TWENTIETH 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. 3346
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill was approved by the House of Representatives during the 19th Congress. 
This bill seeks to establish a community forest in Barangay Balubal in the 2nd District 
of Cagayan de Oro City. 
A community forest is a tract of forest land set aside by the Secretary of the DENR for 
the use of the residents of a municipality/barangay from which said residents may plant, re-
plant, collect, and remove forest products for their personal use in accordance with existing 
laws and regulations. Th utilization of resources should also be in accordance with sustainable 
development.  
Under DENR AO 92-30, the implementation of community forestry projects has been 
devolved to the concerned local government unit. This includes the management and control 
of community forests with an area not exceeding 5,000 hectares, provided that the concerned 
LGUs shall endeavor to convert said areas into community forestry projects 
Generally, community forestry is beneficial to a LGU because it can generate income 
from the planting and re-planting of trees and plants and the harvesting of timber and non-
timber forest products while at the same time promoting sustainability and regulating the 
ecosystem. It has been considered one of the most promising options of combining forest 
conservation with rural development and community empowerment and poverty reduction 
objectives. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
  MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR. 
August 7, 2025
10:12 am


TWENTIETH 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.  3346 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY FOREST IN BARANGAY BALUBAL IN THE 2ND 
DISTRICT OF CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, PROVINCE OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1.  There shall be established, under the supervision of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a community forest in Barangay Balubal in the 
Second District of Cagayan de Oro City, Province of Misamis Oriental. 
The DENR shall determine the size and specific forest limits of the community forest 
to be established within each of the barangay concerned. 
Each established community forest shall be identified in accordance with a Forest Land 
Use Plan, consistent with the city’s land use plan, and all existing and related plans, programs 
and projects of the city and national government. 
SEC. 2.   The DENR shall, within two (2) years after the determination and 
establishment of the community forests, transfer the management of the same to the local 
government unit (LGU) concerned, under the direct supervision of the City and Local 
Environment and Natural Resources Office, through a memorandum of agreement.  It shall 
implement a training and phasing-in program for local government personnel on the 
management, utilization and conservation of the community forests. 
The DENR shall, in coordination with the concerned LGU, undertake a forest resource 
inventory in each of the barangays, determine the sustainable level of forest resource 
utilization and provide the LGU technical assistance in all facets of forest management 
planning.  To ensure the sustainability of the community forests, the management plan shall 
include provision for replanting by the communities and the LGUs. 
SEC. 3.   The DENR Secretary shall include in the Department’s program the 
implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be included in the annual General 
Appropriations Act. 
The LGU concerned shall set aside funds from any available local revenue in an 
amount deemed appropriate for the management, utilization, and conservation of the 
community forests. 
SEC. 4.  Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the DENR Secretary shall 
issue the rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 5.   This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,