FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
•
6(,
SENATE
Senate Bill No.
4 G7
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA
EXPLANATORY NOTE
R.A. 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous People Rights Act of 1997
(IPRA) was a landmark legislation intended to address the concerns of the
cultural communities and indigenous people throughout the country.
While there are some constitutional and legal questions against certain
provisions of said law, the IPRA remains in effect. Under Section 64 of IPRA, the
National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) is mandated to take
appropriate actions to recover legal domains which were illegally acquired.
The NCIP is given two (2) years to perform such functions as provided for
under Section 64 but the prescribed period has already expired on 22 November
1999.
This bill seeks to remedy this technical flaw in the law. Hence, it is hereby
proposed that the NCIP be granted a new ten (10) year period to perform the
same task as provided under Sec. 64 of the Indigenous People Rights Act.
Y EJERCITO ESTRADA
Senator