REQUIRING THAT ALL PUBLIC FORESTS BE DEVELOPED, MANAGED, AND UTILIZED ON A SUSTAINED YIELD BASIS WITH THE BENEFIT OF TECHNICAL FORESTRY KNOW-HOW OF REGISTERED FORESTERS

WHEREAS, the Philippine forests are the patrimony of the
Filipino people and as such they have to be developed, managed, and
utilized in such a manner as to insure their perpetuity in productive
condition for the benefit of all Filipinos, living or yet to be born;

WHEREAS, the grandeur and productivity of our Philippine
mountains, our vital watersheds, once verdant with forests and abundant
with game and wildlife, have been despoiled and diminished by disregard
of sound forestry principles and practices;

WHEREAS, there is now an urgent need to develop, manage and
utilize the Philippine forests scientifically by the application of
sound technical forestry knowledge; and

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 6239 has professionalized the
practice of forestry so as to provide the needed expertise in
safeguarding public interest in the development, management, and
utilization of Philippine forests;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the
Philippines, by virtue of the powers in me vested by the Constitution as
Commander-in-Chief of all the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and
pursuant to Proclamation No. 1081, dated September 21, 1972, and General
Order No. 1, dated September 22, 1972, as amended, do hereby order and
decree:

SECTION 1. All holders of timber licenses, leases and/or
permits are hereby required to employ and/or engage the services of
registered foresters in accordance with rules and regulations
promulgated for the purpose.

SEC. 2. All holders of long-term license or lease
agreements shall establish and maintain their own forestry department
for the purposes envisioned in this Decree and these offices shall be
under registered foresters.

These offices shall collaborate with the Government through its
forestry development officials the preparation and implementation of
forest management plans, the supervision of selective logging programs
and such other silvicultural systems as may be prescribed by the Bureau
of Forest Development and shall be responsible for the implementation of
these forestry policies as enumerated in Section 2 of Republic Act No.
6239.

SEC. 3. All documents on technical forestry matters
prepared and submitted by a registered forester shall bear his signature
and seal.

SEC. 4. The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural
Resources shall promulgate rules and regulations for the effective
implementation of this Decree upon recommendation of the Director of the
Bureau of Forest Development and the Chairman of the Foresters Board of
the Professional Regulations Commission.

SEC. 5. Failure to comply with the provisions of this
Decree and the rules and regulations as may be promulgated hereafter
shall be sufficient cause for the immediate cancellation of the license,
lease, or permit, confiscation of bond, and permanent disqualification
from acquiring another similar license, lease or permit.

SEC. 6. This Decree shall take effect immediately.

Done in the City of Manila, this 8th day of November, in the
year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-three.