PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO.

705
REVISING PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 389, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
FORESTRY REFORM CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES
SECTION 3. Definitions.
c) Alienable and disposable lands refer to those lands of the public domain which have
been the subject of the present system of classification and declared as not needed for
forest purposes
q) Forest products means timber, pulpwood, firewood, bark, tree top, resin, gum, wood, oil,
honey, beeswax, nipa, rattan, or other forest growth such as grass, shrub, and flowering
plant, the associated water, fish, game, scenic, historical, recreational and geologic
resources in forest lands.
cc) Lease is a privilege granted by the State to a person to occupy and possess, in
consideration of specified rental, any forest land of the public domain in order to undertake
any authorized activity therein.
dd) License is a privilege granted by the State to a person to utilize forest resources within
any forest land, without any right of occupation and possession over the same, to the
exclusion of others, or establish and operate a wood-processing plant, or conduct any
activity involving the utilization of any forest resources.
ee) License agreement is a privilege granted by the State to a person to utilize forest
resources within any forest land with the right of possession and occupation thereof to the
exclusion of others, except the government, but with the corresponding obligation to
develop, protect and rehabilitate the same in accordance with the terms and conditions set
forth in said agreement.
ff) Permit is short-term privilege or authority granted by the State to a person to utilize any
limited forest resources or undertake a limited activity within any forest land without any right
of occupation and possession therein.
SECTION 15. Topography. No land of the public domain eighteen per cent (18%) in slope or
over shall be classified as alienable and disposable, nor any forest land fifty per cent (50%) in
slope or over, as grazing land.
Lands eighteen per cent (18%) in slope or over which have already been declared as
alienable and disposable shall be reverted to the classification of forest lands by the
Department Head, to form part of the forest reserves, unless they are already covered by
existing titles or approved public land application, or actually occupied openly,
continuously, adversely and publicly for a period of not less than thirty (30) years as of the
effectivity of this Code, where the occupant is qualified for a free patent under the Public
Land Act: Provided, That said lands, which are not yet part of a well-established
communities, shall be kept in a vegetative condition sufficient to prevent erosion and
adverse effects on the lowlands and streams: Provided, Further, That when public interest so
requires, steps shall be taken to expropriate, cancel defective titles, reject public land
application, or eject occupants thereof.
SECTION 16. Areas Needed for Forest Purposes. The following lands, even if they are below
eighteen per cent (18%) in slope, are needed for forest purposes, and may not, therefore, be
classified as alienable and disposable land, to wit:
1) Areas less than 250 hectares which are far from, or are not contiguous with, any certified
alienable and disposable land;
2) Isolated patches of forest of at least five (5) hectares with rocky terrain, or which protect a
spring for communal use;
3) Areas which have already been reforested;

4) Areas within forest concessions which are timbered or have good residual stocking to
support an existing, or approved to be established, wood processing plant;
5) Ridge tops and plateaus regardless of size found within, or surrounded wholly or partly by,
forest lands where headwaters emanate;
6) Appropriately located road-rights-or-way;
7) Twenty-meter strips of land along the edge of the normal high waterline of rivers and
streams with channels of at least five (5) meters wide;
8) Strips of mangrove or swamplands at least twenty (20) meters wide, along shorelines
facing oceans, lakes, and other bodies of water, and strips of land at least twenty (20)
meters wide facing lakes;
9) Areas needed for other purposes, such as national parks, national historical sites, game
refuges and wildlife sanctuaries, forest station sites, and others of public interest; and
10) Areas previously proclaimed by the President as forest reserves, national parks, game
refuge, bird sanctuaries, national shrines, national historic sites:
Provided, That in case an area falling under any of the foregoing categories shall have been
titled in favor of any person, steps shall be taken, if public interest so requires, to have said
title cancelled or amended, or the titled area expropriated.
SECTION 20. License Agreement, License, Lease or Permit. No person may utilize, exploit,
occupy, possess or conduct any activity within any forest and grazing land, or establish,
install, add and operate any wood or forest products processing plant, unless he had been
authorized to do under a license agreement, license, lease or permit: Provided, That when
the national interest so requires, the President may amend, modify, replace, or rescind any
contract, concession, permit, license, or any other form of privilege granted herein:
Provided, further, That upon the recommendation of the appropriate government agency,
the President may, pending the conduct of appropriate hearing, order the summary
suspension of any such contract, concession, license, permit, lease or privilege granted
under this decree for violation of any of the condition therein such as those pertaining but
not limited to reforestation, pollution, environmental protection, export limitation or such
condition as are prescribed by the Minister of Natural Resources in daily issued regulations.
SECTION 27. Duration of License Agreement or License to Harvest Timber in Forest Lands.
The duration of the privilege to harvest timber in any particular forest land under a license
agreement or license shall be fixed and determined in accordance with the annual
allowable cut therein, the established cutting cycle thereof, the yield capacity of
harvestable timber, and the capacity of healthy residuals for a second growth.
The privilege shall automatically terminate, even before the expiration of the license
agreement of license, the moment the harvestable timber have been utilized without
leaving any logged-over area capable of commercial utilization.
The maximum period of any privilege to harvest timber is twenty-five (25) years, renewable
for a period, not exceeding twenty-five (25) years, necessary to utilize all the remaining
commercial quantity or harvestable timber either from the unlogged or logged-over area.
It shall be a condition for the continued privilege to harvest timber under any license or
license agreement that the licensee shall reforest all the areas which shall be determined by
the Bureau
SECTION 68. Measuring of Forest Products and Invoicing and Collection of Charges Thereon.
The duties incident to the measuring of forest products shall be discharged by the Forest
Management Bureau under regulations of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. The invoicing and collection of the charges thereon shall be done by the Forest
Management Bureau under regulations approved by the Secretary of Environment and
Natural Resources.

