A bill has been filed in the Senate that aims to ensure that indigenous peoples (IPs) receive a larger share of revenues generated from natural resources within their territories.
Senator Robin Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, introduced Senate Bill No. 2869, which seeks to amend the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.
“The right of Indigenous communities to access natural resources and the revenues derived therefrom is fundamental and must be recognized and respected,” Padilla emphasized in his bill.
Under the current framework, IPs receive only one percent of the revenues derived from the exploration and utilization of natural resources, including natural gas projects, in areas where traditional or customary titles are recognized.
S.B. 2869 proposes to increase the share of IPs and Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) to five percent of the net revenues.
Padilla further explained that the amendment aims to establish clear and enforceable entitlements for Indigenous communities, helping to safeguard against potential abuses in the exploitation of natural resources within their territories.
“Kailangan po natin mabago, madagdagan ang batas at maiilagay po doon, na kung ano kinikita ng inyong lupa,” the senator added.
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