FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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First Regular Session 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Introduced by SENATOR EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
EXPLANATORYNOTE 
The destruction of Philippine forests has been described as the most rapid 
and most massive in the world. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), 
the average annual rate of deforestation in the country is one of the highest in East 
Asia and Southeast Asia at 1.4%. 
According to another report from Haribon Foundation, our forests have 
reached the threshold of sustainability. In the 19009, forest cover in the Philippine 
was estimated at 21 million hectares (70% of the country's total land area). A 
decade later, the once lush forest cover was further reduced to a measly 800,000 
hectares (18%). In the year 2010, it is projected that forest cover will be reduced to 
an upsetting 266,666 hectares (6%). 
Such a limited forest cover could hardly sustain a population, which today 
stood at more than eighty million Filipinos growing at a rate of 2.36% per annum. 
As a gross consequence, ecological and economic disasters have now become 
inevitable. Based on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) list, some 38 areas nationwide are prone to frequent landslides and 
flooding, most of which are located in the heavily denuded forest areas in the 
country. 
There is no single solution to all these problems but the Tree for Legacy Act 
as a Forest Management Program is certainly one of them. Its objectives are 
consistent with Executive Orders 263 and 318 in promoting community-based 
('people-based') approaches in attaining sustainable forest management in the 
country. Further, this bill also encourages tree plantation development from both 
private and public lands, which is very important in integrated watershed 
management. 
Approval of this measure, therefore, is strongly urged. 
EDGARDO J. ANGARA 
Senator 


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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
Introduced by SENATOR EDGARDO 3. ANGARA 
AN ACT INSTITUTING A SELF-SUSTAINING FOREST MANAGEMENT 
PROGRAM, BY PROVIDING INCENTIVES TO TREE PLANTERS 
ON PRIVATE LANDS, FOREST LANDS, AND OTHER PUBLIC LANDS 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress duly assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as the “Tree for Legacy 
Act of 2007.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies.. Consistent with the constitutional 
precepts of promoting social justice in all phases of national development and 
advancing the right people to a balanced and healthful ecology, State hereby adopts 
the following policies in relation to the conservation and management of forest and 
forest resources: 
a. The State shall ensure equitable access and sharing of rights to natural 
resources development, management, protection and utilization by 
providing opportunities to the people to participate actively in forest 
resource development; 
b. The State recognizes the role of local government units (LGUs), people’s 
organizations and the community in general as effective partners of the 
government in the implementation and management of community-based 
forestry projects and other forest development projects. 
SECTION 3. Objectives. This Act intends to encourage and empower the 
citizenry in sharing with the National Government and local government units 
(LGUs) the responsibility in the management and maintenance of ecological balance 
within their community. 
Specifically, this Act aims to attain the following objectives: 
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a) To enhance public awareness and participation on environmental 
restoration and protection: 
b) To encourage the participation of the public and private civil society in 
the reforestation program of the government; 
c) To generate incentives and additional sources of income and livelihood 
without impairing the ecological balance of our natural resources; 
d) To reduce poverty incidence in the uplands; 
e) To cover available lands possible, including but not limited to, the 
protection and production of forest lands and private lands; and 
f, To accelerate implementation of reforestation programs with minimal 
government assistance. 
SECTION 4. The Tree for Legacy Program. The Tree for Legacy program 
is a nationwide reforestation program to be administered by local governments 
units in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR) and other concerned government agencies. The program shall encourage 
the participation of individuals, indigenous peoples’, concerned citizens or groups 
(including, but not limited to, NGOs, private, civic, and religious organizations) by 
providing incentives, as well as rights and privileges to tree planters. 
SECTION 5. Areas Available for the Tree for Legacy Program. The 
Program shall cover private lands, protection forests, production forests, open lands, 
and other lands deemed appropriate by the DENR. 
SECTION 6. Who May Avail of the Program. This Program is open to all, 
including but not limited to, individuals, government employees, civic and religious 
organizations, indigenous peoples’, cooperatives, associations, youth, students, 
Philippine National Police (PNP) and military groups who meet the desired 
requirements. 
Beneficiaries of existing DENR reforestation programs may also avail of this 
Program. 
SECTION 7. Issuance of Agreements, Certificates and Permits. To 
ensure and enable the proper implementation of the Program, the following 
contracts, certificates and permits shall be issued: 
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d) Permit to Haruest. Those with Certificates of Usufruct (COU) shall 
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immediately be given the permit to harvest the fruits and other by-products 
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thereof: Provided, That no cutting of trees that will be involved. The permit 
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shall be issued by the local DENR office concerned upon the recommendation 
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of the Provincial Government. 
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regulations. 
