Amending Certain Provisions of DENR Administrative Order No. 2025-22 or the Rules and Regulations Governing the Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement (SFLMA) and Prescribing the New Procedures for All Forest Tenure Instruments

DENR Administrative Order No. 2026-07

Subject: Amending Certain Provisions of DAO No. 2025-22 (SFLMA Rules) and Prescribing New Procedures for All Forest Tenure Instruments

Signed: February 25, 2026

Legal Basis

Pursuant to EO 192 (Reorganization Act of the DENR) and EO 366, to ensure sustainable use, development, and management of natural resources while ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficient administration of forest land tenure instruments.

SECTION 1. Exclusion of CBFMA from DAO 2025-22

Community-Based Forest Management Agreements (CBFMAs) shall be excluded from the coverage and implementation of DAO 2025-22. DAO 2004-29 (Revised Rules and Regulations for the Implementation of EO 263, the CBFM Strategy) is reinstated as the primary policy framework for CBFM implementation. All policies, programs, and procedures concerning processing, issuance, and renewal of CBFMAs shall continue to be governed under DAO 2004-29 and applicable supporting issuances.

SECTION 2. New Procedures for All Forest Tenure Instruments

2.1. All new and renewal applications for tenure shall be filed directly with the Forest Management Bureau (FMB). The FMB shall serve as the central receiving, evaluating, and recommending office for:

• Sustainable Forest Land Management Agreement (SFLMA)
• Integrated Forest Management Agreement (IFMA)
• Forest Land Grazing Management Agreement (FLGMA)
• Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (SIFMA)
• Forest Land Use Agreement (FLAg)
• Forest Land Use Agreement for Tourism (FLAgT)
• Community-Based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA)

2.2. DENR Field Offices shall assist in field validation, site verification, and stakeholder consultations upon FMB request. A dedicated team within Field Offices shall be created.

2.3. If documentary requirements are complete and in order, FMB shall endorse the application via Complete Staff Work report and final map to the Office of the Undersecretary for Field Operations.

SECTION 3. Approving Authority

Approving authority for all forest tenure instruments shall be delegated to the Supervising Undersecretary of FMB.

SECTION 4. Transitory Provision

4.1 Applications received before DAO 2025-22 effectivity (28 June 2025) shall be processed under prior policies, or applicants may opt to convert to SFLMA.
4.2 Pending applications at DENR Regional Offices shall be turned over to FMB within sixty (60) days from effectivity.
4.3 Pending applications at PENROs and CENROs shall continue processing at their levels and be forwarded to FMB within six (6) months.
4.5 Pending applications retain original filing dates for purposes of priority and processing, provided complete documentation upon turnover.

SECTION 7. Effectivity

Takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in Manila Standard and upon filing of three (3) certified copies with ONAR and UP Law Center.

Signed by Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla. Source: User-uploaded official DENR PDF (DAO-2026-07).