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE CUTTING, DESTROYING OR INJURING OF PLANTED OR GROWING

TREES, FLOWERING PLANTS AND SHRUBS
OR PLANTS OF SCENIC VALUE ALONG PUBLIC ROADS, IN PLAZAS, PARKS, SCHOOL PREMISES
OR IN ANY OTHER PUBLIC GROUND.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 3571

SEC. 3. No cutting, destroying, or injuring of planted or growing trees, flowering plants and
shrubs or plants of scenic value along public roads, in plazas parks, school premises or in any
other public ground shall be permitted save when the cutting, destroying, or injuring of same
is necessary for public safety, or such pruning of same is necessary to enhance its beauty
and only upon the recommendation of the committee mentioned in the preceding section,
and upon the approval of the Director of Parks and Wildlife. The cutting, destroying, or
pruning
shall
be
under
the
supervision
of
the committee.
SEC. 4. Any person who shall cut, destroy or injure trees, flowering plants and shrubs or plants
of scenic value mentioned in the preceding sections of this Act, shall be punished by prison
correctional in its minimum period to prison mayor in its minimum period.
ACT NO. 3572
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE CUTTING OF TINDALO, AKLE, OR MOLAVE TREES, UNDER CERTAIN
CONDITIONS, AND TO PENALIZE VIOLATIONS THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Legislature

assembled and by the authority of the same:
Section 1. The cutting in the public forests of tindalo, akle, or molave trees less than sixty
centimeters in diameter measured at a height of four feet from the ground (breast high) is
hereby prohibited.
Sec. 2. Any person, company, or corporation violating the provisions of this Act shall be
punished by a fine of not more than fifty pesos or imprisonment for not more than fifteen
days, or both, and to pay, besides, two times the amount of the tax on the timber cut:
Provided, That in the case of a company or corporation, the president or manager shall be
directly responsible for the acts of his employees or laborers if it is proven that the latter
acted with his knowledge; otherwise the responsibility will extend only as far as fine is
concerned: Provided, further, That all tindalo, akle or molave timber cut in violation of this
Act shall be forfeited to the Government.
Sec. 3. All acts and provisions of law inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Sec. 4. This Act shall take effect on its approval
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7586
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL INTEGRATED
PROTECTED AREAS SYSTEM, DEFINING ITS SCOPE AND COVERAGE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be defined as
follows:
(b) "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;

Sec. 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, fences 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.
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
Definition of Terms
SECTION 3.
mean:

Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall

a)
Ancestral Domains Subject to Section 56 hereof, refer to all areas generally
belonging to ICCs/IPs comprising lands, inland waters, coastal areas, and natural resources
therein, held under a claim of ownership, occupied or possessed by ICCs/IPs, by themselves
or through their ancestors, communally or individually since time immemorial, continuously to
the present except when interrupted by war, force majeure or displacement by force,
deceit, stealth or as a consequence of government projects or any other voluntary dealings
entered into by government and private individuals/corporations, and which are necessary
to ensure their economic, social and cultural welfare. It shall include ancestral lands, forests,
pasture, residential, agricultural, and other lands individually owned whether alienable and
disposable or otherwise, hunting grounds, burial grounds, worship areas, bodies of water,
mineral and other natural resources, and lands which may no longer be exclusively
occupied by ICCs/IPs but from which they traditionally had access to for their subsistence
and traditional activities, particularly the home ranges of ICCs/IPs who are still nomadic
and/or shifting cultivators;
b)
Ancestral Lands Subject to Section 56 hereof, refers to land occupied,
possessed and utilized by individuals, families and clans who are members of the ICCs/IPs
since time immemorial, by themselves or through their predecessors-in-interest, under claims
of individual or traditional group ownership, continuously, to the present except when
interrupted by war, force majeure or displacement by force, deceit, stealth, or as a
consequence of government projects and other voluntary dealings entered into by
government and private individuals/corporations, including, but not limited to, residential
lots, rice terraces or paddies, private forests, swidden farms and tree lots;
c)
Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title refers to a title formally recognizing the
rights of possession and ownership of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral domains identified and
delineated in accordance with this law;

