Question & AnswerQ&A (DENR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 07 s. 1994)
The policy is to ensure sustainable development of timber and other forest resources to support industries dependent on them and maintain ecosystem balance, while curbing unauthorized gathering and transport of forest products.
The order adopts new Certificate of Origin Forms (COFs) for logs/timber, lumber, and non-timber forest products, which replace previously used forms and are accountable DENR forms with computer-based serial numbers.
A Certificate of Origin is valid for a period not exceeding 15 days from the date of issuance, or until the shipment is unloaded or delivered to the final consignee, whichever comes first.
Forest products transported without the original Certificate of Origin or special transport authority are presumed illegal, subject to confiscation and disposition, and offenders face prosecution under PD 705, as amended, and applicable laws.
The Certificate of Origin must include number of pieces/volume, species, date and point of loading/transport, type and plate/registration of conveyance, consignee's name and address, point of destination, and expected duration of shipment.
Fees are as follows: Certificate of Timber/Lumber Origin - 50 PHP; Certificate of Non-timber Forest Products Origin - 30 PHP; Certificate of Verification/Transshipment - 20 PHP; Oath fee (if administered by a non-DENR official) - 50 PHP.
Exemptions include timber transported within the same province to a wood processing plant with RED approval for out-of-province transport, transport of finished, semi-finished or knocked-down forest products with delivery receipts or sales invoices, transport within certain areas covered by sales invoices or delivery receipts, transshipment with Certificate of Transshipment, and transport of forest products from planted trees or private lands with a Certificate of Verification.
A defective COF includes documents with erasures or tampering, inaccurate information not matching the shipment, or unauthorized facsimiles of official DENR forms.