WHEREAS, Section 16, Article II of the Constitution provides that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature;

WHEREAS, Executive Order (EO) No. 26 (s. 2011) or the œNational Greening Program  was implemented as a government priority program to reduce poverty, promote food security, environmental stability and biodiversity conservation, and enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation;

WHEREAS, in its Global Forest Resources Assessment for CY 2015, the Food and Agriculture Organization ranked the Philippines as 5 th worldwide in the greatest forest area gain from 2010 to 2015;

WHEREAS, with the threat of climate change, forests and forestry remain as the carbon sink that could sustain the industrial development and economic growth of the country;

WHEREAS, there is still an estimated 7.1 million hectares of unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands which contribute to environment-related risks such as soil erosion, landslides, and flooding;

WHEREAS, in order to accelerate the rehabilitation and reforestation of these unproductive, denuded and degraded areas, the Government shall involve the participation and investment of the private sector with a view towards enabling private companies to achieve carbon neutrality; and

WHEREAS, consistent with the updated Master Plan for Forestry Development (2016 - 2028), there is a need to harmonize all forest development activities that will encourage and enhance development of forest plantations including forest parks, with greater participation from the private sector, local government units and organized upland communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BENIGNO S. AQUINO III, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order:

SECTION 1. Expanded National Greening Program. The coverage of the National Greening Program is hereby expanded to cover all the remaining unproductive, denuded and degraded forestlands and its period of implementation is likewise extended from 2016 to 2028.

All sectors, particularly the private sector, are encouraged to actively participate in the Expanded National Greening Program.

SECTION 2. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is hereby directed to issue the appropriate rules and regulations within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Order.

SECTION 3. Funding. The funding necessary for the implementation of this Order shall be charged against the current appropriation of the DENR. Subsequent funding requirements shall be incorporated in the annual budget proposal of the DENR through the General Appropriations Act.

SECTION 4. Separability. If any provision of this Order be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions unaffected thereby shall remain valid and subsisting.

SECTION 5. Repeal. All orders, proclamations, rules, regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Order are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 6. Effectivity. This Order shall take effect immediately.

DONE, in the City of Manila, this 12th day of November, in the year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Fifteen.

(SGD.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

By the President:

(SGD.) PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR.
Executive Secretary