Law Summary
Definitions
- Allowable Clearing: Areas designated for vegetation cutting such as log landings and roads.
- Clearcutting: Removal of all timber in one season, typically plantations.
- Finished Product: End-product with no further processing needed.
- Furniture Manufacturer: Produces wooden furniture from raw or processed wood.
- Knocked-Down Wood Product: Products disassembled for easier packing and transport.
- Labor-Intensive Logging: Use of non-mechanized tools for timber extraction.
- Primary Processing: Conversion of logs into lumber and veneer.
- Semi-Finished Product: Requires final assembly or manufacture.
- Truck Logging: Mechanized timber extraction using equipment like trucks and bulldozers.
Extraction Areas of Narra
- Includes private lands, allowable clearings, TLAs/TPSAs areas, CFP areas, cancelled/expired TLAs, buffer zones in IPAS, FLMP areas, forestland grazing areas, and other DENR-designated areas.
SPLTP Issuance
- Special Private Land Timber Permit (SPLTP) required to fell Narra on private land.
- Issuance authority depends on volume: PENRO up to 5 cu.m, RED up to 10 cu.m, Secretary or Undersecretary above 10 cu.m.
- Conditions: Inventory by CENRO, forest charge payment on gross volume, planting 5 Narra seedlings per tree cut and 3-year maintenance.
Inventory of Expired/Cancelled TLA Areas
- Accredited persons to inventory remaining Narra stocks under oath, especially in expired or cancelled TLAs lacking recent inventory.
Tree Marking in Public Forestlands
- Narra trees within the cutting area shall be consecutively numbered.
- Trees 20-40 cm DBH marked to leave; 60 cm and above marked to cut; 50 cm DBH split 50/50 marked to cut or leave.
- No cutting before marking and validation by CENRO.
Harvesting Schemes
- Labor-intensive logging employs traditional methods (e.g., carabaos), discourages chainsaw flitching unless diameter >60cm.
- Truck logging from TLAs/TPSAs must observe selective logging and no highlead yarding.
- Clearcutting allowed on private lands with erosion control; only trees 50 cm or above DBH harvested with full utilization.
Log Yards and Forest Charge Assessment
- All Narra logs from public lands must be bucked and deposited to designated log yards.
- Logs not in designated yards presumed illegal and confiscated.
- Logging area scaling by DENR scalers to assess charges inclusive of tops/branches/stumps.
- Only properly marked logs with assessed and paid charges allowed transport to processing.
- Post-harvest damage assessment for penalties and silvicultural fees.
Marketing and Primary Processing
- Registered manufacturers must buy from designated log yards and must be local to extraction area.
- Primary processing limited to DENR authorized plants unless labor-intensive methods used.
- Processing and milling supervised by CENRO personnel.
- For TLA/TPSA/IFMA areas, 50% of output allocated to local Narra manufacturers.
Transport of Narra Logs
- Shipments must have DENR-issued Certificate of Origin and auxiliary invoice.
- Additional info includes source, volume, plant destination, and transport means.
- Export of Narra logs/lumber prohibited; only finished products like furniture allowed for export.
Transport of Semi-Finished and Finished Products
- Shipments of Narra wood products require CENRO certification for legitimacy.
- Raw lumber allocations require Certificate of Origin.
- TLA/TPSA/IFMA allowed separate CO for lumber designated outside the province.
Narra from Calamities
- Uprooted or drifted Narra must be reported to DENR.
- Legitimate claims validated; forest charges assessed on actual dimensions.
- Upon payment, transport documents issued; unclaimed products handled by DENR for sale.
Sustainable Development of Narra Timber Stocks
- Narra plantations to be established in open or degraded forest lands.
- Allotments to associations/cooperatives via Industrial Forest Plantation Management Agreement.
- TLA/TPSA/IFMA holders required to plant Narra in enrichment and regeneration activities.
Cutting Ban During Flowering and Fruiting
- Prohibited cutting of Narra trees during flowering and fruiting to ensure natural regeneration.
Reforestation Species
- Narra prioritized as a major reforestation species where feasible.
Transitory Provisions
- Existing Narra stockholders to declare stock within 3 months.
- Stocks validated by DENR Regional Office form basis for Certificate of Origin issuance.
- Certificates issued only after payment of forest charges and use of declared stock.
Penal Provisions
- Illegal cutting, harvesting, transport or processing without permits punishable under PD 705, Section 68 and related laws.
Additional Guidelines
- Undersecretary for Field Operations may issue instructions/circulars to clarify or implement this Order.
Repealing Clause
- Orders, memoranda or circulars inconsistent with this Order are repealed or amended accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Order takes effect immediately after acknowledgment by UP Law Center and 15 days after publication in Official Gazette or newspaper.