Republic Act No. 9175 : Chain Saw Act of 2002
- Within a period of three
Section 2. Declaration Policy. – It is the policy of the State
consistent with the Constitution, to conserve, develop and protect
the forest resources under sustainable management. Toward this
end, the State shall pursue an aggressive forest protection
program geared towards eliminating illegal logging and other
forms of forest destruction which are being facilitated with the
use of chain saws. The State shall therefore regulate the
ownership, possession, sale, transfer, importation and/or use of
chain saws to prevent them from being used in illegal logging or
unauthorized clearing of forests.
Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:
(a) "Chain saw" shall refer to any portable power saw
or similar cutting implement, rendered operative by an
electric or internal combustion engine or similar
means, that may be used for, but is not limited to, the
felling of trees or the cutting of timber;
(b) "Chain saw dealer" shall refer to a person, natural
or juridical, engaged in the manufacture, importation,
distribution, purchase and/or sale of chain saws;
(c) "Department" shall refer to the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources; and
(d) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Section 4. Persons Authorized to Manufacturer, Sell and Import
Chain Saws. - Chain saws shall only be sold and/or imported by
manufacturers, dealers and/or private owners who are duly
authorized by the Department.
Section 5. Persons Authorized to Possess and Use a Chain Saw. -
The Department is hereby authorized to issue permits to possess
and/or use a chain saw for the felling land/or cutting of trees,
timber and other forest or agro-forest products to any applicant
who:
(a) has a subsisting timber license agreement,
production sharing agreement, or similar agreements,
or a private land timber permit;
(b) is an orchard and fruit tree farmer;
(c) is an industrial tree farmer;
(d) is a licensed wood processor and the chain saw
shall be used for the cutting of timber that has been
legally sold to said applicant; or
(e) shall use the chain saw for a legal purpose.
Agencies of the government that use chain saws in some aspects
of their functions must likewise secure the necessary permit from
the Department before operating the same.
Section 6. Registration of Chain Saws.
(3) months from the effectivity hereof, all persons who own or are
otherwise in possession of chain saws must register the same with
the Department, through any of its Community Environment and
Natural Resources Office, which shall issue the corresponding
registration certificate or permit if it finds such persons to be
qualified hereunder.
Every permit to possess and/or use a chain saw for legitimate
purpose shall be valid for two (2) years upon issuance: Provided,
That permits to possess and use chainsaw issued to non-
commercial orchard and fruit tree farmers shall be valid for a
period of five (5) years upon issuance. For this purpose, the
Department shall be allowed to collect reasonable registration
fees for the effective implementation of this Act.
Section 7. Penal Provisions. -
(a) Selling, Purchasing, Re-selling, Transferring,
Distributing or Possessing a Chain Saw Without a
Proper Permit. - Any person who sells, purchases,
transfer the ownership, distributes or otherwise
disposes or possesses a chain saw without first
securing the necessary permit from the Department
shall be punished with imprisonment of four (4) years,
two (2) months and one (1) day to six (6) years or a fine
of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00)
but not more Thirty thousand pesos (30,000.00) or
both at the discretion of the court, and the chain
saw/s confiscated in favor of the government.
(2) Unlawful Importation or Manufacturing of Chain
Saw. - Any person who imports or manufactures a
chain saw without obtaining prior authorization from
the Department shall be punished by imprisonment of
not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6)
months and a fine of not less than One thousand pesos
(P1,000.00) for more than Four thousand pesos
(P4,000.00).
(3) Tampering of Engine Serial Number. - Any person
who is found to have defaced or tampered with the
original registered engine serial number of any chain
saw unit shall be punished by imprisonment of not less
than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months and a
fine of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00)
nor more than Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00).
(4) Actual Unlawful Use of Chain Saw. - Any person
who is found to be in possession of a chain saw and
uses the same to cut trees and timber in forest land or
elsewhere except as authorized by the Department
shall be penalized with imprisonment of six (6) years
and one (1) day to eight (8) years or a fine of not less
that Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) but not more
than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or both at the
discretion of the court without prejudice to being
prosecuted for a separate offense that may have been
simultaneously committed. The chain saw unlawfully
used shall be likewise confiscated in favor of the
government.
If the violation under this Section is committed by or through the
command or order of another person, partnership or corporation,
the penalties herein provided shall likewise be imposed on such
other person, or the responsible officer(s) in such partnership or
corporation.
If the offender is a public official or employee, in addition to the
above penalties, he shall be removed from office and perpetually
disqualified from holding any public office.
The chain saws confiscated under this Section shall be sold at
public auction to qualified buyers and the proceeds thereof shall
go to the Department.
Section 8. Reward. - Any person who voluntarily gives information
leading to the recovery or confiscation of an unregistered chain
saw and the conviction of persons charged thereof shall be
entitled to a reward equivalent to twenty person (20%) of the
value of the chain saw unit(s). The Department is authorized to
include in its budget the amount necessary to carry out the
purpose of this Section.
Section 9. Authority of the Secretary. - To effectively implement
the provisions of this Act, the Secretary shall issue the
implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days upon
approval of this Act. He shall likewise organize an office within the
Department to ensure that requirements imposed by this Act may
be complied with by qualified persons, within the shortest
possible time, at the least possible expense.
In the Province of Palawan, the provisions of this Act shall be
implemented by the Palawan Council for Sustainable
Development pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic
Environmental Plan for Palawan.
Section 10. Revocation of Registration and Permit. - The Secretary
may revoke any Certificate of Registration or permit previously
issued to a person found violating the provisions of this Act, or the
rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto.
Section 11. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - To monitor
and oversee the implementation of this Act, including the
approval of the rules and regulations issued pursuant hereto,
there is hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight
Committee to be composed of the Chairpersons of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the House
Committee on Natural Resources as Chairperson and Co-
Chairperson, five (5) members of each of the Senate and the
House of Representatives who shall be designated by the Senate
President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as
members: Provided, That the two (2) of the five (5) senators and
two (2) of the five (5) House members shall be nominated by the
respective Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of
Representatives.
PAAT v CA
G.R. No. 111107
January 10, 1997
FACTS:
On May 19, 1989 when the truck of
private respondent Victoria de Guzman
while on its way to Bulacan from San
Jose, Baggao, Cagayan, was seized by the
Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR, for brevity) personnel
in Aritao, Nueva Vizcaya because the
driver could not produce the required
documents for the forest products found
concealed in the truck.
LOWER COURTS:
* CENRO: Petitioner Jovito Layugan, the
Community Environment and Natural
Resources Officer (CENRO) in Aritao,
Cagayan, issued on May 23, 1989 an
order of confiscation of the truck and gave
the owner thereof fifteen (15) days within
which to submit an explanation why the
truck should not be forfeited. Private
respondents, however, failed to submit
the required explanation.
* RED- DENR: On June 22, 1989,i[1]
Regional Executive Director Rogelio
Baggayan of DENR sustained petitioner
Layugan's action of confiscation
and ordered the forfeiture of the truck
invoking Section 68-A of Presidential
Decree No. 705 as amended by Executive
Order No. 277. Private respondents filed
a letter of reconsideration dated June 28,
1989 of the June 22, 1989 order of
Executive Director Baggayan, which was,
however, denied in a subsequent order of
July 12, 1989.ii[2]
* DENR-SECRETARY (Pending resolution)
* RTC (action for replevin): denied motion
to dismiss by Paat (DENR-RED)
* CA (review): denied, has legal questions
involved.
ISSUES & RULINGS:
(1) Without violating the principle of
exhaustion of administrative remedies,
may an action for replevin prosper to
recover a movable property which is the
subject matter of an administrative
forfeiture proceeding in the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
pursuant to Section 68-A of P. D. 705, as
amended, entitled The Revised Forestry
Code of the Philippines?
NO, before a party is allowed to seek the
intervention of the court, it is a pre-
condition that he should have availed of
all the means of administrative processes
afforded him. Hence, if a remedy within
the administrative machinery can still be
resorted to by giving the administrative
officer concerned every opportunity to
decide on a matter that comes within his
jurisdiction then such remedy should be
exhausted first before court's judicial
power can be sought. The premature
invocation of court's intervention is fatal
to one's cause of action.
(2) Are the Secretary of DENR and his
representatives empowered to confiscate
and forfeit conveyances used in
transporting illegal forest products in favor
of the government?
YES.
“SECTION 68-A. Administrative Authority
of the Department or His Duly Authorized
Representative To Order Confiscation. In
all cases of violation of this Code or other
forest laws, rules and regulations, the
Department Head or his duly authorized
representative, may order the confiscation
of any forest products illegally cut,
gathered, removed, or possessed or
abandoned, and all conveyances used
either by land, water or air in the
commission of the offense and to dispose
of the same in accordance with pertinent
laws, regulations and policies on the
matter.” (Underline ours)
It is, thus, clear from the foregoing
provision that the Secretary and his duly
authorized representatives are given the
authority to confiscate and forfeit
any conveyances utilized in violating the
Code or other forest laws, rules and
regulations. The phrase “to dispose of the
same” is broad enough to cover the act of
forfeiting conveyances in favor of the
government. The only limitation is that it
should be made “in accordance with
pertinent laws, regulations or policies on
the matter.”
“SECTION 68. xxx
xxx
The court shall further order the
confiscation in favor of the government of
the timber or any forest products cut,
gathered, collected, removed, or
possessed, as well as the machinery,
equipments, implements and tools illegaly
[sic] used in the area where the timber or
forest products are found.” (Underline
ours)
A reading, however, of the law persuades
us not to go along with private
respondents' thinking not only because
the aforequoted provision apparently does
not mention nor include “conveyances”
that can be the subject of confiscation by
the courts, but to a large extent, due to
the fact that private respondents'
interpretation of the subject provision
unduly restricts the clear intention of
the law and inevitably reduces the other
provision of Section 68-A.
It is interesting to note that Section 68-A
is a new provision authorizing the DENR to
confiscate, not only ‘conveyances,' but
forest products as well. On the other
hand, confiscation of forest products by
the ‘court' in a criminal action has long
been provided for in Section 68. If as
private respondents insist, the power on
confiscation cannot be exercised except
only through the court under Section 68,
then Section 68-A would have no purpose
at all.
it is clear that a suit for replevin can not
be sustained against the petitioners for
the subject truck taken and retained by
them for administrative forfeiture
proceedings in pursuant to Section 68-A
of the P. D. 705, as amended.
Section 68-A of P.D. 705, as amended,
unquestionably warrants the confiscation
as well as the disposition by the Secretary
of DENR or his duly authorized
representatives of the conveyances used
in violating the provision of forestry laws.
Evidently, the continued possession or
detention of the truck by the petitioners
for administrative forfeiture proceeding is
legally permissible, hence , no wrongful
detention exists in the case at bar.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586
National Integrated Protected Areas System
Act of 1992
Section 2. Declaration of Policy – Cognizant of the
profound impact of man’s activities on all components of
the natural environment particularly the effect of
increasing population, resource exploitation and industrial
advancement and recognizing the critical importance of
protecting and maintaining the natural biological and
physical diversities of the environment notably on areas
with biologically unique features to sustain human life and
development, as well as plant and animal life, it is hereby
declared the policy of the State to secure for the Filipino
people of present and future generations the perpetual
existence of all native plants and animals through the
establishment of a comprehensive system of integrated
protected areas within the classification of national park as
provided for in the Constitution.
It is hereby recognized that these areas, although distinct
in features, posses common ecological values that may be
incorporated into a holistic plan representative of our
natural heritage; that effective administration of this area
is possible only through cooperation among national
government, local government and concerned private
organizations; that the use and enjoyment of these
protected areas must be consistent with the principles of
biological diversity and sustainable development.
To this end, there is hereby established a National
Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), which shall
encompass outstandingly remarkable areas and
biologically important public lands that are habitats of rare
and endangered species of plants and animals,
biogeographic zones and related ecosystems, whether
terrestrial, wetland or marine, all of which shall be
designated as "protected areas".
Section 3. Categories – The following categories of
protected areas are hereby established:
a. Strict nature reserve;
b. Natural park;
c. Natural monument;
d. Wildlife sanctuary;
e. Protected landscapes and seascapes;
f. Resource reserve;
g. Natural biotic areas; and
h. Other categories established by law, conventions or
international agreements which the Philippine
Government is a signatory.
Section 4. Definition of Terms – For purposes of this Act,
the following terms shall be defined as follows:
1. "National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS)"
is the
- classification and administration of all
designated protected areas
- to maintain essential ecological
processes and life-support systems,
- to preserve genetic diversity,
- to ensure sustainable use of
resources found therein, and
- to maintain their natural conditions -
to the greatest extent possible;
2. "Protected Area" refers to identified portions
of land and water set aside by reason of their unique
physical and biological significance, managed to enhance
biological diversity and protected against destructive
human exploitation;
3. "Buffer zones" are identified areas outside the
boundaries of and immediately adjacent to designated
protected areas pursuant to Section 8 that need special
development control in order to avoid or minimize harm
to the protected area;
4. "Indigenous cultural community" refers to a
group of people sharing common bonds of language,
customs, traditions and other distinctive cultural traits and
who have since time immemorial, occupied, possessed
and utilized a territory;
 5. "National park" refers to a forest reservation
essentially of natural wilderness character which has been
withdrawn from settlement, occupancy or any form of
exploitation except in conformity with approved
management plan and set aside as such exclusively to
conserve the area or preserve the scenery, the natural and
historic objects, wild animals and plants therein and to
provide enjoyment of these features in such areas;
6. "Natural monuments" is a relatively small
area focused on protection of small features to protect or
preserve nationally significant natural features on account
of their special interest or unique characteristics;
7. "Natural biotic area" is an area set aside to
allow the way of life of societies living in harmony with the
environment to adapt to modern technology at their pace;
8. "Natural park" is a relatively large area not
materially altered by human activity where extractive
resource uses are not allowed and maintained to protect
outstanding natural and scenic areas of national or
international significance for scientific, educational and
recreational use;
9. "Protected landscapes/seascapes" are areas
of national significance which are characterized by the
harmonious interaction of man and land while providing
opportunities for public enjoyment through the recreation
and tourism within the normal lifestyle and economic
activity of these areas;
10. "Resource reserve" is an extensive and
relatively isolated and uninhabited area normally with
difficult access designated as such to protect natural
resources of the area for future use and prevent or contain
development activities that could affect the resource
pending the establishment of objectives which are based
upon appropriate knowledge and planning;
11. "Strict nature reserve" is an area possessing
some outstanding ecosystem, features and/or species of
flora and fauna of national scientific importance
maintained to protect nature and maintain processes in an
undisturbed state in order to have ecologically
representative examples of the natural environment
available for scientific study, environmental monitoring,
education, and for the maintenance of genetic resources
in a dynamic and evolutionary state;
12. "Tenured migrant communities" are
communities within protected areas which have actually
and continuously occupied such areas for five (5) years
before the designation of the same as protected areas in
accordance with this Act and are solely dependent therein
for subsistence; and
13. "Wildlife sanctuary" comprises an area which
assures the natural conditions necessary to protect
nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic
communities or physical features of the environment
where these may require specific human manipulations for
their perpetuation.
Section 5. Establishment and Extent of the System
1. All areas or islands in the Philippines proclaimed,
designated or set aside, pursuant to a law, presidential
decree, presidential proclamation or executive order as
national park, game refuge, bird and wildlife sanctuary,
wilderness area, strict nature reserve, watershed,
mangrove reserve, fish sanctuary, natural and historical
landmark, protected and managed landscape/seascape as
well as identified virgin forests before the effectivity of this
Act are hereby designated as initial components of the
System.
3. All DENR records pertaining to said protected areas,
including maps and legal descriptions or natural
boundaries, copies of rules and regulations governing
them….shall be made available to the public.
such doc shall be available to the ff offices:
- DENR Regional Offices, Provincial Environment
and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs)
- Community Environment and Natural
Resources Offices (CENROs)
The DENR shall:
1. Notify the public of proposed action through
publication in a newspaper of general
circulation, and such other means as the System
deems necessary in the area or areas in the
vicinity of the affected land thirty (30) days prior
to the public hearing
Section 8. Buffer Zones. – For each protected area, there
shall be established peripheral buffer zones when
necessary, in the same manner as Congress establishes the
protected area, to protect the same from activities that
will directly and indirectly harm it. Such buffer zones shall
be included in the individual protected area management
plan that shall prepared for each protected area. The
DENR shall exercise its authority over protected areas as
provided in this Act on such area and designated as buffer
zones.
Section 10. Administration and Management of the
System. – The National Integrated Protected Areas System
is hereby placed under the control and administration of
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Section 13. Ancestral Lands and Rights Over Them. –
Ancestral lands and customary rights and interest arising
shall be accorded due recognition. The DENR shall
prescribe rules and regulations to govern ancestral lands
within protected areas: Provided, that the DENR shall have
so power to evict indigenous communities from their
present occupancy nor resettle them to another area
without their consent: Provided, however, That all rules
and regulations, whether adversely affecting said
communities or not, shall be subjected to notice and
hearing to be participated in by members of concerned
indigenous community.
Section 14. Survey for Energy Resources. – Consistent with
the policies declared in Section 2 hereof, protected areas,
except strict nature reserves and natural parks, may be
subjected to exploration only for the purpose of gathering
information on energy resources and only if such activity
is carried out with the least damage to surrounding areas…
Any exploitation and utilization of energy resources found
within NIPAS areas shall be allowed only through a law
passed by Congress.
Section 15. Areas Under the Management of Other
Departments and Government Instrumentalities remain in
the said department or government instrumentality;
Provided, That the department or government
instrumentality exercising administrative jurisdiction over
said protected area or a portion thereof shall coordinate
with the DENR in the preparation of its management plans
Section 18. Field Officers. – All officials, technical
personnel and forest guards employed in the integrated
protected area service or all persons deputized by the
DENR, upon recommendation of the Management Board
shall be considered as field officers and shall have the
authority to investigate and search premises and buildings
and make arrests in accordance with the rules on criminal
procedure for the violation of laws and regulations relating
to the protected areas. Persons arrested shall be brought
to the nearest police precinct for investigation.
Section 20. Prohibited Acts. – Except as may be allowed
by the nature of their categories and pursuant to rules and
regulations governing the same, the following acts are
prohibited within protected areas:
a. Hunting, destroying, disturbing, or mere possession of
any plants or animals or products derived therefrom
without a permit from the Management Board;
b. Dumping of any waste products detrimental to the
protected area, or to the plants and animals or inhabitants
therein;
c. Use of any motorized equipment without a permit from
the Management Board;
d. Mutilating, defacing or destroying objects of natural
beauty, or objects of interest to cultural communities (of
scenic value);
e. Damaging and leaving roads and trails in a damaged
condition;
f. Squatting, mineral locating, or otherwise occupying any
land;
g. Constructing or maintaining any kind of structure, fence
or enclosures, conducting any business enterprise without
a permit;
h. Leaving in exposed or unsanitary conditions refuse or
debris, or depositing in ground or in bodies of water; and
i. Altering, removing destroying or defacing boundary
marks or signs.
Wildlife Resources Conservation and
Protection Act (R.A 9147)
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It shall be the
policy of the State to conserve the country's wildlife
resources and their habitats for sustainability. In the
pursuit of this policy, this Act shall have the
following objectives:
(a) to conserve and protect wildlife species and their
habitats to promote ecological balance and enhance
biological diversity;
(b) to regulate the collection and trade of wildlife;
(c) to pursue, with due regard to the national
interest, the Philippine commitment to international
conventions, protection of wildlife and their
habitats; and
(d) to initiate or support scientific studies on the
conservation of biological diversity.
Section 7. Collection of Wildlife. - Collection of
wildlife may be allowed in accordance with Section 6
of this Act: Provided, That in the collection of
wildlife, appropriate and acceptable wildlife
collection techniques with least or no detrimental
effects to the existing wildlife populations and their
habitats shall, likewise, be required: Provided,
further, That collection of wildlife by indigenous
people may be allowed for traditional use and not
primarily for trade: Provided, furthermore, That
collection and utilization for said purpose shall not
cover threatened species: Provided, finally, That
Section 23 of this Act shall govern the collection of
threatened species.
Section 8. Possession of Wildlife. - No person or
entity shall be allowed possession of wildlife UNLESS
such person or entity can prove financial and
technical capability and facility to maintain said
wildlife: Provided,
aquatic species, the U.P. Marine Science Institute
shall chair the scientific authorities.
Section 20. Authority of the Secretary to Issue
Permits. - The Secretary or the duly authorized
representative, in order to effectively implement this
Act, shall issue permits/certifications/clearances
with corresponding period of validity, whenever
appropriate, which shall include but not limited to
the following:

That the source was not obtained in violation of this (1) Wildlife farm or culture permit ---3 to 5 years;
Act.
(2) Wildlife collector's permit---- 1 to 3 years;
Section 11. Exportation and/or Importation of
Wildlife. - Wildlife species may be exported to or (3) Gratuitous permit--- 1 year;
imported from another country as may be
authorized by the Secretary or the designated (4) Local transport permit--- 1 to 3 months;
representative, subject to strict compliance with the and
provisions of this Act and rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto: Provided, That the (5)Export/Import/Reexport permit--- 1 to 6 months.
recipient of the wildlife is technically and financially
capable to maintain it. These permits may be renewed subject to the
guidelines issued by the appropriate agency and
Section 19. Designation of Management and upon consultation with concerned groups.
Scientific Authorities for International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. - For
the implementation of International agreement on
international trade in endangered species of wild
fauna and fora, the management authorities for
terrestrial and aquatic resources shall be the
Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the
DENR and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic
Resources (BFAR) of the DA, respectively and that in
the Province of Palawan the implementation hereof
is vested to the Palawan Council for Sustainable
Development pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611.

To provide advice to the management authorities,

there shall be designated scientific authorities for
terrestrial and aquatic/marine species. For the
terrestrial species, the scientific authorities shall be
the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau
(ERDB) of the DENR, the U.P. Institute of Biological
Sciences and the National Museum and other
agencies as may be designated by the Secretary. For
the marine and aquatic species, the scientific
authorities shall be the BFAR, the U.P. Marine
Science Institute, U.P. Visayas, Siliman University and
the National Museum and other agencies as may be
designated by the Secretary: Provided, That in the
case of terrestrial species, the ERDB shall chair the
scientific authorities, and in the case of marine and