This executive order establishes community-based forest management (CBFM) as the national strategy for sustainable forestry and social justice in the Philippines. It mandates that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) involve local communities in forest protection, rehabilitation, development and management. The order creates a CBFM Steering Committee to develop policy guidelines and directs the DENR to work with local governments, organizations and others to empower communities to implement CBFM. It also establishes funding mechanisms and training programs to support CBFM.
This executive order establishes community-based forest management (CBFM) as the national strategy for sustainable forestry and social justice in the Philippines. It mandates that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) involve local communities in forest protection, rehabilitation, development and management. The order creates a CBFM Steering Committee to develop policy guidelines and directs the DENR to work with local governments, organizations and others to empower communities to implement CBFM. It also establishes funding mechanisms and training programs to support CBFM.
This executive order establishes community-based forest management (CBFM) as the national strategy for sustainable forestry and social justice in the Philippines. It mandates that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) involve local communities in forest protection, rehabilitation, development and management. The order creates a CBFM Steering Committee to develop policy guidelines and directs the DENR to work with local governments, organizations and others to empower communities to implement CBFM. It also establishes funding mechanisms and training programs to support CBFM.
This executive order establishes community-based forest management (CBFM) as the national strategy for sustainable forestry and social justice in the Philippines. It mandates that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) involve local communities in forest protection, rehabilitation, development and management. The order creates a CBFM Steering Committee to develop policy guidelines and directs the DENR to work with local governments, organizations and others to empower communities to implement CBFM. It also establishes funding mechanisms and training programs to support CBFM.
P..DOPTING COMMUNITY-BASED FOREST MANAGEMENT AS THE
NATIONAL STRATEGY TO ENSURE THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY'S FORESTLANDS RESOURCES AND PROVIDING MECHANISMS FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution
provides for the protection and advancement of the right of the Filipino people, both men and women, to a healthful and balanced ecology;
WHEREAS, Article II, Section 10 provides for the promotion of
social justice to all citizens in all phases of national 'development;
WHEREAS, Arti.::le XIV, Section 17 mandates the State to
recognize and respect the rights of the indigenous peoples to their ancestral domains and consider their customs, traditions and beliefs in the formulation of laws and policies;
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 192, series of 1987, mandates
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as the primary go~~'ernment age~y responsible for the sustainable management and development of the country's natural resources;
WHEREAS, the Philippines 2000 and the government's Social
Reform Agenda support people empowerment and the full, meaningful and indispensable participation of communities as immediate stakeholders of the forestlands resources in the I'lrotection and management of the forest ecosystem;
WHEREAS, the 25-year Master Plan for Forestry Development
also recognizes the indispensable role of local communities in forest protection, rehabilitation, development and management, and targets the protection, rehabilitation, management, and utilization of at least 4 million hectares of forestlands, through the community-based forest management strategy;
WHEREAS, entrusting the responsibility for forest rehabilitation,
protection, and conservation to the community of stakeholders and affording them equitable access to the forest and coastal resources are viable forestland management strategies as borne by the experience of the DENR and various supporting agencies;
NOW. THEREFORE. I. FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order that:
referred to as CBFM) shall be the national strategy to achieve ) sustainable forestry and social justice.
SEC. 2. The DENR, through its Community and Provincial
Environment and Natural Resource Offices, in coordination with the local government units and the Deuartment of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall, at all timts, take into account the needs and aspirations of local communities whose livelihood depends on the forestlands.
SEC. 3. Participating organized communities may be granted
access to the forestland resources under long term tenurial agreements, provided they employ environment-friendly, ecologically- sustainable, and labor-intensive harvesting methods. Such harvesting methods shall be lLentioned under a site-specific management plan of each recipient community and duly approved by the DENR.
SEC. 4. The indigenous peoples may participate in the
implementation of CBFM activities in recognition of their rights to their ancestral domains and land rights and claims.
SEC~ 5. A CBFM Steering Committee shall be created
immediately and headed by the DENR with members from the Departments of P,griculture, Trade and Industry, Ag.'arian Reform, Finance, Science and Technology, Labor and Employment, Interior and Local Government, Budget and Management, National Defense and Justice; National Economic Development Authority; Philippine Commission on Countrywide Development under the Office of the PrLsident, Committee on Flagship Programs and Projects of the Office of the President; Presidential Management Staff under the Office Of the President; Cooperative Development Authority, and Offices 01 Northern and Southern Cultural Communities. The Committee may invite represt:ntatives from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Wood Products Association, NGO coalition groups, and other public and private organizations to become members of the Steering Committee. The Committee shall formulate and develop policy guidelines that will create incentives and conditions necessary to effectively carry" out community-based forest management strategy. Accordingly, membe1:"s of the CBFM Steering Committee should, at least, be represented by concerned Assistant Secretaries or heads of bureaus and agencies.
SEC. 6. The DENR shall work with local governments, people's
organizations (PO;:,), non-government organizations (NGOs) , religious groups, business and industry, and other concerned o.rganizations to ensure that communities are empowered to initiate and achieve the objectives of this Order. 3
SEC. 7. In its budget preparation, the DENR shall allot adequate
funds to effectively a.ccomplish CBFM targets and shall seek supplementary funding from local and foreign supporting agencies and organizations. DENR shall also ensure the inclusion of budgetary allocation for CBFM in the annual General Appropriations Act, pending the passage of the revised Forestry Code.
SEC. 8. The DENR shall establish a Community-based Forest
Management Special Account (CBFMSA) to support the implementation of the strategy and provide financial and professional incentive system for deserving communities and government personnel. SEC. 9. The DENR may source local and international grants and donations for the establishment of the CBFM Special Account. Other sources of fund may later be determined by the CBFM Steering Committee subject to existing government regulations. SEC. 10. The LENR shall support and set up jointly with relevant colleges and universities, private and public organizations, arrangements for a community forestry training program for members of participating units, such as people's organizations, non-government organizations, local government units, and other governnlent personnel. SEC. 11. Within six months after the signing of this Order, the DENR, in consultation with government financial institutions, such as the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) , GSIS and the SSS, shall effect the creation of favorable financing mechanisms for access by communities and organizations in the pursuit of the CBFM strategy and its sub- strategies such as community training and empowerment, enterprise development, agroforestry development, tree plantations, and other non-forest-based alternative livelihood systems.
SEC. 12. The DENR Secretary shall issue new rules, regulations, procedures, and guidelines necessary to implement this Order and repeal or modify existing ones consistent with the policies set forth by the CBFM Steering Committee. SEC. 13. The DENR Secretary shall, within six months from the signing of this Order, submit to the Office of the President, a National Comprehensive Community Forestry Action Plan, which embodies the Department's short, medium and long-term plans. The action plan shall be discussed and approved by the CBFM Steering Committee prior to its submission to the President.
SEC. 14. All previous executive and administrative issuances
which are inconsistent herewith are repealed or amended accordingly. 4
DONE in the City of Manila, this 19th day of J u y , in
the year of Our Lord, Nineteen Hundred ana Ninety-Five.
