Laws On Cutting Trees In The Philippines

Disclaimer

Nothing you read here is to be taken as legal advice or professional guidance. This is our personal experience that we are sharing with you. If you see something in this post that is incorrect or if you want to add something, then let us know through the comment section at the bottom of this article.
 
Table Of Contents

• Our Personal Experience With Tree Cutting In The Philippines
• DENR: Go-To Authority For Tree Cutting Questions
• Laws Regulating Cutting Of Coconut Trees
• Premium Tree Species
• Ordinary Trees & Other Forest Products
• Chainsaw Ownership Is Regulated In The Philippines
• Avoid Harming Trees
• Major update on Anti-Obstruction Law
• Can You Pick The Fruit Of Overhanging Branches?
• The Bottom Line

Our Personal Experience With Tree Cutting In The Philippines 

Depending on the situation you may obtain a tree cutting permit from DENR, PCA or your local barangay.

We have engaged in tree cutting during construction and maintenance of our home and property. The land only had a handful of coconut trees that needed to be cleared. This was easy to do, as the land had been converted to residential vs. agricultural use and thus the removal was allowed under RA 10593 upon payment of the required fees per tree in order to obtain a permit from the PCA (Philippine Coconut Authority).

We also used other trees from nearby properties in the construction of our home. Permits for cutting those trees were obtained from the barangay. None of those other trees were "premium species," which shall be discussed in detail later in this post.

During the building of our fence several mahogany trees had to be cut and that required a DENR permit. 

After a few years living here another tree issue grew up. One of the neighbor's trees began to threaten our electric cable. The power co-op said that they were only responsible for trees that encroach upon the main cables. The co-op informed us that it was the customer's responsibility to deal with trees that threaten cables in the local loop (from the pole to the house). This particular tree threatened not only our power line, but also the power line feeding the barangay streetlamps. The tree was also overhanging a main road and presented a hazard to anyone passing by. We had discussed the danger with our neighbor and the possibility that if the tree came down that it could take down two power lines and possibly cause a traffic accident or electrocute people nearby. Ultimately, the barangay pitched in to help with removing the offending tree. 

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 386 THE CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES addresses that last example:

Article 483. Whenever a large tree threatens to fall in such a way as to cause damage to the land or tenement of another or to travelers over a public or private road, the owner of the tree shall be obliged to fell and remove it; and should he not do so, it shall be done at his expense by order of the administrative authorities. (390a)

According to the above law, since public safety and a public road is involved the barangay should get involved to help resolve the problem. And they did.

Articles 679 and 680 of RA 386 goes in to detail regarding trees that affect adjoining properties:

Article 679: No trees shall be planted near a tenement or piece of land belonging to another except at the distance authorized by the ordinances or customs of the place, and, in the absence thereof, at a distance of at least two meters from the dividing line of the estates if tall trees are planted and at a distance of at least fifty centimeters if shrubs or small trees are planted.

Every landowner shall have the right to demand that trees hereafter planted at a shorter distance from his land or tenement be uprooted.

The provisions of this article also apply to trees which have grown spontaneously. (591a)

Article 680. If the branches of any tree should extend over a neighboring estate, tenement, garden or yard, the owner of the latter shall have the right to demand that they be cut off insofar as they may spread over his property, and, if it be the roots of a neighboring tree which should penetrate into the land of another, the latter may cut them off himself within his property. (592)

There are no tree cops going around assuring compliance with these two articles. You are going to have to work with your neighbor if there is a problem tree. 

Take note of the very specific wording: the owner of the adversely affected property has "the right to demand," yet nothing is said about the owner of the offending tree(s) having a responsibility or legal obligation to respond to the demand. Unless the tree is an imminent threat to life and or property the only real power that the adversely affected land owner seems to have is to cut roots that actually cross the property line.

Article 680 does not explicitly state that you can cut the branches of your neighbor's tree without permission if they are overhanging your property, which means you don't have legal right to do it. You need to get your neighbor's permission in writing in order to cut overhanging branches. 

It may be necessary to access the property that the tree is growing on in order to make a healthy cut. If you improperly cut overhanging limbs from your side of the property line it may actually create a more dangerous tree and potentially leave that you open to liability if this is done without permission from the owner of the tree. Cutting limbs at the property line (rather than near the tree) may damage a tree, make it unstable or create a wound that allows pests and disease to enter. Limbs need to be cut at the branch collar and if they are cut too long they will not heal.

Cutting the roots can cause at least as much damage to a tree as cutting the branches (including creating a hazardous tree). The law gives the owner of an encroached property the specific right to cut roots and not branches because roots encroach the actual land (see section on overhanging fruit), but they also have the potential to be more damaging to the structural integrity of a building and are more of an physical threat to a structure (even if the fruit of such a threat might be years in the future). Tree roots are a known cause of subsidence due to soil displacement, particularly in clay soils when roots infiltrate and consume moisture causing clay soils to shrink. This same problem can affect concrete walls. The concrete block septic systems used in the Philippines are also susceptible to root infiltration. Pipes and concrete walkways are also vulnerable.

People often plant trees right on the property line and over time the tree line creeps. This often produces the belief in the tree owners that the property line should also move and they will fight for it. Be watchful for this scenario especially if your property is not yet fenced.

Article 430 of RA 386 provides land owners with the explicit right to enclose their property with a physical fence/wall:

Every owner may enclose or fence his land or tenements by means of walls, ditches, live or dead hedges, or by any other means without detriment to servitudes constituted thereon.

