Ecosystems & Development Journal 8(2): 69–81 October 2018 ISSN 2012–3612 SUMMARY The EO 318 of 2004 (Promoting Sustainable Forest Management in the Philippines) has been in existence for 13 years but it still has no implementing rules and regulations (IRR). The formulation of its IRR has become more urgent as the country continues to face challenges in the development and sustainable management of its forest resources. The project aimed to formulate, and advocate for IRR of EO 318. A series of writeshops were conducted in the drafting of the IRR before it was presented in three regional (Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao) and one national consultations to elicit issues, comments, and recommendations from the stakeholders for its refinement. The draft IRR is contained in a draft Administrative Order to be signed by the DENR Secretary. It has nine articles, six of which correspond to the six guiding principles in EO 318 namely, delineation, classification, and demarcation of forestlands; holistic, sustainable and integrated development of forestry resources; community-based forest conservation and development; incentives for enhancing private investments, economic contribution and global competitiveness of forest -based industries; proper valuation and pricing of forestry resources and financing SFM; and institutional support for SFM . This Order has a 35 sections. The final draft IRR that was submitted to FMB-DENR is in the form of a draft DENR Administrative Order (DAO) that will be signed by the DENR Secretary. The Sustainable Forest Management Law (Executive Order No. 318): Formulation of its Implementing Rules and Regulations P.C. Dolom 1 , L.A. Bugayong 2 , M.C.S. Casin 3 , M.M.B. Villanueva 2 , N.L. Tolentno 2 , F.B. Pulhin 2 , A.B.Palacpac 3 , H.L.L. Capinpin 2 , LA. Donoso 2 , B.C. Aguilon 2 , J.C. Nicmic 2 , J.F. Castllo 2 , M.K. Buot 3 , R.V.C. Cabrera 3 1 Director and University Researcher, 2 University Researchers, 3 University Extension Specialists Forestry Development Center, University of the Philippines Los Baños College of Forestry and Natural Resources, College, Laguna Email Address: fdccfnr@gmail.com; fdc.uplb@up.edu.ph 69 POLICY PAPER INTRODUCTION The 1987 Philippine Constitution declares that “the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature” (Section 6, Article II). The Constitution also proclaims that all lands of the public domain, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural resources are owned by the State. It allows the exploration, development, and utilization of natural resources through co-production, joint venture, or production-sharing agreements entered into by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with Filipino citizens, or corporations or associations for a period of 25 years, renewable for the same period (Section 2, Article XII). The DENR is “the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country's environment and natural resources, specifically forest and grazing lands, mineral resources, including those in reservation and watershed areas, and lands of the public domain, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natural resources”. The DENR is mandated to “assure the availability and sustainability of the country's natural resources through judicious use and systematic restoration or replacement, whenever possible,” among other functions (Section 4, Executive Order [EO] 192 of 1987). The government has been implementing forestry programs guided by sustainable forest management (SFM) concepts and principles. SFM is a strategy for managing, developing and utilizing forest resources to achieve the production of desired products or services without impairing the inherent productivity of the forest thereby insuring a continuous flow of these products or services. SFM is further defined by Revilla (2017) as a “component of sustainable development (SD) with corresponding components in other sectors such as sustainable agriculture, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, sustainable industries, sustainable trade/commerce, sustainable support services, and sustainable renewable natural resources (NRN) resulting in sustainable environment and sustainable communities”. He says that the objectives of SFM have evolved to include production of not only timber but other forest products and services as well. Likewise, forest ecosystem health and the interests of the various forestry stakeholders are now being recognized. The Revised Forestry Code of the Philippines (Presidential Decree [PD] No. 705 issued in 1975 as amended by PD 1559 in