Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) · DAO 2026-34
Guidelines in the Promotion and Operationalization of Potential Investment Areas (PIAs) within Forest Land
DENR Administrative Order No. 2026-34
Subject: Guidelines in the Promotion and Operationalization of Potential Investment Areas (PIAs) within Forest Land
Signed: June 30, 2026; Published: Manila Standard, July 17, 2026; Acknowledged: ONAR, UP Law Center, July 21, 2026
Legal Basis
Article XII, Section 2 of the 1987 Constitution; Section 19 of PD 705 as amended; Executive Order No. 192; EO 318 s. 2004; RA 11032; DAO 2019-22 (Forestry Investment Road Map); DAO 2021-04 (Forestry Investment Portfolio Approach); DAO 2025-22 (SFLMA); and DAO 2026-07.
Objectives
Promote and operationalize PIAs by packaging, promoting, and facilitating strategic forestry investments, and ensure that Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment (CRVA) informs investment decisions.
Scope
Untenured production and protection forest lands delineated as PIAs, and areas under expired and cancelled forest tenure instruments.
Investment Management Options
All options follow the Sustainable Forest Management scheme and include:
- Agroforestry development, which may include fruit trees and processing plants; pure agricultural crops may not exceed 20% of the area, with mandatory soil and water conservation measures.
- Forest plantation development with timber or non-timber species, which may include processing plants, with mandatory soil and water conservation.
- Ecotourism development for protection, conservation, and management of natural landscapes.
- Other options provided in the Order.
Prohibited Investment Activities
Unless expressly authorized by law, allowed under an approved PIA management or zoning plan, and subject to environmental permitting, prohibited activities within PIAs include the construction or operation of sanitary landfills and housing and subdivision developments, among others listed in the Order.
Packaging and Promotion
- PIAs corresponding to a distinct parcel are packaged into Forest Investment Portfolio Packages (FIPPs) prepared by an FIPP Technical Working Group and promoted through the Forestry Investment Portal (see DAO 2026-32).
- Basic PIA information is available through the PIA Portal; formal data requests are submitted to the Forest Management Bureau.
- Roles are defined for FMB, Regional Offices, and Field Offices; FMB leads capacity building and semi-annual monitoring.
Effectivity
Takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication and upon submission of three copies to ONAR, UP Law Center.
Signed by Secretary Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna. Source: official DENR issuance (DAO-2026-34).
Important Notice
EnviSynergy exercises due diligence in researching and summarizing this policy. This summary is provided for general reference only and does not constitute legal advice or an official interpretation of the issuance. The policy may have been amended, superseded, or clarified after publication, and this summary may not capture every provision of the original text. For the complete, accurate, and most current version, users are advised to consult the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) or the relevant issuing agency directly before making any compliance or project decision.
Policy Details
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