Tree roots are capable of depriving a land owner of the right to enclose their property, destroying existing fencing and creating a substantial encroachment on property. If you have first hand experience dealing with the invasive buttress roots of mahogany and other types of trees, then you understand how detrimental they can be to a property line and any fencing that may be constructed upon it.

In spite of the fact that Article 680 gives property owners the right to cut encroaching roots doing so can cause a healthy tree to become a serious threat to life and property. In such cases the entire tree may need to be cut down and not just the roots and from this point we venture into various problematic scenarios. I can see how this situation can cause a lot of conflict among neighbors.

I cannot advise anyone what to do, but I can tell you what we might do if a neighbor's tree(s) were threatening to fall on our property or if their branches were damaging or threatening to damage our house:

• Talk to the neighbor. This is always the first step.

• Talk with a barangay official. If we cannot work it out with the neighbor, then we may have to escalate the matter to the barangay. What if the person with whom we are having issues is a Barangay official or is related to them?

• Talk to DENR. You might be able to get a permit from DENR or even the barangay to cut problem trees and or overhanging branches (not a good idea to just cut branches without proper notification of and permission from the tree owner).

• Complain as soon as a problem arises and not allow time to drag because silence is consent and tree problems only grow larger with time.

• Document every action you undertake to resolve the issue including who you talk to, when you talked to them and what was said.

• If all else fails and it really matters, then it might be time to consult an attorney.

If a tree is an immediate threat to persons or property due to the possibility that it may fall, then it is subject to Article 483 of the civil code. Otherwise, diplomacy might be the best tool to keep your neighbor's tree away from the property line. And getting what you require from your neighbors may take a lot of diplomacy. It is a good idea to maintain a good relationship with every owner of property that adjoins yours, though this is not always possible.

DENR: Go-To Authority For Tree Cutting Questions

Before you cut trees you need to speak with the local DENR (Department of Environmental and Natural Resources) office. This is true whether you are the owner of the trees in question or if your neighbor has agreed to remove trees that are in some way encroaching your property.

The local offices of DENR are called CENRO (Community Environment and Natural Resources Office). After you explain the situation to them they can inform you of the laws and regulations and tell you what permits you need and who can issue them to you.

On many occasions, permit issuance is delegated to the barangay level.

Coconut trees are a separate issue and are addressed later.

If a neighbor's tree is damaging your property and or is a potential threat, then you may contact DENR. DENR may be willing to issue a permit to cut down or trim the tree(s).

The requirements for a tree cutting permit might vary, but this list is good for conveying the general idea:

1) Letter request addressed to Director of your local DENR, NCR (letter must state reason for cutting the tree(s))

2) Government issued identification of the requesting party

3) LGU Endorsement/Certification of No Objection (Municipality and Barangay) (must state "no objection" not "approve")

4) Copy of Transfer Certificate of Title (or OCT as applicable) and or Tax Declaration

5) Photo(s) of Tree and any damage that the tree may be causing to the property

6) Sketch Map showing the location of the Tree(s)

Additionally: 

1) The person requesting the tree(s) to be cut is responsible for acquiring a licensed contractor to cut the tree(s) upon issuance of permit.

2) If the person requesting the tree(s) to be cut is not the owner of the affected property, then DENR may or may not accept a signed and notarized copy of power of attorney.

3) The person requesting the tree(s) to be cut may be required to plant seedlings.

4) DENR may need to inspect the location.

Be prepared for more or less in the way of documentary requirements.

Once documentary requirements have been met and all documents have been presented to CENRO the general process for receiving the permits is as follows:

• Receive Payment Order 

• Pay inventory fee (P1,200/hectare) for planted and naturally growing trees but no payment required for less than 20 trees or if inventory will be conducted by the customer

• If Inventory undertaken by customer:

• Timber Inventory/Inspection Report with Tally Sheet/Stand and Stock Table, and Pictures

• Tree Charting Map

The information above is only to give the reader an approximation of what is required. The process and requirements for a specific case may be simpler or more complicated. This is why I reiterate that it is necessary to discuss the specifics with CENRO.

For specific and detailed requirements contact the DENR office near you.

Laws Regulating Cutting Of Coconut Trees

In the case of coconut trees the PCA issues the permit. The Coconut Preservation Act of 1995, RA 8048, regulates the cutting down of coconut trees. RA 8048 was amended by RA 10593.

Sec. 4 describes the exceptions to the prohibition on cutting down coconut trees. There are several, but the two that are most pertinent to expat circumstances are cases #1 and #2:

1) The tree poses a threat to life and or property.

When any tree becomes a threat to life or property it falls under Article 483 of RA 386, discussed earlier in this post. In every case I would involve the appropriate government agencies before action is taken to assure that all necessary permits are in order and no laws are broken.

2) The property has been converted to residential, commercial or industrial type land use.

In the case of conversion of land use type, this can be done through the municipal assessor. When you convert the land to residential use you then need to pay the amended fee of P100 per tree and, as the regulation states, since the land has been converted to residential you are exempt from the replanting requirement.

Premium Tree Species

For years I have heard a lot of rumors about "premium trees." Many individuals I have spoken with have various ideas about what trees are included within the definition of the term. Frequently narra and mahogany come up and the Benguet Pine. Some mahogany species found in the Philippines are not native and are increasingly seen as invasive and having a negative impact upon native species within the environment. The toona calantas (aka kalantas & Philippine Cedar) is listed in the table below as a premium species. Toona calantas is native to the Philippines and toona is a genus within the mahogany family.

