1
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
There is a need to acknowledge the significant contribution of Indigenous 
Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) to the country's 
efforts in the protection of the environment. Similarly, this is consistent with the 
State's recognition of the existing customary and traditional governance by ICCs 
or IPs of their ancestral domains and lands as an effective measure of conserving 
biodiversity areas. 
To this end, this measure provides the following salient features, among others: 
The ICCs and IPs shall have the right to designate conserved areas within their 
ancestral domains and lands following their indigenous political structures, 
cultures, and traditions. The Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and 
Areas (ICCAs), their respective locations, names in the indigenous language, and 
components therein shall be respected, used, and promoted in all official 
documents. 
Finally, this measure establishes the National ICCA Registry, which shall contain 
all pertinent records on the ICCAs that the ICCs and IPs voluntarily submit as 
ICCA registrants. The Registry shall consider information and data submitted as 
part of the community's intellectual property rights. 
Therefore, this representation seeks the urgent passage of this measure. 
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
November 21, 2022
3:39 pm
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 2
Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS 
OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, 
ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS 
COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING 
FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
CHAPTER I 
1 
GENERAL PROVISIONS 
2 
SECTION 1.  Short Title.  This Act shall be known as the "Indigenous 
3 
Community Conserved Territories and Areas Act". 
4 
SEC 2. Declaration of Policy.  In accordance with the provisions of the 
5 
Constitution, Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the "Indigenous 
6 
Peoples Rights Act of 1997" (IPRA), and the United Nations Declaration on the 
7 
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), it is the policy of the State to recognize, 
8 
promote, and protect the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous 
9 
Peoples (ICCs/IPs), particularly to their ancestral domains.  
10 
The State also recognizes the existing customary and traditional 
11 
governance by ICCs/IPs of their ancestral domains and lands as an effective 
12 
measure of conserving key biodiversity areas. By this recognition, the State 
13 
acknowledges the significant contribution of ICCs/IPs to the country’s efforts in 
14 
the protection of the environment, the conservation of biodiversity, and in the 
15 
promotion the community resilience.  
16 
Towards this end, the State shall adopt measures to recognize and respect 
17 
the designation and declaration by ICCs/IPs of the conserved areas within their 
18 
ancestral domains and to promote their rights to manage, maintain, and 
19 
sustainably develop the natural resources by applying their indigenous 
20 
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knowledge systems and practices within these areas under their indigenous 
1 
political structures and traditional governance systems. 
2 
 
For this purpose, a national registry for all ICCs/IPs conserved territories 
3 
and areas shall be established to be the repository of information on these 
4 
conserved territories and areas. 
5 
 
SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Act: 
6 
a) Environmentally critical areas (ECAs) refer to areas identified under 
7 
Presidential Proclamation No. 2146, Series of 1981 and herein further 
8 
classified as Strict Protection Zones (SPZ);  
9 
b) Indigenous Community Conserved Territories and Areas (ICCA) refer to 
10 
areas within ancestral domains and lands, and parts thereof, that are 
11 
identified, protected, conserved, and sustainably used by ICCs/IPs 
12 
pursuant to their indigenous knowledge, systems, and practices, and in 
13 
accordance with customary laws and other effective means since time 
14 
immemorial continuously to the present, subject to the limitations 
15 
imposed by the Constitution. 
16 
 
These are characterized by natural or modified ecosystems, 
17 
containing significant biodiversity, beneficial ecological qualities and is of 
18 
great cultural and spiritual value to the community. 
19 
c) Key biodiversity areas refer to the sites of global significance for 
20 
biodiversity conservation that are identified using globally standard 
21 
criteria and thresholds, based on the scale of the need for safeguards. 
22 
These criteria are based on the framework of vulnerability and 
23 
irreplaceability used in systematic conservation planning; 
24 
d) National ICCA Registry refers to the national information management 
25 
system that contains records of the pertinent information on ICCAs; 
26 
e) Sustainable Traditional Resource Rights (STRR) refer to the rights of 
27 
ICCs/IPs to sustainably use, manage, protect and conserve 1) land, air, 
28 
water, and minerals; 2) plants, animals and other organisms; 3) collecting, 
29 
fishing and hunting grounds; 4) sacred sites; and, 5) other areas of 
30 
economic, ceremonial and aesthetic value in accordance with their 
31 
indigenous knowledge, belief systems, and practices. 
32 
SEC. 4. Scope and Coverage. - This Act shall apply to all ancestral 
33 
domains and lands publicly known to have been held under a claim of 
34 
ownership, possession and occupation based on native title since time 
35 
immemorial continuously and up to the present, or formally recognized under a 
36 
Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) or Certificate of Ancestral Land Title 
37 
(CALT) issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 8371. 
38 
 
