Ipra

IPRA refers to the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997, formally Republic Act No. 8371, a Philippine law enacted to recognize, protect, and promote the rights of Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs). The act aims to promote social justice and provide a framework for the preservation of cultural integrity, self-governance, and sustainable use of lands and resources.

Key provisions of IPRA include the recognition of ICCs and IPs as distinct political communities with the inherent right to self-determination and to exercise their customary laws and governance systems where these do not conflict with national laws. It defines ancestral domains and ancestral lands as areas belonging to ICCs/IPs and provides mechanisms to secure these rights through Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) and Certificates of Ancestral Lands Title (CALT). The act also establishes free and prior informed consent (FPIC) as a mandatory requirement for any project or activity on IP lands that may affect their rights, lives, or resources.

Institutionally, IPRA assigns the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as the primary government agency responsible for implementing the law, including delineation of ancestral domains, issuance of CADTs/CALTs, and facilitation of FPIC processes. It also promotes the protection of IPs’ cultural practices, education, social justice, and ecological stewardship.

Criticism and challenges include bureaucratic delays in title issuance, disputes over land boundaries and overlapping claims, and debates over FPIC interpretations and implementation. Despite these issues, IPRA remains a foundational framework for recognizing indigenous rights in the Philippines and influencing related legal and policy developments.