presentation according to customary laws and traditions, and shall have the right to impose penalties for violation thereof . Indigenous peoples shall also have the right to equitably share in the benefits of such presentation or performance. All funds collected from these activities shall be managed directly by the community concerned through the registered IPO, otherwise, the same shall be held in trust by the NCIP for the benefit of the concerned IP community. Section 17. Protection of Biological and Genetic Resources. The ICCs/IPs may, on their own initiative, make an inventory of biological and genetic resources found inside their domains/lands, for their exclusive use. They shall retain and reserve all rights pertaining to the storage, retrieval, and dissemination of the information, in whatever form and system, gathered as a result of the inventory. A certificate of free and prior informed consent shall be required in case the concerned ICCs/IPs may enter into a joint undertaking with natural or juridical persons for the use of biological and genetic resources for industrial, commercial, pharmaceutical and other profit-making purposes and ventures. Violation hereof shall be strictly prohibited and subject to penalties under customary law and as provided for by the Act. The NCIP shall assist the concerned ICCs/IPs in the enforcement hereof. Section 18. Agro-technological Development. The ICCs/IPs, in coordination with the NCIP may choose to establish cooperatives in accordance with the indigenous concept of cooperative system. The NCIP shall adopt programs for research and development of the ICCs/IPs’ agricultural systems and provide necessary funds therefor. Section 19. Funds for Archeological and Historical Sites. The ICCs/IPs shall initiate proposals for the management and preservation of their archeological and historical sites with the adequate and effective technical and financial support of the appropriate government agencies. All funds allocated for the management of these sites shall be immediately transferred to the IPs concerned through the NCIP. For this purpose, the NCIP shall take the necessary steps to ascertain that these funds are transferred to the communities concerned. RULE VII. THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (NCIP) Part I: Creation, Mandate and Operating Principles of the NCIP Section 1. Creation of NCIP. The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples shall be established as the primary government agency to implement the policies set forth in the Act. Section 2. General and Specific Mandates. a) General Mandate. The NCIP shall protect and promote the interest and well-being of the ICCs/IPs with due regard to their beliefs, customs and traditions and institutions. b) Specific Mandates. (1) The promulgation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations as provided by Section 80 of the Act, within sixty (60) days after the appointment of the NCIP Chairperson and Commissioners, the Commission shall cause the preparation of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Act in consultation with the Committees on National Cultural Communities of the Senate and House of Representatives; and (2) The promulgation of rules and regulations governing the hearing and disposition of cases filed before it and those pertaining to internal functions. Section 3. Primary Objectives and Responsibilities. a) To be the primary government agency responsible for the formulation and implementation of policies, plans and programs for, and with its main public clientele, the indigenous peoples; Page 26