shall consider these rights in the formulation and application of national plans and policies.
SECTION 30. Educational Systems. — The State shall provide equal access to various cultural
opportunities to the ICCs/IPs through the educational system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships,
grants and other incentives without prejudice to their right to establish and control their educational systems
and institutions by providing education in their own language, in a manner appropriate to their cultural
methods of teaching and learning. Indigenous children/youth shall have the right to all levels and forms of
education of the State.
SECTION 31. Recognition of Cultural Diversity. — The State shall endeavor to have the dignity and
diversity of the cultures, traditions, histories and aspirations of the ICCs/IPs appropriately reflected in all
forms of education, public information and culturaleducational exchange. Consequently, the State shall take
effective measures, in consultation with ICCs/IPs concerned, to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and to
promote tolerance, understanding and good relations among ICCs/IPs and all segments of society.
Furthermore, the Government shall take effective measures to ensure that the Stateowned media duly
reflect indigenous cultural diversity. The State shall likewise ensure the participation of appropriate
indigenous leaders in schools, communities and international cooperative undertakings like festivals,
conferences, seminars and workshops to promote and enhance their distinctive heritage and values.
SECTION 32. Community Intellectual Rights. — ICCs/IPs have the right to practice and revitalize their
own cultural traditions and customs. The State shall preserve, protect and develop the past, present and
future manifestations of their cultures as well as the right to the restitution of cultural, intellectual, religious,
and spiritual property taken without their free and prior informed consent or in violation of their laws,
traditions and customs.
SECTION 33. Rights to Religious, Cultural Sites and Ceremonies. — ICCs/IPs shall have the right to
manifest, practice, develop, and teach their spiritual and religious traditions, customs and ceremonies; the
right to maintain, protect and have access to their religious and cultural sites; the right to use and control of
ceremonial objects; and, the right to the repatriation of human remains. Accordingly, the State shall take
effective measures, in cooperation with the ICCs/IPs concerned, to ensure that indigenous sacred places,
including burial sites, be preserved, respected and protected. To achieve this purpose, it shall be unlawful to:
a) Explore, excavate or make diggings on archeological sites of the ICCs/IPs for the purpose of
obtaining materials of cultural values without the free and prior informed consent of the community
concerned; and
b) Deface, remove or otherwise destroy artifacts which are of great importance to the ICCs/IPs for
the preservation of their cultural heritage.
SECTION 34. Right to Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices and to Develop own Sciences and
Technologies. — ICCs/IPs are entitled to the recognition of the full ownership and control and protection of
their cultural and intellectual rights. They shall have the right to special measures to control, develop and
protect their sciences, technologies and cultural manifestations, including human and other genetic
resources, seeds, including derivatives of these resources, traditional medicines and health practices, vital
medicinal plants, animals and minerals, indigenous knowledge systems and practices, knowledge of the
properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literature, designs, and visual and performing arts.