The nationwide moratorium on the cutting of coconut trees starts today in a bid of the Philippine Coconut Authority to strictly regulate the activities of unscrupulous coconut lumber traders, which violates Republic Act 8048 or the law on illegal coconut tree cutting.

We will implement this moratorium once and for all to arrest the ever increasing and unabated incidence of illegal cutting, PCA Administrator Oscar Garin said in a statement.

The suspension covers the issuances of Permits to Cut Coconut Trees or PCCTs and the corresponding Transport/Transshipment Clearances or TTCs except on limited exceptions based on PCA Board Resolution 02-008.

Garin said the PCA has set a transition period before the effectivity date, that is, those entitled to the transitory provisions will only be those with permits approved on or before Feb. 19, 2008.

Memorandum Circular 02-2008 issued on Feb. 12 suspends all issuances of PTTCs and TTCs nationwide except for the following: typhoon-damaged coconut trees in declared typhoon calamity areas; trees that pose threat and danger to life, limb and property; areas duly authorized for conversion; and personal use of the farmer for family housing or animal, shed which should not exceed five trees.

Also restricted is the transportation of coconut lumber within the provincial territorial limits only, and with the use only of a four-wheeler vehicle such as jeepney, pick-up or flatbed “elf” and similar vehicles, with a maximum load capacity of 2,000 board feet of coconut lumber from about 20 coconut trees.

Garin said this aims to discourage long distance hauling to allow law enforcers to easily identify the illegal transport of coco lumber.

Violators will be punished one  to six  years of imprisonment, or a fine of P50,000 to P500,000, or both in the discretion of the court.*

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