Revised Rules on Appeal to the Office of the Secretary

DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-19

Subject: Revised Rules on Appeal to the Office of the Secretary

Signed: May 28, 2025 . Published: The Manila Times, June 23, 2025 . Acknowledged: ONAR, U.P. Law Center, June 26, 2025

Legal Basis

Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987); Executive Order No. 192; Executive Order No. 366, s. 2004; DAO 87, s. 1990 (appeals from Regional Offices); and the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS), as amended.

Scope

Pleadings, practices, and procedures on appeal from judgments of Heads of Office of Origin (Regional Executive Directors, Bureau Directors, and heads of attached agencies) in the exercise of quasi-judicial and regulatory functions, covering biodiversity, environment, forestry, lands, mining, and other ENR cases, plus administrative disciplinary cases.

Rule II. At the Office of Origin

• Judgments become final after 15 days from receipt unless a Motion for Reconsideration or Appeal is filed.
• Judgments are issued with a Notice of Issuance of Judgment explaining remedies, ADR, and e-service options.
• Only one Motion for Reconsideration is allowed, filed within 15 days; denial gives a fresh 15-day appeal period.

Rule III. Appeal Requirements

• Notice of Appeal filed with the Office of Origin's Legal Division within 15 days of receipt of judgment.
• Appeal fee of PHP 5,000, waivable for indigent litigants with DSWD, IBP Legal Aid/PAO, or barangay certification.
• Appeal Memorandum within 30 days of receipt of judgment, in two copies following the Efficient Use of Paper Rule.
• No motion for extension is allowed; missing any requirement results in dismissal.
• Not appealable: interlocutory and clarificatory orders, petitions filed directly with the Secretary, decisions with special appeal rules under law, and certificates of finality.
• A perfected appeal stays execution and suspends processing of related applications; Status Quo Orders may be issued.
• The Office of Origin transmits complete records to the Legal Affairs Service (LAS) within 15 days of the appellee's memorandum or its deadline.

Action on Appeal

Where a party offers a compromise, the case is referred to a DENR ADR Officer (face-to-face or virtual). An Order of Compromise Agreement is immediately final and executory and bars further protests on the same subject. Otherwise, cases are raffled for resolution, and the Secretary may order a clarificatory conference and ocular investigation.

Rule IV. E-Filing

Offices create official e-submission addresses. Filings are in PDF with prescribed file names, served electronically on the other party first, and followed by hard copies within five days with an Affidavit of Service and Electronic Filing.

Rule V. Finality and Execution

No Motion for Reconsideration is allowed on the Secretary's judgment. Registered-mail service is presumed received after 90 days. Quasi-judicial judgments become final after 15 days; regulatory judgments are immediately executory. The Office of Origin executes within 15 days of indorsement by LAS.

Administrative Cases and Further Appeal

Administrative disciplinary cases follow the 2017 RACCS; dismissal penalties are automatically transmitted for confirmation. ENR judgments of the Secretary are appealable to the Office of the President within 15 days under AO No. 22, s. 2011; administrative case judgments are appealable to the Civil Service Commission within 15 days.

Transitory Provision and Effectivity

Pending appeals are treated under these Rules. LAS and the Records Management Division issue docketing and records guidelines within 120 days. The Rules of Court apply suppletorily. Takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication and upon acknowledgement by 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.