DENR chief Cimatu warns vs ‘illegal’ online selling, purchase of chainsaws

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MANILA, Philippines — Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy Cimatu on Tuesday warned against the online selling and buying of chainsaws, saying it is ” deemed illegal and subject to confiscation even without a warrant.”

According to the environment agency chief, Republic Act (RA) 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002 outlaws the selling and purchase of chainsaws through online platforms as it requires the registration of chainsaws with the DENR.

“The public is advised to buy chainsaws only from DENR-authorized dealers and have them registered with the nearest DENR office. Those purchased from unauthorized sources like online platforms are deemed illegal and subject to confiscation even without a warrant,” Cimatu said in a statement.

The DENR said it has consulted the Department of Trade and Industry over the matter. It also stressed that the Chainsaw Act of 2002 punishes violators with a jail term of up to six years or a fine of P30,000 per chainsaw.

Cimatu said that under Republic Act (RA) 9175 or the Chainsaw Act of 2002, buying and selling of chainsaws through online platforms are restricted, and registration of chainsaws is required.

Environment Assistant Secretary Marcial Amaro Jr. said the DENR-Forest Management Bureau is creating “workable options to prohibit online selling of chainsaws through a Joint Administrative Order in view of the requirements of RA 9175 and DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2003-24 on sale, ownership, and use of chainsaws.”

Under DAO 2003-24, which is the implementing rules and regulations of the Chainsaw Act, only chainsaws purchased from DENR-accredited distributors, importers, and sellers are permitted for registration. It also provides outright seizure  – without a need for a warrant – of “illegitimate” chainsaws and unregistered sawmills.

The law further allows the DENR to “issue permits to possess and/or use a chainsaw for the felling and/or cutting of trees, timber, and other forest or agro-forest products to any applicant who has a subsisting timber license agreement, production sharing agreement, or similar agreements, or a private land timber permit; is an orchard and fruit tree farmer; is an industrial tree farmer; is a licensed wood processor and the chainsaw shall be used for the cutting of timber that has been legally sold to the said applicant; or shall use the chainsaw for a legal purpose.”

Cimatu called on the public “to report suspected illegal possession, use, or sale of unregistered chainsaws” the DENR.

As of last year, the DENR said it has seized 2,790 illegal chainsaws and other tools.

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