Republic of the Philippines
Bouse of Representatives
Quezon City
Fifteenth Congress

First Regular Session

4563

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997 was a landmark legislation, considered to be one of
the best in the world for recognizing and protecting the basic rights and culture of indigenous
peoples.

More than a decade since its passage, the IPRA as it is commonly known, still has not achieved
its potential to alleviate the welfare of indigenous peoples in the country. What promised to be
a shining beacon of hope for its beneficiaries has been dimmed by the passage of time, the
bureaucratic muddle and the ineptness of those who have been tasked to oversee the
implementation of the IPRA. Over the years, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
have been accused of collusion with individuals and other parties in taking advantage of the
lack of knowledge and benign nature of the indigenous peoples, the people whom they are
supposed to protect. Vast tracts of the ancestral domain are now in the hands of the private
‘sector and its original owners uprooted from lands they have possessed since time immemorial.
Scarce natural resources located in lands owned by our indigenous people by virtue of birthright
and by law are being exploited by private individuals and companies without any agreement
from their owners. What is worse is that even if the IPRA is adhered to, any proceeds or
revenues from the sale or use of the land of the indigenous peoples are not given to them in
any form.

This measure seeks to correct and restore the IPRA for the purposes to which it was originally
intended by creating an oversight committee on indigenous peoples. It shall have the power to
implement policy changes, review the decisions as well as recommend disciplinary action on the
NCIP, which is supposed to be the first and last line of defense acting in behalf of the
indigenous peoples in the country.

In view of the foyedfeing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

TEDDY BRAWNER BAC


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Diliman, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._. 4563

Introduced By: HON. TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT, JR.

AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT 8371 OTHERWISE
KNOWN AS THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES RIGHTS ACT
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. The following sections of Republic Act 8371 should read as follows:

Section 82. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.- There is hereby
created a joint congressional oversight committee to monitor the implementation
of this Act. The committee shall be composed of five (5) senators and five (5)
representatives. The Chairperson of the Senate Committee of Cultural
Communities and the Chairperson of the House Committee on National Cultural
Communities shall be ex-officio members of the Committee. The four (4) senators
and four (4) representatives shall be appointed by the Senate President and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively, the oversight committee
shall be co-chaired by the Chairperson of the Senate Committee of Cultural
Communities and the Chairperson of the House Committee on National Cultural
Communities.

The mandate given to the joint congressional oversight committee under
this Act shall be without prejudice to the performance of the duties and functions
by the respective existing oversight committees of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.

Section 83. Section 82 x x x

Section 84. Section 83 x x x


Section 85. Section 84 x x x

See, 2. Separability Clause.- In case any provision of this Act or any portion thereof is declared
unconstitutional by a competent court, other provisions shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 3. Repealing Clause.~ All other laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

See. 4. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect fifteen days (15) days upon its publication in the
Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,