Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City A eee E NED”
INETEENTH CONGRESS 3 DATES! MUL 2s
First Regular Session = Mew
2655 1, TIME

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HOUSE BILL NO. RY:

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Tniroduced by Rep. Sittie Aminah 0. Dimaporo and Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. ees

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish an arboretum in the Municipality of Tagoloan,
Lanao del Norte that shall include the Mighty Cave Park in it and shall be
known as the Mighty Cave Park Arboretum.

An arboretum is an area devoted to specimen planting of woody plants
which are either trees or shrubs. Distinct from a forest or park, it is in a sense
an outdoor museum of trees. It is a place where many varieties of trees and
shrubs are grown for research, educational, and ornamental purposes where
trees and other woody plants are cultivated for exhibition.

An arboretum plays an important role in the lives of many people and is a
valuable environmental, educational, recreational, and cultural resource for the
country. It plays an important role in the area of conservation and preservation
of endangered species of trees where they can be protected and propagated to
preserve the biological diversity of planet Earth.

Trees help us address climate change by reducing the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They do this by absorbing carbon dioxide
(CO,), using the carbon (C) to produce sugar for tree growth and releasing the
oxygen (O2) back in the air. As trees grow, they store carbon in their leaves
Planting more trees surely mitigate the effects of climate change — as long as
the right trees are planted in the right place. An arboretum is such one right
place.

Many services that an arboretum performs for the public at large are too
well known to require elaboration. Perhaps the most important arboretum
function from the academe point of view is to provide an outdoor laboratory for
scientific studies by faculty, students and residents in dendrology, phenology,
botany, environmental studies, photography and other related fields of study.
The arboretum will serve as an educational resource for environmental
stewardship and the promotion of environment consciousness, the history of the
province, the study of trees and other woody plants, and a place of learning and
respite for the people of Lanao del Norte. Hence this bill is filed.


In view of the importance of protecting and conserving endangered tree
species and other woody plants, and having a clean and healthy environment,
the prompt approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

SITTIE AMINAH Q. DIMAPORO > .
Second District, Lanao del Norte



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

NINETEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2655

HOUSE BIL

NO.

Introduced by Rep. Sittie Aminah Q. Dimaporo and Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARBORETUM IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF
TAGOLOAN, LANAO DEL NORTE WITH THE MIGHTY CAVE
PARK IN IT, TO BE KNOWN AS THE MIGHTY CAVE PARK
ARBORETUM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION I. There is hereby established an arboretum of two hundred
(200) hectares and which shall include Mighty Cave Park in the Municipality of
Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte to be known as the “Mighty Cave Park Arboretum”,
hereinafter referred to as Arboretum

As used in this Act, the term Arboretum refers to a reserved area for a
well-grown and representative collection of trees, shrubs and herbs planted and
maintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies and as a convenient

source of seed and herbarium materials.

SECTION. 2. The Arboretum shall serve the following purposes:

a) To aid in the study and teaching of dendrology, phenology, botany,
biology, and other related fields of study by being utilized as an outdoor
laboratory by both faculty and students of nearby schools:

b) To serve as a sanctuary for the preservation and conservation of
genetic resources of trees, shrubs and herbs, and as a model for environmentally

sound landscape management,


c) To be an area wherein the best species of indigenous woody plants
can be propagated and where new species that can be introduced and be allowed
to thrive in the locality;

d) To provide a healthy and conducive area for recreation and at the
same time enhance the consciousness of the community to preserve and protect
the environment; and

e) To serve as the habitat for a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds,

small mammals, and other wildlife in the area.

SECTION 3. The Arboretum shall conform to the following
considerations:

a) The trees should be planted in rows following the contour of the land

b) At least five (5) replicates of each specie should be planted to ensure
its preservation:
c) Each tree species shall be numbered, labelled and tagged with its

scientific name, common or local name, and the date and place of collection.

SECTION 4. To ensure the growth of the species to be planted:

a) The seedling of every specie to be planted shall be of high-quality,
and shall be selected at least twelve (12) months prior to planting, in
consultation with the nearest office of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR).

b) Proper site preparation shall be done prior to planting, to include
brushing/slashing, staking, digging of hole, plowing and/or

cultivation.

c). Planting should be done at the onset of the rainy season.

SECTION 5. The Arboretum shall be placed under the overall
management and supervision of the DENR. The DENR Secretary shall appoint


a Superintendent of the Arboretum who, together with a staff to be provided by
the DENR from among its staff, shall ensure the proper management of the

Arboretum.

SECTION 6. An Oversight Committee is hereby created to oversee
and monitor the development and operation of the Arboretum to be
composed of the following:

1) The DENR Secretary or a duly designated representative as
Chairperson:

2) The Provincial Governor of the Province of Lanao del Norte or his
representative as co-Chairperson;

3) The Mayor of the Municipality of Tagoloan as Vice-Chairman;

4) The President of the League of Municipal Mayors of Lanao del
Norte or the Vice-President thereof if the Mayor of Tagoloan is the
President of the League as member; and

5) One (1) member to be appointed by the DENR Secretary from

among three (3) recommendees of the Provincial Governor

SECTION 7. The Arboretum may accept donations from government

agencies or local and foreign private entities.

SECTION 8. The amount necessary to implement initially the
provisions of this Act shall be taken from the available savings of the
DENR System. Such sums as may be necessary for the continued operation
of the Arboretum shall be included in the annual General Appropriations
Act.

The local government units concerned shall set aside from any
available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart

fund to support the operations of the Arboretum herein established.


SECTION 9. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,