QuestionsQuestions (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 263)
EO No. 263 adopts Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) as the national strategy to ensure the sustainable development of the country’s forestlands resources and to advance social justice, grounded on constitutional provisions on a healthful ecology, social justice, and the rights of indigenous peoples.
It aims to achieve sustainable forestry while ensuring social justice by empowering local communities to protect, manage, rehabilitate, and utilize forestlands resources in an environment-friendly and ecologically sustainable manner.
The DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources), specifically through its Community and Provincial Environment and Natural Resource Offices, in coordination with LGUs and the DILG, is tasked to implement the strategy.
DENR must coordinate with LGUs and DILG to take into account the needs and aspirations of local communities whose livelihood depends on forestlands.
Participating organized communities may be granted access under long-term tenurial agreements, conditioned on the use of environment-friendly, ecologically-sustainable, and labor-intensive harvesting methods specified in a site-specific management plan approved by DENR.
It must mention the harvesting methods to be employed, which must be environment-friendly, ecologically-sustainable, and labor-intensive; the plan must then be duly approved by the DENR.
It provides that indigenous peoples may participate in implementing CBFM activities in recognition of their rights to ancestral domains and land rights and claims.
The committee is headed by the DENR. It formulates and develops policy guidelines to create incentives and conditions necessary to carry out CBFM effectively.
Members include multiple departments and government agencies such as DENR, DA, DTI, DAR, DOF, DOST, DOLE, DILG, DBM, National Defense and Justice; NEDA; PCSD/flagship programs mechanisms; Presidential Management Staff; Cooperative Development Authority; and Offices of Northern and Southern Cultural Communities.
Yes. The committee may invite representatives from groups such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce, Philippine Wood Products Association, NGO coalition groups, and other public and private organizations to become members.
Members should at least be represented by concerned Assistant Secretaries or heads of bureaus and agencies.
DENR must work with local governments, people’s organizations (POs), NGOs, religious groups, business and industry, and other concerned organizations to ensure communities are empowered to initiate and achieve CBFM objectives.
DENR must allot adequate funds for CBFM targets, seek supplementary funding from local and foreign supporting agencies, and ensure inclusion of CBFM budget allocations in the annual General Appropriations Act, pending passage of the revised Forestry Code.
It is an account established by DENR to support CBFM implementation and provide a financial and professional incentive system for deserving communities and government personnel.
DENR may source local and international grants and donations for the CBFMSA, and the committee may later determine other fund sources subject to existing government regulations.
DENR must set up, jointly with relevant colleges and universities and private and public organizations, arrangements for a community forestry training program for members of participating units such as POs, NGOs, LGUs, and other government personnel.
Within six months from the signing of EO No. 263, DENR (in consultation with government financial institutions like DBP, LBP, GSIS, and SSS) must effect creation of favorable financing mechanisms for community access and support for training, empowerment, enterprise development, agroforestry, tree plantations, and other non-forest alternative livelihood systems.
The DENR Secretary must issue new rules, regulations, procedures, and guidelines necessary to implement EO No. 263 and repeal or modify inconsistent existing ones consistent with CBFM Steering Committee policies.
It is a plan submitted by the DENR Secretary within six months from signing, embodying short, medium, and long-term plans. It must be discussed and approved by the CBFM Steering Committee prior to submission to the Office of the President.
All previous executive and administrative issuances inconsistent with EO No. 263 are repealed or amended accordingly.