Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 23)
The purpose of Executive Order No. 23 is to declare a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests in the Philippines and to create the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force to enforce the moratorium and combat illegal logging.
Forest Land includes public forest, permanent forest or forest reserves, and forest reservations as stated in Section 1.1 of the Executive Order.
Natural and Residual Forests are forests composed of indigenous trees not planted by man, as defined in Section 1.2 of the Executive Order.
An IFMA is a production sharing contract between the DENR and a qualified applicant granting the latter exclusive rights to develop, manage, protect, and utilize a specified forest area for a specified period, consistent with sustainable development principles and an approved Comprehensive Development and Management Plan (CDMP).
The moratorium prohibits the cutting and harvesting of timber in natural and residual forests, the issuance of logging contracts or agreements like IFMA, SIFMA, and CBFMA with logging components, and the issuance or renewal of tree cutting permits in these forests except for certain exceptions like road clearing or cultural practices under IPRA law.
Tree cutting permits are prohibited except for clearing road right of way by the DPWH, site preparation for tree plantations, silvicultural treatment, and similar activities. Logs from these permits must be turned over to DENR for proper disposal. Tree cutting under IPRA may be allowed but subject to strict DENR guidelines.
DENR shall review and evaluate all existing agreements. Those who have violated terms or engaged in illegal logging at least twice shall have their agreements terminated or canceled immediately.
The Task Force, composed of key government officials, leads the anti-illegal logging campaign, ensures implementation of the moratorium, assists DENR in enforcing environmental laws, and may call on other government agencies for support.
Departments involved include the Department of Agriculture (DA), DENR, Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and the private sector.
Such establishments will be closed and not allowed to operate for at least five years within one month from the effectivity of the Executive Order.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) provides the initial budget of Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) sourced from available government funds, with additional funding subject to the President's approval.
Yes, the moratorium declared on cutting and harvesting timber in natural and residual forests remains unless it is lifted after the effectivity of the Executive Order.
The Executive Order is grounded on Article XII, Section 2, which provides that exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State, justifying the moratorium and regulatory measures.
CBFMA is an agreement between the government and a local community represented by a people's organization as forest managers, allowing the community to develop, utilize, and manage a small tract of forest land for a specific period consistent with sustainable development principles.