The earliest record I could find on the regulation of the permitting of the cutting of premium trees is a DENR Administrative Order No. 78 from 1987 that regulates the cutting premium hardwood trees on private land. This document lists twenty species of tree as premium hardwood species.

In 1992 the DENR issued Administrative Order No. 46 that delists acacia as one of the premium hardwood species.

Below I have provided a table showing the common and scientific names from the 1992 DENR list of premium trees:

Since this list is taken from a document that was issued almost 30 years ago it is possible that other names have been added to or taken from the listing. I hope to update this post with a more recent list when I can find one.

Ordinary Trees & Other Forest Products

Other "forest products" and trees that are not among the premium trees listing are still regulated and permits may still be required for cutting and or clearing them from private land.

The term "forest product" is defined in Presidential Decree 705 Section 3:

q) Forest product means timber, pulpwood, firewood, bark, tree top, resin, gum, wood, oil, honey, beeswax, nipa, rattan, or other forest growth such as grass, shrub, and flowering plant, the associated water, fish, game, scenic, historical, recreational and geologic resources in forest lands.

The same document/section also defines what is meant by forest lands:

d) Forest lands include the public forest, the permanent forest or forest reserves, and forest reservations.

Sec. 68 of PD 705 sheds light on an expanded definition of "forest products" to include materials defined in Sec 3(d) as pertaining to those same products when found on private lands:

SECTION 68. Cutting, Gathering and/or Collecting Timber or Other Products Without License. — Any person who shall cut, gather, collect, or remove timber or other forest products from any forest land, or timber from alienable and disposable public lands, or from private lands, without any authority under a license agreement, lease, license or permit, shall be guilty of qualified theft as defined and punished under Articles 309 and 310 of the Revised Penal Code:

Provided, That in the case of partnership, association or corporation, the officers who ordered the cutting, gathering or collecting shall be liable, and if such officers are aliens, they shall, in addition to the penalty, be deported without further proceedings on the part of the Commission on Immigration and Deportation.

"Any person who shall cut, gather, collect, or remove timber or other forest products...from private lands..."

If nothing else, the above statement should give any person pause before they go out to cut down any plant on their land in the Philippines. Talk to the local DENR first. This applies doubly to foreigners, as the latter part of Sec. 68 states that in addition to any jail and monetary penalties a foreigner shall also be deported without the opportunity for any hearing before the Commission on Immigration and Deportation.

Chainsaw Ownership Is Regulated In The Philippines

It is not only the cutting of trees that can get you into hot water in the Philippines. Being in possession of a chainsaw can also attract unwanted attention.

R.A. 9175, otherwise known as the Chainsaw Act of 2002 regulates the ownership of chainsaws in the Philippines:

Section 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.

Sec. 5(e) might be used by an individual private landowner (or perhaps their foreign spouse) to obtain license for a chainsaw for personal use.

Sec. 6 states that license is valid for two years for a commercial licensee and five years for noncommercial licensees. Do not forget to renew the license or you are in violation of the law.

Sec. 7 describes penalties:

(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.

(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 than 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.

Even if you are allowed to obtain a licensed chainsaw is it really worth the risk and trouble of having one? There are a lot of ways to run afoul of the law by owning a chainsaw.

And section 7 closes out with this admonition:

If the violation under this Section 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 you hire someone to cut down the trees and there is no proper permit, then both of you are on the hook for any laws broken. Even if you are not the owner of the chainsaw you still commanded the person doing the cutting without doing your due diligence to make sure that they were following the law.

Avoid Harming Trees 

Presidential Decree No. 953 mainly deals with planting of trees on public lands and in subdivisions (requirements for developers), as well as prohibition against cutting or damaging vegetation in such areas. This law would not generally touch an expat - unless, for example, you were to run your vehicle by accident into a tree on public land. Otherwise, I would trust that most expats do not go out chopping trees down on public land in the Philippines. Honestly, if you are that bored, then it's way past time to go home.

PD 953 and Republic Act 3571 have been cited in cases where campaign materials have been nailed or otherwise illegally affixed to trees. So do not go around nailing things to the trees.

Anti-Obstruction Law Has Passed

There are many stories about persons who have planted fast growing trees under major main power lines with explicit intent to disrupt power. Major blackouts have been caused in the Philippines due to this behavior and this is the cause for the newly passed Republic Act 11361 known as the Anti-Obstruction Law. I have included some relevant parts of the new law below.

Section 5 defines the creation of an easement along the path of the "power line corridor":

Power Line Corridor. – The land beneath, the air spaces surrounding, and the area traversed by power lines including its horizontal, vertical, and similar clearance requirements shall constitute the power line corridor, which shall at all times be kept clear and free from any power line obstructions, dangerous structures, hazardous activities and improvements, and other similar circumstances in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

The horizontal, vertical, and other similar clearance requirements that constitute the power line corridor shall be determined by the Board of Electrical Engineering and approved by the Department of Energy (DOE), and shall be in accordance with the current Philippine Electrical Code.