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a) Tree for Legacy Contract (TLC). The DENR Provincial Office shall, upon 
the recommendation of the municipalkity government concerned, issue Tree 
for Legacy Contracts (TLCs) over the lands applied for by virtue of this Act. 
For public lands, the TLC shall allocate the portion of land applied for 
to be covered by this Act. The TLC shall also enable the grantee to plant trees 
and utilize the covered land for agro-forestry purposes as contained in the 
Indicative Development and Environment Plan which shall form part of the 
TLC, embody the rights and obligations of the applicants and the grantor and 
shall serve as the basis for the issuance of the Certificate of Tree Ownership 
and Certificate of Usufruct. The TLC shall have a lifespan of twenty five (25) 
b) Certificate of Tree Ownership (CTO). The Certificate of Tree Ownership 
(CTO) is issued to cover the trees planted by the grantee on titled lands, 
production forests and other non-protected areas. The CTO shall signify the 
tree planters’ ownership over the trees they planted and enable the planters 
to cut and transport their forest products. The DENR Provincial Office and 
the Provincial Government shall jointly conduct complete inventory and 
thorough inspection to ensure compliance with the prescribed conditions prior 
to the issuance of the CTO. 
c) Certificate of Usufruct (COU). The Certificate of Usufruct (COU) is issued 
to cover the trees planted by the grantee on protection forest plantation areas 
and other areas where cutting is prohibited as determined by DENR. The 
COU shall permit the tree planters to enjoy the fruits of their plantations. 
The DENR Provincial Office and the Provincial Government shall jointly 
conduct complete inventory and thorough inspection to ensure compliance 
with the prescribed conditions prior to the issuance of the COU. 
e) Permit to Cut and Transport. Those with Certificates of Tree Ownership 
(CTO) shall be given permit to cut and transport trees upon compliance with 
the conditions set forth by the DENR in the implementing rules and 
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SECTION 8. Incentives and Privileges. To encourage participation in the 
Tree for Legacy Program, the following incentives and privileges are hereby 
granted: 
a) All planted trees within private lands and forest lands shall belong to the 
owner or grantee who shall have the right to harvest, sell and utilize such 
trees and crops, except those retained for environmental protection purposes 
or those identified by DENR as mother trees; 
b) All plantation products shall be exempted from payment of forest charges. 
However, the municipality/city government concerned may enact an 
ordinance imposing service charges which shall constitute a lien on the trees; 
and 
c) The TLC, CTO and COU are transmissible either by voluntary transfer or by 
testate or intestate succession. 
SECTION 9. Obligations of the Grantees, the Grantors, the DENR and 
The following obligations are hereby imposed for the effective and 
the LGUs. 
successful implementation of the Program: 
a) On the part of the Grantees. The grantees or beneficiaries of the Tree for 
Legacy Program shall 
1) Prepare an Indicative Development and Environment Plan for the project; 
2) To finance all the necessary cost in undertaking the tree planting 
activities; 
3) Assist in the delineation and survey of the area applied for under the Tree 
for Legacy contract; 
4) Abide by the standards and guidelines prescribed by DENR with respect 
to proper forest plantation management; and 
5) Report any violation of forest laws, rules and regulations. 
b) On the part of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR). The DENR, through its Provincial Offices shall: 
1) Assist the grantee in the preparation of the Indicative Development and 
Environment Plan as part of the TLC; 
2) Together with the respective LGUs, provide technical and marketing 
assistance to the holders of the CTO and COU; 
3) Issue permit to cut, harvest or transport timber or lumber subject to 
existing forestry laws, rules and regulations; 
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4) Determine the trees to be harvested in coordination with the 
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municipal/city government; and 
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5) Monitor the cutting and processing of trees including the transport of 
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forest products in coordination with the concerned municipal /city 
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government. 
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c) On the part of the Municipal / City Government. The concerned 
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municipakity government shall 
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thereof; and 
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Provincial Government, shall: 
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production forest plantations; 
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following rights: 
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1) Serve as custodian and registering officer of all documents relative to this 
program in coordination with the DENR local office; 
2) Assist in the identification of sites for tree planting; 
3) Establish seedling nursery; and 
4) Monitor the implementation of the program in the municipality / city. 
d) On the part of the Sangguniang Barangay. The Sangguniang Barangay, 
through the Punong Barangay shall: 
1) Validate the identity of participants and issue appropriate certification 
2) Act as arbiter of all conflicts arising relative to the program. 
e) On the part of the Grantor. The Grantor, together with the DENR and the 
1) Identify, evaluate, and survey and map out areas subject to the Program; 
2) Approve and issue the Tree for Legacy Agreement (TLC) for areas within 
the private and public forest lands; 
3) Approve and issue CTO within private and public forestlands within the 
4) Approve and issue COU within protection forest plantations; 
5) Provide technical and marketing assistance to the program beneficiaries; 
6) Establish a date-base system on all projects within its jurisdiction; and 
7) Monitor program implementation in the province. 
