HB10653: AN ACT RECOGNIZING THE COMMUNITY CONSERVED TERRITORIES AND AREAS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CULTURAL COMMUNITIES, ESTABLISHING FOR THE PURPOSE THE NATIONAL INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY CONSERVED AREAS REGISTRY, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
This bill recognizes and protects the community-conserved territories and areas (ICCAs) of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), acknowledging their vital contribution to biodiversity conservation. It establishes a National Indigenous Community Conserved Areas Registry to officially record these areas, which are identified, protected, and sustainably used by ICCs/IPs according to their indigenous knowledge systems and practices. The bill also outlines the roles of various government agencies, particularly the NCIP and DENR, in supporting and recognizing ICCAs, and provides for incentives and penalties.
The impact of this bill on indigenous peoples and the broader Filipino society is profound. It empowers ICCs/IPs by formally recognizing their ancestral domains and traditional governance over these ecologically significant areas, affirming their rights to self-determination and cultural identity. By integrating indigenous conservation practices into national biodiversity efforts, the bill not only helps protect the country's rich natural resources but also promotes environmental sustainability and community resilience, ensuring that the wisdom and contributions of indigenous communities are valued and supported for the benefit of all.