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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS one, hes 017
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES }

First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. 4798

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 5887 during the Fourteenth
Congress and again in the Fifteenth Congress as House Bill No. 1063. It was approved by
the Committee on Natural Resources during both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Congresses,
was approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate where it was
not acted upon. It was again re-filed during the 16” Congress where it was once again
approved by the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate.

Logging has many adverse effects. It makes a forest less dense and causes soil
erosion, It also degrades watersheds and diminishes the quality of drinking water. Just
recently, Cagayan de Oro City has suffered from fiashfloods and logging operations are
blamed for such flashfloods. The flashfloods destroyed not just properties but agricultural
areas and farm-to-market roads as well. Based on the Progress Reports of the Regional
Disaster Coordinating Council of Region 10 based in Cagayan de Oro City, the flashfloods of
January 3, 2009 have affected 21,605 persons or 5,223 families in the city and have
damaged houses with 141 totally damaged and 1,410 partially damaged in an estimated
cost of 1.9 million as of January 8, 2009 only

In the January 11, 2009 floods that befell Cagayan de Oro City, 37,086 persons or
7.410 families were affected with 94 houses totally damaged and 71 partially damaged.

Further, typhoon Sendong brought about the worst destruction in the history of
Cagayan de Oro City.

To prevent fiashfloods from recurring, logging operations in Cagayan de Oro City
must be totally prohibited. Hence, this bill which seeks to deciare a total log ban in the City
‘of Cagayan de Oro

In view thereof, immediate approval of this Bill is sought.

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.
House Bill No. 4798

AN
IMPOSING A LOGGING BAN IN CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

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

SECTION 1. Statement of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to protect and
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the
rhythm and harmony of nature. Towards this end, the State shall protect the people and the
environment from the adverse effects of logging

SEC 2. Imposition of a Logging Ban in Cagayan de Oro City - A logging ban is
hereby imposed within the territorial jurisdiction of Cagayan de Oro City.

SEC 3. For purposes of this Act, "logging" shall refer to the process, work or
business of cutting down trees for commercial purposes.

SEC 4. Exemption from the Logging Ban — The following shall be exempted from
the logging ban

(a) planted trees within private lands;

(b) planted trees within forestiands established and developed by tenurial instrument
holders in accordance with the approved plans;

(c) wood sources necessary for government infrastructure project in predetermined
areas, preferably a communal forest:

(d) trees necessary for extraction as means of silvicultural treatment; and

(e) trees affected during the’ road construction and similar other projects approved by
the government and only for basic services such as, but not limited to, energy and power
development, public works or water utilities. any harvesting or cutting of tree species shall
comply with all pertinent forestry and environmental laws such as, but not limited to,
Presidential Decree No. 705, otherwise known as the “Revised Forestry Code of the
Philippines", as amended; Presidential Decree No. 1586, otherwise known as
“Environmental Impact Statement System”, and other applicable rules and regulations."

SEC 5. Penal Provisions - Any person, employer or employment agency who shall
Violate the provisions of this Act shall be penalized with imprisonment of at least six (6) years
but not more than twelve (12) years and a fine of at least One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(P100,000) but not more than Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,000). If the violator is a
corporation or association, the president and the manager/s of said corporation or
association, or its agent or representative in the Philippines, in the case of a foreign
corporation or association, shall be held liable.

SEC 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of Environment and
Natural Resources shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Act within three (3) months from the date of its effectivity


SEC 7. Separability Clause — If any portion or provision of this Act is deciared
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain
in force and effect.

SEC 8. Repealing Clause — All laws, orders, issuances, rules and regulations or
parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC 9 Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation in the
Philippines.

Approved,