In case where the power line corridor is wholly or partially located within a private property not owned by the owner or operator of the power lines, it shall constitute a legal easement upon the private property in accordance with the relevant provisions under Book II, Title VII, Chapter 2 of the Civil Code, except if the owner or operator of the power lines shall acquire, lease, or enter into other gratuitous or onerous arrangement with the property owner. In the case of legal easement, the owner of the private property shall be compensated the proper easement fee pursuant to the provisions of the Civil Code and other relevant laws, rules, and regulations.

NOTE: the service drop is not part of the power line corridor. The service drop is the problem of the individual consumer. If your power line passes over the property of another person and their trees are interfering with your service drop that is your problem to solve. That is what has been told to us by the power company. That being said, in most cases the distribution service provider and the owner of the other property and trees are usually willing to work with you to help clear the line. If you get into a dispute with owner of the property that your line crosses it is entirely possible that they may obstruct your line and ignore your pleas to remove the obstruction. You could end up in the Barangay or court to get it resolved.

The second paragraph refers to clearances. Clearances can be found in Annex A of the IRR for RA 11361. Please note that the linked document is only available in draft form at the time of this writing. In case it disappears you can also get it here.

Section 6 describes what land owners are prohibited from doing in proximity to power lines:

Prohibited Acts. - It is hereby declared unlawful for any person, whether natural or juridical, public or private, to:

(a) Plant or cause to be planted tall growing plants, including plants of whatever kind, variety, or height within the power line corridor;

(b) Construct or erect any hazardous improvements within the power line corridor;

(c) Conduct or perform any hazardous activities within the power line corridor;

(d) Prevent or refuse duly authorized agents of the owner or operator of power lines, entry to the property in the performance of acts enumerated under Section 7: Provided, that such entry is in accordance with the provisions of Section 8; and

(e) Perform other analogous acts or activities, which will impair the conveyance of electricity and cause damage to power lines

There have been cases in the Philippines where property owners purposefully planted fast growing tree directly beneath power lines knowing that this would eventually cause power disruption. When the inevitable power outage occurred the property owners would refuse to allow power companies onto the property to repair the lines. This activity has caused major and extended blackouts and is one of the main reasons for the law.

Section 6 above specifically outlaws obstructive activities and Section 7 below provides power companies with the specific right to access the property and fix damaged power lines and equipment:

Prevention and Removal of Power Line Obstruction on Public Property or on Property Owned by Owner or Operator of Power Lines. – In cases where the power line corridor is wholly or partially located within public property or on property owned by the owner or operator of the power lines, the owner or operator of power lines shall have the right to enter the said property to prevent and remove any power line obstruction, and in particular, perform the following acts:

(a) To conduct maintenance and inspection activities within the power line corridor;

(c) To conduct trimming, pruning, cutting, or clearing activities for tall growing plants within the power line corridor without securing prior clearance or permit from, but with due notice to, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in the case of coconut trees, the concerned local government units (LGUs), and other relevant government agencies;

Section 8 states that the property owner has a responsibility to prevent power line obstructions and to enlist the assistance of the power company when necessary to prevent or clear obstructions. It also gives the power company the unilateral right to do so: 

Prevention and Removal of Power Line Obstruction on Private Property. – The owner or operator of power lines shall have the primary duty and responsibility to remove power line obstructions. In cases where the power line corridor is wholly or partially located within a private property, the property owner shall coordinate and assist the owner or operator of the power lines by facilitating the necessary access in order to perform the acts enumerated in Section 7.

The property owner shall have the primary duty and responsibility to prevent power line obstructions and to inform the owner or operator of the power line of their existence. In the performance of these acts, the property owner shall be entitled to necessary assistance such as, but not limited to, education and information, and technical and manpower support from the owner or operator of power lines.

In the event that the property owner fails to perform any duty and responsibility under the preceding paragraphs, the owner or operator of the power lines shall have the right to access the power line corridor in order to undertake the acts enumerated under Section 7: Provided, That the entry to private property may only be effected after due notice to, and proper coordination with the property owner: Provided, however, That the foregoing shall no longer be required to avert an imminent danger posed by a power line obstruction in accordance with Article 432 of the Civil Code.

Section 9 provides for government and police assistance for power companies to accomplish their necessary tasks in clearing power obstructions:

Assistance from Local Government Units, Philippine National Police, and Armed Forces of the Philippines. - In the performance of the acts under Sections 7 and 8, the owner or operator of the power lines may seek the assistance of LGU officials, the Philippine National Police (PNP), or the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Provided, That the LGU officials, the PNP, or the AFP shall render such assistance, as may be deemed necessary.

Section 12 removes legal consequences of cutting and removing all types of trees and other forest products in the course of complying with RA 11361:

Gathering, Collecting, Removing, and Transporting of Timber, Forest Products, and Coconut Lumber. - Gathering, collecting, removing, and transporting of timber, forest products, and coconut lumber as a result of acts performed under Sections 7 and 8 shall not be considered illegal acts: Provided, That due notice is given to the DENR, and the PCA in the case of coconut lumber, and other relevant government agencies.

The phrase "due notice" indicates that the above paragraph is not carte blanche. In a non-emergency situation it would seem that there is not much excuse for not getting the go-ahead from DENR and or PCA.

Section 15 describes penalties for violations of RA 11361:

Penalties. - Without prejudice to civil and administrative liability, the following penalties shall be imposed upon any person, both natural and juridical, found guilty of committing any of the prohibited acts specified in Section 6 of this Act:

(a) First Offense – the penalty of arresto mayor or a fine of Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court;
 
(b) Second Offense – the penalty of prision correccional or a fine of One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court; and
 
(c) Third Offense – the penalty of prision mayor or a fine of Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), or both, at the discretion of the court.

