SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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) 
) 
I 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. No.-!US 
SeiH,tl' 
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JUL -8 A8:17 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to prohibit logging operations of any kind in any forest, timber 
land, forest reserve or watershed for the next twenty-five (25) years. 
Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such 
as arable land, urban use, loggecl ",rea or wasteland. Historically, this meant 
conversion to grassland or to its artificial counterpart, grainfields; however, the 
industrial revolution added urbanization. Generally, this removal or destruction of 
significant areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded environment with 
reduced biodiversity. In developing countries, massive deforestation is ongoing and 
is shaping climate and geography. 
In the Philippines, forest resources have continued to dissipate through the 
years. The country's forest cover now stands at 7 million hectares, as compared to 
the 30 million hectares that it used to have. 
There is an urgent need to stop deforestation in the country, which from 1990 
until 2000, was at the rate of 1.4%., the highest among the Southeast Asian nations. 
The benefits of ensuring the sustainable growth and development of our forest 
resource and the richness of our biodiversity are boundless and cannot be offset by 
commercial progress. 
In view of the foregoing, the .immedi~te passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 


SIXTEENTH CONG~ESS OF THE, 
) , 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
'1) JIlL -8 AS:17 
SENATE 
• 
_______________________ 
S_.B_,_N_o_,_5_'_1_6_, _______ a_E_.(_.~_;I~V_S_n_h_JY_:~~ , 
Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
". 
AN ACT 
TOTALLY BANNING LOGGING OPERATIONS FOR THE NEXT TWENTY-
FIVE YEARS, AND FbR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State, 
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to U protect and promote the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology 
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'in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
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SEC, 2, Prohibited 'Acts.- It shall be unlawful for any person to cut, fell or 
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destroy any tree standing on any forest, timber land, forest reserve or watershed 
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within the next twenty-five (25) years from the approval of this Act. This prohibition 
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shall not apply to trees grown in legitimate commercial tree farms. 
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SEC, 3. Penalties. - Any person who violates this Act shall be punished by 
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imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than ten (10) years. Any 
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juridical entity that violates this Act shall forfeit its license or permit to do business 
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in the Philippines. In addition, it shall be made to'pay a fine of not less than Five 
14 ,Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000.00) but not more than Five Million Pesos 
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(P5,000,000.00) at the discretion of the Court. Th~ Chairman and/or the Chief 
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Executive Officer or any other officer of the company responsible for the violation of 
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this Act shall be imprisoned for a period of not less than five (5) years but not more 
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than ten (10) years also at the discretion of the Court. Aliens who violate this law 
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shall be deported after their sentences shall have been served. 
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SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, 
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the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full 
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force and effect. 
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SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders 
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and their implementing rules, inconsistent with the. provisions of this Act, are 
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hereby repealed, amended or'modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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