CHAPTER II 
39 
INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 
40 
CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS 
41 
 
SEC. 5. Guiding Principles. - The following guidelines shall be observed 
42 
in recognizing the indigenous cultural communities and indigenous peoples 
43 
conserved territories and areas (ICCAs): 
44 
a) The rights to land and self-determination include the full recognition of 
45 
the traditional resources, rights and practices of ICCs/IPs, as well as 
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4
their right to access, maintain, protect, conserve, regulate ICCAs and 
1 
exclude unauthorized intrusion into these areas; 
2 
b) The customary laws and indigenous knowledge systems and practices 
3 
(IKSPs) in the governance and management of ICCAs shall be 
4 
recognized and respected provided that they are within the framework 
5 
of national unity and development as envisioned under the 
6 
Constitution; 
7 
c) The ICCs/IPs shall govern their conserved territories and areas and 
8 
ensure the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of ecological 
9 
balance and biodiversity therein in consonance with existing 
10 
environmental policies and with the assistance of government agencies;  
11 
d) The identification and declaration of ICCAs shall consider duly 
12 
formulated national, regional, provincial and municipal policies, plans 
13 
and programs; 
14 
e) The ICCs/IPs shall receive a fair and equitable share in the benefits 
15 
derived from the ecosystem services provided by ICCAs and other 
16 
activities as authorized by the ICCs/IPs themselves in accordance with 
17 
existing environmental policies, rules and regulations; and 
18 
f) In case of conflict between ICC/IPs’ customary laws and indigenous 
19 
knowledge systems and practices on the one hand, and existing 
20 
environmental laws, rules and regulations, on the other, earnest efforts 
21 
shall be exerted to adopt an interpretation that will give effect to both. 
22 
Only when it is clear that the two are truly irreconcilable will 
23 
environmental laws, rules and regulations prevail, but such 
24 
construction shall always be supported by evidence attesting to the fact 
25 
that the customary laws and IKSPs have no sound scientific basis and 
26 
shall be guided by the pertinent provisions of the Constitution. 
27 
SEC. 6. Recognition of ICCAs. The ICCs/IPs shall define and declare the 
28 
conserved areas within their ancestral domains and lands in accordance with 
29 
their indigenous political structures, cultures and traditions provided that the 
30 
identified area is not earlier proclaimed or declared as a protected area under 
31 
Republic Act No. 7586, otherwise known as the “National Integrated Protected 
32 
Areas System Act of 1992” as amended by Republic Act No. 11038, otherwise 
33 
known as the “Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 
34 
2018” and other presidential proclamations. 
35 
The declaration of ICCAs shall be respected as an exercise of the self-
36 
governance, self-determination and sustainable traditional resource rights of the 
37 
ICCs/IPs. It shall be recognized by all national agencies and local government 
38 
units (LGUs) as another category of protected areas that are owned, controlled, 
39 
governed and managed by ICCs/IPs themselves. The ICCAs, their respective 
40 
locations, names in indigenous language, and components therein, shall be 
41 
respected used, and promoted in all official documents. 
42 
No provision in this Act granting or recognizing the rights and privileges of 
43 
ICCs/IPs in the ICCAs shall be construed to diminish their rights and privileges 
44 
in non-ICCA areas of the ancestral domains or lands. 
45 
SEC. 7. Protection of ICCAs. Subject to the provisions of the 
46 
Constitution, Republic Act No. 8371, and Republic Act No. 7586, as amended, 
47 
the ICCAs shall be reserved for the exclusive use of ICCs/IPs exercising their 
48 
sustainable traditional resource rights. It shall be the duty of the ICC/IPs to 
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5
govern, conserve, manage and protect ICCAs with the assistance of government 
1 
agencies.  
2 
SEC. 8. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) System. For the 
3 
purposes of this Act, all ICCAs shall be considered as environmentally critical 
4 
areas. 
5 
All projects outside the ICCA that have potential adverse impacts on the 
6 
conserved territories and areas are subject to EIA.  
7 
 The participation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples 
8 
(NCIP) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is 
9 
required in the conduct of the EIA outside the ICCAs but within the ICC/IPs 
10 
ancestral domain. 
11 
 The customary laws, the IKSPs of the ICCs/IPs and the social acceptability 
12 
of the project shall be considered in the assessment of such projects. 
13 
 In the interest of transparency and full disclosure, the EIA should be 
14 
concluded and reported for consideration during the Free and Prior Informed 
15 
Consent (FPIC) process, as provided for under Section 3 (g) of Republic Act  No. 
16 
8371. 
17 
SEC. 9. ICCAs in Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs). Subject to the 
18 
Constitution, the ICCs/IPs shall govern, maintain, restore and sustainably 
19 
develop the ICCAs’ key biodiversity areas (KBAs) in accordance with their 
20 
customary laws, IKSP, and in a manner consistent with the sustainable use and 
21 
conservation of biodiversity found therein and in accordance with existing 
22 
environmental policies, rules and regulations. 
23 
 
