Philippines
Key documents required for timber legality and trade of Philippines
Documents at company level
| Key document | Explanation | Validity | Legal authority | Relevant section of the EUTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal registration | Certificate of Registration as Log / Lumber Dealer | Certificate issued by DENR to legally operate as log/lumber dealer (RA No. 1239, series of 1955 and FAO 26, series of 1956. See link for requirements. |
3 years | Regional Director | Legal rights to harvest |
| Certificate of Registration as Importer / Dealer of Imported Wood Materials | A certificate issued by DENR to legally operate as importer/dealer of imported wood materials (DAO 1999-46). See link for requirements. |
Valid for a period not exceeding one (1) year | Regional Director | Legal rights to harvest | |
| Certificate of Origin for Logs, Timber, Lumber and Non-Timber Forest Products | A certificate issued by DENR to ensure that logs, timber, lumber, and non-timber forest products originated from a legal source (DAO 1994-07). See link for requirements. |
Shall be issued on a per shipment/transport basis and shall be valid for a period not exceeding fifteen (15) days | CENRO / Regional Director for National Capital Region with confirmation from FMB | Legal rights to harvest | |
| Chainsaw Registration | A certificate issued to owners, possessors, and/or users of chainsaws (RA 9175 and DAO 2003-24). See link for requirements. |
Valid for two (2) years upon issuance, renewable for the same period | CENRO / Regional Director in the case of National Capital Region |
Legal rights to harvest | |
| Tree Plantation Registration | The DENR issues a Certificate of Tree Plantation Ownership (CTPO) to applicants/tree farmer in private lands (DENR Memorandum Circular 99-20). See link for requirements. |
No expiry period | CENRO | ||
| Wood Processing Plant Permit | The DENR issues a wood processing plant permit to allow operations of sawmill, mini-sawmill, re-saw permit, plywood/veneer plants, blockboards/fiberboard/particle board and other wood-based panel plants and wood treating plants. See DAO 2021-05 for requirements. |
The Permit to Establish and Operate Wood Processing Plant shall be co-terminus with the forestry tenurial instruments issued | For renewal: Regional Director For new WPPs: Undersecretary for Field Operations |
Legal rights to harvest | |
| Tax, fees and royalties | Forestry administrative fees | All fees are listed here: DAO No. 2004-16 which include:
|
Taxes and fees | ||
| Processing | Certificate of Registration as Log / Lumber Dealer | Certificate issued by DENR to legally operate as log/lumber dealer (RA No. 1239, series of 1955 and FAO 26, series of 1956. See link for requirements |
3 years | Regional Director | Legal rights to harvest |
| Chainsaw Registration | A certificate issued to owners, possessors, and/or users of chainsaws (RA 9175 and DAO 2003-24). See link for requirements. | Valid for two (2) years upon issuance, renewable for the same period | CENRO / Regional Director in the case of National Capital Region | Legal rights to harvest | |
| Wood Processing Plant Permit | The DENR issues a wood processing plant permit to allow operations of sawmill, mini-sawmill, re-saw permit, plywood/veneer plants, blockboards/fiberboard/particle board and other wood-based panel plants and wood treating plants. See DAO 2021-05 for requirements. |
For renewal: Regional Director For new WPPs: Undersecretary for Field Operations |
The Permit to Establish and Operate Wood Processing Plant shall be co-terminus with the forestry tenurial instruments issued |
Documents at Forest Management Unit level
| Key document | Explanation | Validity | Legal authority | Relevant section of the EUTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest use rights | Registration as CBFMAs | An agreement entered into by and between the government and a local community, represented by the People’s Organization as forest managers, wherein the latter is granted the right to develop, utilize, manage and conserve specific portions of forest lands. (DAO 1996-29; See link for requirements) |
25 years renewable for another 25 years | DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations | Timber harvesting activities |
| Registration as IFMA | A production sharing contract entered into by and between the government, through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and a qualified applicant wherein the latter is granted the right to develop, manage, protect and utilize a specified area of forestland and forest resources therein. (DAO 1999-53; See link for requirements) |
25 years renewable for another 25 years | DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations | Timber harvesting activities | |
