We were tasked to research about laws related to public land. Most of you are familiar about the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act, and this is how I summarized it. Hope this help you especially if you want to know something related to this.
RA NO. 8371 (IPRA LAW)
The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997
The State shall protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to their ancestral domains to ensure their economic, social and cultural well-being and shall recognize the applicability of customary laws governing property rights or relations in determining the ownership and extent of ancestral domain
Ancestral Domains — Subject to Section 56 hereof, refer to all areas generally belonging to ICCs/IPs comprising lands, inland waters, coastal areas, and natural resources therein, held under a claim of ownership, occupied or possessed by ICCs/IPs, by themselves or through their ancestors
Ancestral Lands — Subject to Section 56 hereof, refers to land occupied, possessed and utilized by individuals, families and clans who are members of the ICCs/IPs since time immemorial, by themselves or through their predecessors in interest
Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title — refers to a title formally recognizing the rights of possession and ownership of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral domains identified and delineated in accordance with this law
Certificate of Ancestral Lands Title — refers to a title formally recognizing the rights of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral lands
Communal Claims — refer to claims on land, resources and rights thereon, belonging to the whole community within a defined territory
Customary Laws — refer to a body of written and/or unwritten rules, usages, customs and practices traditionally and continually recognized, accepted and observed by respective ICCs/IPs
Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples — refer to a group of people or homogenous societies identified by self-ascription and ascription by others, who have continuously lived as organized community on communally bounded and defined territory
Individual Claims — refer to claims on land and rights thereon which have been devolved to individuals, families and clans including, but not limited to, residential lots, rice terraces or paddies and tree lots
Right of Ownership. — The right to claim ownership over lands, bodies of water traditionally and actually occupied by ICCs/IPs, sacred places, traditional hunting and fishing grounds, and all improvements made by them at any time within the domains
Right to Stay in the Territories. — The right to stay in the territory and not to be removed therefrom. No ICCs/IPs will be relocated without their free and prior informed consent, nor through any means other than eminent domain
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
SECTION 9. Responsibilities of ICCs/IPs to their Ancestral Domains. — ICCs/IPs occupying a duly certified ancestral domain shall have the following responsibilities: a) Maintain Ecological Balance; b) Restore Denuded Areas; c) Observe Laws
SECTION 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
SECTION 13. Self Governance. — The State recognizes the inherent right of ICCs/IPs to self-governance and self-determination and respects the integrity of their values, practices and institutions
SECTION 15. Justice System, Conflict Resolution Institutions, and Peace Building Processes. — The ICCs/IPs shall have the right to use their own commonly accepted justice systems, conflict resolution institutions, peace building processes or mechanisms and other customary laws and practices within their respective communities and as may be compatible with the national legal system and with internationally recognized human rights
SECTION 21. Equal Protection and Nondiscrimination of ICCs/IPs. — Consistent with the equal protection clause of the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights including the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women and International Human Rights Law
SECTION 22. Rights During Armed Conflict. — ICCs/IPs have the right to special protection and security in periods of armed conflict
SECTION 23. Freedom from Discrimination and Right to Equal Opportunity and Treatment. — It shall be the right of the ICCs/IPs to be free from any form of discrimination, with respect to recruitment and conditions of employment, such that they may enjoy equal opportunities for admission to employment, medical and social assistance, safety as well as other occupationally related benefits
Unlawful Acts Pertaining to Employment - To discriminate against any ICC/IP with respect to the terms and conditions of employment on account of their descent. Equal remuneration shall be paid to ICC/IP and non ICC/IP for work of equal value
SECTION 25. Basic Services. — The ICCs/IPs have the right to special measures for the immediate, effective and continuing improvement of their economic and social conditions, including in the areas of employment, vocational training and retraining, housing, sanitation, health and social security
SECTION 26. Women. — ICC/IP women shall enjoy equal rights and opportunities with men, as regards the social, economic, political and cultural spheres of life
SECTION 28. Integrated System of Education. — The State shall, through the NCIP, provide a complete, adequate and integrated system of education, relevant to the needs of the children and young people of ICCs/IPs
SECTION 39. Mandate. — The NCIP shall protect and promote the interest and wellbeing of the ICCs/IPs with due regard to their beliefs, customs, traditions and institutions
SECTION 42. Removal from Office. — Any member of the NCIP may be removed from office by the President, on his own initiative or upon recommendation by any indigenous community, before the expiration of his term for cause and after complying with due process requirement of law
SECTION 43. Appointment of Commissioners. — The President shall appoint the seven (7) Commissioners of the NCIP within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act