d)
Certificate of Ancestral Lands Title refers to a title formally recognizing the rights
of ICCs/IPs over their ancestral lands;
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9147
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES
AND THEIR HABITATS, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Sec. 5. Definition of Terms. As used in the Act, the term:
(a) "Bioprospecting" means the research, collection and utilization of biological and genetic
resources for purposes of applying the knowledge derived there from solely for commercial
purposes;cralaw
Sec. 7. Collection of Wildlife. Collection of wildlife may be allowed in accordance with Sec. 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 Sec. 23 of this Act shall govern the collection of threatened
species.
Sec. 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,
That the source was not obtained in violation of this Act.
Sec. 9. Collection and/or Possession of By-Products and Derivatives. By-products and
derivatives may be collected and/or possessed: Provided, That the source was not obtained
in violation of this Act.
Sec. 10. Local Transport of Wildlife, By-Products and Derivatives. - Local transport of wildlife,
by-products and derivatives collected or possessed through any other means shall be
authorized unless the same is prejudicial to the wildlife and public health.
Sec. 14. Bioprospecting. - Bioprospecting shall be allowed upon execution of an undertaking
by any proponent, stipulating therein its compliance with and commitment(s) to reasonable
terms and conditions that may be imposed by the Secretary which are necessary to protect
biological diversity.
The Secretary or the authorized representative, in consultation with the concerned agencies,
before granting the necessary permit, shall require that prior informed consent be obtained
by the applicant from the concerned indigenous cultural communities, local communities,
management board under Republic Act No. 7586 or private individual or entity. The
applicant shall disclose fully the intent and scope of the bioprospecting activity in a
language and process understandable to the community. The prior informed consent from
the indigenous peoples shall be obtained in accordance with existing laws. The action on
the bioprospecting proposal by concerned bodies shall be made within a reasonable
period.
Upon submission of the complete requirements, the Secretary shall act on the research
proposal within a reasonable period.
If the applicant is a foreign entity or individual, a local institution should be actively involved
in the research, collection and, whenever applicable and appropriate in the technological
development of the products derived from the biological and genetic resources.
Sec. 15. Scientific Researches on Wildlife. Collection and utilization of biological resources for
scientific research and not for commercial purposes shall be allowed upon execution of an
undertaking/agreement with and issuance of a gratuitous permit by the Secretary or the
authorized representative: Provided, That prior clearance from concerned bodies shall be
secured before the issuance of the gratuitous permit: Provided, further, That the last
paragraph of Sec. 14 shall likewise apply.

