SEC. 8. Rights to Ancestral Lands. - The right of ownership and possession of the ICCs /IPs
to their ancestral lands shall be recognized and protected.
a) Right to transfer land/property. - Such right shall include the right to transfer land or
property rights to/among members of the same ICCs/IPs, subject to customary laws and
traditions of the community concerned.
b) Right to Redemption. - In cases where it is shown that the transfer of land/property rights
by virtue of any agreement or devise, to a nonmember of the concerned ICCs/IPs is tainted by
the vitiated consent of the ICCs/IPs, or is transferred for an unconscionable consideration or
price, the transferor ICC/IP shall have the right to redeem the same within a period not
exceeding fifteen (15) years from the date of transfer.
SEC. 9. Responsibilities of ICCs/IPs to their`4ncestral Domains. -ICCs/IPs occupying a duly
certified ancestral domain shall have the following responsibilities:
a) Maintain Ecological Balance. - To preserve, restore, and maintain a balanced ecology in
the ancestral domain by protecting the flora and fauna, watershed areas, and other reserves;
b) Restore Denuded Areas. - To actively initiate, undertake and participate in the
reforestation of denuded areas and other development programs and projects subject to just
and reasonable remuneration; and
c) Observe Laws. - To observe and comply with the provisions of this Act and the rules and
regulations for its effective implementation.
SEC. 10. Unauthorized and Unlawful Intrusion. - Unauthorized end unlawful intrusion upon,
or use of any portion of the ancestral domain, or any violation of the rights herein before
enumerated, shall be punishable under this law. Furthermore, the Government shall take
measures to prevent non-ICCs/IPs from taking advantage of the ICCs/IPs customs or lack of
understanding of laws to secure ownership, possession of land belonging to said ICCs/IPs.
SEC. 11. Recognition of Ancestral Domain Rights. - The rights of ICCs/IPs to their ancestral
domains by virtue of Native Title shall be recognized and respected. Formal recognition,
when solicited by ICCs/ IPs concerned, shall be embodied in a Certificate of Ancestral
Domain Title (CADT), which shall recognize the title of the concerned ICCs/IPs over the
territories identified and delineated.
SEC. 12. Option to Secure Certificate of Title Under Commonwealth Act 141, as amended,
or the Land Registration Act 496. - Individual members of cultural communities, with respect
to their individually-owned ancestral lands who, by themselves or through their
predecessors-in-interest, have been in continuous possession and occupation of the same in
the concept of owner since time immemorial or for a period of not less than thirty (30) years
immediately preceding the approval of this Act and uncontested by the members of the same
ICCs/ IPs shall have the option to secure title to their ancestral lands under the provisions of
Commonwealth Act 141, as amended, or the Land Registration Act 496.
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