Preamble
WHEREAS, there is a serious need to effectively conserve the Nation's public forests including watershed areas, to protect and preserve national parks, and at the same time, to provide suitable agricultural land for our people; WHEREAS, upon my instructions, the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources has prepared, drafted and completed the codification, revision and updating of forestry laws to conform with, and in pursuance of the provisions of the New Constitution; WHEREAS, the adoption of the Code as part of the law of the land will achieve the following results, among others: The gradual phasing out of log exportation and accelerated development of the local wood processing industry through a system of disincentives and incentives; Additional revenue to support the expanded responsibilities of the Bureau of Forest Development in land classification, forest protection, reforestation of denuded watersheds, continuing census of settlers and kaingin management in public forest, forest research and development; The abolition of short-term licenses and the granting of long-term license agreements of 10 and 25 years to afford the grantee security of tenure, thus, assuring the effective conservation of the forest and elimination of petty graft resulting from periodic renewal of such timber licenses; Abolition of the requirement of one processing plant for each concession and inducing the establishment of economic-sized plants located near shipping points, which can adequately compete in foreign markets in terms of quality and pricing of output; Acceleration of land classification and immediate proclamation of permanent forest reserves; Resettlement or integration of settlers in public forests through a system of kaingin management. This involves a complete and continuing census of all occupants of public forest, including their location, in order to determine valid claims and prepare action plans for integrating such occupants into the socio-economic mainstream; and Revitalization of the Forestry Agency (Bureau of Forest Development). Adopted and made part of this Code is the merger of the Bureau of Forestry, Reforestation Administration, and the Parks and Wildlife Office, as already embodied in the Integrated Reorganization Plan approved under Presidential Decree No. 1; and WHEREAS, the urgency of giving force and effect to this measure in the quickest possible manner and time cannot be overemphasized, the Filipino people having witnessed and suffered from the last catastrophic floods and droughts throughout the Archipelago; 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 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, in order to accelerate the classification of our remaining unclassified forest lands into alienable or disposable public lands and permanent forests and conserve the latter for the benefit of the present and future generations of this country, do hereby order and decree the following: BUREAU OF FOREST DEVELOPMENT PROVISIONS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT OR DECISIONS OF THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, THE DIRECTOR AND THE SECRETARY, APPEAL THEREFROM PROHIBITIONS AND PENALTIES GENERAL PROVISIONS