Office of the President NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES 2/f D & E Building, Quezon Ave., corner Roces Ave. Quezon City National Commission on Indigenous Peoples Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 1998 RULES AND REGULATIONS IMPLEMENTING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8371, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ACT OF 1997” Pursuant to Section 80 of Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997” (IPRA), the following rules and regulations are hereby promulgated for the guidance and compliance of all concerned. RULE I . PRELIMINARY PROVISIONS Section 1. Title. These rules shall be known and cited as “The Rules and Regulations Implementing The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997” (IPRA). Section 2. Purpose. These rules are hereby promulgated to prescribe the procedures and guidelines for the implementation of Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as “The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997” (IPRA) in order to facilitate compliance therewith and achieve the objectives thereof. Section 3. Declaration of Policy. The State recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of Philippine society as the foundation of freedom, justice and peace. The rights of indigenous cultural communities / indigenous peoples are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated. It is, therefore, the policy of the state to recognize and promote all individual and collective rights of ICCs/IPs within the framework of national unity and development in accordance with the Constitution and applicable norms and principles. Section 4. Operating Principles. In implementing the policies enumerated in these Rules, the following operating principles shall be adhered to: a) Cultural Diversity. As the beginning of unity is difference, the diversity of cultures, traditions, beliefs and aspirations of indigenous peoples shall be encouraged and fostered in openness, mutual respect for, and active defense of the equal and inalienable dignity and universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated rights of every human being, in the spirit of inter-people cooperation; b) Consensus and Peace-Building. In resolving conflicts or disputes affecting or pertaining to indigenous peoples, any determination or decision thereon shall be reached through dialogue and consensus as far as practicable; c) Cultural Integrity. Within ancestral domains/lands, the holistic and integrated adherence of indigenous peoples to their respective customs, beliefs, traditions, indigenous knowledge systems and practices, and the assertion of their character and identity as peoples shall remain inviolable; d) Human Dignity. The inherent and inalienable distinct character, sacred human dignity, and unique identity of indigenous peoples as peoples shall be respected; e) Subsidiarity, Solidarity and Total Human Development. In the pursuit of civil, political, economic, social and cultural development, the human person shall be the central subject thereof and its active participant and beneficiary. Everyone has duties to the community. In the exercise of rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by custom or law, solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect Page 1