Quezon City, Philippines — The SFFI National Council President (and concurrent Project Leader to the Project “Advocacy Towards the Passage of the SFM Bill – Phase 2”) Forester Tommy Valdez met with DENR Officials and selected stakeholders to discuss the proposed revisions to the SFMA — filed as Substitute House Bill No. 8179, for submission to the some Legislator-Sponsors
“We have been working very hard on advocating for this Bill for more than three decades now. But without the proposed revisions, we believe that the SFM Bill (in its current form) would not be responsive enough in solving the problems besetting the forestry sector, not to mention the more than 25 million Filipinos depending on forestlands and in forestry as a whole,” narrated Forester Valdez during the November 27, 2020 meeting with Forester Ray Thomas Kabigting (DENR), Foresters Isabelita Austria and Jesus Javier (Forest Management Bureau/FMB), Forester Maila Vasquez of Philippine Wood Producers Association (PWPA), and other SFFI Officers and stakeholders.
Among the key points discussed in the said meeting were on the specific limits of the forest lands, the management of “secondary forests”, the reconstitution of the Forest Management Bureau, incorporation of climate change aspect, the establishment of the Forestry Industrial Economic Zone (FIEZ), and the establishment and management of the Sustainable Forest Development Fund (SFDF) among others.
“Most of the adequately vegetated forest lands right now are mostly managed by IFMA holders. Because of the suspension of their operations mandated under Executive Order No. 23 in 2011, these areas are currently being encroached upon by informal settlers. We need to change our approach in forest management by fully tapping communities and qualified managers and investors. This will not only save the Government billions of pesos but will, more importantly, create sustainable livelihood for our brothers and sisters residing in the uplands,” explained Forester Valdez.
Forester Valdez welcomes the support of the DENR and FMB in its advocacy for the improved version of the SFM Bill and added that networking is underway to meeting with Senators to seek support for the passage of the SFM Bill.
— SFFI/Advocacy Towards the Passage of the SFM Bill – Phase 2_01 December 2020
