Indigenous People Rights Act of 1997

On October 29, 1997, the Senate enacted Republic Act No. 8371, otherwise known as the
Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) of 1997, an act recognizing and promoting the
rights of all Indigenous People in the country. The act paved the way for the
establishment of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) by merging the
Office for Northern Cultural Communities (ONCC) and Office for Southern Cultural
Communities (OSCC). The commission, which is directly under the Office of the
President, serves as the primary government agency responsible in promoting and
protecting the rights and welfare of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous
Peoples (ICCs/IPs)
The act guarantees the protection of the rights of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs), respect to
their cultural integrity, and an assurance that the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) will receive
equal treatment and opportunities given to the other citizens of the country.1 As defined
by the act, Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IPs) refer to a
group of people who have banded together in a systematized community sharing a
common language, customs, and distinct cultural traits.2
Furthermore, the act ensures equal access to every educational opportunity to be provided
such as scholarships and grant without compromising the rights of the Indigenous
Peoples (IPs) to establish and implement their own educational system. In doing so, the
Indigenous People may receive education in the form of their own language, and in a
manner which is in accordance with their customs and cultural methods. Indigenous
1 R.A 8371 Sec. 2, (e).
2 R.A 8371 sec. 3, h.

children and youth shall have the right to all forms and levels of education to be provided
by the State.3
In all manners of education, public information, and in cultural-educational exchanges,
the State must strive to have the Indigenous Peoples dignity, diverse culture, norms,
beliefs, traditions and aspirations appropriately manifested. Moreover, Indigenous
heads/leaders shall be given the right to participate not only in local schools and
communities, but also in international undertakings such as conferences, festivals,
workshops and seminars promoting the heritage and culture of the Indigenous Peoples
(IPs) 4
In line with this, the Bureau of Alternative Learning System under the Department of
Education, together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, initiated a
curriculum specifically designed to meet the needs of the Indigenous People (IP)
communities. The said curriculum was further corroborated by different Indigenous
Cultural Communities (ICCs) across the country. The IP Curriculum was patterned from
the existing curriculum being implemented in the Alternative Learning System. However,
the content was also based on the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997, reflecting core
areas such as Family life, Health, Sanitation and Nutrition, Civic Consciousness,
Economics and Income, and lastly, Environment. Likewise, the core learning
competencies would be focusing on Communication Skills, Problem Solving and Critical
Thinking, Development of Self and Sense of Community, Practice of Ecological

3 R.A 8371 sec. 30

4 R.A 8371 sec. 31

Sustainable Economics, and Expanding ones view on world. The IP curriculum are
written on the Indigenous Peoples native tongue.5
To further the cause of the Indigenous Peoples (IP), the Department of Education, using
the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) as a legal basis, established the Indigenous
Peoples Education Office (IPsEO) to guarantee continuous delivery of education to the
Indigenous Peoples (IPs) learners. The IPsEo is tasked to perform specific functions such
as serving as the pivotal point of the Department of Education in formulating,
implementing, monitoring, and coordinating all related activities geared towards the wellbeing of the Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs), and
recommending policies that will enhance opportunities and services addressed to the
ICCs/IPs.6

5 DepEd Order no. 101 s. 2010

6 DepEd Order: (No. 62, s. 2011)
6

DepEd Order: (No. 62, s. 2011)