If the offenses are committed by or in conspiracy with an officer or employee of the owner or operator of the power line, such officer or employee shall suffer a penalty one (1)degree higher than the penalty provided herein.

The local building official who issued a building permit in violation of Section 14 of this Act shall be meted a penalty one (1) degree higher than the penalty provided herein and shall forthwith suffer the penalty of dismissal.

Can You Pick The Fruit Of Overhanging Branches?

This information is again only my opinion, as a layperson. This is not legal advice. 

It appears to me that the law answers the fruit question through Article 415, Paragraph 2 of REPUBLIC ACT NO. 386 THE CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES: 

Immovable Property: Trees, plants, and growing fruits, while they are attached to the land or form an integral part of an immovable;

From the above statement it is my opinion that you cannot pick the fruit in that, while it is attached to the tree it remains as the immovable property of your neighbor. If the fruit falls on its own, then it is no longer growing, no longer attached and no longer an integral part of an immovable and therefore it becomes the property of the owner of the land upon which it falls. This seems to be a reasonable interpretation, however, I am not an attorney so you should talk with one of those about this.

That said, if you have a good relationship with your neighbor, then they will probably not mind you picking fruit from overhanging branches (ask first). However, if you do not have a good relationship, then it will be one more reason for bad blood between you.

And before I close this section I would like to add that this illustrates the reason why branches and roots are treated differently by the law: you can cut roots, but not branches. The roots encroach the land, whereas the branch, so long as it remains attached to the tree is considered to be non-encroaching and you cannot cut it. So this begs the question: what if a branch is bending down so far that it touches the ground? That's why God made attorneys...to answer such questions.

The Bottom Line

Talk to your local DENR so that you can know the specifics. Before you do anything or ask anyone else to touch any plant or tree make an appointment to speak with DENR-CENRO where you live. Make certain that you have all required permits from the appropriate and applicable agencies. 

It is best to hire an experienced local to do your tree cutting. If they use a chainsaw, ask to see their chainsaw license and make a copy of it. If they do not have a license for their chainsaw FIND SOMEONE ELSE to do the work. The person you hire should sign a contract with a clause in it that they follow all applicable laws.

Do not get caught transporting lumber without a receipt. If you bought it from an individual instead of a business, then you better be certain they had a permit and I would get a copy of that permit in addition to a receipt. If you get caught carrying lumber that was cut with no permit you will be in big trouble.

If you are an expat and you are looking for a place to live with your Filipino spouse, then consider the trees that are growing on the property and those that are growing on properties adjoining it. Will the trees growing on that property have to be removed for construction? Will the trees ever be a threat to neighboring properties, power lines or a public street? Will the trees on an adjoining property become a threat to your power line, buildings or anything else on the land that you are thinking about buying?

In some cases the trees do not come with the property when you buy it and must be purchased separately. Trees and other vegetation might actually be owned by a third party. The owner may not want to sell them just yet or ever. If trees are or may become a big issue, then maybe it is best to look for another property. Maybe it would be better to get a condo in the city. Perhaps it might be a good idea to rent. It's up to you and your situation. Good luck with your decision.

The main point to understand and take away from this post is that trees are a very important constituent of the ancient cultural heritage of the Philippines. The roots of the trees go deeply into the roots of the people and the nation.

When you come to live in the Philippines remember to take care how you treat the trees.

A great resource that details scores of Philippine trees and their uses can be found at malatumbaga.com.

If any of the links above for supporting documents are dead, then you may be able to locate the document that you want on our Documents Page.

Jock Itch Is Not Fun In The Philippines

Trichophyton Rubrum Microconidia 
by Medmyco licensed under CC0 1.0

Table Of Contents:

• Tinea Cruris Strikes
• A Dark Red Rash
• Cause Of The Infection
• Week One Of Treatment
• Week Two Of Treatment
• Recovery Is Slow 
• What Is A Bio-Film And Why Does It Matter?
• Week Ten
• My Treatment Summary

 

Tinea Cruris Strikes

Tinea cruris (aka jock itch) is a fungal infection most often caused by the fungus Trichophyton Rubrum. It is likely that I had the infection for weeks before I saw it. I had been working in the hot, humid and rainy environment clearing weeds and grass. I had noticed an occasional tingly mild burning sensation a few days into the work. Most of the time I felt nothing at all. After about two weeks the discomfort level increased just enough to warrant an inspection.

A Dark Red Rash

The blotch was about 2 1/2 inches across with cauliflower lobed edges and an angry red, raised and well-defined border. It was on my inner thigh going toward the perineum. It was horrifying. I quickly made an appointment to see a doctor and I was relieved to discover that what I had was a very common fungal infection. The doctor prescribed Ketoconazole. You do not need a prescription to purchase Ketoconazole in the Philippines and it can be found at most any local pharmacy.

Cause Of The Infection

Heat and sweat combined with chaffing of the skin provided the perfect opportunity for a micro-organism to enter the skin.

It is not possible to stay dry while working outside in hot and humid conditions. Less than five minutes after beginning work I am already streaming sweat. The day-time temp averages 90F with humidity also in the 90% range.

