Presidential Decree No. 472 (PD 472) — Requiring Timber Licensees and Pasture Lessees to Engage in Food Production, Creating the Mechanics for Its Implementation and Providing the Necessary Funds Therefor.
WHEREAS, self-sufficiency in rice, corn and other basic
staples is a primary concern of the State;
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to supplement food
production programs in order to attain self-sufficiency in food;
WHEREAS, there are areas within forest concessions and
pasture lands that can profitably be devoted to food production;
WHEREAS, the forest-based industries recognize the urgent
need of producing sufficient food to sustain not only their own workers
but the surrounding communities as well, as a demonstration of their
ability to respond to economic problems thru the imaginative use of the
country's vast store of natural wealth; and
WHEREAS, forest-based industries, particularly timber
licensees and pasture lessees, have the resources and facilities to help
in the food production drive of the government.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution,
do hereby decree as part of the law of the land the following:
SECTION 1. Timber licensees and pasture lessees are hereby
required to develop areas within their concessions and pasture lands for
the production of rice, corn and other basic staples to take care of
the consumption requirements of their workers and the people within
their area.
The Secretary of Natural Resources shall, in consultation with the
Director of Forest Development, determine what areas within the
concessions or pasture lands may be devoted to this purpose: Provided,
That existing pasture lands shall first be evaluated to determine which,
or what portions thereof, are to be devoted to food production or
grazing purposes: Provided, further, That the classification of
the area during the duration of this program shall be as before it was
so devoted for food production.
SEC. 2. Hereafter, it
shall be a condition to the issuance, renewal or extension of a timber
license or pasture lease that the licensee or lessee shall undertake the
production, in areas so selected within the concession or pasture land,
of rice, corn or other basic staples in amounts sufficient to meet the
requirements of their workers and people living within the concession or
pasture land.
SEC. 3. After a determination of the area to be devoted
to the production of rice, corn or other basic staples within the
concession or pasture land, it shall be incumbent upon the licensee or
lessee to bring such area into production in accordance with a
development plan approved by the Secretary of Natural Resources.
Failure of the licensee or lessee to develop the area so
selected for the production of staples within a period specified by the
Secretary of Natural Resources, shall be sufficient cause for the
cancellation of the license or lease.
SEC. 4. The
Secretary of Natural Resources shall be the Action Officer of this
project. He shall be assisted by the Director of Forest Development. He
shall create a Secretariat and designate a Project Director to head the
same.
To carry out the provisions of this Decree, the Secretary
of Natural Resources shall issue the necessary rules and regulations,
and he may call upon any government office or agency as well as any
private entity for assistance.
SEC. 5. The sum of One
million (P1,000,000.00) Pesos or so much thereof as may be necessary is
hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not
otherwise appropriated, to carry out effectively the provisions of this
Decree for the fiscal year 1974-75.
SEC. 6. All Acts, Decrees, rules and regulations or
parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are
repealed or amended accordingly.
SEC. 7. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila, this 24th day of May, in the year
of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-four.
(Sgd.)
FERDINAND E. MARCOS
President of the Philippines
By authority of the President:
(Sgd.)
ALEJANDRO MELCHOR
Executive Secretary
Source: Supreme Court E-Library, Republic of the Philippines. Philippine laws are public documents (works of the government).
