E

WIPO WIPO/GRTKF/IC/9/INF/7(c)
ORIGINAL: English
DATE: April 24, 2006

WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION

GENEVA

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMITTEE ON
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GENETIC RESOURCES,
TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND FOLKLORE

Ninth Session
Geneva, April 24 to 28, 2006

WIPO PANEL ON, “INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES’

CONCERNS AND EXPERIENCES IN PROMOTING, SUSTAINING
AND SAFEGUARDING THEIR TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE,
TRADITIONAL CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS AND GENETIC
RESOURCES”

PROTECTING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS:

THE EXPERIENCE OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN THE PHILIPPINES

APRIL 24, 2006

Document prepared by Ms. Jeannette CANSING SERRANO,

Chairperson, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Manila, Philippines*

* This document comprises the presentation in the form received from the presenter. Any
views expressed in the presentation are not necessarily those of WIPO or any of its Member
States.
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Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic increase in interest concerning the
role of indigenous knowledge in participatory approach to sustainable development. This is
reflected in a number of activities generated within communities which are documenting and
recording their knowledge for development planning purposes. It had also been utilized in the
design of national development projects that emerge from problems identified by local
communities which build upon community level knowledge systems and structures.

Likewise, traditional environmental knowledge has been recognized for its value to
contemporary environmental management. This appreciation of traditional knowledge is
being encouraged because it contributes much to innovations in modern agricultural
technology and industries. Many products found in the market today are based on
information derived from traditional knowledge. Plant-based medicinal products, cosmetics,
food and agricultural products, non-wood products and handicrafts are just some examples of
how the modern world has utilized indigenous knowledge.

For centuries, indigenous and traditional communities have practiced how to plant
food and to survive in their environment. These include the intricate system of crop varieties,
determining when to sow and how to harvest, at the same time, manage their environment in a
sustainable and balanced manner. Such traditional knowledge is often passed down through
generations orally and seldom in any form of documentation.

While many of the older generation still have and are keepers of their respective
traditional knowledge, there is a great concern that such knowledge may soon be lost. This is
due to acculturation, changing lifestyles, priorities and the availability of modern amenities,
resulting in diminishing dependence of the younger generation on the traditional and
indigenous knowledge of their elders or communities.

The saying “when an elder dies, a library burns down” clearly illustrates the
magnitude and importance of traditional knowledge and the need for the full participation of
everyone within the communities to document their respective traditional knowledge as their
heritage. Attention should also be given to unauthorized and inappropriate patenting and use
of traditional knowledge with no equitable sharing from resulting benefits to the holders or
source communities.

New insights reveal how people use their own locally generated knowledge to change
and to improve natural resource management. However, indigenous and local communities
do not have a written tradition/culture thus recognition of traditional knowledge through a
system of Intellectual Property Rights system has always been difficult. Greater efforts
therefore, should be undertaken to strengthen the capacity of local communities to document,
if they so decide, and develop methodology to promote activities that will interface
indigenous knowledge and scientific disciplines. For if appropriately utilized, traditional
knowledge can bring much benefit to the community and the country through equitable access
and benefit sharing when such knowledge is used by modern industries and research
activities.
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I. Nature of Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions as well as related Genetic

Resources (TK/TCEs/GRs)

The Philippine traditional knowledge comprises the indigenous and other local
people’s knowledge and beliefs about the natural world, their ecological and natural resource
management, social institutions and practices. It is a fundamental component of cultural
adaptation to natural conditions (Twarog, 2004).

The Philippines with a diverse 110 indigenous ethnolinguistic/ethnic groups

comprising of about 12 million in population has so much to tell. The diversity of ethnic
groups in the country is reflective of the wide variety of traditional knowledge and cultural
expressions. This diversity is further compounded by the fact that we are one of the 17
megadiversity countries. The Philippines boasts of more than 52,177 species of which more
than half are found nowhere else in the world (DENR Report, 2004).

The environment and its resources is the main life source of indigenous peoples in the
country and they have developed a certain degree of technology to harness the natural wealth.
Integral to their traditional technology or knowledge is the acknowledgment of the ultimate
source of all creation including intellectual creation that is inviolable to ensure life
preservation on earth. The indigenous ethnic groups believe in the presence of unseen forces
that have control over earthly conditions and thus they have to commune with them.

Hereunder are few of the documented traditional knowledge and/or traditional cultural
expressions as well as related genetic resources of the indigenous and local communities in
the Philippines.

1. Traditional Medicines and Health Care

Rituals are integral to the traditional health care practices and life preservation among
the indigenous tribes or ethnic groups. From childbearing to sickness and death,
laborious rituals are performed to appease the spirits and supplicate the intervention of
the Supreme Being. Most of the practices are similar with few variations. The
practices have yielded positive results such that they persist to this day.

To illustrate, the traditional practice of the Tingguian ethnic group (DWCB Research
Center, 2003) in northern Philippines on life preservation and health care include: (a)
performance of the dawak ceremony for couples who could not bear a child; (b)
traditional baptism of the newborn or the rite of sikki; (c) the apo practice of bringing
the newborn child to the grandparents for blessings and a celebration of the child’s
integration into the community; (d) the sangasang ritual performed during the
teething period of the baby to free the parents anxiety of having a wayward child
believed to be associated with irritable behavior at this period; (e) the ud-udong ritual
to release spirits holding on to a person causing him/her sickness which could not be
treated by any medicine; and (f) for death rituals, the palpalubos or farewell
ceremony and the senga ritual which must be strictly performed lest the dead will
cause misfortunes to the bereaved family.