The solution is to always use fresh working clothes and to shower frequently. I also purchased Dr. Wong's Sulfur Soap and use it alternately with regular soap. I use a hair dryer to make sure that the area gets absolutely dry.

Week One Of Treatment

After four days later the Ketoconazole 2% seemed to be working well. I was advised that in order to prevent recurrence I must continue application of the drugs for 5-7 days beyond the point where the redness appears to clear up.

Week Two Of Treatment

The tentative diagnosis for my infection was Trichophyton rubrum.

I now have suspicions that a different microbe could be the culprit.

The reason I doubt the original diagnosis is twofold. First, I noticed the development of satellite lesions. Satellite lesions are red bumps/blisters outside of the main patch of affected skin. Satellite lesions are not supposed to occur with Trichophyton rubrum.

The second sign that I was dealing with something different is the fact that the scrotal area became affected. That is also not common with Trichophyton (though there is some argument).

I could be dealing with Intertrigo complicated by a Candida albicans super-infection.

Last week the infection the infection seemed to be healing due to the Ketoconazole. That did not last. I took my recovery for granted and spent a day working and sweating only to find that the infection has become inflamed again and the angry red border had returned.

That episode shocked me into getting a lot more serious about beating the infection.

For the past five days I have sworn off working and I have remained in the air conditioned room with the fan full blast on the affected area.

I cannot stress enough the importance of positioning a fan to blow directly on the affected area. I do this throughout the day and while sleeping. The redness fades away and the blisters/bumps dry out where the skin is exposed to the blowing air. This is crucial to keeping the infection dry so it can heal, especially in a tropical environment.

I continue to use Dr. Wong’s Sulfur Soap each day. The instructions say that the soap can be used specifically for skin infections. You are supposed to apply the lather and allow it to stay on the affected skin for several minutes. I have been doing that and the area is clearing more every day.

Be aware that overusing sulfur soap will cause irritation.

Despite the setback the skin is much lighter in color now and the angry red border has been reduced to just a few patchy pinkish bumps.

Recovery Is Slow

Generally, the consensus is that clearing jock itch takes around six weeks. It is also very common for there to be re-occurrences. I would guess that this is due to losing patience with treatment. I have only been treating the infection for two weeks and it is a super drag to go to the proper extent necessary to assure complete healing.

It occurred to me that a bio-film could be the reason for such slow and incomplete healing.

A quick search of Google proved that my hunch was correct. Whether I have T. rubrum or C. albicans does not matter. Both fungi produce bio-film.

What Is A Bio-Film And Why Does It Matter?

If you are familiar with the Philippines, then you probably know what nata de coco is. Nata de coco is bacterial cellulose produced by Acetobacter xylinum cultured in coconut water. Nata de coco is a bio-film. If you have ever eaten nata de coco, then you know that it is jelly-like, but also tough. I like to chew it. You will also note the faint scent and flavor of vinegar.

Bio-film matters to those of us with a skin infection because the bio-film insulates the fungal cells. The fungus lives on the skin keratin, so it is already insulated from the immune system by that fact. The bio-film insulates the fungus from anti-fungal medications like ketoconazle.

The bio-film can set up in as little as 24-72 hours.

I had few if any symptoms within that time frame. By the time you experience any real symptom that gets your attention and makes you check out the problem you already have a serious infection dug in and shielded with a bio-film.

The best way to beat that situation is to never get into it in the first place.

Intertrigo and other groin infections get their start with help from us.

By not taking care of our bodies when we are working in hot and humid environments we are playing number one advocate on the side of the fungus.

I will be a lot more cognizant of what is going on where skin meets skin and no more working in the rain or dragging my work day too long without a shower break to wash away the sweat and grime.

Week 10

Finally, after months of dealing with this PLAGUE, every single red dot is gone. Because of the climate and my active lifestyle AND the location of the affected area it was very difficult to get the condition completely resolved.

I am tentatively relieved and happy to say that it seems for the last week that I have completely recovered.

Many times it seemed that I had recovered and then I would do some traveling or spend the day working in the yard only to find that the condition had returned, albeit it just a tiny red dot. But that is how this entire ordeal began - with a tiny red dot. 

My Treatment Summary

This is what worked for me. What works for you is up to you and your doctor.

• Ketoconazole. Some people may be allergic. **You MUST continue to apply the medication for a MINIMUM of 7 days after all visible signs of infection have disappeared. 

• Run a fan on the affected area as much as possible to keep it dry.

• If possible, keep the area uncovered during sleep.

• Reduce or eliminate sugar. Excess sugar seems to make the infection harder to clear.

• Maintain a healthy diet to keep your immune system up.

• Get plenty of sleep. Lack of sleep negatively impacts immunity. Most of the time these infections remain in the keratin and beyond the reach of the immune system, but lack of sleep and poor diet may contribute to creating conditions that the microbes can take advantage of to invade the body.

• Sulfur soap helped. Overuse can irritate the skin.

• Dandruff shampoo on jock itch - Don't do it. It irritates the skin.

• Do not allow the area to remain hot and covered with sweat for longer than absolutely necessary.

• Shower immediately after work, workouts etc.

• After showering pat dry and or blow dry the affected skin - not too hot.

• Allow 4-8 weeks for the infection to heal completely. 

If you do no keep up treatment the infection may never go away and it might get much worse and spread. Just because you cannot see the infection and it seems to be healed does not mean that you are cleared of the infection. Fungal colonies may still be present and those that remain will be the strongest of all, so if you stop treatment prematurely it will be these strongest and most resistant fungi that survive and they will multiply and become an infection that will be much more difficult to beat.