CHAPTER III 
24 
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS CULTURAL COMMUNITIES AND INDIGENOUS 
25 
PEOPLES CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS REGISTRY 
26 
 
SEC. 10. The National ICCA Registry. To ensure the availability of 
27 
official information on ICCAs, a National ICCA Registry, hereinafter referred to 
28 
as the “Registry,” is hereby established. The Registry shall be the official 
29 
information management system that shall contain all pertinent records on the 
30 
ICCAs that are voluntarily submitted by the ICCs/IPs as the ICCA registrant. 
31 
The Registry shall contain the following information: 
32 
a) Name of the ICCs/IPs; 
33 
b) A map generated from the delineation of the ICCAs with the corresponding 
34 
technical description by the DENR; 
35 
c) Brief description of governance structure; 
36 
d) Policies on resource conservation and sustainable use; 
37 
e) CADT and CALT, if applicable; 
38 
f) Relevant portions of the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and 
39 
Protection Plan (ADSDPP) containing information on the ICCAs; and 
40 
g) Contact persons. 
41 
SEC. 11. Operational Structures of the Registry. The DENR, through 
42 
the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), shall be the main repository and 
43 
administrator of the Registry. It shall organize, store, and update all information 
44 
that may be contained in the Registry, and shall be responsible for the 
45 
documentation, administration and maintenance of the Registry. 
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All information and data in the Registry shall be obtained from the 
1 
ICCs/IPs who registered and provided such information. The information and 
2 
data submitted shall be considered as part of the community’s intellectual 
3 
property rights.  
4 
The intellectual property rights of the ICCs/IPs shall be protected and 
5 
respected. 
6 
SEC. 12. Creation of a Steering Committee. A Steering Committee is 
7 
created to define policy, provide directions and perform oversight functions in 
8 
the administration and maintenance of the Registry. 
9 
 
It shall be chaired by a representative from the NCIP. 
10 
 
The Steering Committee shall be composed of the following: 
11 
a) A representative from the DENR; 
12 
b) A representative from the NCIP; 
13 
c) A representative from the Department of the Interior and Local 
14 
Government (DILG); 
15 
d) A representative from the Department of Human Settlements and 
16 
Urban Development (DHSUD); 
17 
e) A representative from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); 
18 
f) A representative from recognized civil society organizations (CSOs); and 
19 
g) Three (3) representatives of the ICCs/IPs who are themselves members 
20 
of the indigenous cultural community; and 
21 
h) A representative from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines 
22 
(ULAP). 
23 
 
SEC. 13. ICCA Registration. The ICCs/IPs shall initiate the 
24 
documentation and registration of their ICCAs in the Registry with appropriate 
25 
financial and technical support from the NCIP, the DENR, or other assisting 
26 
organizations. 
27 
 
