A4. Finalize the harmonized and improved SFM Bill
After a series of policy dialogues, the SFFI organized and conducted the SFM Bill Finalization Workshop to agree on the final form and substance of the SFM Bill with the TWG and other forestry stakeholders and resource persons. Said activity was conducted at the Sequoia Hotel in Quezon City on 20-21 July 2018 with 34 participants from 20 organizations (PWMC 1, IFMAP 1, DENR 1, TKI 2, UNDP 1, FMB 4, SFFI 6, HFI 2, FAO 1, RP 1, PWPA 1, NTFP 2, FDC 3, DLSU 1, FPE 1, PCEPSDI 1, UPLB-CFNR 2, IDC 1, PRC 1, and HOR-CNR 1). During the said event, there was a collective resolve that the Sustainable Forest Management Act will be filed following key concepts on watershed planning, forest management units, participatory development, management, consultative governance, reconstitution of the FMB as a line Bureau, and creation of the Sustainable Forest Development Fund (SFDF) among others. However, there were unsettled issues pertaining to forest management strategies in relation to protection and production purposes.
To settle pending concerns on the draft SFM Bill, another pre-TWG meeting-writeshop was conducted at San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC), Brgy. San Roque, San Manuel, Pangasinan on 22-23 August 2018 with Haribon Foundation, Inc, SFFI, and the House Committee on Natural Resources Secretariat participating. DENR and FMB were expected but cancelled attendance due to urgent concerns. A refined draft was agreed during the activity which was submitted to the DENR and FMB for their concurrence.
Upon receiving the draft SFM Bill with DENR and FMB comments, the same was formally transmitted to the HOR-CNR Secretariat for their appropriate action.