Pursuant to the provisions of Executive Order No. 263 entitled "Adopting Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM) as the National Strategy to Ensure the Sustainable Development of the Country's Forest Lands Resources and Providing Mechanisms for its Implementation," and consonance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, DAO 99-29 is hereby repealed.

As such, all applications for CBFMAs shall be endorsed individually or jointly by the concerned Legislative Councils of the Barangay, Municipal and Provincial Local Government Units (LGUs) depending on the jurisdiction and coverage of the area in accordance with Sections 4 and 8 of Article III and Section 4 of Article IV of DAO 96-29. In order for the LGUs to fully appreciate the CBFM strategy and facilitate the endorsement process, the PENRO/CENRO, as mandated, shall conduct orientation among the local executives (barangay, municipal and provincial levels) on the CBFM objectives, concepts, principles and activities, among others. In this respect, the PENRO/CENRO shall submit a report on the orientation conducted with attestation of the LGU Head.

Provided, that the concerned LGUs shall act on the CBFMA applications filed in their respective offices by the interested People's Organizations (POs) within a period of fifteen (15) working days. Provided further, that the concerned office of DENR shall process the CBFMA application for failure of the LGUs to act on the said application within the authorized period of fifteen (15) days.

This Order shall take effect 15 days after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgement by the UP Law Center.

Adopted: 20 May 2003

(SGD.) ELISEA G. GOZUN
  Secretary