On traditional medicines, an example comes from the Dumagat group along the
central-eastern part delivers offspring with the assistance of a hilot or traditional
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healer who cuts and treats the umbilical cord with ashes until such time that it heals.
To cleanse the intestines, the newborn is given extract of the ampalaya or bitter gourd
leaves. (From the community’s own documentation)

Other health practices are:

• Among the Mansaka in Southern Philippines (CCP Encyclopedia, Vol. 1 &2) -

Wounds are treated with a mix of crushed marabiya roots, chewed sukati
sprouts, pamantigi leaves and oiled linek. For headaches and stomach trouble,
the patient is given concoction of kepet leaves, roasted baganga fruit, aribet
roots, and boiled sapa saps. For boils, crushed dampang flowers and/or pitugo
fruit is applied. For constipation, ground warasiman and boiled anuring are
eaten by the afflicted, and for malaria, the bark of the bagil tree is boiled for
drinking. For fractures, the bark of the theatrit tree is heated and wrapped
around the injured part of the body to aid in healing. They also have herbal
(agosis, basikay, gapas and baay) bath prescriptions for mothers who have
newly given birth.
• Among the Ibaloi of Northern Philippines, they went beyond life preservation
and they had specialized in the mummification of their dead.
• The Aeta in Central Philippines claim traditional knowledge of a certain source
of potency akin to Viagra.

Inherent in all healing and human preservation practices is the conduct of a ritual or
prayer intoning the healing powers of the Divine Providence.

2. Traditional Agriculture

Rice producing indigenous ethnic groups in the country have developed a sustainable
agricultural technology from seed selection and sowing to harvesting and preservation.
This includes systems of ensuring that the soil retains its productivity through the
years without resorting to commercial fertilizers. Organic farming is being practiced
where special types of plants are used as organic fertilizers. The indigenous kaingin or
the slash and burn system allows a recuperation period for a particular area.
Moreover, the technology also addresses the problems on pests such as rats of which
indigenous solution necessitates the conduct of rituals invoking the intervention of
guardian spirits.

The indigenous groups practice both wet and dry agriculture. An example of the
documentation on wet agriculture is the analysis on the role of indigenous women
among the Ifugao ethnic group (Dunuan, 2006). It presents the tested traditional
practices on wet rice agriculture from seed selection to soil preparation and planting to
harvesting including manpower or resource management. The study showed that
women play a vital role in traditional rice farming which is true in all the other ethnic
groups in the country. Specific practices among the Ifugao women on their role in
agriculture are shown in Annex A.

On upland or dry rice cultivation, a documented illustration is presented in the book

entitled “The Subanen Seedkeepers” that depicts the cultural practices and
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morphological characteristics of upland rice varieties of the Subanen (Suminguit,

2005). The following are excerpts from the book.

“The Subanen practice rice kaingin, the widely used term in the Philippines for
shifting cultivation in upland areas. Accordingly, the kaingin has five well-defined
stages: site selection, cutting, burning, cropping or planting and fallowing. These
stages are marked with rituals primarily to maintain a harmonious relationship
between humans and supernatural forces thus ensure bountiful harvest. The
rituals are performed by the belyan (shaman): (a)during site selection, the ritual is
dlabay that seeks permission from the unseen forces for the use of the land; (b) on
cutting of trees, the ritual is pailis to inform the supernatural forces to vacate the
area so that they will not be harmed by the cutting of trees; (c) on burning, the
ritual is bakyag invoking the help of the god of fire to ensure that the burned
vegetation will completely turn into ashes which will also serve as fertilizer; and
(d) on planting, two rituals are performed. First is the dadjong (symbolic
planting) to signify that planting has begun and in case that the bad spirits will
come to plant first on the cleared site, the crops to be planted by humans will not
likely to fail. The next ritual is the daga beni (“daga” means blood and “beni”
means seeds) for the purpose of seeking permission to plant the seeds, an
assurance that the malevolent spirits will not harm the seeds.

Essential to the daga beni ritual is the gukay beni or collection of plants and
objects that are included in the container of the rice seeds to bring luck and
bountiful harvest. This includes the following plants/objects: dlulapay, a
softwood that has great coppicing ability, also the salimbangon (Pseuderanthem
bicolor) that even its fallen stems would coppice, tenlad (Cymbogon citratus)
lemon grass with excellent tillering ability, and the tubo-tubo (Kalanchoe pinnata)
that even a small slice of leaf would grow when in contact with the ground. The
belief that the attributes of the gukay beni will be transferred to the rice is called
sen that is based on the “Law of Similarity” that is “like produces like” as
articulated by James Frazer (1955). Whereas to ward off undesirable agents, the
gipo dagat (corral reef) is added to the gukay beni, and in contrast to sen, it is
used as a ted (interpreted as something that drives away or repels bad spirits).

The kaingin system of the Subanen commences with the medlegawen ritual and
culminates with the buklog or thanksgiving ritual. Aside from the selection of
seeds based on best performance and other attributes, the medlegawen is a ritual
requesting the Gapu Palay (supernatural owner of the rice) for diverse varieties of
rice. On the other hand, the buklog is performed after a bountiful harvest. All
throughout the kaingin, the Subanen practice elaborate farm management
including weed and pest management. Post-harvest handling, storage and
processing are also well establishe”..

3. Traditional Cultural Expressions

Traditional cultural expressions vary from one ethnic group to the other, though
maybe similar in purpose or objective. Some forms of traditional cultural expressions
are as follows:
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Music and dances – these are often used rituals, feast, harvest festivities and
other religious and social ceremonies or activities. The musical instruments
are often bronze gongs – flat gongs in the north and embossed gongs in the
south. Also common traditional instruments are made of bamboo. The south
has a traditional stringed instrument known as the kudyapi. The ethnic dances
likewise vary; dances of the ethnic groups in the north are often group
performances in contrast to often solo performances of the central and southern
ethnic groups. Each dance has its own relevance.

