FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1360 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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This bill seeks to prohibit logging operations of any kind in any forest, timber 
land, forest reserve or watershed for the next twenty-five (25) years. 
Deforestation is the conversion of foreste.d areas to non-forest land use such 
as arable land, urban use, logged area or wasteland. Historically, this meant 
conversion to grassland or to its artificial counterpart, grainfields; however, the 
industrial revolution added urbanization. Generally, this removal or destruction of 
significant areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded environment with 
reduced biodiversity. In developing countries, massive deforestation is ongoing and 
is shaping climate and geography. 
In the Philippines, forest resources have continued to dissipate through the 
years. The volume of forest resources from trees was measured at 907 million cubic 
meters at the start of 1988, but it decreased rapidly so that in 1994, stocks reached a 
low of 611 million cubic meters. 
As of year 2000, the leading cause of forest disturbance is illegal cutting, with 
a total of 4,920 hectares of land destroyed, the highest incidence since the 1990s. 
There were two major causes in the decline of stocks of forest resources during the 
period 1988 to 1994. The country lost resources worth P48,6 billion to harvesting and 
other logging activities, while the conversion of forestland to non-forest use 
accounted for P20.4 billion in losses. Also contributing to the decline in stocks were 
forest fires, accounting for P439.7 million, and the natural death of trees (stand 
mortality), which accounted for P5.9 billion. Demand for agricultural land is one of 
the main reasons that forests continue to be erased at the rate of 13 million hectares a 
year. By 2005, forests were estimated at 47 % of the total land, from 51 in 1990. 
Deforestation accounts for 18 percent of the carbon dioxide produced each 
year, which are causing global warming and also poses risks to forests via increased 
fires and the spread of pests. Deforestation likewise has caused massive flooding 
and landslides all over the country, which has caused countless lives. 
There is an urgent need to stop deforestation in the country, which from 1990 
until 2000, is at the rate of 1.4%., the highest among the Southeast Asian Nations 
together with Myanmar with the same rate. The benefits of ensuring the sustainable 
growth and development of our forest resource and the richness of our biodiversity 
are boundless and cannot be compensated by commercial progress, 
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To ensure faithful compliance, this proposed measure penalizes any person 
violates the total log ban. 
In review of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
=LO~~ 
Senator 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B.No. 1360 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
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TOTALLY BANNING LOGGING OPERATIONS FOR THE NEXT TWENTY-
FIVE YEARS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared a policy of the State 
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to prohibit logging operations of any kind in any forest, timber land, forest reserve 
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or watershed for the next twenty-five (25) years. 
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SEC. 2. Prohibited Acts.- It shall be unlawful for any person to cut, fell or 
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destroy any tree standing on any forest, timber land, forest reserve or watershed 
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within the next twenty-five (25) years from the approval of this Act. This prohibition 
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shall not apply to trees grown in legitimate commercial tree farms. 
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SEC. 3. Penalties. - Any person who violates this Act shall be punished by 
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imprisonment of not less than five (5) years but not more than ten (10) years. Any 
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juridical entity that violates this Act shall forfeit its license or permit to do business 
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in the Philippines. In addition, it shall be made to pay a fine of not less than Five 
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Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,OOO.OO) but not more than Five Milliop Pesos 
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(P5,OOO,000.00) at the discretion of the Court. The Chairman and! or the Chief 
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Executive Officer or any other officer of the company responsible for the violation of 
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this Act shall be imprisoned for a period of not less than five (5) years but not more 
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than ten (10) years also at the discretion of the Court. Aliens who violate this law 
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shall be deported after their sentences shall have been served. 
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SEC. 4. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid, 
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the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in full 
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force and effect. 
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SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders 
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and their implementing rules, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are 
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hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 6. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
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