Classification of Public Forest Lands as Alienable or Disposable.
Section 18
SEC. 18. Classification of Public Forest Lands as Alienable or Disposable. — Except those excluded in Section 16, and areas presently designated as permanent forest, national park, national shrine, national historic site, swampland and forest area which have been declared by the Department Head as essential to research, scenic, recreation, or fish and wildlife purposes, portions of the public forest below eighteen percent (18%) in slope, upon the certification of the Director that said portions are not required by the public interest to be kept in public ownership and that their alienation or disposition is compatible with forestry purposes, shall be declared by the Department Head as such alienable or disposable: Provided, however, That areas within timber concessions below eighteen percent (18%) in slope which are timbered and/or having adequate residual, and presently supporting an existing processing plant shall not be released as alienable or disposable but shall remain as part of the permanent forest land: Provided, further, That the Department Head may, from time to time, release to the Department of Agrarian Reform lands of the public domain for the purpose of agricultural resettlement and sale. All applications for registration of land for titling purposes shall be referred to the Director or his representative who will certify under oath that such land is alienable or disposable, or part of the public forest, as the case may be.