EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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SENATE
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In tro d u c e d by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR IN D IG E N O U S PEOPLES TO
ENHANCE
AND
ENSURE
DELIVERY
OF
ESSENTIAL
SERVICES,
APPR O PR IATIN G FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
I t is the declared policy of the State to recognize, respect, and protect the
rights of indigenous cultural communities to preserve and develop their cultures,
traditions, and institutions. No less than the Philippine Constitution, the highest law
o f the land, upholds this policy. Thus, Republic Act. No. 8371, otherwise known as
the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, was enacted. This measure provided for the
creation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), which will
Implement the provisions o f the said law.
Despite
these
efforts
and
so
much
more,
the
Indigenous
Peoples'
International Center for Policy Research and Education, reported in September 2016
that "there continues to be a serious lack o f data on the number and distribution of
indigenous peoples in the Philippines." Furthermore, they observed tha t "credibility
o f the results and enumeration methodology have been questioned."
I f we are to effectively address the plight o f our indigenous peoples, it is
imperative that we are backed with accurate information based on scientific and