REQUIRING THAT ALL PUBLIC FORESTS BE DEVELOPED, MANAGED, AND UTILIZED ON A SUSTAINED YIELD BASIS WITH THE BENEFIT OF TECHNICAL FORESTRY KNOW-HOW OF REGISTERED FORESTERS

• Number: Presidential Decree No. 331
• Sections: 7

Preamble

WHEREAS, the Philippine forests are the patrimony of the

Filipino people and as such they have to be developed, managed, and

utilized in such a manner as to insure their perpetuity in productive

condition for the benefit of all Filipinos, living or yet to be born;

WHEREAS, the grandeur and productivity of our Philippine

mountains, our vital watersheds, once verdant with forests and abundant

with game and wildlife, have been despoiled and diminished by disregard

of sound forestry principles and practices;

WHEREAS, there is now an urgent need to develop, manage and

utilize the Philippine forests scientifically by the application of

sound technical forestry knowledge; and

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 6239 has professionalized the

practice of forestry so as to provide the needed expertise in

safeguarding public interest in the development, management, and

utilization of Philippine forests;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the

Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution as

Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and

pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General

Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and

decree:

Section 1

SECTION 1. All holders of timber licenses, leases and/or

permits are hereby required to employ and/or engage the services of

registered foresters in accordance with rules and regulations

promulgated for the purpose.

Section 2

SEC. 2. All holders of long-term license or lease

agreements shall establish and maintain their own forestry department

for the purposes envisioned in this Decree and these offices shall be

under registered foresters.

These offices shall collaborate with the Government through its

forestry development officials the preparation and implementation of

forest management plans, the supervision of selective logging programs

and such other silvicultural systems as may be prescribed by the Bureau

of Forest Development and shall be responsible for the implementation of

these forestry policies as enumerated in Section 2 of Republic Act No.

6239.

Section 3

SEC. 3. All documents on technical forestry matters

prepared and submitted by a registered forester shall bear his signature

and seal.

Section 4

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural

Resources shall promulgate rules and regulations for the effective

implementation of this Decree upon recommendation of the Director of the

Bureau of Forest Development and the Chairman of the Foresters Board of

the Professional Regulations Commission.

Section 5

SEC. 5. Failure to comply with the provisions of this

Decree and the rules and regulations as may be promulgated hereafter

shall be sufficient cause for the immediate cancellation of the license,

lease, or permit, confiscation of bond, and permanent disqualification

from acquiring another similar license, lease or permit.

Section 6

SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of November, in the

year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.

(Sgd.) FERDINAND E. MARCOS

President

Republic of the Philippines

By the President:

(Sgd.) ROBERTO V. REYES

Assistant Executive Secretary