Section 12Sec./Art. 12

Ancestral Lands and Domain. The rights of indigenous cultural communities to their ancestral domains shall be fully recognized subject to Section 56 of the IPRA. Traditional property regimes exercised by indigenous cultural communities in accordance with their customary laws shall govern the relationships of all individuals within their communities with respect to all lands and resources found within ancestral lands.

Indigenous cultural communities may apply for Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) as provided in the IPRA. The provisions of this Act shall be construed liberally in favor of the indigenous cultural communities in accordance with the conservation and preservation objectives of the Mt. Apo Natural Park and its resources.

Nothing herein shall be construed to impair or diminish prior or existing rights currently enjoyed by the indigenous cultural communities as provided by existing laws. Permits, licenses or authorities required by this Act or any other statutes concerning the continued use, extraction or exploitation of forest products and/or possession or occupation of land within the protected area shall not be unnecessarily withheld from the indigenous cultural communities by the granting authority.