SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
(§llire of Hr:
)
)
)
- 11
'16 AUG-3 P2 :22
SENATE
H
S.B. No.
9
F .(
V;
8
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE DELIVERY OF
ESSENTIAL SERVICES, APPRORIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
There are 14-17 million estimated ICCs and IPs mainly concentrated in Northern Luzon
(33%) and in Mindanao (61%). The Constitution mandates that the State shall recognize,
protect, promote and fulfill the rights of the indigenous peoples.
In 1997, Republic Act No. 8371 or the ‘Indigenous Peoples Rights Act’ (IPRA) was
enacted into law fulfilling the State’s constitutional duty to recognize the millions of Indigenous
Cultural Communities (ICCs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs) in the country. However, despite the
IPRA and the various international aids given to them, ICCs and IPs remain the most
disadvantaged and the poorest in our country.
Geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) still lack basic services. The
2010 Report on the State of the World by the United Nations reveal that ICCs and IPs “make up
one-third of the world’s poorest peoples, suffer disproportionately in areas like health, education,
and human rights, and regularly face systemic discrimination and exclusion." Government has
to remedy the miserable conditions of our ICCs and IPs.
It is imperative to establish Resource Centers in all ICCs/IPs which are ethnographically
located as determined by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). These
centers shall enhance the delivery of basic, social, technical and legal services to the ICCs and
IPs.
Therefore, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA