAO shall give the applicant due notice,
copy furnished all concerned, containing the grounds for denial, ‘The denial shall be
appealable to the [NCH] ALAAB. In case of conflicting claims among individuals or
indigenous corporate claimants, the [Ancestral Domains Office] ALRA shall cause the
contending parties to meet and assist them in coming up with a preliminary resolution of
the conflict, without prejudice to its full adjudication according to Sec. 62 of this Act. In

all proceedings for the identification or delineation of the ancestral domains as herein

provided, the Director of Lands shall represent the interest of the Republic of the

Philippines; and

“g) The [AneestralDomains—Office] ALRAO shall prepare and submit a
report on each and every application surveyed and delineated to the [NCH] DENR,

which shall, in tum, evaluate the report submitted. If the DENR finds such claim

meritorious, it shall issue a certificate of ancestral land, declaring and certifying the claim

of each individual or corporate (family or clan) claimant over ancestral lands.”

SEC. 6. Section 54 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 54. Fraudulent Claims. - The (Aneestral—Domains—Office]

ALRAO may, upon written request from the ICCs/IPs, review existing claims which


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have been fraudulently acquired by any person or community. Any claim found to be
fraudulently acquired by, and issued to, any person or community may be cancelled by

the [NCHP] DENR after due notice and hearing of all parties concerned.

“THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES (DENR) IN COORDINATION WITH THE NCIP SHALL
CONDUCT AN INVENTORY OF CERTIFICATE OF ANC!
CLAIMS (CADCs) AND CERTIFICATE OF ANCESTRAL LAND CLAIMS
(CALCs) STILL PENDING WITH THE NCIP THAT HAS NOT RIPENED
INTO TITLE WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS FROM THE APPROVAL OF THIS
ACT. THE DENR SHALL REVIEW AND SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE
ALAAB WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH SHALL INCLUDE A
LIST OF PENDING CADCs AND CALCs THATHAVE BEEN DISCOVERED
TO HAVE NO SUBSTANTIAL BASIS AND PROOF OF THEIR CLAIMS
WHICH THE ALAAB MAY CANCEL MOTU PROPRIO.

TRAL DOMAIN

“THE DENR SECRETARY SHALL ISSUE WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS
FROM RECEIPT OF THE REPORT, THE FINAL DECISION AND EFFECT
THE CANCELLATION OF THESE CERTIFICATES AND PURSUE THE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE.

“THE LIST OF CANCELLED CERTIFICATES, THEIR HOLDERS, AND
LOCATIONS SHALL BE DULY PUBLISHED IN TWO (2) NEWSPAPERS OF
GENERAL CIRCULATION AND ONE (1) NEWSPAPER OF REGIONAL
CIRCULATION WHERE THE ANCESTRAL PROPERTY IS LOCATED. IT
SHALL ALSO BE POSTED IN THE DIFFERENT LGUs WHERE SAID
CLAIMS ARE SITUATED AND IN THE OFFICES OF THE DENR FOR
PROPER DISSEMINATION TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

“THE DENR IS NOT PRECLUDED FROM PURSUING THE
APPROPRIATE LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS OF
THESE FRAUDULENT CLAIMS.”

SEC. 7. Section 59 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 59. Certification Precondition. - All departments and other
governmental agencies shall henceforth be strictly enjoined from issuing, renewing, or
granting any concession, license or lease, orentering into any —_production-sharing
agreement, without prior certification from the [NCIP] DENR that the area affected does
not overlap with any ancestral domain. Such certification shall only be issued after a field-
based investigation is conducted by the [Ancestral Domains Office] ALRAO of the area


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concerned: Provided, That no certification shall be issued by the (NEH#] DENR without
the free and prior informed and written consent of ICCs/IPs concerned: [Provided;

farther —That_no-dep: 2 ent_ageney—or_government_owned—or controlled
corporati yi session —Hieense-—lease- produetion~shari
" hile_there_is_a_pending—applieation fe “ADT:] Provided, finally, That

the ICCs/Ps shall have the right to stop or suspend, in accordance with this Act,

any project that has not satisfied the requirement of this consultation process.”
SEC. 8. Section 62 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 62. Resolution of Conflicts. -In cases of conflicting interest, where
there are adverse claims within the ancestral domains as delineated in the survey plan,
and which cannot be resolved, the NCIP shall ACT AS A MEDIATION BODY TO
TRY AND SETTLE THE DISPUTE. IF THE PARTIES FAIL TO SETTLE AND
AFTER NOTICE TO THE PROPER PARTIES THE ALAAB SHALL hear and
decide, [afternoticetothe-proper-parties;] the disputes arising from the delineation of
such ancestral domains (;-Provided, “Phat if the dispute is-b and eICCSAPs
segarding-the]. THE traditional boundaries of [their] THE respective ancestral domains [,]
AND customary process OF THE ICCs/IPs CONCERNED shall be followed. The

