(0ff!ce o( jijf ^pcrffflrp
EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE P H ILIP P IN E S
F irs t R egular Session
*19 NOV -4 All :45
SENATE
S. No.
RECE;^''.[> fly.
^
1128
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT RECO GNIZING THE IN D IG E N O U S CULTURAL C O M M U N ITIE S AND
IN D IG E N O U S PEOPLES (IC C s /IP s ) C O M M UN ITY CONSERVED TERRITO RIES
AND AREAS (IC C A ), ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE N A TIO N A L ICCA
REGISTRY, AND APPR O PR IATIN G FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Article II o f the 1987 Constitution declares the State's mandate to "protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony o f nature," and "recognize, respect, and protect the rights of
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) to preserve and develop
their cultures, traditions, and institutions." Further, it shall consider the rights of ICCs/IPs
in the formulation of national plans and policies, in its policies in pursuit of biodiversity
conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development.
By recognizing the declaration of ICCs/IPs o f Indigenous Community Conserved Areas
(ICCAs) within their ancestral domains, the State acknowledges the significant
contribution of ICCs/IPs to the country's efforts in environmental protection, biodiversity
conservation, and community resilience. ICCAs are "territories of life," areas within
ancestral domains and lands, or parts thereof, are identified, protected, conserved, and
sustainably used by ICCs/IPs pursuant to their indigenous knowledge, systems, and
practices, and in accordance with customary laws and other effective means, as they
have done since time immemorial.
This is consistent with the recognition and promotion of the rights of ICCs/IPs under
Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act o f 1997 (IPRA), and globally,
under the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which enjoins states to recognize
and promote other effective area-based conservation measures apart from protected
areas. This aligns with the recognition and promotion of ICC/IP conservation areas and
governance within their ancestral domains, through the Republic Act No. 7586, or the
National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 as amended by Republic
Act No. 11038, otherwise known as the "Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas
System Act of 2018 (ENIPAS Act), and Republic Act No. 9174 or the Wildlife Resources
Conservation and Protection (WRCP) Act. The ICCA is consistent with the IPRA and the