PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No.

705 May 19, 1975

REVISING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 389, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE FORESTRY REFORM CODE OF
THE PHILIPPINES
WHEREAS, proper classification, management and utilization of the lands of the public domain to maximize their
productivity to meet the demands of our increasing population is urgently needed;
WHEREAS, to achieve the above purpose, it is necessary to reassess the multiple uses of forest lands and resources
before allowing any utilization thereof to optimize the benefits that can be derived therefrom;
WHEREAS, it is also imperative to place emphasis not only on the utilization thereof but more so on the protection,
rehabilitation and development of forest lands, in order to ensure the continuity of their productive condition;
WHEREAS, the present laws and regulations governing forest lands are not responsive enough to support reoriented government programs, projects and efforts on the proper classification and delimitation of the lands of the
public domain, and the management, utilization, protection, rehabilitation, and development of forest lands;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested
by the Constitution, do hereby revise Presidential Decree No. 389 to read as follows:
Section 1. Title of this Code. This decree shall be known as the "Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines."
Section 2. Policies. The State hereby adopts the following policies:
(a) The multiple uses of forest lands shall be oriented to the development and progress requirements of the
country, the advancement of science and technology, and the public welfare;
(b) Land classification and survey shall be systematized and hastened;
(c) The establishment of wood-processing plants shall be encouraged and rationalized; and
(d) The protection, development and rehabilitation of forest lands shall be emphasized so as to ensure their
continuity in productive condition.

Republic Act 7586 otherwise known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992
provides the legal framework for the establishment and management of protected areas in the Philippines. The Law
defines protected areas as the identified portions of land and/or water set aside by reason of their unique physical
and biological significance, managed to enhance biological diversity and protected against destructive human
exploration. The establishment and management of protected areas are part of the international commitments signed
by the Philippine Government such Convention on Biological Diversity, Ramsar Convention, World Heritage
Convention, Convention on Migratory Species, and the ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation of Nature and
Natural Resources.
The implementation of the NIPAS Act is currently on its 19th year. It is implemented originally through DENR
Administrative Order No. 25, Series of 1992. The said DENR Administrative Order was amended pursuant to DAO
2008-26 dated 24 December 2008. This Administrative Order sets the procedures for the establishment,
administration, management and development of the System.

The NIPAS Act identified 202 initial components comprising of proclaimed national parks, game refuge and wildlife
sanctuaries, nature reserves, wilderness areas, mangrove reserves, watershed reservations, fish sanctuaries,
protected landscapes and seascapes, among others prior to the effectivity of the NIPAS Act. The identified initial
components of NIPAS cover an approximate area of 2.57 million hectares. These areas will be maintained as part of
the NIPAS until such time that they are finally assessed as to their suitability for inclusion to the System. There are
one hundred twelve (112) protected areas formally proclaimed by the President under the System covering 3.54
million hectares. Seventy (70) out of the 112 are initial components with an area of 1.97 million hectares and forty-two
(42) additional areas with an area of 1.57 million hectares. Of the 112 proclaimed protected areas, 29 are marine
protected areas with a total area of 1.37 million hectares while 83 are terrestrial protected areas covering an area of
2.17 million hectares.
Nine (9) of the initial components and four (4) additional areas have specific laws for their establishment under the
System. These are Batanes Island Protected Landscape and Seascape-R2, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park-R2,
Mts. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape-R4A, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park-R4B, Mt. Kanla-on Natural
Park-R6, Sagay Marine Reserve-R6, Central Cebu Protected Landscape-R7, Mimbilisan Protected Landscape-R10,
Mt. Kitanglad Range Protected Area-R10, Mt. Malindang Natural Park-R10, Mt. Apo Natural Park-R11, Mt.
Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary-R11 and Bangan Hill Natural Park-R2.
In terms of administration, the NIPAS Act requires the creation of respective Protected Area Management Board
(PAMB) which is a multi-sectoral and decision making body for each of the protected area established under the
NIPAS. As of June 2011, there are one hundred seventy-eight (178) protected areas with organized/appointed
Management Boards: 97 PAs with PAMB are proclaimed under the NIPAS (65 PAs are initial components and 32 PAs
are additional areas). Out of the 97 proclaimed PAs with PAMB, 2 are under the management of Palawan Council for
Sustainable Development (PCSD) and City Government of Puerto Princesa, 1 is under the Protected Areas and
Wildlife Bureau (PAWB). On the other hand, out of the 178 protected areas with PAMB, 73 protected areas are
unproclaimed initial components and 8 are proposed areas for proclamation under the NIPAS.
With regard to the financing of the System, there are one hundred and forty-nine (149) protected areas with
established Integrated Protected Area Fund (IPAF), of which 95 protected areas have active IPAF collections and
utilization. As of June 2011, a total income of Php 204,824,951.22 has been generated by the System. On the same
period, a total amount of Php 127,212,987.51 was utilized.
Furthermore, there were sixty-eight (68) support policies issued by the DENR including the newly approved Revised
IRR of the NIPAS Act.
In recognition of the importance of the biological diversity of the Philippines, several protected areas have been
designated as World Heritage Sites (Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park and Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National
Park), Ramsar Sites (Olango Island Wildlife Sanctuary, Agusan Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Naujan Lake National Park,
and Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park), Transboundary Protected Areas (Turtle Islands Wildlife Sanctuary) and the
ASEAN Heritage Parks (Mt. Apo Natural Park, Mts. Iglit-Baco National Park and Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park).

