Forest Laws Enforcement, Governance

and Trade in the Philippines

By Antonio C. Olizon, Philippine Wood Producers Association

FLEGT
F-orest
L-aw
E-nforcement
G-overnance &
T-rade

FLEGT
International action plan
Effective and efficient enforcement
Carry out proper liberal trade

For Today
Issues and concerns on FLEGT in the
Philippines
Recommendations and actions for
effective FLEGT implementation

Forest laws today

Antiquated
Impractical
Misguided

Antiquated
Outdated
Without Preparation
Contradictory

Sustainable Forest
Management Act

25 years

Impractical and Misguided

Forest Loss
Legal conversion of forest lands to
Alienable and Disposable (A&D)
lands
Illegal logging

Commonwealth Act No. 141

An Act to Amend and
Compile the Laws
Relative to the Lands of
Public Domain

Impractical and Misguided

Impractical and Misguided

F-orest
L-aw
E-nforcement
G-overnance &
T-rade

FLEGT orientation
Regulatory
Punishment
Fault-finding
Impose sanctions

Forestry Governance

Unnecessarily Complicated

T
G
E
L
F

FLEGT without foundation

Ineffective
Harmful

FLEGT without foundation

The Philippines has lost most of
its natural forests while forest
protection, restoration and
development are weak and slow

FLEGT without foundation

From a net exporter of timber
and timber products, we have
become a net importer

FLEGT without foundation

EO 23, as an improvised FLEGT,
has eliminated the role of the
legitimate stakeholders in
sustainable management of the
forests

T
G
E
L
F

The Challenge
Simple
Practical
Doable
Friendly
Measurable
Efficient
Cost-effective

Change current paradigms

Think out-of-the-box
Harness the power of information

A new paradigm
Pass the
Sustainable Forest
Management Act

Sustainable Forest
Management Act

25 years ago

A new paradigm
Have clear and
separate IRRs
Production
forestland vs.
protection
forestland
Natural forest vs.
plantation forest

A new paradigm
Proactive and
not reactive Stricter
monitoring at
the source

Think out-of-the-box
Manning of forest
stations
IEC Strategies
Get responsible
stakeholders

Think out-of-the-box
Cooperation among
agencies
DTI/BOI
DOF/BOC
NEDA
OP/Tariff Commission
NCIP, etc.

Think out-of-the-box
Reform
Transparency
Information exchange
Support sharing

Think out-of-the-box
Timber Industry Board

Think out-of-the-box
Streamlined
processes
The Portfolio Approach

Portfolio Approach
Permits secured
ECC
FPIC, certificate of
precondition, etc

Portfolio Approach
Permits secured
ECC
FPIC, certificate of
precondition, etc

Information is Power
Comprehensive
land-use
database

Information is Power

A real FLEGT
Motivational
Developmental
Rewarding

GRAVE
CRADLE

Walk Tall. Stand Proud.