SECTION 10. Rights of the Grantee. The grantee shall exercise the 
a) Sell, convey and transfer to any person or group of persons, associations, 
corporations, government agencies or entitles rights over the standing 
planted trees covered by the CTO; 
b) Gather and harvest fruits and other by-products thereof covered by COU; 
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c) Transfer by will and testament or through intestate succession the trees 
covered by hidher CTO /COU; 
d) Utilize the land for agroforestry to prevent activities that may endanger 
the ecological conditions of the area (such as fires, and the use of the 
kaingin system)and promote other productive purposes (such as 
ecotourism and agri-tourism); 
e) Utilize branches as a result of pruning and thinning and enjoy the right to 
cut trees destroyed by natural calamities or disease after inventory of 
such damaged trees has been jointly made by both the DENR and the 
Provincial Government; 
0 Harvest and utilize planted trees in production areas covered by CTO; and 
g) In case of private properties, if the grantee has already harvested the tree 
crops, the owner shall have the right to utilize his /her land for 
agricultural purposes. 
SECTION 11. Assistance by Government Agencies. To ensure the 
progressive development and Success of the program, assistance to the local 
government units shall be provided by the following agencies, but not limited to the: 
a) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
b) Department of Agriculture (DA); 
c) Department of Education (DepEd); 
d) Commission on Higher Education (CHED); 
e) Department of Trade and Industry (DTI); 
0 Philippine Coconut Authority (PHILCOA); 
g) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP); and 
h) Philippine National Police (PNP). 
The assistance shall either be in the form of financial, technical and 
marketing assistance, provision of seedlings, tools and equipment, and other 
services within the ambit of the agencies’ respective fields of specialization. 
SECTION 12. Designation and Obligations of Area Manager. To 
guarantee the successful implementation and close monitoring of the Program, a 
licensed Forester or Agroforester shall be appointed by the Provincial Governor as 
Area Manager of the Program in the province. 
The Area Manager shall have the following obligations: 
a. Ensure the proper inventory of trees; 
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b. Facilitate the issuance of certificates and permits; 
c. Monitor the implementation of the Program within his area of 
responsibility; 
d. Establish a marketing mechanism that will link the planters to local and 
international market; and 
e. Perform other acts necessary or incidental thereto for the effective and 
successful implementation of the Program. 
SECTION 13. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DENR, in 
coordination with the Department of Local and Interior Government (DILG) and the 
House Special Committee on Reforestation and the Senate’s Committee on 
Environment and Natural Resources shall within six (6) months from the effectivity 
of this Act, promulgate the implementing rules and regulations necessary for the 
effective implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 14. Report to Congress. The DENR shall report to Congress at 
the end of every year following the approval of this Act, the progress of the program 
and recommend necessary actions for legislation. 
SECTION 16. Congressional Oversight. An oversight committee 
consisting of five (5) members each from both houses of Congress shall constitute a 
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee who shall conduct a review and 
assessment of the program with the aim of strengthening or improving program 
implementation. 
The Oversight Committee shall be composed of representatives from each 
House from their respective Committees on Environment and Natural Resources. 
SECTION 16. Penalties. Failure of the grantee to comply with the terms 
and conditions stipulated in the TLC or violation of any of the pertinent forestry 
laws, rules and regulations shall constitute a ground for the suspension or 
cancellation of the rights and privileges under the Program or the reduction of 
granted areas, when applicable. 
Failure of the grantor to comply with the terms and conditions stipulated in 
the TLC or violation of any of the pertinent forestry laws, rules and regulations 
shall likewise make him liable for the penalties stated hereunder. 
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Any person, natural or juridical, found guilty of violating any provisions of 
this Act or the rules and regulations issued by the DENR shall, after due process 
and upon conviction, either be fined in the amount of not less than Ten Thousand 
Pesos (PhP 10,000.00) but not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos (PhP 
100,000.00), or be sentenced to imprisonment of not less than one (1) month to six 
(6) months, or both, at the discretion of the Court: Provided, That if the area 
requires rehabilitation or restoration as determined by the Court, the offender shall 
be required to restore or compensate for the restoration of the damage; Provided, 
further, That if the offender is an organization, association or corporation, the 
president, or the manager and the officer who has direct knowledge of the offense 
shall be held liable under this Act. 
SECTION 17. Separability Clause. Should any provision of this Act be 
declared unconstitutional, the validity or legality of the other provisions that can 
stand independently shall not be affected thereby. 
SECTION 18. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 19. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen days after its 
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation, whichever comes first. 
Approved, 
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