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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille “Beng” F. Abueg-Zaldivar

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This House Bill was previously filed by Representative Frederick F.
Abueg as House Bill (H.B.) No. 5284 in the 16" Congress and as H.B. No. 4761
during the 17 Congress. Both bills were referred to the House Committee on
Natural Resources. This present bill is now a reiteration in toto of the previous
legislative measures filed, explained as follows:

“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.0.) 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.

[val
CYRILLE dk ” F, ABUEG-ZALDIVAR
Representative, 2"4 District of Palawan


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

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no_5884

Introduced by Hon. Cyrille “Beng” F. Abueg-Zaldivar

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.


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SEC. 2. The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall issue
the necessary rules, orders and circulars to implement the provisions of this

Act.

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,