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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session
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'14 MAY -6 P3 :25
SENATE
S.B. NO.
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2209
Introduced by SENATOR LOREN LEGARDA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING RESOURCE CENTERS FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIESjINDlGENOUS PEOPLES TO ENHANCE AND ENSURE
DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Republic Act No, 8371, otherwise known as the 'Indigenous Peoples Rights Act'
(IPRA), was enacted into law in 1997 to give effect to the constitutional recognition and
cognizance to the estimated 12 to 15 million Indigenous Cultural Communities
(ICCs)/Indigenous Peoples (IPs) present in 48 provinces and 13 cities nationwide. Said
law provides for the creation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
(NCIP) as its implementing agency. Eventually, various national, regional, grassroots
and non-government organizations/networks were established, all geared towards
their recognition, promotion and well-being. Likewise, numerous international treaties,
conventions and declarations with similar objectives were entered into by the
government.
Despite concerted efforts exerted by the government, in partnership with
various private organizations and adequate financial support from international
communities, still they remain the poorest and marginalized sectors of our society.
Basic services remain wanting in most geographically isolated and disadvantaged
areas (GIDAs). Further, the reported serious human rights violations, displacement
from their ancestral domain and destruction of their natural environment and cultural
values, calls for an immediate and drastic measures to address the same.
Pursuant to the foregoing reasons, there is a need to establish Resource Centers
in all ICCs/IPs which are ethnographically located, gender and rights based, as may be
determined by the NCIF. The centers shall serve as access centers to enhance delivery
of basic, social, technical and legal services. It shall be composed of the following
service areas, namely: Statistical Service Area, Human Development Index Service
Area and Domains Management Service Area. The NCIP shall provide the necessary
officers and staff of the resource centers.
In view of the foregoing and to hasten the improvement of the quality of life of
our indigenous peoples, early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
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Lo~u:NiifuARDA
Senator