DENR enforces stricter rules on charcoal production

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has issued an administrative order (AO) imposing stricter requirements on the production and trade of wood charcoal.

In a statement over the weekend, acting Environment Secretary Jim Sampulna said the AO aims to ensure that raw materials used in producing wood charcoal are derived from legal sources.

“It is seen to bring the wood charcoal sector into the formal economy and stop degradation of forest lands due to illegal cutting of trees to supply increasing demand for wood charcoal brought by the rising prices of liquefied petroleum gas and electricity,” he said.

Under the AO, a charcoal producer must secure a Wood Charcoal Production Permit or WCPP, which is valid for three years and renewable for the same period.

The renewal application should be filed 60 days prior to the WCPP expiration.

The AO allows charcoal producers to organize themselves into cooperatives and be issued the WCPP in the cooperative’s name.

The WCPP applications must be approved by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office or Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, which has jurisdiction over the area.