Amending DENR Administrative Order 2016-12 and the Philippine Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (PBSAP) 2015-2028, and Establishing a Mechanism for Its Implementation

DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-23

Subject: Amending DAO 2016-12 and the PBSAP 2015-2028, and Establishing a Mechanism for Its Implementation

Signed: June 2025 . Published: Daily Tribune, July 12, 2025 . Acknowledged: ONAR, U.P. Law Center, July 2025

Policy Basis

Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution; the Philippine Development Plan; the National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050; the National Climate Change Action Plan; CBD Decision 15/4 adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF); and Section 46 of the 2024 GAA (RA 11975) and Section 43 of the 2025 GAA (RA 12116), which direct all government agencies, LGUs, SUCs, and GOCCs to support KMGBF implementation.

SECTION 2. Objectives

• Institutionalize the PBSAP 2024-2040 as the national biodiversity roadmap.
• Establish an Advisory Committee co-chaired by DENR and the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DepDev).
• Strengthen the Sub-Committee on Biological Diversity of the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development as the technical oversight body.
• Institutionalize a web-based monitoring and evaluation system.
• Mainstream biodiversity across national, regional, and local plans, climate strategies, and sectoral programs, with due recognition of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and civil society.

SECTION 3 to 6. Adoption, Implementation, and Funding

The PBSAP 2024-2040 (Annex A) is adopted as an integral part of the Order. DENR, through the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB), coordinates implementation with national agencies, LGUs, GOCCs, CSOs, government financial institutions, SUCs, and the private sector, and provides capacity building. DENR allocates funds for its activities; other agencies and partners may also fund implementation.

Highlights of the PBSAP 2024-2040 (Annex A)

• Vision: by 2040, Philippine biodiversity is valued, effectively conserved, and managed through inclusive and transformative actions delivering climate-resilient ecosystems and sustained benefits to Filipino communities.
• Approach: a biogeographic approach across terrestrial and marine biogeographic zones, aligned with the KMGBF's 23 targets, the SDGs, the PDP, and the NAP.
• 30x30 contribution: protect 24% of terrestrial areas and 16% of coastal and marine areas (about 7.20 million hectares of land and 35.24 million hectares of sea) by 2040, through protected areas and recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).
• Indicative outputs include: 30% of degraded and denuded areas rehabilitated; 80% decrease in poaching incidents in protected areas; priority invasive alien species controlled; 20 funded nature-based solutions; Payment for Ecosystem Services and Access and Benefit-Sharing agreements; company reporting on nature-related financial disclosures; repurposing of harmful agricultural subsidies; and a 20% narrowing of the PBSAP financing gap.
• Threats addressed: habitat loss and fragmentation, overexploitation, pollution, invasive alien species, climate change, and institutional challenges.
• References the Indigenous Peoples' Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, regional BSAP localization in Western Visayas, and natural capital accounting under the Philippine Ecosystem and Natural Capital Accounting System.

Effectivity

Takes effect immediately after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgement by ONAR.

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