For this reason you must continue to apply the antifungal cream for a minimum of seven days beyond the point that no visible infection remains. Personally, I went 14 days beyond being visibly clear.

It is very difficult to overdose with ketoconazole cream. The amount of the drug present in the cream is a tiny fraction of the amount you will need to take orally if you fail to get the infection under control with the cream.

Foreign Fugitives Cannot Hide In The Philippines

UPDATE November 2020

 

This story is old, but it caught my eye while I was searching for updates. Back in July of this year Michael Kent Clapper was apprehended by the BoI:

Morente said Clapper has allegedly been in an “inappropriate relationship” with a 12-year old girl.The Embassy also stated that Clapper’s US passport already expired, making him an undocumented alien who is subject to summary deportation.“He will be deported for being an undocumented and undesirable alien,” Morente said. 

The story caught my eye because he is being deported without being tried for a crime and, if found guilty, serving a sentence in the Philippines. This would be the way it should happen under the Principle of Territoriality.

 

The BoI was tipped off by the US Embassy, so one way this could have worked is that Clapper made contact with a minor from the US and then traveled to the Philippines. I have found no news to confirm this. That might establish jurisdiction within the US and maybe there was not enough evidence to do so in Philippines' jurisdiction.

 

If you have details let us know.

UPDATE September 23, 2020: BI Fugitive Search Unit Nabs Big Fish

Bobby Raquepo, head of BI’s Fugitive Search Unit reported the arrest of American Xavier Fernando Monroy, 63, in Barangay Cacutud Angeles City, Pampanga in a joint operation with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission, Philippine National Police PRO-4A, Angeles City Police Office, and US authorities.

 

Monroy reportedly has an outstanding warrant of arrest issued by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia last May for Conspiracy, Bribery, False Statements, and Obstruction of Justice. 

From the US Dept. of Justice:

Xavier Fernando Monroy, 62, a U.S. citizen, was charged in a complaint filed in the District of Columbia with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, one count of bribery, one count of false statements, and one count of obstruction of justice.

...According to the affidavit, Monroy also provided Kim with confidential and other proprietary, internal U.S. Navy information.  In exchange for the steering of business and the provision of such information, Kim paid bribes to Monroy, including cash, personal travel expenses, meals and alcoholic beverages, and the services of prostitutes.

UPDATE September 9, 2020: Pemberton Freed

US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton has been given an absolute pardon by President Duterte. You can be given an absolute pardon once you have served 100% of your sentence. Pemberton has been turned over to BI to arrange his repatriation to the United States.

UPDATE August 17, 2020: Pakistani Bomb Maker's Plans Blow Up

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente ordered the BI Legal Division to file charges of immigration law violation against 29-year-old Haroon Bashir, who was arrested last 06 August 2020 at his residence along Atis road, Dacillo Compound, Bgy. San Jose, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.
 
“A check of his travel record in our database showed that he arrived in the Philippines on 28 April 2013, and that he never left the country since then,” Morente said.

This guy was able to overstay for seven years when so many others who are not bomb makers get popped much sooner. Just goes to show how good some of these people are at maintaining a low profile. 

 

UPDATE August 6, 2020: American Fugitive Peter Alex Drier

The US embassy disclosed that Drier has an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the policedepartment in San Diego, California for failure to appear and answer an underlying charge of Assault with a deadly weapon.

It was further learned that Drier was twice arrested last year on charges of Crimes Against Person and Simple Assault by the San Diego police.

Is this the same person in the Lajolla Village News:

Dreier intentionally rammed a three-wheeled police department scooter. Dreier was driving a red Saab convertible and he knocked the scooter over, briefly trapping the San Diego Police enforcement officer inside.

Dreier pleaded guilty in June before Judge Polly Shamoon to assault with a deadly weapon in which he admitted his vehicle was the weapon.

The person who rammed the traffic cop in San Diego is named Peter Alex Dreier.

The man nabbed by BI is Peter Alex, but the last name is spelled Drier.

The man who rammed the cop was 42 when the article in the Village News was published in July 2017 and would be 45 now just like the Peter Alex Drier who was caught by BI.

Both were charged with assault with a deadly weapon in San Diego.

Another idiot who underestimated the all-seeing-eye. 

UPDATE August 6, 2020: Three Koreans Run Clandestine Call Center In Manila

They allegedly deceived the victims by pretending that they are agents of lending institutions,and persuading the former to repay their loans in advance in order to avail of lower interest.

Korean authorities charged that the fugitives amassed from their phishing activities more than80 million won or roughly more than US$67,000, which the unsuspecting victims deposited into the suspects' bank accounts. 

These guys have to be very stupid to think that they can escape notice for long.

American Fugitive Ricky Masanque Sanchez

Ricky Masanque Sanchez was on parole in California for an attempted murder conviction when he had the brilliant idea to run away to the Philippines. My first thought was how dumb this guy is. He was not wanted for anything. All he had to do was serve his time on parole. Why did he run?

It does not matter why he ran, he ran. A lot of people do it. And many of them are far worse than Sanchez. They run to the Philippines thinking that this is some remote, disconnected land invisible to the rest of the world.

They think that they can blend in here in the Philippines. They think that no one will suspect them of being a fugitive. Maybe they are correct in some cases.