Literature – the indigenous ethnic groups have rich literature with each group
having legends of their own origin, riddles, proverbs, chants/songs, and poetry.
More known epics are the Hudhud of the Ifugao in the north and the Guman
and Darangen of the Subanen in the south. Ethnic communities also have their
respective mythology or legends depicting supernatural creatures co-habit their
ancestral territories in olden days.

Weaving – indigenous weaving textile, mat, basket, rattan furniture,

architecture and wood sculpture. Weaving is perhaps the most visual
expression of indigenous culture that differentiates one ethnic group from the
other. From north to south of the country, the ethnic groups take pride of their
clothing design that are not only colorful but very artistic. The artistic designs
are often impression that depicts the inner thoughts and feelings of the ethnic
groups. Among the Igorots in northern Philippines, their clothing designs or
drawings portray the omnipresence of the Almighty among His creatures.
Among the southern ethnic groups, the intricate tie-dyed design on abaca
textile called t’nalak is actually a dream manifestation such that no two designs
are ever the same.

An elaborate description of the t’nalak design among the T’boli is presented in

a feature in the Mabuhay magazine of the Philippine Airlines (PAL) as
photographed by Kevin Hamdorf. “There are no fixed tribal designs from
which the weaver can choose. Each design is new. No one person can make
the exact same design as designs are revealed as in a dream, which comes in
three ways: from the ancestors, from one’s mother, and from one’s own
dream. In order to be woven, each new pattern must be dreamed anew. The
channels for dreaming must never be interrupted. In fact, in weaving the
t’nalak’s there are many restrictions. A man should not touch any of the
materials the weaver uses. For the whole duration of weaving, which can take
from one month to two years, the weaver should not mate with her husband.
Otherwise, either the fiber would break or the design be destroyed.” Weaving
t’nalak is basically a woman’s work, except for stripping the abaca fiber.

The same article above also mentioned that “T’nalak is one of the traditional
properties exchanged at the time of marriage and is used as a covering during
birth to ensure a safe delivery.” It further claimed that the “T’boli believe that
cutting the t’nalak cloth will cause serious illness or death and if sold, a brass
ring is attached to appease the spirits for the t’nalak involves not only the soul
and spirit of the weaver, but her ancestors as well.”
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More information on the traditional cultural expressions of the indigenous

Filipino is co0ntained in the book by Mrs. P.V. Valsala G. Kutty entitled the
“National Experiences with the Protection of Folklore/Traditional Cultural
Expressions: India, Indonesia and the Philippines.”

4. Related Genetic Resources

As a rice producing country, each indigenous ethnic group of the Philippines has
developed an extensive method of rice cultivation with wide varieties of rice. To cite
some statistics, the B’laan ethnic group of the south has more than 100 varieties of
rice and the T’boli group has 160 known rice varieties. To further exemplify the type
of rice varieties, the book of Sumingit also presents details of the characteristics of at
least 38 varieties of rice among the Subanen seed keepers. There are two basic
groupings of the varieties in terms of qualitative characters: Group I – the Kibaba and
Pulot Marem without ligules and Group II – the rest of the varieties with ligules. To
name a few under Group II are the Bayawen, Binalibay, Magwas, Pulot Ginubang,
Sinambawan and Suwakong. In terms of quantitative characters, there are also two
groupings: Group I – Kaltak and Dlagut, both are short with culm length of 43.3 cm
and 48.8 cm.; and Group II – the rest of the varieties with lengths of 133.5 cm. to
180.6 cm.

Likewise, extensive documentation of the important plants of the Subanen ethnic

group (Sumingit, 2005) revealed several medicinal herbs from 169 out of the 568
plants listed by the community elders. However, the pictorial book did not specify the
medicinal significance or use of the palnts. The identified medicinal plants are:
(a) Herbs - bebid, dawnggik, delay, dwalag, dlelepot, dienga, dienggong bisaya,
pandan, payaw, salumaya, shabi, tubo-tubo, tuyabang geseg; (b) Palms -pugan,
tigbengalan; (c) Shrubs – bangala, bawing tanto, dagum, diagundi, dialopang,
diebulan, kusambi, malisa, nenagan, payas dlibon, salimbangon, selisip pilangan,
selisip salot, silengka, tebayab, tegima, talong geledla; (d) trees – busying, dlago,
dlambenog, dlindang, dlingateng gaksudimon, galig, gapeg dlibon, dlenggong, dlibas,
dlupalay, gayonalaw, gesuso, mengopong, talan, balakbaan, bales labuyo, dlaktang,
and talon.

A general count of the diverse species that further reflects the vast potential of
Philippine genetic resources as material base of traditional knowledge is shown by the
following data taken from the report on Mapping of Population-Biodiversity
Connections by the Department on Environment and Natural Resources:

The country is considered a center of species diversity and endemism with

more than 1,100 terrestrial vertebrate species, 895 species of butterfly
(invertebrate specie), about 10,000 to 13,000 plant species, more than half of
which is endemic.

The Philippine rainforests has the highest level of endemism in the Indo-
Malayan realm on a per-unit-area basis (Conservation, International 2003).

On marine resources, the Philippines is richest in terms of coastal and marine

species. It has 500 out of the world’s 800 known coral species, 40 species of
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mangrove and more than 2,000 species of reef fish, 800 species of marine
algae, 16 species of sea grass, 23 species of cetaceans and 5 species of sea
turtles.

II. Customary Law, Practices and Protocols in Sustaining and Safeguarding Traditional
Knowledge, Traditional Cultural Expressions and Related Genetic Resources

1. Traditional System of Sustaining and Safeguarding Traditional Knowledge, Cultural

Expressions and Genetic Resources

The indigenous and local communities in the Philippines have a swift way of
sustaining and safeguarding their traditional knowledge, cultural experiences and
genetic resources. Every aspect of IP life from social relations to relation with nature
is governed by customary laws, the non-observance of which is subject to sanctions by
the community or by nature and the spirits. The community sanctions may be in the
form of prolonged admonition or banishment as proclaimed in the “dap-ays” of the
“Kankanaey” ethnic group, restitution and reparation as “dusa” among the ”Kalinga”,
or physical retribution as in the case of the “pango” of the “Mangyans” of Mindoro.
On the other hand, illness may also occur for violations of customary norms in
accessing resources which are believed to be guarded by spirits. Cutting down of
certain trees or passing through sacred grounds, for instance, without asking the
permission of the spirits, cause certain illness that can only be cured through certain
forms of ritual.

