This document summarizes Republic Act No. 8371, also known as the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act of 1997. The act recognizes, protects, and promotes the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines. It creates the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and establishes mechanisms to implement the act. Key rights established for Indigenous Peoples include rights to ancestral domains and lands, self-governance, social justice and human rights, and cultural integrity. The act also guarantees Indigenous Peoples' rights to basic government services like water, electricity, education, health, and infrastructure. It mandates the provision of culturally appropriate and community-controlled educational systems for Indigenous Peoples.

1. REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 8371
(THE INDIGENOUS
PEOPLE’S RIGHTS ACT
OF 1997)
PREPARED BY: JUDITH L. MENDEZ & MELISSA P. TIMARIO

2. An Act to recognize, protect and
promote the rights of Indigenous
Cultural Communities/Indigenous
Peoples, creating a National
Commission on Indigenous Peoples,
establishing implementing
mechanisms, appropriating funds
therefor, and for other purposes.
What is R.A no. 8371?

3. SECTION 1. Short Title.
This Act shall be known as
“The Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of
1997”.

4. SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policies.
(f). The State recognizes its obligations to
respond to the strong expression of the ICCs/IPs
for cultural integrity by assuring maximum
ICC/IP participation in the direction of
education, health, as well as other services of
ICCs/IPs, in order to render such services more
responsive to the needs and desires of these
communities.

5. RIGHTS OF ICCs/IPs
RIGHTS TO ANCESTRAL DOMAIN AND
LANDS
RIGHT TO SELF-GOVERNANCE AND
EMPOWERMENT
SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS
CULTURAL INTEGRITY

6. CHAPTER III:

7. CHAPTER IV

8. CHAPTER V

9. Section 25. Basic services.
The State shall guarantee the right of
ICCs/IPs to government’s basic services
which shall include, but not limited to,
water and electrical facilities, education,
health, and infrastructure.

10. .
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.

11. CHAPTER IV

12. SECTION 30. Educational Systems.
The State shall provide equal access to various cultural
opportunities to the ICCs/IPs through the educational
system, public or private cultural entities, scholarships,
grants and other incentives without prejudice to their
right to establish and control their educational systems
and institutions by providing education in their own
language, in a manner appropriate to their cultural
methods of teaching and learning. Indigenous
children/youth shall have the right to all levels and
forms of education of the State.

13. CHAPTER VII: National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
It shall assist, promote and support community schools, both
formal and non-formal, for the benefit of the local indigenous
community, especially in areas where existing educational
facilities are not accessible to members of the indigenous group.
It shall administer all scholarship programs and other educational
rights intended for ICC/IP beneficiaries in coordination with the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports and the
Commission on Higher Education. It shall undertake, within the
limits of available appropriation, a special program which
includes language and vocational training, public health and
family assistance program and related subjects.
Section 46. (c) Office of Education

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