THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan has recommended in its report for a freeze of operations of all small-scale woodcraft furniture in Bohol while policies, like the compliance of complex wood processing plant permit (WPPP), are under review.
“There is a recognized need to explore the issuance of a moratorium on enforcement actions to provide local processors a grace period to regularize their operations,” provincial Board Member and vice-chairperson Mutya Kismet R. Tirol of the Trade Committee proposed.
But the proposal gave no time frame as to when to start and when to end.
The move is for the office of the Governor and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to alleviate the technical and financial burden on individual processors.
To organize a series of consultations to ensure the concerns of small-scale furniture makers are integrated into the proposed policy reforms and to execute the planned One-Stop Shop event organized by DENR Bohol (tentatively May 12–13) to centralize the issuance of permits and provide real-time regulatory guidance.
These contains in a joint committee report No. 2026-04 dated April 27, 2026 of the environment and education committees, including the organization of local wood processors, launch the information and education communication drive over legal timber sources and drafting of a Memorandum of Agreement between the DENR, DTI and the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) to synchronize efforts, clarify jurisdictions and provide a unified roadmap for industry legalization.
The strict compliance of the WPPP adversely affect the up-coming showcasing of the wood furniture and products at the Sandugo celebration in July.
Furniture operator Jezreel Tacolad, who has been operating over 10 years of Sikatuna, said that they may not be able to display their wood products at the Sandugo since they find it difficult to secure WPPP and the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) from the DENR.
Provincial director Vierna Ligan of DTI said that no WPPP has been issued to any exhibitor for the upcoming Sandugo Trade Expo. DTI said securing a WPPP is a lengthy and complex process exacerbated by a lack of technical know-how among local processors and limited departmental capacity to assist in the processing. And to address the prevailing, DTI has entered into a partnership with Ampingi to provide support and facilitate better compliance among wood-based enterprises.
CENRO-Tagbilaran Forester Glicerita C. Racho has officially issued Notices of Violation (NOVs) to non-compliant entities. But the said NOVs is based on DENR’s mandate (with 3-Notice Rule) not to hinder development, but to ensure it is balanced with robust environmental protection. The strict implementation of the “3-Notice Rule” is to ensure that violators are given sufficient warning and opportunity to rectify deficiencies before final administrative actions are taken.
CENRO Talibon Forester Edgardo L. Ricafort bared that out of the 30 identified furniture shops under CENRO Talibon, there is a varying degree of regulatory progress: nine shops have successfully secured approval; two shops are currently under regional review; and 19 shops are still in the process of achieving compliance.
The stringent requirement for securing a Certificate of Tree Plantation Ownership (CTPO) compliance is considered the significant backlog in permit processing. He recommends that wood furniture to use other type of trees, as G-melina, Acacia or Mahogany, as alternative plantation-based timber sources.
This source of raw materials remains the most critical issue for compliance he said. Utilizing naturally-grown Molave (Tugas) is the most significant for local wood furniture in response to the demand, but subject to more stringent regulations and requires permits issued at the Regional Level (Regional Executive Director) rather than locally;
Because of this strict regulation of cutting Molave tree there is a noted trend of night-time transport of timber to evade checkpoints, resulting in frequent confiscations due to a lack of proper documentation for timber movement.
The cost for timber permitting is estimated at ₱3,000 per cubic meter, and notably, the DENR does not allow for staggered payment schemes, which may pose a financial burden on small-scale processors. In an effort to address long-term resource availability and legality, the DENR has announced the allocation of 5,000 Molave seedlings for planting to encourage the transition from naturally-grown to plantation-sourced timber, the report said. (RVO)