Each IP community has customary law that prescribes what and how resources may be
accessed and utilized. The customary law conforms to the frameworks for protocols
of respecting indigenous heritage that basically encourage ethical conduct and
promote interaction based on good faith and mutual respect (Janke, 2002).

An illustration of customary law to protect the environment and genetic resources is

the Lapat (DWCB, 2003) among the Tigguian ethnic group. It is a protocol of
delineating and proclaiming a portion of the forest as a protected area for the purpose
of maintaining the watershed, assuring fresh and clean air and water, and the
conservation of the wild life. The Lapat undergoes a process of: (a) proclamation or
public dissemination to the neighboring communities of the delineated protected area;
and the (b) collective definition of the sogsog and paglintegan (rules and policies).
Enforcers of the law are known as the Lapat holders and they are assisted by the
traditional council of elders. Annex B is a sample Lapat proclamation.

2. Integration of Customary Law and Practices in the Formal Legal System

The customary laws and practices of the different indigenous ethnic groups in the
Philippines are concerned with the protection of their respective territories but not
specifically on the protection of traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and
genetic resources. However, there are measures under the Philippine legal framework
on how to protect traditional knowledge for use (Morales, 2002).

Listed below are national laws and policies that have incorporated to some extent the
protection of traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and genetic resources.
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1. Joint DENR-DA-PCSD-NCIP Administrative Order on Bioprospecting, 2005

2. Plant Variety Protection Act, 2004
3. the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act,
2003
4. the Wildlife Resource Conservation and Protection Act, 2001
5. Plant Variety Protection Act, 2000
6. Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, 1997
7. Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act, 1997
8. Executive Order No. 247 on Bioprospecting, 1995
9. National Integrated Protected Area System Act, 1992

Republic Act 8371, otherwise known as the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997,
gave the indigenous and local communities a legal framework for the recognition,
protection and promotion of their interest and well-being with due regard to their
ancestral domains and lands, self-governance and empowerment, social justice and
human rights and cultural integrity. All other laws and policies passed after the
enactment of IPRA are consistent with this framework.

Specifically, EO 247 and Joint DENR-DA-PCSD-NCIP Administrative Order entitle

the indigenous community to royalties or other forms of compensation which may be
negotiated in the event that these traditional and commonly known varieties are
exploited for commercial or academic use. Likewise the Traditional and Alternative
Medicine Act (TAMA) institutionalized the ownership of traditional medicines by the
indigenous communities and as such, it requires that any outside use shall
acknowledge the source or owner community which has the right to demand for a
share in the financial return that may come from its authorized commercial use.

Under the Plant Variety Act, a sui generis protection is provided with the issuance of a
Certificate of Plant Variety for plant varieties that are new, distinct, uniform and
stable. In the case of the documented rice varieties of the Subanen mentioned above,
they may apply for this Certificate after establishing novelty, uniformity and stability
that may take a period of three to seven cropping cycles.

The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) provides the mechanism for the
application of customary laws and practices in the protection of TK/TCEs/GRs. The
law stipulates the identification by indigenous ethnic groups of their ancestral domains
and it encourages the formulation of a long-term comprehensive sustainable
development and protection plan of such domains (ADSDPP) in accordance to their
customs and traditions.

Prior to the formal recognition of their ownership rights and the preparation of formal
plans, the law also provides for the issuance of free and prior informed consent (FPIC)
by indigenous ethnic communities on any extraction and exploitation or access to their
indigenous knowledge systems and practices and genetic resources. The FPIC process
requires the consensus building among the affected indigenous ethnic groups in
accordance to their customary laws and practices.

The present guidelines issued by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

(NCIP) on the FPIC provide for the decision-making process that respects the
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customary laws and practices of the indigenous ethnic groups. This includes the
imposition of penalties or sanctions in accordance to customs and traditions. The
process requires full disclosure of the intention or project including the advantages and
disadvantages, sharing of benefits and the measures to compensate for damages, if
any, to the concerned indigenous peoples. The concerned ethnic community will be
left to decide on their own after the disclosure but NCIP will have to issue a
certification of FPIC compliance before a project will commence.

The issuance of FPIC is premised on the terms and conditions embodied in a

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that shall stipulate among others, the following:

the detailed premises of the agreement;

the benefits to be derived by the host indigenous ethnic community, indicating the
type of benefits, specific target beneficiaries, and other pertinent information;
use of all funds to be received by the host indigenous ethnic community, ensuring
that a portion of such funds shall be allocated for development projects, social
services and/or infrastructures in accordance to their own development framework;
detailed measures to protect the rights and value systems of the host indigenous
ethnic community;
detailed measures to conserve / protect any affected portion of the ancestral
domain critical for watersheds, mangroves, wildlife sanctuaries, forest cover, and
the like;
monitoring and evaluation schemes; and
penalties for non-compliance or violation of the terms and conditions.

III. Misappropriation and Misuse of Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural

Expressions and Genetic Resources

Modernization and globalization of trade and industry continue to cause problems

among the indigenous peoples in the Philippines. Likewise, the implementation of Large-
scale development projects such as mining, energy development, tourism, and so forth has
contributed to the destruction of the natural habitat of indigenous communities, hence the loss
of the material base of their culture or traditional systems.

