Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 263)
The main objective of Executive Order No. 263 is to adopt Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) as the national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the country's forestlands resources and provide mechanisms for its implementation.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the primary government agency responsible for implementing Community-Based Forest Management under EO No. 263.
EO No. 263 cites Article II, Section 16 (right to a healthful and balanced ecology), Article II, Section 10 (promotion of social justice), and Article XIV, Section 17 (recognition of indigenous peoples' rights to ancestral domains) of the 1987 Philippine Constitution as its constitutional basis.
Local communities whose livelihood depends on forestlands, indigenous peoples, local government units (LGUs), people's organizations (POs), non-government organizations (NGOs), religious groups, business and industry, and other concerned organizations are stakeholders considered in the CBFM implementation.
Participating organized communities may be granted long-term tenurial agreements if they employ environment-friendly, ecologically sustainable, and labor-intensive harvesting methods, which must be included in a site-specific management plan approved by the DENR.
Indigenous peoples can participate in the implementation of CBFM activities in recognition of their rights to their ancestral domains and land rights and claims.
The CBFM Steering Committee is chaired by the DENR and includes members from various national government departments and agencies. It formulates and develops policy guidelines to create incentives and conditions necessary for effective implementation of CBFM.
The DENR is mandated to allot adequate funds for CBFM and may source local and international grants and donations. It is also tasked to establish a Community-Based Forest Management Special Account (CBFMSA) to support implementation and provide financial and professional incentives.
The DENR is required to set up community forestry training programs for members of participating groups such as people's organizations, NGOs, LGUs, and government personnel in cooperation with colleges, universities, and other organizations.
The DENR Secretary must submit a National Comprehensive Community Forestry Action Plan that includes short, medium, and long-term plans, which must first be approved by the CBFM Steering Committee before submission to the President.