If the ICCs/IPs seek the assistance of the NCIP and the DENR in the 
28 
registration of the ICCAs, the following steps shall be undertaken: 
29 
a) The NCIP shall assist the community in documenting the ICCAs and, 
30 
with the support of the DENR, delineate the metes and bounds of the 
31 
said ICCA;  
32 
b) The NCIP shall facilitate the formulation of a Community Conservation 
33 
Plan in collaboration with the DENR and the municipal and provincial 
34 
local government units; and 
35 
c) The NCIP shall submit the documentation of the ICCAs and other 
36 
pertinent documents to the DENR for inclusion in the Registry. 
37 
In case the ICCs/IPs decide to undertake the documentation by 
38 
themselves with the support of assisting organizations, the NCIP, DENR and the 
39 
municipal and provincial local government units concerned, shall verify and 
40 
affirm the documentation and pertinent documents submitted before the ICCAs 
41 
may be included in the Registry. 
42 
The map, the technical description of the specific ICCA, and a brief 
43 
description of the natural features and landmarks of the ICCA sought to be 
44 
registered and included in the Registry shall be posted at the local, provincial, 
45 
and regional office of the NCIP, and shall be published in a newspaper of general 
46 
circulation once a week for two (2) consecutive weeks to allow concerned parties 
47 
to formally submit their written opposition within fifteen (15) days. 
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7
SEC. 14. Procedure for Delisting from the Registry. If the ICCs/IPs 
1 
determine that the ICCA no longer serves the purpose for which it was defined 
2 
and declared, the ICCs/IPs may cause the delisting of the same through a 
3 
procedure to be provided in the rules and regulations to be issued by the NCIP 
4 
and the DENR to implement this Act. 
5 
SEC. 15. Inclusion of ICCAs in the LGUs Plan. The LGUs shall include 
6 
in their Regional Physical Framework Plans, Provincial Physical Framework 
7 
Plans, Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plans, Community Development 
8 
Plans, Forest Land Use Plans, Barangay Development Plans, the Ancestral 
9 
Domains Sustainable Development and Protection Plan, and other relevant 
10 
harmonized plans on the ICCAs that have been declared and recorded in the 
11 
Registry by the ICCs/IPs. 
12 
SEC. 16. ICCA Governance. The ICCAs shall be governed by the ICCs/IPs 
13 
in accordance with their customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and 
14 
practices, structures and mechanisms: Provided, That any co-management with, 
15 
or relinquishment of management by the ICCs/IPs, shall be temporary in nature 
16 
and subject to regular renewal by the ICCs/IPs in accordance with Section 58 of 
17 
Republic Act No. 8371, and Section 13 of Republic Act No. 7586, as amended. 
18 
 
The application of customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and 
19 
practices, structures, and mechanisms by the ICCs/IPs within and outside their 
20 
ICCAs shall enjoy the presumption of being indigenous and a sustainable 
21 
traditional resource right, and shall not require prior approval or validation 
22 
provided that such customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and 
23 
practices and sustainable traditional resource right has been earlier 
24 
acknowledged and recognized by the NCIP. Towards this end, the NCIP shall 
25 
endeavor to codify these customary laws, indigenous knowledge systems and 
26 
practices and sustainable traditional resource right in accordance with Section 
27 
46 (b) of Republic Act No. 8371 and NCIP Administrative Order No. 1, Series of 
28 
2012.  
29 
 
Any conflict on matters of governance that may arise within the ICCAs 
30 
shall be primarily resolved through customary laws and traditional conflict 
31 
resolution mechanisms. 
32 
 
CHAPTER IV 
33 
INCENTIVES 
34 
 
SEC. 17. Incentive Scheme.  The ICCAs listed in the Registry shall be 
35 
prioritized for biodiversity conservation, preservation of forest cover, protection 
36 
of ancestral waters, and as reforestation project sites. Where appropriate and 
37 
available, government financial institutions and other government agencies shall 
38 
provide financial and technical assistance to ICCs/IPs for the protection and 
39 
promotion of their registered conserved territories and areas, particularly in the 
40 
establishment and implementation of payment schemes for ecosystem services 
41 
provided by the ICCAs. 
42 
 
In all cases, the rights, interests and well-being of the ICCs/IPs shall be of 
43 
paramount concern. 
44 
 
CHAPTER V  
45 
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
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8
 
SEC. 18. Role of the NCIP. The NCIP shall be the primary government 
1 
agency responsible for the full implementation of this Act. It shall protect and 
2 
promote the interest and well-being of the ICCs/IPs in the context of biodiversity 
3 
conservation and community resilience. 
4 
 
