Procedure in Cave Classification under DENR

DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2007-04 is issued pursuant to Republic Act No. 9072 (the National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act of 2001) and its referenced implementing rules (Pursuant clause).
The circular cites Sections 10, 12 and 13 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (DAO 2003-29) as authority to prescribe and adopt a Manual on Cave Classification for DENR use (Pursuant clause).
The circular applies to all caves within public domain and private lands, including caves found within protected areas, for guidance of all concerned (Pursuant clause).

The circular prescribes and adopts a Manual on Cave Classification for all caves within public domain and private lands, including those within protected areas (Pursuant clause).
The manual sets out general steps for cave classification and procedural roles for identification, assessment, review, and approval (Section 1).
The circular establishes a standard cave assessment team composition at the CENRO level (Section 2).
The circular establishes classification categories for caves and the allowable activities for each class (Section 3).

Cave classification proceeds through the following general steps (Section 1):
- Identification of caves, including location and general description through available topographic and cave maps and field reconnaissance surveys.
- Assessment of bio-physical, socio-economic and cultural status of identified caves.
- Recommendation of classification by the cave assessment team.
- Review of the recommended classification by the Regional Cave Management Committee or the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB), in the case of protected areas.
- Approval of classification by the Regional Executive Director.
The classification workflow is structured to move from field identification and assessment to team recommendation, then regional review, and final regional approval (Section 1).

A cave assessment team must be created in each CENRO by the Regional Executive Director (Section 2).
The team must be composed of the disciplines biology, geology, socio-economics, and other relevant fields of expertise (Section 2).
The team must include representatives from other sectors concerned (Section 2).

After assessment, caves may be classified into Class I, Class II, or Class III (Section 3).
Class I caves are those with delicate and fragile geological formations, threatened species, gical and paleontological values (as stated), and extremely hazardous conditions; allowable activities are limited to mapping, photography, educational and scientific purposes (Section 3).
Class II caves have areas or portions with hazardous conditions and con sensitive geological, archeoiogical, cultural, historical, and biological values (as stated) or high quality ecosystem; it may be necessary to close sections of these caves seasonally permanently; Class II is open to experienced cavers or guided educational tours/visits (Section 3).
Class III caves are generally safe to inexperienced visitors with no known threatened see and archeoiogical, geological, natural history, cultural and historical values (as stated); these caves may also be utilized for economic purposes such as guano extraction and edible nest collection (Section 3).

All Regions must submit to the PAWB their list of classified caves (Section 4).
The PAWB must consolidate and prepare the list of classified caves (Section 4).
DENR must publish a consolidated list of classified caves annually (Section 4).

Caves with existing utilization permits such as guano and edible bird's nest (except water rights permit), ecotourism, and research and development activities may be temporarily suspended, canceled or terminated (Section 5).
Suspension, cancellation, or termination is triggered when a cave is recommended for temporary closure (Section 5).
The action requires consultation with local government units (LGUs) and concerned parties (Section 5).

All circulars and memoranda inconsistent with DENR Memorandum Circular No. 2007-04 are revoked or amended accordingly (Section 6).