Medalla, John Carlo D.

BSA-5103

Section 16 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

State shall protect and advance the rights of every people to a balanced and healthful ecology in
accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

Related law Governed by the Act

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10176

AN ACT REVIVING THE OBSERVANCE OF ARBOR DAY BY AUTHORIZING THE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CELEBRATING THE DAY
FOR TREE PLANTING AS AN ANNUAL EVENT.

In the Philippines, Arbor Day (tree) was declared through Proclamation No. 30 by former
President Manuel Roxas in 1947, to be held every second Saturday of September of each year in
schools and communities.

Most recently, it was revived through Republic Act 10176 or the Arbor Day Act of 2012
when President Benigno Aquino 3rd signed into law a bill reviving tree-planting day as yearly
event for local government units.

The revival institutionalized Arbor Day to be observed every June 25 throughout the nation
by planting trees as well as other environmental activities.

Philippine Arbor Day is celebrated every 25th of June per Presidential Proclamation 643
signed by President Gloria M. Arroyo by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of
relevant activities that rehabilitate and re-green our environment.

Implementing Rules and Regulations

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Arbor Day Act of 2012”.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and advance
the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony
of nature. Towards this end, the vital role and importance of trees in ecological stability is
recognized. Hence, there is a need for a collaborated effort between the State and its citizenry to
combat the loss of our natural resources and rejuvenate our environment by undertaking
nationwide tree planting activities and providing effective measures for their maintenance and
sustainability.

It is hereby mandated that all provinces, cities and municipalities with their component barangays
shall be required to revive, by appropriate proclamation of their respective local chief executives,
an Arbor Day at an appropriate fixed date every calendar year as shall be deemed suitable
according to the proper time and season for planting trees in the respective provinces and their
respective component municipalities or cities concerned. Although adoption of uniform dates for
every province and its component municipalities and cities shall be encouraged, varying dates for
Arbor Day celebrations may be permitted in order to afford flexibility in planning and in
implementing tree planting programs to adjust to the proper time and period of the year most suited
to the trees selected to be planted, and as local budgetary allotments shall allow.
SEC. 3. Creation of Arbor Day Committee. – In implementing the intents of this Act, there shall
be created in every province, city and municipality m the country an Arbor Day Celebration
Committee the composition of which shall he selected by the concerned local chief executive. The
members shall preferably, composed of field officers of various government agencies, based in the
locality, but not limited to the following:

(a) Local sanggunian;

(b) Local Environment and Natural Resources Office;

(c) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

(d) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI);

(e) Department of Education (DepED);

(f) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

(g) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(h) Department of Agriculture (DA);

(i) Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

(j) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

(k) Department of Tourism (DOT);

(l) Philippine National Police (PNP);

(m) Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP);

(n) Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA);

(o) Civic organizations;

(p) Sangguniang Kabataan (SK);

(q) Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB); and

(r) Media associations.

SEC. 4. Proclamation of Arbor Day. – All provinces, cities and municipalities with their
component barangays shall be required to declare an Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day, by
appropriate proclamation of their respective local chief executive through an ordinance passed by
the respective local sanggunian, at a fixed date every calendar year as shall be deemed conducive
to the proper tune and season for planting trees in the respective localities. Although adoption of
uniform dates for its celebration shall be encouraged, varying dates may be allowed in order to
afford flexibility in the planning and implementing of the programs for tree
planting: Provided, That the Arbor Day designated shall be declared as a public working holiday
in order to ensure the participation of the different sectors of society and such declaration may be
embodied in the proclamation that local chief executives are authorized to do under this Act.

SEC. 5. Funding. – The local sanggunian shall provide for the allocation of resources pertinent to
the implementation of this Act at their respective local government level.
 SEC. 6. Information and Monitoring. – For information and monitoring purposes, all local
government units (LGUs) shall submit to the DILG the actual date of the Arbor Day Celebration
in their respective locality.

SEC. 7. Supply and Distribution of Seedlings. – The BPI, in coordination with the PCA, shall
supply and distribute the seedlings to the LGUs for the Tree Planting Program.

