SIXTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

~~ Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
Representative Maximo B, Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 33
EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 5887 by the
undersigned Rufus B. Rodriguez, Jr. during the Fourteenth Congress and
again in the Fifteenth Congress as House Bill No. 1063. It was approved by
the Committee on Natural Resources during both the Fourteenth and
Fifteenth Congresses, was approved by the House of Representatives and
transmitted to the Senate where it was not acted upon.

Logging has many adverse effects. It makes a forest less dense and
causes soil erosion. It also degrades watersheds and diminishes the quality
of drinking water. Just recently, Cagayan de Oro City has suffered from
flashfloods and logging operations are blamed for such flashfloods. The
flashfloods destroyed not just properties but agricultural areas and farm-to-
market roads as well. Based on the Progress Reports of the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council of Region 10 based in Cagayan de Oro City,
the flashfioods of January 3, 2009 have affected 21,605 persons or 5,223
families in the city and have damaged houses with 141 totally damaged and
1,410 partially damaged in an estimated cost of 1.9 million as of January 8,
2009 only

In the January 11, 2009 floods that befell Cagayan de Oro City, 37,086
persons or 7,410 families were affected with 94 houses totally damaged and
71 partially damaged.

And just recently, typhoon Sendong brought about the worst
destruction in the history of Cagayan de Oro City.

To prevent flashfloods from recurring, logging operations in Cagayan
de Oro City must be totally prohibited. Hence, this bill which seeks to declare
total log ban in the City of Cagayan de Oro,

In view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought

Vida
MAXIMO ®. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 33,

AN ACT
IMPOSING A LOGGING BAN IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Statement of Policy. -- \t is the policy of the State to
protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Towards this end,
the State shall protect the people and the environment from the adverse
effects of logging.

‘SEC 2. Imposition of a Logging Ban in Cagayan de Oro City - A
logging ban is hereby imposed within the territorial jurisdiction of Cagayan de
Oro City.

‘SEC 3. For purposes of this Act, "logging" shall refer to the process,
work or business of cutting down trees for commercial purposes.

SEC 4. Exemption from the Logging Ban — The following shall be
‘exempted from the logging ban:

(@) planted trees within private lands:

(b) planted trees within forestlands established and developed by
tenurial instrument holders in accordance with the approved plans;

(c) wood sources necessary for goverment infrastructure project in
predetermined areas, preferably a communal forest;

(d) trees necessary for extraction as means of silvicultural treatment;
and

(e) trees affected during the’ road construction and similar other
projects approved by the government and only for basic services such as, but
Not limited to, energy and power development, public works or water utilities.
any harvesting or cutting of tree species shall comply with all pertinent forestry
and environmental laws such as, but not limited to, Presidential Decree No.
705, otherwise known as the "Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines", as
amended; Presidential Decree No. 1586, otherwise known as "Environmental
Impact Statement System"; and other applicable rules and regulations."

SEC 5. Penal Provisions - Any person, employer or employment
agency who shall violate the provisions of this Act shall be penalized with


imprisonment of at least six (6) years but not more than twelve (12) years and
a fine of at least One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000) but not more than
Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000). If the violator is a corporation or
association, the president and the managerls of said corporation or
association, or its agent or representative in the Philippines, in the case of a
foreign corporation or association, shall be held liable.

SEC 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of
Environment and Natural Resources shail issue the necessary rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within three (3) months
from the date of its effectivity

SEC 7. Separability Clause — if any portion or provision of this Act is
declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not
affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC 8. Repealing Clause — All laws, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC 9 Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general
circulation in the Philippines.

Approved,