Republic Act No. 2706

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippine Congress Assembled:

Section 1

A separate government agency in the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources to be known as Reforestation Administration is hereby created to take over the functions of the existing Reclamation and Reforestation Division of the Bureau of Forestry.

Section 2

All reforestation funds collected pursuant to Republic Act Numbered One hundred fifteen shall be turned over to the Administrator of the Reforestation Administration to be spent exclusively for reforestation purposes, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and all areas reforested under this section shall be considered as permanent forest reserves.

Section 3

The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources shall, upon recommendation of the Administrator of the Reforestation Administration, declare what areas are to be reforested and placed under the management, administration and control of the Reforestation Administration and that after the area or areas have been reforested, they shall not be declared agricultural lands.

Section 4

All personnel now actually performing productive reforestation work, including all records, supplies, equipment, furniture, vehicles and existing buildings, improvements and other facilities and properties in the various reforestation projects now in existence as well as in the central office, Bureau of Forestry, Manila, are hereby transferred to the Reforestation Administration.

Section 5

The Reforestation Administration shall have one Administrator to be known as the Administrator of Reforestation Administration and one Deputy Administrator with the salary ranges of 62 and 57, respectively, in accordance with the wage and position classification (WAPCO), and who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines with the consent of the Commission on Appointments of the Congress of the Philippines. The Administrator of Reforestation Administration shall, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, organize its personnel into such divisions or sections as will insure the simplest organization and maximum efficiency. The Administrator shall likewise organize branches in the provinces which shall coordinate their work with the Bureau of Forestry. The Administrator of Reforestation Administration shall possess the powers generally conferred upon bureau chiefs.

Section 6

For the current fiscal year, all appropriations under the current budget which pertain to the Division of Reclamation and Reforestation of the Bureau of Forestry are hereby transferred to the Reforestation Administration for the proper establishment and carrying out of the purposes of this Act.

Section 7

All laws, orders and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed.

Section 8

This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: June 18, 1960.