Some illustration of misappropriation and misuse of traditional knowledge, traditional

cultural expressions and genetic resources are:

1. Public mimicry is the more common misuse of traditional cultural expressions,

whether in television or otherwise, often for commercial intentions and there is no
avenue for complaint by the affected indigenous peoples.

2. Traditional music is being copied by local artists and commercialized with no benefit
or due regard on the cultural meanings of the expressions to the concerned indigenous
ethnic groups. Recently, there was also informal report on researches being conducted
by foreign nationals on traditional music. The music industry has cashed in on
adaptations of traditional music, textile designs and the like and the concerned
indigenous ethnic communities have been disregarded.
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3. No respect accorded to the source of textile designs and technology that had been
copied for commercial merchandising.

4. Conduct of various researches on traditional medicines, music, folklores and the like
that have been going on for years with covert intentions not disclosed to the target
ethnic groups or communities.

5. On genetic resources, the traditional plant varieties are being genetically modified
with their accompanying change in agricultural technology that impedes the proven
sustainable traditional varieties and methods. In some ethnic communities, this has
drastically contributed to the unfavorable changes such as increased dependence on
destructive farming methodologies/ technologies.

6. Not to be overlooked is the fact that some indigenous peoples have also abused their
traditional systems as in the case of the kaingin system as they also keep up with the
trend of commercialization.

7. Specific cases of bioprospecting in the Philippines are listed below (Bengwayan,

2003, Source: “Traditional Knowledge of Biodiversity in Asia-Pacific by Grain and
Kalpavriksh).

Biological Country Notes

Resource
Soil USA The multinational company Eli Lily has earned billions of dollars
microbes from the erythromycin antibiotic, which was developed from a
bacterium isolated from a soil sample that Filipino scientist
Abelardo Aguilar collected in his home province of Iloilo (1949).
Neither Aguilar nor the Philippines received any royalties.
Ilang-ilang France The use of the extracts from ilang-ilang in the cosmetic industry
(Cananga is as old as perfume in France. There are several perfumeries in
odorata) France that have used and continue to use it in their products.
Banaba Japan, USA US Patent No. 598094
Nata de Japan, USA US Patent Nos. 6280767, 6140105, 5962277 and 5795979
coco
Snails USA US Patent Nos. 6369193, 6344551, 6197535, 6153738, 6077934,
(Conus) 5633347, 5595972, 5589340 and 5514474

Michael A. Bengwayan noted in his paper that there are cases of bioprospecting
without a trace on the outcomes. The first case involves two American researchers
who took specimen of a mountain yew called Taxus Sumatrana from Mt. Pulag in
1993 and informed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that they
would analyze the needle and stem for taxol, an anti-cancer agent but no report was
ever submitted. The other case is the smuggling of dwarf coniferous trees from the
Sierra Madre mountains in northern Philippines. The trees are sold as ornaments and
for an unverified effect on male virility and sexual potency.
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IV. Community Responses to the Problem of Misappropriation and Community Initiatives

to Safeguard and Sustain Traditional Knowledge, Cultural Expressions and Related
Genetic Resources

In this era of commercialism, the notion of protecting and benefiting from

TK/TCEs/GR is gradually being considered by the indigenous ethnic groups. Armed with the
existing legal frameworks, there are already community initiatives and success stories on
imposing customary laws and practices and sui generis forms of protection of traditional.

1. Some community level responses

The documentation and initial processes of registering the Subanen rice varieties
under the rice cultural and morphological documentation project of the
Department of Agrarian Reform with funding from IDF-ICRAF with the Subanen
community in southern Philippines. The memorandum of agreement (MOA)
between the community and the project implementor provides protection over
community intellectual property rights, where it is stated, among other things, that
ownership of documented knowledge remains and belongs to the Subanen
community. Furthermore, the project requires that electronic knowledge products
are digitally encrypted to make it difficult for pirates to copy or print the pages
from the digital photo album or electronic book without prior consent from the
concerned ethnic community. The project also provides for sui generis registration
and intellectual property protection.

The compliance of the process and issuance of the free and prior informed consent
by the drug discovery research project jointly implemented by the University of
the Philippines and the Michigan State University in one territory of the Aeta
community in Central Philippines. The MOA provides for royalty payment based
on international rates to the Aeta community in case of drug discovery.

In the local government level, the local office of the Department of Natural
Resources and Environment took the initiative of entering into an agreement with
the indigenous ethnic community on the application of the customary laws and
practices for the sustainable development and management of the environment and
natural resources.

2. Government maintenance of data bank and inventory of plant and genetic resources
and knowledge originating from indigenous and local communities

For plant genetic resources, the Department of Agriculture launched the National
Network on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant and Genetic Resources
to establish a national system for the collection, conservation, evaluation, and
documentation of plant genetic resources important to the Philippines. To date,
the existing data base consists of 45,000 species of plants, fruits, and vegetables,
including perennial crops. Other local public Research and Development
institutions keep separate biological and genetic collections for specific crops.
These include the Philippine Rice Research Institute for rice, the Sugar Regulatory
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Administration for sugar, the Philippine Coconut Authority for coconut, and the
Fiber Development Authority for abaca, among others.

For cultural products and heritage, the National Museum keeps a national
inventory.

For traditional medicine, the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative

Health Care is maintaining a database of different traditional and alternative health
care materials and products available for the Philippines.

The Philippine Intellectual Property Office is concerned mainly on inventions,

industrial designs and utility models.

V. Needs and Expectations with Regards to Traditional Knowledge, Traditional Cultural

Expressions and Related Genetic Resources

1. Need for Awareness Creation and Capacity Building

The country may have well established its regulation on bioprospecting but there is
need to widely disseminate the mechanisms to ensure maximum gains. Likewise,
there should be wide promotion of the initiatives being undertaken along the
enforcement of sui generis forms of protection such as the case of the certification
and registration of the Subanen rice varieties and the community biodiversity
conservation and management as demonstrated by the Tingguian Lapat. Strategic
communication should be done at all levels: - the community, institutional, national,
regional and international levels.