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8371

AN ACT TO RECOGNIZE, PROTECT AND PROMOTE THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS CULTURAL
COMMUNITIES/INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, CREATING A NATIONAL COMMISSION ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,
ESTABLISHING IMPLEMENTING MECHANISMS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

CHAPTER I
General Provisions
SECTION 1. Short Title. This Act shall be known as The Indigenous Peoples Rights Act of 1997.
SECTION 2. Declaration of State Policies. The State shall recognize and promote all the rights of Indigenous
Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) hereunder enumerated within the framework of the
Constitution:
a) The State shall recognize and promote the rights of ICCs/IPs within the framework of national unity and
development;
b) The State shall protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to their ancestral domains to ensure their economic, social and
cultural well being and shall recognize the applicability of customary laws governing property rights or relations in
determining the ownership and extent of ancestral domain;

c) The State shall recognize, respect and protect the rights of ICCs/IPs to preserve and develop their cultures,
traditions and institutions. It shall consider these rights in the formulation of national laws and policies;
d) The State shall guarantee that members of the ICCs/IPs regardless of sex, shall equally enjoy the full measure of
human rights and freedoms without distinction or discrimination;
e) The State shall take measures, with the participation of the ICCs/IPs concerned, to protect their rights and
guarantee respect for their cultural integrity, and to ensure that members of the ICCs/IPs benefit on an equal footing
from the rights and opportunities which national laws and regulations grant to other members of the population; and
f) The State recognizes its obligations to respond to the strong expression of the ICCs/IPs for cultural integrity by
assuring maximum ICC/IP participation in the direction of education, health, as well as other services of ICCs/IPs, in
order to render such services more responsive to the needs and desires of these communities.
Towards these ends, the State shall institute and establish the necessary mechanisms to enforce and guarantee the
realization of these rights, taking into consideration their customs, traditions, values, beliefs, interests and institutions,
and to adopt and implement measures to protect their rights to their ancestral domains

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 90729135

April 8, 2001

AN ACT TO MANAGE AND PROTECT CAVES AND CAVE RESOURCES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known as the "National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection
Act."
Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to conserve, protect and manage caves
and cave resources as part of the country's natural wealth. Towards this end, the State shall strengthen cooperation

and exchange of information between governmental authorities and people who utilize caves and cave resources for
scientific, educational, recreational, tourism and other purposes.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147

July 30, 2001

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES AND THEIR
HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
CHAPTER I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Title. This act shall be known as the "Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act."
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.
Republic Act No. 9175

November 7, 2002

AN ACT REGULATING THE OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, SALE, IMPORTATION AND USE OF CHAIN SAWS,
PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Chain Saw Act of 2002".
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.