SEC. 8. Planting of Trees. – All able-bodied citizens of the Philippines, who are at least twelve
(12) years of age, shall be required to plant one (1) tree every year.

SEC. 9. Areas Covered by Tree Planting. – The local Arbor Day Celebrations Committee shall
specify the area within the LGU to be planted or reforested. If the area to be planted or reforested
is a protected area or a protection forest, the Committee shall encourage the use of endemic or
indigenous species during the observance of the Arbor Day designated by the LGU.

The tree planting activities shall be done in any of the following areas:

(a) Public school grounds, gardens or other available areas within the school premises;

(b) Idle or vacant public lands;

(c) Public parks in urban and rural areas; and

(d) Private schools, parks and lands with the consent of the owner thereof.

SEC. 10. Maintenance of Trees. – The barangay officials and deputized nongovernmental
organizations shall be responsible for the maintenance of such trees.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DILG, in coordination with the LGUs, the
DENR and the DA shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the
provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act or any part thereof be declared invalid
or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue in full force and
effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, proclamations, executive orders or
regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of this Act are
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall lake effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. (Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE

Speaker of the House President of the Senate
of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3146 and House Bill No. 4330 was finally
passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 30, 2012 and June 5, 2012,
respectively.

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP (Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES

Secretary General Secretary of the Senate
House of Representatives
 Approved: SEP 12 2012

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III

President of the Philippine

Output

As a result of this law, the government specifically DENR make an Arbor Day in the
Philippines. Arbor Day in the Philippines has been institutionalized to be observed every June 25
throughout the nation by planting trees and ornamental plants and other forms of relevant activities.
The necessity to promote a healthier ecosystem for the people through the rehabilitation and re-
greening of the environment was stressed in Proclamation No. 643 that amended Proclamation No.
396, s. 2003. Proclamation No. 396 enjoined the “active participation of all government agencies,
including government-owned and controlled corporations, private sector, schools, civil society
groups and the citizenry in tree planting activity.”
The Arbor Day provides and implement: The necessity to promote a healthier ecosystem
for the people through the rehabilitation and regreening of the environment. The need to sustain
the wide support and success gained from the implementation of Proclamation No. 396, and to
institutionalize Philippines Arbor Day. Planting more trees will not only help reforest denuded
areas but also make the entire country a greener and healthier place to live in. The necessity to
declare a day each year for conducting actual tree planting and environmental stewardship among
various sectors of society.

Government Agencies
In celebrating the Arbor Day, there are a lot of participants: by over two hundred (200)
volunteers from the Philippine Army, Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH), Department of Education (DepEd), local government unit of Palo, barangay local
government unit of Salvacion, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Tacloban Chapter, Pepsi Cola, Office of Leyte
1st District Representative Yedda Romualdez, DENR regional office, CENRO Palo, PENRO
Leyte, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), and the Environmental Management Bureau
(EMB).

Comments and Suggestions

The earth is more and more in need of our help to bring back balance to our environment.
“We are all consumers, but ought to be producers.” The greatest challenge of our time is to bridge
the gap between consuming and producing. One of the most significant ways we can contribute to
our environment is the planting and caring of trees. Trees are one of the most dynamic contributors
to setting back the balance from the wear and tear of civilization.
Arbor Day reminds us at least once a year to reflect on some of those benefits from trees.
This project of the government is really good but still not enough. . There are a lot of completed
and on-going projects of the government for the environment but still environmental resources of
the Philippines continue to decline. One of the major reason is the mining industry of our country.
It contribute a lot to our economic growth but it does destroy our environment.
I suggests that government should make ecological awareness as part of our social fabric
and culture as Filipinos. The more we learn about the complex relationships between living things
and our environment, the better. Talk to your family and friends about the things you know and
learn. There must also be an ordinance that will encourage every individual to join or support
environmental groups and project of the government. I also suggest that government provide
limitation to the mining industry.