2. Need to Strengthen Regulation on Access and Benefit Sharing

The government should continuously review and improve its existing policies to
complement and reinforce community initiatives. The guidelines on the issuance of
free and prior informed consent should be reviewed in the light of complementing the
IPR law. Meanwhile, the protection of traditional knowledge, cultural expressions
and related genetic resources should be fully asserted in the ongoing review and
amendment of the existing IPR Code.

Moreover, existing policies of all donor agencies/countries should be reviewed

towards strengthening the respect and promotion of the interest of indigenous peoples
which should include safeguarding their traditional knowledge, cultural expressions
and related genetic resources.

3. Need to Establish Database and Inventory

The implementation of regulations should be complemented by up to date inventory

and documentation of the traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and related
genetic resources. Support should be accelerated along the systematic documentation
and inventory of plant and genetic resources and knowledge originating from
indigenous and local communities. The country should learn from the experiences of
other countries along the conduct and protection of database and inventory of
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TK/TCEs/GRs. However the indigenous ethnic groups or communities should be

well informed on the advantages and disadvantages of the documentation and they
should own the decision to conduct such after proper education.

4. Need to Acknowledge the Role of Indigenous Communities

There is need to fully acknowledge the traditional role of indigenous or local

communities on resource use and management and food sovereignty. While strictly
enforcing the need to acknowledge the source of traditional knowledge and related
genetic resources to serve as tracer for complaints on misappropriation or misuse,
adequate support should be provided for the holistic approach of empowering the
indigenous communities building upon their traditional knowledge, laws and
practices. Along this line, the NCIP is launching its program of assisting indigenous
communities to formulate their own Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and

Protection Plans (ADSPDD). However, it needs to generate local and international

support to ensure the success of the program.

The ADSDPP fully acknowledges the role of indigenous communities on resource

use and management. The plan espouses the use of customary laws and practices in
the control and management of all development aspects of the concerned indigenous
community and the resources within their ancestral domain. The ADSDPP envisions
the comprehensive development and full empowerment of indigenous communities.

IV. Lessons for the Intergovernmental Committee

The IGC should focus attention towards strengthening the international legal and policy
regime. Specifically, it should:

1. Encourage and support regular interactions at sub-regional levels or “people-to-

people” exchange to generate more homogenous sharing and discussions of issues on
protection and benefit-sharing

2. Develop a model law that is internationally harmonized building on the

country/community initiatives and taking into consideration the following:
(a) protection of TK/TCEs/GRs
(b) application of customary laws and practices
(c) ensure equitable benefit sharing

3. Provide country assistance for:

(a) institution building in setting up secured database and inventory such as the
digitally encrypted technology to make it difficult for pirates to copy and
print
(b) advocacy or awareness campaign on the protection and/or sustaining and
safeguarding traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and related
genetic resources
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page 15

4. Promote industries/development projects for indigenous communities that build in

their traditional knowledge, cultural expressions and related genetic resources

5. Establish trust fund to compensate misappropriation or misuse of TK/TCEs/GRs and

in providing technical assistance to:
(a) countries in building their capacities for protecting their TK/TCEs/GRs
(b) communities in transmitting TK and TCES to the present and future
generations

6. Advocate for the ratification of ILO Convention 169 and the UNESCO Cultural
Property Treaties in countries who have not yet done so.

7. Ensure the immediate adoption in its current form, the UN Draft Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

References

Arquiza, Y.D. 2001. ILO-INDISCO Case Study No. 7: Weaving a New Web of Life. Futuristic
Printing Press, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Bhatti, Shakeel T. Intellectual Property and Traditional Knowledge: The Work and Role of the WIPO.

Bengwayan, M. A. 2003. Intellectual and Cultural Property Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples
in Asia.

Cooperative Branch, International Labor Organization 1995. ILO-INDISCO Case Studies No. 3: The
Way We Live - Indigenous Practices of the Ifugaos, Atis and Badjaos of the Philippines.

Domingo-Morales, M. 2002. Report Presented to the Seminar on Traditional Knowledge in New

Delhi, India.

DENR-Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau 2004. Final Report: Mapping Population Bio-Diversity
Connections in the Philippines.

Environmental Science for Social Change 1998. Map on Philippine Culture and Ecosystems.

Janke, T. and Company 2002. Our Culture on our Terms: Promoting Indigenous Australian Arts and
Cultural Expressions.

Joint DENR-DA-PCSD-NCIP. Administrative Order No.1, Series of 2005 entitled Guidelines on

Bioprospecting Activities in the Philippines.

Malanes, M. 2002. ILO-INDISCO Case Study No. 8: Power of the Mountains, TOPLINQ, Baguio
City, Philippines.

Philippine Non-Timber Forest Products-Task Force (NTFP-TF). Dyeing the Natural Way, an article in
the semi-annual newsletter “Not by Timber Alone (NBTA).”

Pagsalabuhan Subanen sa Lakewood Association, Inc. 2005.Pictorial Book of Culturally Important

Plants among the Subanens.
 WIPO/GRTKF/IC/9/INF/7(c)
page 16

Paterno, M.E.P., Castro, S.B., Javellana, R.B. and Alvira, C.S. Dreamweavers.

The Abraeniana Institute and Research Center 2003. Practices and Traditions of the Tingguians of
Abra. The Divide Word College of Bangued, Abra.

Pagsalabuhan Subanen sa Lakewood Association, Inc. 2005. The Subanen Seedkeepers: Cultural
Practices and Morphological Characteristics of Upland Rice Varieties in Lakewood,
Zamboanga del Sur.