{NCIP] ALAAB shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations to cary out its
adjudicatory functions: Provided, further, that any decision, order, award or ruling of the
INCIP] ALAAB on any ancestral domain dispute or on any matter pertaining to the
application, implementation, enforcement and interpretation of this Act may be brought for
Petition for Review to the Court of Appeals within fifteen (15) days from receipt of a

copy thereof.”
SEC. 9. Section 64 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 64, Remedial Measures. - Expropriation may be resorted to in
the resolution of conflicts of interest following the principle of the "common good”. The
{NCIR] ALRAO shall take appropriate legal action for the cancellation of officially
documented titles which were acquired illegally: Provided, That such procedure shall
ensure that the rights of possessors in good faith shall be respected: Provided, further,
That the action for cancellation shall be initiated within two (2) years from the
effectivity of this Act: Provided, finally, That the action for reconveyance shall be

within a period of ten (10) years in accordance with existing laws.”
SEC. 10. Section 66 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:
“SECTION 66. Jurisdiction of the NCIP. - The NCIP, through its regional offices,

shall have jurisdiction over all claims and disputes involving rights of ICCs/IPs EXCEPT
IN CASES INVOLVING ANCESTRAL LANDS AND DOMAINS WHICH


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SHALL BE UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE ALAAB: Provided, however,
That no such dispute shall be brought to the NCIP unless the parties have exhausted all
remedies provided under their customary laws. For this purpose, a certification shall be
issued by the Council of Elders/Leaders who participated in the attempt to settle the
dispute that the same has not been resolved, which certification shall be a condition

precedent to the filing of a petition with the (NIP) DENR.

CASES INVOLVING ANCESTRAL LAND OR DOMAIN DISPUTES,
THE NCIP SHALLACT AS A MEDIATION BODY. THE MEDIATION SHALL
BE A PRE- REQUISITE FOR FILING BEFORE THE ALAAB AND SHALL BE A
GROUND FOR DISMISSAL WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO REFILING UPON
COMPLIANCE.”

SEC. 11 Section 67 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 67. Appeals to the Court of Appeals. - Decisions of the NCIP NOT
INVOLVING ANCESTRAL LAND OR DOMAIN shall be appealable to the Court of
Appeals (CA) by way of a petition for review.”

SEC. 12. Section 68 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 68. Execution of Decisions, Awards, Orders. — Upon expiration of the
period herein provided and no appeal is perfected by any of the contending parties, the
Hearing Officer of the NCIP, on its own initiative or upon motion by the prevailing
party, shall issue a writ of execution requiring the sheriff or the proper officer to execute

final decisions, orders or awards of the Regional Hearing Officer of the NCIP.

“UPON EXPIRATION OF THE FIFTEEN (15) DAYS PERIOD FROM
RECEIPT OF THE DECISION OF THE ALAAB TO FILE AN APPEAL WITH
THE CA, THE ALAAB MAY ISSUE A WRIT OF EXECUTION REQUIRING
THE SHERIFF OR THE PROPER OFFICER TO EXECUTE THE FINAL
DECISIONS, ORDERS OR AWARDS OF THE ALAAB.”

SEC. 12. Section 69 of the same Act is amended to read as follows:

“SECTION 69. Quasi - Judicial Powers of the NCIP AND THE ALAAB.
The NCIP AND THE ALAAB shall have the power and authority:

“a) XXX)

“b) xX XS


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“c) To hold [aay-persen] ITS LITIGANTS AND ANY PERSON UNDER ITS
JURISDICTIONS in contempt, directly or indirectly, and impose appropriate penalties

therefor; and

“d)x xx.”
SEC. 13. Upon the effectivity of this Act, all assets, resources, personnel and liabilities
of the former Ancestral Domains Office under the NCIP shall be transferred to the ALRAO

under the DENR.

SEC. 14. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official

Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,