Sec. 27. Illegal Acts. - Unless otherwise allowed in accordance with this Act, it shall be
unlawful for any person to willfully and knowingly exploit wildlife resources and their habitats,
or undertake the following acts;cralaw
(a) killing and destroying wildlife species, except in the following instances;
(i) when it is done as part of the religious rituals of established tribal groups or indigenous
cultural communities;cralaw
(ii) when the wildlife is afflicted with an incurable communicable disease;cralaw
(iii) when it is deemed necessary to put an end to the misery suffered by the wildlife;cralaw
(iv) when it is done to prevent an imminent danger to the life or limb of a human being; and
(v) when the wildlife is killed or destroyed after it has been used in authorized research or
experiments. cjuris
(b) inflicting injury which cripples and/or impairs the reproductive system of wildlife
species;cralaw
(c) effecting any of the following acts in critical habitat(s)
(i) dumping of waste products detrimental to wildlife;cralaw
(ii) squatting or otherwise occupying any portion of the critical habitat;cralaw
(iii) mineral exploration and/or extraction;cralaw
(iv) burning;cralaw
(v) logging; and
(vi) quarrying cjuris
(d) introduction, reintroduction or restocking of wildlife resources;cralaw
(e) trading of wildlife;cralaw
(f) collecting, hunting or possessing wildlife, their by-products and derivatives;cralaw
(g) gathering or destroying of active nests, nest trees, host plants and the like;cralaw
(h) maltreating and/or inflicting other injuries not covered by the preceding paragraph; and
(i) transporting of wildlife.
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1151
PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
WHEREAS, the individual and, at times, conflicting, demands of population growth,
urbanization, industrial expansion, rapid natural resources utilization and increasing
technological advances have resulted in a piecemeal-approach concept of environmental
protection;
WHEREAS, such tunnel-vision concept is not conducive to the attainment of an ideal
environmental situation where man and nature can thrive in harmony with one another; and
WHEREAS, there is now an urgent need to formulate an intensive, integrated program of
environmental protection that will bring about a concerted effort towards the protection of
the entire spectrum of the environment through a requirement of environmental impact
assessments and statements:
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby order and decree:
Section 1. Policy. It is hereby declared a continuing policy of the State (a) to create,
develop, maintain and improve conditions under which man and nature can thrive in
productive and enjoyable harmony with each other, (b) to fulfill the social, economic and
other requirements of present and future generations of Filipinos, and (c) to insure the
attainment of an environmental quality that is conducive to a life of dignity and well-being.
Sec. 2. Goal. In pursuing this policy, it shall be the responsibility of the Government, in
cooperation with concerned private organizations and entities, to use all practicable
means, consistent with other essential considerations of national policy, in promoting the
general welfare to the end that the Nation may (a) recognize, discharge and fulfill the
responsibilities of each generation as trustee and guardian of the environment for
succeeding generations, (b) assure the people of a safe, decent, healthful, productive and
aesthetic environment, (c) encourage the widest exploitation of the environment without
degrading it, or endangering human life, health and safety or creating conditions adverse to
agriculture, commerce and industry, (d) preserve important historic and cultural aspects of

the Philippine heritage, (e) attain a rational and orderly balance between population and
resource use, and (f) improve the utilization of renewable and non-renewable resources.
Sec. 3. Right to a Healthy Environment. In furtherance of these goals and policies, the
Government recognizes the right of the people to a healthful environment. It shall be the
duty and responsibility of each individual to contribute to the preservation and
enhancement of the Philippine environment.
Sec. 4. Environmental Impact Statements. Pursuant to the above enunciated policies and
goals, all agencies and instrumentalities of the national government, including governmentowned or controlled corporations, as well as private corporations firms and entities shall
prepare, file and include in every action, project or undertaking which significantly affects
the quality of the environment a detail statement on
(a) the environmental impact of the proposed action, project or undertaking
(b) any adverse environmental effect which cannot be avoided should the proposal be
implemented;
(c) alternative to the proposed action;
(d) a determination that the short-term uses of the resources of the environment are
consistent with the maintenance and enhancement of the long-term productivity of the
same; and
(e) whenever a proposal involve the use of depletable or non-renewable resources, a
finding must be made that such use and commitment are warranted.
Before an environmental impact statement is issued by a lead agency, all agencies having
jurisdiction over, or special expertise on, the subject matter involved shall comment on the
draft environmental impact statement made by the lead agency within thirty (30) days from
receipt of the same.
Sec. 5. Agency Guidelines. The different agencies charged with environmental protection as
enumerated in Letter of Instruction No. 422 shall, within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Decree, submit to the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC), their respective
guidelines, rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of Sec. 4 hereof on environmental
impact assessments and statements.
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. All Acts, Presidential Decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.
Sec. 7. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect immediately.
Done in the City of Manila this 6th day of June in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and
seventy-nine.
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE No. 1586
ESTABLISHING AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING OTHER
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT RELATED MEASURES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Sec. 2. Environmental Impact Statement System. There is hereby established an
Environmental Impact Statement System founded and based on the environmental impact
statement required, under Sec. 4 of Presidential Decree No. 1151, of all agencies and
instrumentalities of the national government, including government-owned or controlled
corporations, as well as private corporations, firms and entities, for every proposed project
and undertaking which significantly affect the quality of the environment.
Sec. 4. Presidential Proclamation of Environmentally Critical Areas and Projects. The President
of the Philippines may, on his own initiative or upon recommendation of the National
Environmental Protection Council, by proclamation declare certain projects, undertakings or

areas in the country as environmentally critical. No person, partnership or corporation shall

