Guidelines on the Inventory of Structures within Forest Lands

DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-16

Subject: Guidelines on the Inventory of Structures within Forest Lands

Signed: May 8, 2025 . Published: Manila Standard, June 11, 2025

Legal Basis

PD 705 (Revised Forestry Code), as amended; Executive Order No. 192, s. 1987; Executive Order No. 263, s. 1995 (Community-Based Forest Management); RA 7586 as amended by RA 11038 (E-NIPAS Act); and RA 8371 (Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act).

SECTION 2. Objectives

Systematically identify and document all existing structures within forest lands (type, size, status) as baseline data; integrate the inventory with GIS and remote sensing; and report findings transparently for decision-making.

SECTION 3. Scope

All vertical and horizontal structures, permanent or temporary, within forest lands, including unclassified public forests, but excluding plantations and reforestation projects. Data collected include structure type, status, construction material, basis of occupation, owner or responsible person, location, and geotagged photos.

SECTION 5. Location Categories and Data

Structures are grouped into six location categories: untenured forest lands within perennial croplands; untenured forest with forest cover and 0 to 18% slope; untenured forest with forest cover above 18% slope; untenured forest with other land cover; untenured forest within CADT/CALT areas; and tenured forest lands. Base data come from NAMRIA (land classification, land cover), FMB, NCIP (CADT/CALT), LMB (titled lands), MGB (mining tenements), and BMB (legislated protected areas). Point locations must meet 5 to 10 meter accuracy (WGS84); final shapefiles use PRS 1992 UTM Zone 51N (Zone 50N for Palawan).

SECTION 6. Methods

• Satellite imagery analysis for built-up and other land cover, forest cover above 18% slope, and CADT/CALT areas.
• In-situ data collection with the offline ArcGIS Survey123 tool for perennial croplands and forest cover below 18% slope, prioritized first.
• Drone surveys where ground entry is not feasible, following FMB Technical Bulletin No. 35; no drone flights within 10 km of an airport.
• Tenure compliance monitoring data for tenured forest lands.

Institutional Arrangements

FMB processes the national "universe" of forest lands (excluding legislated protected areas and mining tenements), which Regional Offices vet. Each Region creates a Technical Working Group led by the ARD for Technical Services, with the Surveys and Mapping Division as lead division, and PENRO/CENRO Ground Validation Teams.

SECTION 9. Reporting

Monthly interim progress reports (every 10th), semi-annual progress reports (end of July and January) to FMB, and a final report after three years. Geospatial data are uploaded to the Forestry Spatial Dataset (FSD) Portal and the DENR Control Map. Recommendations may include prosecution of illegal structures under Section 78 of PD 705 and cancellation and reversion of irregular titles within forest lands.

Duration and Effectivity

The baseline inventory is completed within three years of effectivity, then updated annually as part of regular monitoring and evidence-based enforcement. The Order takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication and filing with ONAR.

Signed by Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga. Summary prepared by EnviSynergy from the official DENR issuance; refer to the full text for binding provisions.