In 1997, the Philippines Congress enacted the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act...(IPRA) which recognizes indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination and provides mechanisms for the protection of indigenous ancestral domains and all resources therein. The IPRA adopted the concept of “free and prior informed consent” (FPIC) as a means to protect indigenous rights and interests and give them a voice in matters that affect them...Unfortunately, even with strong legislation in place, indigenous peoples in the Philippines have faced considerable challenges in realizing their right to give or withhold FPIC. This policy note describes the key legal protections for FPIC in the Philippines as well as past obstacles to effective implementation. In addition, the policy note highlights features of implementing rules adopted by the government in 2012 to promote more effective future implementation of FPIC...