undertake or operate any such declared environmentally critical project or area without first
securing an Environmental Compliance Certificate issued by the President or his duly
authorized representative. For the proper management of said critical project or area, the
President may by his proclamation reorganize such government offices, agencies,
institutions, corporations or instrumentalities including the re-alignment of government
personnel, and their specific functions and responsibilities.
For the same purpose as above, the Ministry of Human Settlements shall: (a) prepare the
proper land or water use pattern for said critical project(s) or area (s); (b) establish ambient
environmental quality standards; (c) develop a program of environmental enhancement or
protective measures against calamituous factors such as earthquake, floods, water erosion
and others, and (d) perform such other functions as may be directed by the President from
time to time.
Sec. 5. Environmentally Non-Critical Projects. All other projects, undertakings and areas not
declared by the President as environmentally critical shall be considered as non-critical and
shall not be required to submit an environmental impact statement. The National
Environmental Protection Council, thru the Ministry of Human Settlements may however
require non-critical projects and undertakings to provide additional environmental
safeguards as it may deem necessary.
Sec. 9. Penalty for Violation. Any person, corporation or partnership found violating Sec. 4 of
this Decree, or the terms and conditions in the issuance of the Environmental Compliance
Certificate, or of the standards, rules and regulations issued by the National Environmental
Protection Council pursuant to this Decree shall be punished by the suspension or
cancellation of his/its certificate or and/or a fine in an amount not to exceed Fifty Thousand
Pesos (P50,000.00) for every violation thereof, at the discretion of the National Environmental
Protection Council.
PROCLAMATION NO. 2146
PROCLAIMING CERTAIN AREAS AND TYPES OF PROJECTS AS ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL
AND WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SYSTEM ESTABLISHED
UNDER PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1586.
WHEREAS, it is the national policy to attain and maintain a rational and orderly balance
between socio-economic growth and environmental conservation and protection;
WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to bring about an intensive, integrated program of
environmental protection through a requirement of environmental impact assessments and
statements;
WHEREAS, the environmental impact statement system established under Presidential
Decree No, 1586 calls for the proper management of environmentally critical areas;
WHEREAS, the pursuit of a comprehensive and integrated environmental protection program
necessitates the establishment and institutionalization of a system whereby the exigencies of
socio-economic undertakings can be reconciled with the requirements of environmental
protection and conservation;
WHEREAS, the national leadership mandates the establishment of such a system to regulate
and minimize the environmental impacts of projects and undertakings which may
significantly affect the quality of the environment in Presidential Decree No. 1586; and
WHEREAS, in the effective implementation of such a system, there arises the need to identify
and declare certain projects determined to be environmentally critical;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the
powers vested in me by law, hereby proclaim the following areas and types of projects as
environmentally critical and within the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement
System;
A. Environmentally Critical Projects

I. Heavy Industries
a. Non-ferrous metal industries
b. Iron and steel mills
c. Petroleum and petro-chemical industries including oil and gas
d. Smelting plants
II. Resource Extractive Industries
a. Major mining and quarrying projects
b. Forestry projects
1. Logging
2. Major wood processing projects
3. Introduction of fauna (exotic-animals) in public/private forests
4. Forest occupancy
5. Extraction of mangrove products
6. Grazing
c. Fishery Projects
1. Dikes for/and fishpond development projects
III. Infrastructure Projects
a. Major dams
b. Major power plants (fossil-fueled, nuclear fueled, hydroelectric or geothermal)
c. Major reclamation projects
d. Major roads and bridges
B. Environmentally Critical Areas
1. All areas declared by law as national parks, watershed reserves, wildlife preserves and
sanctuaries;
2. Areas set aside as aesthetic potential tourist spots;
3. Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened species of
indigenous Philippine Wildlife (flora and fauna);
4. Areas of unique historic, archaeological, or scientific interests;
5. Areas which are traditionally occupied by cultural communities or tribes;
6. Areas frequently visited and/or hard-hit by natural calamities (geologic hazards, floods,
typhoons, volcanic activity, etc.);
7. Areas with critical slopes;
8. Areas classified as prime agricultural lands;
9. Recharged areas of aquifers;
10. Water bodies characterized by one or any combination of the following conditions;
a. tapped for domestic purposes
b. within the controlled and/or protected areas declared by appropriate authorities
c. which support wildlife and fishery activities
11. Mangrove areas characterized by one or any combination of the following conditions:
a. with primary pristine and dense young growth;
b. adjoining mouth of major river systems;
c. near or adjacent to traditional productive fry or fishing grounds;

d. which act as natural buffers against shore erosion, strong winds and storm floods;
e. on which people are dependent for their livelihood.
12. Coral reefs characterized by one or any combinations of the following conditions:
a. With 50% and above live coralline cover;
b. Spawning and nursery grounds for fish;
c. which act as natural breakwater of coastlines.
This Proclamation shall take effect immediately.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of
the Philippines to be affixed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 14th day of December, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen
hundred and eighty-one.