Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines

Metro Manila

Twelfth Congress
Second Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-second day of July, two thousand two.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9175

November 7, 2002

AN ACT REGULATING THE OWNERSHIP, POSSESSION, SALE, IMPORTATION

AND USE OF CHAIN SAWS, PENALIZING VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Chain Saw Act of 2002".

Sec. 2. Declaration Policy. It is the policy of the State consistent with the Constitution, to
conserve, develop and protect the forest resources under sustainable management. Toward this
end, the State shall pursue an aggressive forest protection program geared towards eliminating
illegal logging and other forms of forest destruction which are being facilitated with the use of
chain saws. The State shall therefore regulate the ownership, possession, sale, transfer,
importation and/or use of chain saws to prevent them from being used in illegal logging or
unauthorized clearing of forests.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the term:

(a) "Chain saw" shall refer to any portable power saw or similar cutting implement, rendered
operative by an electric or internal combustion engine or similar means, that may be used for, but
is not limited to, the felling of trees or the cutting of timber;

(b) "Chain saw dealer" shall refer to a person, natural or juridical, engaged in the manufacture,
importation, distribution, purchase and/or sale of chain saws;

(c) "Department" shall refer to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and

(d) "Secretary" shall refer to the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
Sec. 4. Persons Authorized to Manufacturer, Sell and Import Chain Saws. - Chain saws shall
only be sold and/or imported by manufacturers, dealers and/or private owners who are duly
authorized by the Department.

Sec. 5. Persons Authorized to Possess and Use a Chain Saw. - The Department is hereby
authorized to issue permits to possess and/or use a chain saw for the felling land/or cutting of
trees, timber and other forest or agro-forest products to any applicant who:

(a) has a subsisting timber license agreement, production sharing agreement, or similar
agreements, or a private land timber permit;

(b) is an orchard and fruit tree farmer;

(c) is an industrial tree farmer;

(d) is a licensed wood processor and the chain saw shall be used for the cutting of timber that has
been legally sold to said applicant; or

(e) shall use the chain saw for a legal purpose.

Agencies of the government that use chain saws in some aspects of their functions must likewise
secure the necessary permit from the Department before operating the same.

Sec. 6. Registration of Chain Saws. - Within a period of three (3) months from the effectivity
hereof, all persons who own or are otherwise in possession of chain saws must register the same
with the Department, through any of its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office,
which shall issue the corresponding registration certificate or permit if it finds such persons to be
qualified hereunder.

Every permit to possess and/or use a chain saw for legitimate purpose shall be valid for two (2)
years upon issuance: Provided, That permits to possess and use chainsaw issued to non-
commercial orchard and fruit tree farmers shall be valid for a period of five (5) years upon
issuance. For this purpose, the Department shall be allowed to collect reasonable registration fees
for the effective implementation of this Act.

Sec. 7. Penal Provisions. -

(a) Selling, Purchasing, Re-selling, Transferring, Distributing or Possessing a Chain Saw

Without a Proper Permit. - Any person who sells, purchases, transfer the ownership, distributes
or otherwise disposes or possesses a chain saw without first securing the necessary permit from
the Department shall be punished with imprisonment of four (4) years, two (2) months and one
(1) day to six (6) years or a fine of not less than Fifteen thousand pesos (P15,000.00) but not
more Thirty thousand pesos (30,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court, and the chain saw/s
confiscated in favor of the government.
(2) Unlawful Importation or Manufacturing of Chain Saw. - Any person who imports or
manufactures a chain saw without obtaining prior authorization from the Department shall be
punished by imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months and a fine
of not less than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) for more than Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00).

(3) Tampering of Engine Serial Number. - Any person who is found to have defaced or tampered
with the original registered engine serial number of any chain saw unit shall be punished by
imprisonment of not less than one (1) month nor more than six (6) months and a fine of not less
than One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) nor more than Four thousand pesos (P4,000.00).

(4) Actual Unlawful Use of Chain Saw. - Any person who is found to be in possession of a chain
saw and uses the same to cut trees and timber in forest land or elsewhere except as authorized by
the Department shall be penalized with imprisonment of six (6) years and one (1) day to eight (8)
years or a fine of not less that Thirty thousand pesos (P30,000.00) but not more than Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000.00) or both at the discretion of the court without prejudice to being
prosecuted for a separate offense that may have been simultaneously committed. The chain saw
unlawfully used shall be likewise confiscated in favor of the government.

If the violation under this Sec. is committed by or through the command or order of another
person, partnership or corporation, the penalties herein provided shall likewise be imposed on
such other person, or the responsible officer(s) in such partnership or corporation.

If the offender is a public official or employee, in addition to the above penalties, he shall be
removed from office and perpetually disqualified from holding any public office.

The chain saws confiscated under this Sec. shall be sold at public auction to qualified buyers and
the proceeds thereof shall go to the Department.

Sec. 8. Reward. - Any person who voluntarily gives information leading to the recovery or
confiscation of an unregistered chain saw and the conviction of persons charged thereof shall be
entitled to a reward equivalent to twenty person (20%) of the value of the chain saw unit(s). The
Department is authorized to include in its budget the amount necessary to carry out the purpose
of this Sec. .

Sec. 9. Authority of the Secretary. - To effectively implement the provisions of this Act, the
Secretary shall issue the implementing rules and regulations within ninety (90) days upon
approval of this Act. He shall likewise organize an office within the Department to ensure that
requirements imposed by this Act may be complied with by qualified persons, within the shortest
possible time, at the least possible expense.

In the Province of Palawan, the provisions of this Act shall be implemented by the Palawan
Council for Sustainable Development pursuant to Republic Act No. 7611 or the Strategic
Environmental Plan for Palawan.
Sec. 10. Revocation of Registration and Permit. - The Secretary may revoke any Certificate of
Registration or permit previously issued to a person found violating the provisions of this Act, or
the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto.

Sec. 11. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. - To monitor and oversee the implementation
of this Act, including the approval of the rules and regulations issued pursuant hereto, there is
hereby created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to be composed of the Chairpersons
of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the House Committee on
Natural Resources as Chairperson and Co-Chairperson, five (5) members of each of the Senate
and the House of Representatives who shall be designated by the Senate President and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives as members: Provided, That the two (2) of the five (5)
senators and two (2) of the five (5) House members shall be nominated by the respective
Minority Leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Sec. 12. Transitory Provision. - In the interim while the Department is formulating the
implementing rules and regulations to effectively carry out the provisions of this Act, the Bureau
of Customs is prohibited from approving any chain saw importation without clearance from said
Department.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason, any part or provision of this act shall be
declared as unconstitutional or invalid, such parts or provisions not affected thereby shall remain
in full force and effect.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - all laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, letters of instruction,
rules and regulations, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any of the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed and/or amended accordingly.

Sec. 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in
the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever
comes earlier.

Approved:

JOSE DE VENECIA JR. FRANKLIN DRILON

Speaker of the House of President of the Senate
Representatives

This Act, which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1940 and House Bill No. 3994, was finally passed by
the Senate and the House of Representative on August 14, 2002 and September 2, 2002, respectively.

ROBERTO P. NAZARENO OSCAR G. YABES

Secretary General Secretary of Senate
House of Represenatives
 Approved: November 7, 2002

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO
President of the Philippines