If they keep their nose clean they may get by for a while. If they have family that takes care of them and provide some level of cover they might be able to escape justice for a time.

Your Own Face Is Your Worst Enemy

Eventually, you will post on Face Book with your real name or a fake name and your real photo. All they need is your photo and your running days are over.

Or you will walk into some public place that is monitored by cameras connected to facial recognition servers. Boom. It's all over.

In the not too distant future facial recognition will be used by many government agencies throughout the Philippines in order to track down wanted criminals:

Last June, the Philippines’ Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the country’s military will soon acquire facial recognition software and drones to help in combatting terrorism.

“We are looking at facial recognition software so that we can easily track down the bad guys,” Lorenzana told the media.

Facial recognition capability is being added to 11,000 Thai 7-11 stores:

...Remark will use its KanKan system, which uses gesture recognition to record data on visitor traffic, how long customers spend at each shelf and changes to their emotional state as they move through stores. It will also identify members of 7-Eleven’s loyalty programme, and contains machine learning software enabling it to predict which products should be stocked at particular stores, based on previous purchasing data.

Japan is also exploring facial recognition in 7-11 stores. Can the Philippines be far behind?

One of the first things you do when you enter the Philippines is submit your bio-metrics:

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente noted that they have been using the new software called the border control information system (BCIS) in processing all international passengers entering and exiting the premier ports over the past two weeks at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

“Each time a passenger’s face is captured by camera and his fingers scanned, the results are automatically cross-matched with the passport image and images in the BI database where personal details of persons with derogatory records are stored,” the BI chief said.

Sanchez came over in September 2017, before this bio-metric policy was implemented.

There are many agencies in the Philippines that are eager to fulfill their mandate as it relates to you. It is only a matter of time before you come up on one of their radar screens:

The new Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) will include all citizens of the country, along with resident aliens, or expatriates, in the country, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia says, according to the report.

PhilSys will include thumbprint, iris, and facial biometric data, and it was recently announced that the country’s central bank will produce its biometric ID cards.

A pilot of cloud and artificial intelligence-based video surveillance with facial recognition capabilities from Iveda has been successfully completed in Metro Manila, according to a company announcement.

And as if facial recognition was not enough, now fugitives need to be concerned with gait analysis. Shoe stores in Manila are getting people warmed up to gait analysis because it can be used to help you find the perfect fitting shoe. But gait analysis holds the potential to become even more powerful than facial recognition in its ability to uniquely identify individuals.

There Are Eyes Everywhere In The Philippines

Technology does not even need to get involved to end your villainous vacation. 

Immigration Memorandum Circular No. SBM-2014-017 provides for a reward of up to 2,000 PHP for anonymous tips that lead to the arrest of an "overstaying" foreigner.

2,000PHP may not sound like much money to you, but to Filipinos it is easy money for turning in an undocumented, overstaying and or criminal foreigner.

So you can expect the Bureau of Immigration Fugitive Search Unit to show up at your place at any moment.

If The Locals Do Not Get You The Expats Will

Expats who are following the law and doing right do not want to have their good names blackened by bad actors and criminals.

So if you are thinking about fleeing to the Philippines because you think you can just disappear...

think again.

You are not as invisible as you think you are.

Butiki And Tuko Lizards Of The Philippines

Lizards Lizards Everywhere

I took the photo above Saturday morning about 3 AM. The smaller lizard on the left is called butiki and the two big ones are called tuko/tokay. I call the tukos tacos. They make loud called that can be heard for quite some distance that sound like they are saying "tah-ko."

In this close-up you may notice that the one on the right is missing part of his tail. The one on the left is likely responsible for the missing tail. They chase one another around and eat the tail. The smaller butiki also engage in this dominance behavior. Only the males will do this and only to other males.

I found this one on the outside of the window at 1AM in the morning:

I went out on our patio one evening and spotted this monster peeking out from the gutter:

Unfortunately, in the poor light and given the distance my camera is unable to focus well upon him.

Wiki says that the tuko lizard is approaching endangered status due to unchecked poaching. These gecko apparently have high black market value. Republic Act 9147 carries a twelve year max prison term with up to a 1 million PHP ($20,000) fine for hunting, collecting and trading these creatures without a proper license.

I personally do not like either the butiki or the tuko very much. The former like to die in my air conditioner creating a horrid stench and forcing me to hose the unit out. We now have aluminum screening around the ACs to prevent this. I have heard stories about them shorting out the circuit board of inverter ACs. The butiki also like to get smashed in the hinge stile of the doors, creating yet more interesting aromas. 

The tuko strike horror into many people. They have very sharp claws and people live in fear of these monsters falling on them. I have no earthly idea what I would do if such a terrible fate were to one day befall me. The tuko also produces copious amounts of foul smelling poop and they are not very particular about where they deposit it.

A Solution For Lizards In Your House

It is possible to be soon overrun by these two denizens of the tropical forest. The best way that I have found to manage them is to employ the age old tool called the "kitty cat." Cats love to eat these things. Lizards are like meth for cats. We have a game where we knock the butiki from the ceilings and walls with a broom and the cats go insane. Cats have an infinite appetite for butiki, it seems.

I had a small cat (he's gone now) that was not much bigger than a large tuko, but he loved to hunt tuko more than anything else. The tuko would battle to the bitter end, but in minutes flat he would be inside of a little cat and that would be the end of it. My cat was never charged.