Question & AnswerQ&A (Commonwealth Act No. 304)
The main purpose of Commonwealth Act No. 304 is to provide for the reforestation and afforestation of watersheds, denuded areas, and cogon or open lands within forest reserves, communal forests, national parks, timberlands, sand dunes, and other public forest lands in the Philippines.
One million pesos was appropriated by the Commonwealth Government from the excise tax received from the United States.
The Director of Forestry, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, is responsible for disbursing the funds.
The law covers watersheds, denuded areas, cogon or open lands within forest reserves, communal forests, national parks, timberlands, sand dunes, and other public forest lands certified as needing reforestation or afforestation.
Purposes include growing economic trees for timber, tannin, oils, gums, and other minor forest products or medicinal plants, watershed protection, and the prevention of erosion and floods.
Funds are available until December 31, 1941.
The Director of Forestry must submit a special report to the National Assembly during the first ten days of its regular sessions in 1939, 1940, 1941, and 1942, detailing the reforestation and afforestation work done, including location and area reforested, costs, and other relevant data.
The reports are submitted to the National Assembly through the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce and the President of the Philippines.
Yes, the President is authorized to suspend or stop the expenditure of any appropriated amount whenever in his opinion the public interest requires it.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 9, 1938.