NCIP. In case of conflicting claims among individuals or indigenous corporate claimants, the Ancestral
Domains Office shall cause the contending parties to meet and assist them in coming up with a preliminary
resolution of the conflict, without prejudice to its full adjudication according to Sec. 62 of this Act. In all
proceedings for the identification or delineation of the ancestral domains as herein provided, the Director of
Lands shall represent the interest of the Republic of the Philippines; and
g) The Ancestral Domains Office shall prepare and submit a report on each and every application
surveyed and delineated to the NCIP, which shall, in turn, evaluate the report submitted. If the NCIP finds
such claim meritorious, it shall issue a certificate of ancestral land, declaring and certifying the claim of each
individual or corporate (family or clan) claimant over ancestral lands.
SECTION 54. Fraudulent Claims. — The Ancestral Domains Office may, upon written request from the
ICCs/IPs, review existing claims which have been fraudulently acquired by any person or community. Any
claim found to be fraudulently acquired by, and issued to, any person or community may be cancelled by the
NCIP after due notice and hearing of all parties concerned.
SECTION 55. Communal Rights. — Subject to Section 56 hereof, areas within the ancestral domains,
whether delineated or not, shall be presumed to be communally held: Provided, That communal rights under
this Act shall not be construed as coownership as provided in Republic Act No. 386, otherwise known as the
New Civil Code.
SECTION 56. Existing Property Rights Regimes. — Property rights within the ancestral domains
already existing and/or vested upon effectivity of this Act, shall be recognized and respected.
SECTION 57. Natural Resources within Ancestral Domains. — The ICCs/IPs shall have priority rights in
the harvesting, extraction, development or exploitation of any natural resources within the ancestral
domains. A nonmember of the ICCs/IPs concerned may be allowed to take part in the development and
utilization of the natural resources for a period of not exceeding twentyfive (25) years renewable for not
more than twentyfive (25) years: Provided, That a formal and written agreement is entered into with the
ICCs/IPs concerned or that the community, pursuant to its own decision making process, has agreed to
allow such operation: Provided, finally, That the NCIP may exercise visitorial powers and take appropriate
action to safeguard the rights of the ICCs/IPs under the same contract.
SECTION 58. Environmental Considerations. — Ancestral domains or portions thereof, which are found
to be necessary for critical watersheds, mangroves, wildlife sanctuaries, wilderness, protected areas, forest
cover, or reforestation as determined by appropriate agencies with the full participation of the ICCs/IPs
concerned shall be maintained, managed and developed for such purposes. The ICCs/IPs concerned shall
be given the responsibility to maintain, develop, protect and conserve such areas with the full and effective
assistance of government agencies. Should the ICCs/IPs decide to transfer the responsibility over the areas,
said decision must be made in writing. The consent of the ICCs/IPs should be arrived at in accordance with
its customary laws without prejudice to the basic requirements of existing laws on free and prior informed
consent: Provided, That the transfer shall be temporary and will ultimately revert to the ICCs/IPs in
accordance with a program for technology transfer: Provided, further, That no ICCs/IPs shall be displaced or
relocated for the purpose enumerated under this section without the written consent of the specific persons
authorized to give consent.