The NCIP shall create the Ancestral Domain Protection and Sustainable 
5 
Development Office, and shall coordinate with the DENR on all activities related 
6 
to the documentation, community conservation, planning, and registration of 
7 
ICCAs. It shall provide full and effective financial and technical assistance on the 
8 
following: 
9 
a) Capacity 
building 
and 
enhancement 
in 
the 
identification, 
10 
documentation, and recognition of ICCAs; 
11 
b) Preparation of Community Conservation Plans (CCP), and 
12 
integrating them in the ADSDPP; and 
13 
c) Interfacing of the ADSDPP into other relevant planning frameworks. 
14 
The NCIP shall also be responsible for the verification and affirmation of 
15 
information submitted by the ICCs/IPs who undertake the documentation by 
16 
themselves, for inclusion in the Registry of ICCAs. 
17 
The NCIP shall take into account the issues and concerns on ICCAs in all 
18 
management planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs. 
19 
The NCIP shall also be represented in the Protected Area Management 
20 
Board (PAMB) created for each protected area pursuant to Republic Act No. 
21 
7586, as amended. 
22 
The NCIP, through its provincial offices, shall have original and exclusive 
23 
jurisdiction over all claims and disputes involving ICCAs: Provided, however, 
24 
That no such dispute shall be brought to the NCIP unless the parties have 
25 
exhausted all remedies provided under their customary laws: Provided further, 
26 
That the indigenous conflict resolution should not apply if one of the parties is a 
27 
non-member of an ICC/IP, and such dispute may be filed directly with the NCIP. 
28 
The decision of the provincial office can be appealed to the regional office 
29 
and the Commission proper. 
30 
SEC. 19. Role of the DENR. - The DENR shall, upon the formal request 
31 
of the ICCs/IPs, provide financial and technical support for delineation and 
32 
mapping, and biodiversity assessment of ICCA and in the listing or registration 
33 
of ICCA with the Registry and similar global platforms or networks. 
34 
 
Enforcement of the preventive mechanisms and penal provisions of this 
35 
Act shall also be vested in the DENR. 
36 
 
The agency shall also take into account the issues and concerns on ICCAs 
37 
in all management planning and decision-making processes of the ICCs/IPs. 
38 
 
The government shall provide funds for the publication of the list of verified 
39 
ICCAs. 
40 
SEC. 20. Role of Other Government Agencies and LGUs. - Consistent 
41 
with their respective mandates and upon formal request by ICCs/IPs, national 
42 
government agencies and LGUs shall provide financial and technical assistance 
43 
in building and strengthening the capacity of the requesting ICCs/IPs to manage 
44 
their ICCA. 
45 
The NCIP and the DENR, in partnership with the DILG, shall device an 
46 
incentive scheme for LGUs that will adopt and include ICCAs in the harmonized 
47 
Regional and Provincial Physical Framework Plans, Comprehensive Land and 
48 


 
 
 
9
Water Use Plans, Community Development Plan, Forest Land Use Plan and other 
1 
relevant plans and programs. 
2 
The NCIP and the DENR shall, in partnership with the Department of 
3 
Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Philippine 
4 
Statistics Authority (PSA), create or improve on existing data gathering methods 
5 
for a complete and centralized ICCA registry.  
6 
The NCIP shall, in coordination with the DENR, the National Economic 
7 
and Development Authority (NEDA), the DILG, the Housing and Land Use 
8 
Regulatory Board (HLURB), and the Department of Budget and Management 
9 
(DBM), formulate guidelines for the prioritization of programs and projects that 
10 
support ICCAs. 
11 
SEC. 21. Engagement with the Private Sector and Civil Society to 
12 
Recognize ICCAs.  - The ICCs/IPs, the NCIP and the DENR shall actively engage 
13 
and collaborate with the private sector and civil society in raising public 
14 
awareness and recognition of ICCAs, and in obtaining specialized assistance and 
15 
services, subject to FPIC requirements of the concerned ICCs/IPs. Public 
16 
participation in the protection, conservation, and sustainable use of ICCAs in 
17 
accordance with the ICCs/IPs customary law and IKSP, especially at the local 
18 
level, shall be encouraged to maximize conservation and community benefits. 
19 
SEC. 22. Sustainable Livelihoods. - Subject to the provisions of the 
20 
Constitution, the NCIP, the DENR, and other relevant government agencies shall 
21 
support sustainable livelihood opportunities, including biodiversity-friendly 
22 
livelihoods that are identified and defined by ICCs/IPs consistent with traditional 
23 
practices and resource use in accordance with ICCs/IPs customary law and IKSP 
24 
that contribute to the sustainable use and proper management of the ICCAs. 
25 
 
