Operational instruction: stop permit issuance
- The circular directs all concerned offices to stop the issuance of private land tree plantation cutting permits (PLTPCP) and private land tree cutting permits (PLTCP).
- Field offices must abide with the governing deregulation framework for harvesting planted trees on private lands titled or tax-declared as A & D lands.
- The circular is issued to correct field practice that continues issuing PLTPCP/PLTCP despite existing forestry regulations.
Regulatory basis and permitted harvesting approach
- The circular reminds that DENR previously issued Ministry Administrative Order No. 04, Series of 1987, and other related issuances.
- The framework allows harvesting, transporting and sale of products from planted trees inside private lands covered with title or tax-declared A & D lands.
- The harvesting and related activities may proceed based on an approved application for title, using a Certificate of Verification rather than requiring PLTPCP/PLTCP.
- The Certificate of Verification is issued by the CENRO and is treated as sufficient to meet DENR’s purpose under the deregulation approach.
Binding compliance orders (named DENR issuances)
- Concerned offices must comply with MAO No. 87-04.
- Concerned offices must comply with DAO No. 86, Series of 1988 (Deregulation of Tree Harvesting, Transporting and Sale of Firewood, Pulpwood or Timber planted in Private Lands).
- Concerned offices must comply with DAO No. 26, Series of 1990 (Amendment to DAO 88-86, Prescribing Rules on the Deregulation of Tree Harvesting, Transporting and Sale of Firewood, Pulpwood or Timber planted in Private Lands).
- Concerned offices must comply with DAO No. 79, Series of 1990 (Amendment to DAO 90-26, Amending Further DAO 88-86, Prescribing Rules on the Deregulation of Tree Harvesting, Transporting and Sale of Firewood, Pulpwood or Timber planted in Private Lands).
Reporting and statistical obligations
- The circular requires reporting the number of Certificate of Verification issued by the CENRO.
- The circular requires reporting pertinent statistical data including species and volume.
- The required reporting must be made in the prescribed forestry statistical forms: FS1 - Log Production, FS2 - Fuelwood/Charcoal Production, and FS11 - Issuances of Forestry Licenses/permits.
- The reporting obligation is pursuant to DAO No. 94-10.
- Compliance is required for all pertinent statistical data such as species and volume.
Compliance timing and directive effect
- The circular orders immediate compliance with its instructions.
- Field offices must implement the stop in PLTPCP/PLTCP issuance together with the required Certificate of Verification approach and the reporting obligations.