5.3 Indigenous Socio-Political Structures (i.e. Council of Elders/
Leaders)
a. Formalize the traditional leadership system pursuant to
customary laws and practices in managing forestlands and the
forest resources found therein;
b. Take the lead role in resolving conflicts/disputes in accordance
with their 'customs and traditions on consensus building within
their domain;
c. Initiate and approve the participatory formulation of community
policies relative to the effective management and conservation of
forest resources, including the recommendation for the
establishment of community/village forests within their territory;
d. Activate its authority within the community for the
implementation of cultural governance towards effective
sustainable forest conservation and management; and
e. Actively support and participate with the DENR, the NCIP and all
the LGUs concerned in the preparation and forging of a MOA for
the effective implementation of this Order.
Sec. 6. - Recognition of Indigenous and Traditionally Managed
Forests Systems and Practices. All existing indigenous and traditionally
managed forest systems and practices that were initially and jointly
documented and verified by Regional Offices of the DENR and the NCIP to be
promoting and practicing forest and biodiversity conservation, forest protection
and sensible utilization of the resources found therein based on existing
customary laws and duly endorsed by the LGUs concerned through Resolution
or Ordinance shall be issued a Joint Confirmation and Recognition Order
(JCRO) by the respective DENR-Regional Executive Director (RED) and the
NCIP Regional Director (RD).
However, issuance of any utilization permit by the DENR for the
resources found therein shall be held in abeyance pending the signing of a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between and among the DENR, the NCIP,
the ICCs/IPs, socio-political structures and LGUs- Barangay, Municipal and
Provincial level, and the formulation and issuance of a Joint Implementing
Rules and Regulation (JIRR) between and among the DENR, the NCIP,
concerned LGUs and head or duly authorized representative of the concerned
ICC/IP for a particular indigenous and traditional forest management system
and practice for the operationalization of each Sustainable Traditional and
Indigenous Forest Resources Management Systems and Practices (STIFRMSP).
Finally, validly existing resources utilization permits duly issued by the
DENR to the ICCs/IPs prior to this Order shall continue to be respected until
its expiration or until the allowable volume has been fully consumed or the
harvesting in the allowable area has been finished, whichever comes first.
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Sec. 7. Formulation of a M O A and the JIRR. The Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) shall contain, among others, the commitment of all
concerned signatories to the sustainable management of the subject forest area
and its forest resources, the procedures to be followed in the operationalization
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