Adoption of New Certificate of Origin (COF) Forms
- Introduces new COFs for logs/timber, lumber, and non-timber forest products.
- These are official DENR accountable forms.
- Officials receiving COFs must account for their use or non-use.
Features and Distribution of COFs
- COFs are printed, color-coded, with computer-based serial numbers.
- Forms have perforated sections and bordered areas for route and validity date.
- Distribution:
- Red (Original) - purchaser/consignee
- Yellow (Duplicate) - PENRO file
- Green (Triplicate) - license/supplier file
- Pink (Quadruplicate) - CENRO file
- Orange (Quintuplicate) - RED file
- White (Sextuplicate) - USEC Field Operations file
Types of COFs Required for Transport
- Logs/Timber: Red Certificate of Timber Origin (CTO) + tally sheet.
- Lumber: Red Certificate of Lumber Origin (CLO) + sales invoice and tally sheet.
- Non-timber Products: Red Certificate of Non-timber Forest Products Origin (CNFPO) + delivery receipt.
- Transport without COF presumed illegal, subject to confiscation.
Invalidation and Surrender of Previous COFs
- All old unused COFs must be surrendered within 15 days of effectivity.
- Surrender includes consolidated inventory report.
- Old COFs issued prior to effectivity remain valid until expiry or delivery.
Issuing Officers and Conditions
- Timber Management Officer issues logs/timber COFs.
- Scaler or Community Development Officer issues lumber and minor forest products COFs.
- COF must be attested by CENRO or authorized representative.
- Elected local officials also authorized to administer oath for COF.
- Requirements before issuance:
- Verification of legitimate source
- Proper measurement/scaling/marking as per DMC No.13, S.1990
- Payment of fees and charges under R.A. No. 7161
- Written request filed 1 week before watercraft shipment, 24 hours for land
Issuance and Validity of COFs
- Issued per shipment and valid up to 15 days or until delivery.
- Extensions must be approved and recorded by CENRO.
- Monitoring officers record details and verify compliance.
- Shipments allowed to proceed if documents are in order; no delay over 1 hour.
- Original COF stub detached and submitted monthly for record validation.
Information Required in COF
- Quantity and species of forest products.
- Date and point of loading.
- Type and registration number of conveyance.
- Consignee’s name and address.
- Destination and expected shipment duration.
Application and Fees
- Certificate of Timber/Lumber Origin: Php 50
- Certificate of Non-timber Forest Products Origin: Php 30
- Certificate of Verification/Transshipment: Php 20
- Oath fee (non-DENR officials): Php 50
- Official receipts attached to applications.
Exemptions from COF Requirement
- Transport of logs/timber from cutting area to processing/storage within the same province.
- Transport to out-of-province processing plants allowed with RED special authority.
- Finished, semi-finished, knocked-down forest products with delivery receipt or sales invoice.
- Lumber transported within province or Greater Manila Area with sales invoice/delivery receipt.
- Transshipment accompanied by Certificate of Transshipment (COT).
- Forest products from planted trees or private lands accompanied by a Certificate of Verification.
Public Document Status
- COF is a public document executed by a public official.
- Unauthorized printing or copying is prohibited.
Forest Product Shipment Without Proper COF
- Presumed illegal.
- Subject to confiscation and disposition.
- Offenders prosecuted under P.D. 705 and other laws.
Proper Accomplishment of COF
- Must be accurately and completely filled and signed by issuing officer.
- Improper or incomplete COFs invalidate document; shipment held pending verification.
- Forgery or false information leads to administrative or criminal liability.
Monthly Reporting Requirements
- DENR field officials must submit monthly reports on used and unused COFs to USEC Field Operations via FMB Director.
Penalties
- Transporting forest products without documents results in confiscation.
- Responsible DENR officers issuing defective COFs may be suspended and face further penalties.
Additional Guidelines
- Undersecretary for Field Operations may issue further implementing guidelines.
Definitions of Key Terms
- Certificate of Lumber Origin (CLO): document accompanying lumber shipments.
- Certificate of Non-Timber Product Origin (CNFPO): accompanies non-timber forest products shipments.
- Certificate of Timber Origin (CTO): accompanies logs/timber shipments.
- Certificate of Verification (CV): verifies forest products from private lands.
- Certificate of Transport Agreement (CTA): joint declaration by shipper and conveyance owner.
- Certificate of Transshipment (COT): accompanies transshipped products.
- Defective Certificate of Origin: documents with tampering, mismatched info, or unauthorized forms.
- Greater Manila Area: specific cities and municipalities defined.
- Forest Products: includes timber, lumber, wildlife, and related resources.
- Lumber, Lumber Products, Finished, Semi-Finished, and Knocked-Down Products defined.
Repealing Clause
- Supersedes prior DENR orders and circulars inconsistent herewith.
Effectivity
- Effective 15 days after publication and acknowledgement by UP Law Center.