Sabanda, Gift Huggins, ARIPO Director General. The Need for Legal Protection of Traditional
Knowledge (TK), Traditional Cultural Expressions/Folklore (TCEs), and Associated Genetic
Resources: A Keynote Address during the WIPO Asia-Pacific Policy Forum in Cochin, India
on April 4-6, 2006.

Southeast Asia Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE) 1998. A Primer on
Bioprospecting.

Tebtebba Foundation 2004. Traditional Knowledge, Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples, theme of
the “Indigenous Perspectives.” Journal Volume Numbers 1 & 2.

The Executive Secretary, CBD Secretariat. Traditional Knowledge and the Convention on Biological
Diversity.

The United Nations and Indigenous Peoples 2005. Treaty Council News – Food Sovereignty and
Traditional Knowledge, Excerpts from an IITC Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues,
Workshop on Traditional Knowledge, Panama City, 21-23 September 2005.

Twarog, S. 2004. Preserving, Protecting and Promoting Traditional Knowledge: National Actions and
International Dimensions.
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ANNEX A
SOME EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND
CULTURAL EXPRESSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Ethnolinguistic TK/TCE/GR Description

Groups
Kalinga – one of the Bodong (peace Instituted to end tribal war to establish peace and
thnolinguistic groups treaty) security for trades, travel and commerce, to ensure
inhabiting Northern Luzon justice when crime is committed and to establish
alliances
The treaty holder must be able to settle disputes
amicably

Tagbanua – most widely Salugin – traditional The preparation of this bark is unique. After being
distributed groups in costume fashioned felled, the tree would be cut around the trunk, the outer
Palawan Island from the bark of bark stripped off to expose the inner layer. This layer
trees would be beaten with a wooden mallet, until it was soft
and pliant enough to hang loose from the hole. This
was then washed in the river and dried out under the
sun. No dye was applied to it and no decorations
either.

Manobo inhabit the river Tattoing This is being done for ornamental purposes. The men
valleys, hillsides, plateaus wore tattoos on their chest, upper arms, forearms and
and interiors of Agusan, fingers. The women wore theirs on the same parts of
Bukidnon, Cotabato, the body, but the most elaborate tattoos were done on
Davao, Misamis Oriental their calves. Tattoo designs are the same as those
and Surigao del Sur in embroidered on their clothes with the addition of the
Mindanao. crocodile figure, iguana, betel leaf and other leaf
designs and stars

Mansaka found in Davao Native Medicine For wounds – mix crushed marabiya roots, chewed
del Norte /Herbal Medicine sukati sprouts pamantigi leaves and oiled linek
For headaches and stomach trouble – kepet leaves,
roasted baganga fruit, boiled aribet roots, boiled buds
and sterilized sasa saps.
For boils – crushed dampang flowers, pitugo fruit
For pinkish eyes – scraped tambabasi stalks
For constipation – ground warasiman and boiled
anuring
For malaria – the bark of bagil tree
For fractures – the bark of thearit tree
For Mansaka mothers’ first bath after giving birth –
agosis, basikay, gapas and bay

Mandaya – groups found Tagali (object of Pregnant wives are encourage to eat ubod ng uway
along the mountain ranges conception) (rattan shoots) or young coconut, if she wishes his child
of Davao Oriental to have fair complexion. On the 3rd month of
pregnancy, the hilot or vanagamon (local midwife) is
invited to start the monthly massage. On the 9th month,
the tagalumo or local medicine made from the burned
bark of the magasili tree and leaves of the tagsing grass
is prepared with coconut oil. This mixture is applied
around the umbilical cord during contraction.
To cut the umbilical cord, a sharpened bamboo is used
the tip off the cord then applied with extracted pugta
(juice) of tatabako, a herbal plant with leaves that looks
like the tobacco plant. The cut portion with the cord is
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Ethnolinguistic TK/TCE/GR Description

Groups
then unwrapped on a tree branch outside the house.
This would prevent the child to be a cry baby.

Ifugao (Cordillera) Seed Selection Women have learned from experience or who have
been taught by the elders to the fields ahead of the
crowd of harvesters to select rice stalks with robust
and heavy grains. The selected stalks are bundled
together and set aside for seedling purposes. To
identify these from the rest of the harvest, the selected
stalks are usually cut much longer and sheaved
together in bigger bundles. These are called binong-
o.

Ifugao Pingkol / This refers to the unique farming methods very

(Cordillera) Mun-opol commonly practiced in Kiangan area where rice
cropping is done once a year. After the harvest of the
rice crop, the rice stalks are uprooted and formed into
big balls or bundles and thrust deep into the mud.
These are next covered with mud, water lilies, algae
and other plants that thrive in the fields. After the
mud mounds (pingkol) are formed, seeds or seedlings
of various vegetables (onions, garlic, cabbage,
pechay, etc) are then planted and, thereafter, the fields
are flooded. The mounds gradually decay and
fertilize the growing vegetables. Meantime, the fields
can also be planted with shells, mudfish, and yuyu (a
variety of the jojo, also known as the Japanese small
eel) and which serve as sources of food supplement.
By the time the new planting season comes around the
mounds would have been completely decayed and
spread around to fertilize the fields. (Studies
conducted by the Department of Agriculture have
concluded that this indigenous farming method is a
very good practice.)

Ifugao Ubbu To make sure that one has enough workers to help in
(Cordillera) the work in the ricefields or gardens, women
(including men) would agreed to work in the fields or
farms of another without receiving any wages for the
work done. But when the time comes for work to be
done in her own field or farm, the other person must
return the service previously performed by also
rendering labor either personally or by a substitute.
This practice ensures that work in the fields and other
land resources can be accomplished even without
actual cash paid for labor. This practice has been
extended to other areas of mutual assistance. One of
the latest innovations is in the formation of small
informal groups who loan each other cash on a
rotation basis among the members.