| Registration as SIFMA | An agreement entered into by and between a natural or juridical person and the government thru DENR wherein the latter grants to the former the right to develop, utilize and manage a small tract of forestland consistent with the principle of sustainable development. (DAO 1996-24; See link for requirements) |
25 years renewable for another 25 years | DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations | Timber harvesting activities | |
| Forest management |
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| Timber harvesting permits and activities | Tree Cutting Permit | Permit is a short-term privilege or authority granted by the State to a person to utilize any limited forest resources or undertake a limited activity with any forest land without any right of occupation and possession therein. For planted trees: See DAO 2020-18 for requirements. For naturally growing trees: See DAO 2021-11 for requirements. |
30 days extendible for the same period upon written request by permittee | Naturally-grown trees (infested / dead trees): DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations and Regional Director Planted trees (covered with existing tenure): Regional Director |
Timber harvesting activities |
| Private Land Tree Permit | Permit issued to a landowner for the cutting, gathering and utilization of naturally grown trees in private lands, regardless of species (DAO 2000-21). | 30 days extendible for the same period upon written request by permittee | Naturally-grown trees: DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Planted trees: Regional Director |
Timber harvesting activities | |
| Special Private Land Tree Permit | Permit issued to a landowner specifically for the cutting, gathering and utilization of premium hardwood species including Benguet pine, both planted and naturally-grown trees (DAO 2000-21). | 30 days extendible for the same period upon written request by permittee | Naturally-grown trees: DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Planted trees: Regional Director |
Timber harvesting activities | |
| Environmental and social | Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) | A planning tool certifying that based on the representations of the proponent, the proposed project or undertaking has complied with all the requirements of the EIS System. See link for requirements. |
5 years | Environmentally Critical Projects: Secretary / EMB Director / EMB Regional Director | Third parties’ rights |
| Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) | A certificate that certifies that, based on the submitted Project Description Report, the project is not covered by the EIS System and is not required to secure an ECC. | N/A | EMB Director / EMB Regional Director | Third parties’ rights | |
|
CADT/CALT |
The CADT is a title formally recognizing the rights of possession and ownership of indigenous cultural community/indigenous people (ICC/IP) over their ancestral domains identified and delineated in accordance with the law.> CALT - title being issued by the National Commission of Indigenous People (NCIP) formally recognizing the rights of ICCs/ IPs over their ancestral lands. See link for requirements. |
N/A | NCIP National Chairperson | Third parties’ rights | |
|
Certificate of Precondition |
It refers to the certification issued by the concerned Regional Director of NCIP attesting to the fact that the area affected by a particular plan, program, project or activity does not overlap with any ancestral domain. | N/A | NCIP National Chairperson | Third parties’ rights | |
| Forest Tax, fees and Royalties | Forestry administration fees | See Section 3 Legality Profile (Taxes and fees). All fees are listed here: DAO No. 2004-16 which include:
|
Taxes and fees |
Documents at product level (Chain of Custody)
| Key document | Explanation | Validity | Legal authority | Relevant section of the EUTR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport / Trade / Export | Certification (Transport permit) | Transport document for tenure instruments (CBFMA, IFMA, SIFMA) and PLTP (Private Land Tree Plantations). A certification stating that products are from tenured/managed forest plantations or from the landowner’s property (DAO 2020-18). |
N/A | Issued by a third-party Tree Plantation Certifier duly registered or accredited by DENR | Trade and transport |
| Exportation of Finished and semi-finished wood products | Transport documents for securing export authority for finished and semi-finished wood products. See DAO 1991-54 for requirements. |
N/A | Regional Director | Trade and transport | |
| Transport Documents for Imported Wood Products | Transport documents to accompany the movement of transport of imported wood materials from port of entry to the point of destination. See section 8 of DAO 2021-06 for requirements. |
N/A | Regional Director | Trade and transport |