 
CHAPTER VI  
26 
PENAL PROVISIONS 
27 
 
      
SEC. 23. Prohibited Acts. Any act inconsistent with the policies of 
28 
conservation and protection, and prohibited in Republic Act No. 8371 and 
29 
Republic Act No. 7586, as amended, is prohibited. 
30 
SEC. 24.  Penalties. Any individual, corporation, partnership, association 
31 
or juridical entity who commits any acts in violation of Section 23 of this Act 
32 
shall upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment of not less than six months 
33 
but not more than six (6) years or a fine of not less than Fifty thousand pesos 
34 
(P50,000.00) but not more than Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000.00), or both, at 
35 
the discretion of the court. 
36 
 
After finding of a probable cause, the proper court where the information 
37 
is filed shall immediately conduct a summary hearing to determine the propriety 
38 
of issuing a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) and shall 
39 
simultaneously hear the criminal case to determine the urgency of issuing of a 
40 
writ of kalikasan. This is without prejudice to the other provisional remedies 
41 
provided under Rule 127 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure. 
42 
 
The 
offender, 
upon 
conviction, 
shall 
also 
provide 
restitution 
43 
commensurate to the cost of the destroyed ecosystem and the cost of 
44 
rehabilitation of the same as agreed upon with the ICCs/IPs. 
45 


 
 
 
10
 
If the offender is a government official or employee, the offender shall, in 
1 
addition to imprisonment and fine, be perpetually disqualified to hold public 
2 
office.  
3 
 
Any object and instrumentality used in committing any of the prohibited 
4 
acts under Section 23 of this Act shall be confiscated and forfeited in favor of the 
5 
government. 
6 
 
If the offender is a juridical entity, the penalty of imprisonment and fine 
7 
shall be imposed upon its manager, director, representative or employee 
8 
responsible for the violation without prejudice to the cancellation or revocation 
9 
of the license or accreditation of the offender, issued by any licensing or 
10 
accredited body of the government. 
11 
 
If the offender is an alien, the offender shall be deported immediately after 
12 
service of the sentence. 
13 
The prosecution of offenses under Section 23 of this Act shall be without 
14 
prejudice to any liability for violation of Republic Act No. 8371 or other criminal 
15 
and civil liabilities under existing laws. 
16 
 
 
CHAPTER VII 
17 
FINAL PROVISIONS 
18 
 
SEC. 25.  Annual Report. The Chairperson of the NCIP shall submit to 
19 
the President of the Philippines and to the Congress an annual progress report 
20 
on the implementation of this Act. The report shall be posted in the website of 
21 
the NCIP. 
22 
SEC. 26. Construction.  The provisions of this Act shall be construed 
23 
liberally in favor of ICCs/IPs and the protection and conservation of biodiversity.  
24 
In no way shall it be interpreted as an instrument to exploit ICC/IPs or 
25 
undermine the intent of this Act to conserve and protect ICCAs. 
26 
This Act shall not in any manner adversely affect the rights and benefits 
27 
of the ICCs/IPs under Republic Act No. 8371, international conventions, 
28 
recommendations, international treaties, national laws, awards, customs and 
29 
agreements. 
30 
SEC. 27. Appropriations. The amount necessary to cover the initial 
31 
implementation of this Act shall be charged against the current year’s 
32 
appropriations of the concerned departments or agencies. Thereafter, such sums 
33 
as may be necessary for its continued implementation shall be included in the 
34 
annual General Appropriations Act. 
35 
SEC. 28. Implementing Rules and Regulations. Within ninety (90) days 
36 
from the approval of this Act, the Chairperson of the NCIP and the Secretary of 
37 
the DENR shall, in consultation with appropriate government agencies and with 
38 
the full participation of ICCs/IPs, issue the necessary rules and regulations for 
39 
the effective implementation of this Act.   
40 
SEC. 29.  Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act is 
41 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not 
42 
affected shall remain in full force and effect. 
43 
SEC. 30.  Repealing Clause. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and 
44 
regulations and other issuances, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with 
45 
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
46 


 
 
 
11
SEC. 31. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
1 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
2 
Approved, 
3