Ifugao Baddang In its strict sense and in reference to customs

(Cordillera) pertaining to ancestral lands refers to the ceremony or
ritual performed sometime after the marriage of a
couple. The relatives of one spouse produce animals
to be butchered for the harvest feast to be done during
the harvest of the ricefields inherited by the other
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Ethnolinguistic TK/TCE/GR Description

Groups
spouse. They harvest the crops for free and try to
harvest as wide an area as possible. Rice wine flows
all throughout the day. While the occasion is more of
a prestige celebration, it value is in the fact that all
those who attended the event can stand as witnesses to
the fact that the ricefields had been handed to the
couple and that the metes and bounds of the land had
been pointed out and identified at the same time.

Loosely translated to mean voluntary help or

assistance, the baddang concept is more popularly
applied to all forms of assistance, particularly during
deaths in the family, calamity or disaster, and in
community self-help activities.

Ifugao Muyong A system of sustainable forest ownership, use and

cordillera) manage unique to the Ifugaos, especially in central
Ifugao, including the Kiangan area. The muyong
(private forest or tree farm) are usually owned by an
individual, his family or clan, It is usually given to an
heir in addition to inherited ricefield. Owners of
private forests or tree farms generally allow other
family members and relatives, and sometimes even
non-relatives, to take products from the forest for their
needs. The forests are well-kept and often planted to
a variety of fruit-bearing trees, for lumber and other
purposes. Forest fires are almost unheard of. Most of
these forests are second growth and heterogeneous.
Trespassing is strictly prohibited and severely
penalized according to the custom law.

Ifugao Alak / Palok Communal irrigation system, a sustainable use of

(Cordillera) water resources. The pre-war water canals, some of
which still exist, irrigate neighboring ricefields and
have been built largely through the community’s own
efforts. These are maintained by the landowners
whose lands are served or provided with water. When
the irrigation canals are destroyed, the concerned
landowners contribute labor, food as well as materials
needed to repair and maintain the irrigation system.

Ifugao Ob-ob Springs of water sources when found in open or

(Cordillera) communal areas are always accessible to all the
members of the community. It is prohibited for any
member to use or control the water source for his own
exclusive use. In recent years, these water sources
have been developed by local government units as
community springs. On the other hand, springs or
water sources emanating from or found on private
lands belong to the owner in a sense, as he has
priority to the use of the resource and must give
consent before others can utilize the same. Ifugao
custom law provides clear rules on the use of water
resources, especially in relation to water needed for
cultivation of ricelands and farms.
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Ethnolinguistic TK/TCE/GR Description

Groups
Dumagat Childbearing The Dumagat delivers offsprings with the assistance
of a hilot, cut the umbilical cord with the use of a
sharpened bamboo and treated with ashes until such
time that it heals
The newborn is given ampalaya leaves extract to
cleanse the intestines

Manobo Sickness It may come as a punishment for unkept promises,

trespassing on the spirits rights and properties
Sickness analysis performed:
Bala-looking at the shapes of melted alum
Dangaw-dangaw- finger measurements
Himulso- pulse analysis:
rapid but regular- ailment is caused by spirits
slow and irregular – ailment caused by souls of
dead relatives
alternate slow and rapid pulse-sickness caused
by peoples having black tongue
natural beats – physiological ailments
Cure is usually done through heartfelt meal offering to the
spirits

Sources: (1) CCP, Encyclopedia, Volumes 1 & 2; and (2) An Analysis of the Role of Indigenous Women in the
Sustainable
Annex B Management of the Tuwali Ancestral Domain in Kiangan, Ifugao, Evelyn Dunuan, 2006
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ANNEX B
EXAMPLE OF A LAPAT PROCLAMATION

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

MUNICIPALITY OF MALIBCONG
BARANGAY DULAO

AN AGREEMENT IN THE CARE AND RIGHT UTILIZATION OF THE FOREST AND THE
ENVIRONMENT OF SITIO ADAAN, DULAO, MALIBCONG OTHERWISE CLASSIFIED AS
LAPAT

If land is life, so is the forest. Therefore, it must be taken care of wisely as regard its usage. Protecting
the environment shows one’s care for the people. The forest is important because it is the source of
livelihood such as wild animals, rattan, wood for building houses, and others. The trees give moisture to
the lands where we plant. They are also the source of drinking water, as well as for irrigating the fields.
The water current is the one which generates energy to micro-hydro that would give power to the rice
mill, electricity for lights and others.

By means of the lapat, our forefathers took care of the forest and the surroundings so that we can have
something to use for our living. So, it is a must that lapat will go on and be respected because this will
prove our concern for our natural destiny, which, for us is important and meaningful.

The following activities are forbidden by the people based on the rules of the lapat: burning, land-
grabbing, logging and gold-mining.

If anyone will be caught violating these rules which govern Sitio Adaan, he will be penalized with a
P10,000.00 fine plus additional damages if there are. He will take care of those who will hear the case or
solve the problem with a cow, basi (native wine) and rice.

These are the conditions:

Anyone who has witnessed or who can pinpoint the one who violated the lapat will be rewarded. He
will be given half of the fine which is P5,000.00.
The other half of the fine which is P5,000.00 will be given to the people of Barangay Dulao and will
be used for the preservation and/or safeguarding of the lapat.

Today, December 29, 1996, we, the townsfolk of Mataragan District, Barangay Dulao, Malibcong affix
our signatures and we promise to abide by this agreement to take care of the forest and the environment
of Sitio Adaan. We promise before God who created the heavens and the earth that this agreement on the
lapat will not be dishonored. And if any townsfolk violates this, he/she must be punished based on the
law of the lapat.

Therefore, in order to prove the veracity of this agreement, we, the townsfolk affix our signatures.

Source: Mataragan Tribal Development Foundation (MTDF) as published by DWCB

[End of document]