Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 5284

Introduced by Hon. Frederick F. Abueg

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The proposed bill seeks to authorize the Community Environment and Natural
Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), having jurisdiction over the parcel subject of the application, to issue tree-
cutting permits to landowners for the cutting, gathering and utilization of naturally

grown trees in private and/or titled lands subject to the guidelines of the DENR.

Moreover, this bill also aims to expedite the process of cutting dead and
infected trees which pose danger to the lives and properties of owners and to provide
them the freedom, within their titled lots, to make use of naturally grown trees for
personal and private purposes only. If the cutting is inevitable and only the last resort
in the implementation of a project or construction of an infrastructure within the

private land of the owner, this bill likewise addresses such concern.

Lastly, while we take cognizance of the issuance of Executive Order (E.O.) No.
23 by President Benigno S. Aquino III which declared a moratorium on the cutting of
trees to protect the remaining forest cover areas of the country, the safety of the
citizens paired with the necessity to cut trees within private and/or titled lands for
personal purposes are often overlooked. Additionally, since the current requisite prior
to the issuance of tree-cutting permit involves joint efforts of the local government
units concerned, DENR Regional Office and/or the DENR Central Office, the pace is


rather slow resulting to a bottleneck in these offices and non-issuance of permits to

well-intentioned applications.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.

RICK F. ABUEG
Representative, 2" District of Palawan


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
First Regular Session
HOUSE BILLNO.__ 5284

Introduced by Hon. Frederick F. Abueg

AN ACT

AUTHORIZING THE COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES OFFICE (CENRO) OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR), HAVING
JURISDICTION OVER THE PARCEL OF LAND SUBJECT OF THE
APPLICATION, TO ISSUE TREE-CUTTING PERMITS TO LANDOWNERS.
FOR THE CUTTING, GATHERING AND UTILIZATION OF NATURALLY
GROWN TREES IN PRIVATE AND/OR TITLED LANDS SUBJECT TO THE
GUIDELINES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES

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

SECTION 1. This Act authorizes the Community Environment and

Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and

Natural Resources (DENR), having jurisdiction over the parcel subject of the

application, to issue tree-cutting permits to landowners for the cutting, gathering

and utilization of naturally grown trees in private and/or titled lands subject to

the guidelines of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

SEC. 2. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall issue

the necessary rules, orders and circulars to implement the provisions of this Act.

we


SEC. 3. All other laws, decrees, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed,

amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved,