Republic of the Philippines

Department of Environment and Natural Resources

COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Brgy. San Vicente, Banga, South Cotabato
Telefax No. (083) 239-1203

February 18, 2019

FOR : The OIC, CENR Officer

This Office

FROM : The Chief, FPLEU

This Office

SUBBJECT: REPORT ON THE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION

CAMPAIGN ON PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 705 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS
THE REVISED FORESTRY CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9175 OR THE CHAINSAW ACT OF
2002 ON FEBRUARY 15, 2019 AT BRGY. CANAHAY,
SURALLAH, SOUTH COTABATO CONDUCTED BY
PERSONNEL FROM THE FOREST PROTECTION AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT UNIT OF CENRO BANGA

Respectfully submitting the report on activity of the conduct of Information and

Education Campaign (IEC) covering the above-noted subject.

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

A letter from dated Feberuary 12, 2019 from Hon. Rita P. Escudero, Punong
Barangay of Brgy. Canahay, Surallah, South Cotabato was received by the Office on
February 13, 2019. Said letter brought the issue of increasing number of Furniture
Makers as well as chainsaw operators within their area. Pursuant to the said letter, a
Memorandum from OIC, PENR Officer Shalimar A. Disomangcop of PENRO-South
Cotabato dated February 13, 2019 directing for the conduct of Information and
Education Campaign on the pertinent provisions of forestry laws particularly
Presidential Decree No. 705 of the Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines, Republic
Act No. 9175 or The Chainsaw Act of 2002 and Republic Act No. 7586 of the
Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.

II. LEGAL BASIS

A. Presidential Decree No. 705 as amended

B. Executive Order No. 23
C. Republic Act 9175
D. Department Administrative Order No. 97-32
III. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ACTIVITY

The activity started at 9:30 in the morning at the Session Hall of Brgy. Canahay,
Surallah, South Cotabato. The said date was also the regular session of the Barangay
Council presided by the Honorable Punong Barangay Rita P. Escorido.

The resource persons included the partner agencies of DENR in law enforcement
such as the Municipal Environment and Natural Officer (MENRO) Yolanda Plaira and
the elements from the Philippine National Police of Surallah, South Cotabato headed
by Police Inspector Freddie Hamballas. FPLEU Chief, Ricardo M. Padernilla, SI1
Annie Claire E. Tejam and FR Saturnina D. Elihay represented the office of CENRO
Banga.

Participants to the activity were the barangay officials themselves, the invited
Furniture Shop owners and chainsaw operators of Barangay Canahay and the adjacent
barangays of Buenavista, Surallah and Hanoon, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

Thirty six (36) persons came in attendance consists of twenty eight (28) males and
eight (8) females. (See attached Attendance Sheet)

The discussion focused on the pertinent provisions of Presidential Decree No. 705,
Executive No. 23 and RA 9175. As the law provides for a penal clause, the IEC also
included Department Administrative Order No. 97-32 to gave a whole picture of the
proceedings of proceedings in case there will be an apprehension. Participants were
encouraged to secure licenses to their businesses. And as legitimate businessman they
were informed of their moral and legal obligation to take into consideration that
sources of their wood materials must also be legitimate. In addition, persons who
owned chainsaw which have not yet been registered or have expired permits are
required to register their chainsaws with the DENR.

There was also an open forum. Participants were given opportunity to ask
questions or clarifications. Majority of the questions focused on the process on how to
verify if wood sources are legitimate and how to process permits as to cutting and
transporting when it comes to their own planted trees or of their supplier. There were
also questions as to the process of securing permit of chainsaws and concerns about
expired chainsaw permits. All questions have been addressed and thoroughly
discussed in view of the fact that Barangay Canahay belongs to the jurisdiction of
Allah Valley Protected Landscape. As such, stringent measures apply when it comes to
processing such permits.

In the end participants agreed to register their respective furniture shop business
with undertaking to the legitimacy of sources as regards their wood materials. The
activity concluded at around 11:50 AM.
IV. DOCUMENTATION/PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN

During the lecture on forestry laws. Ricardo M. Padernilla, Chief, FPLEU for the provisions of Presidential Decree
No. 705 and EO 23 and Annie Claire E. Tejam, SI1 on the provisions of Republic Act No. 9175 (S.D. Elihay)

During the open forum participants were given the opportunity to ask questions and made some clarifications.(S. D. Elihay)

For information and record.

Ricardo M. Padernilla