Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

/ENTIETH CONGRES
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3 7 02

Introduced by Rep. Sittie Aminah Q. Dimaporo and Rep. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo___

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to establish an arboretum in the campus of the Mindanao State University-
Lanao del Norte Agricultural College in Barangay Ramain, Municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo
to be known as the MSU-LNAC Arboretum.

An arboretum is an area devoted to specimen planting of woody plants which are cither
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. So also is the educational importance of an arboretum attached to a college or
university. 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, 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.


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

SITTIE AMINAH Q. — IMELDA no

Second District, Lanao del Norte First District, Lanao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No._3702

Introduced by Rep. Sittie Aminah Q. Dimaporo and Rep. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-LANAO DEL NORTE
AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE ARBORETUM IN BARANGAY RAMAIN,
MUNICIPALITY OF SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO, PROVINCE OF LANAO DEL
NORTE, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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

SECTION 1. There is hereby established an arboretum of one hundred (100)
hectares within the site reserved for the Mindanao State University-Lanao del Norte
Agricultural College (MSU-LNAC) in Barangay Ramain, Municipality of Sultan
Naga Dimaporo, Province of Lanao del Norte, to be known as the MSU-LNAC

Arboretum.

For purposes of this Act, the term Arboretum refers to a reserved area which is
essentially for a well-grown and representative collection of tree or shrub species
planted and maintained for purposes of scientific study and maintaining a convenient

source of seed and herbarium materials.

SECTION 2. The MSU-LNAC 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 faculty and students of nearby schools;


b) To be a sanctuary for the preservation and conservation of genetic
resources of trees and shrubs, and as a model for environmentally sound landscape
management;

c) To be a nursery within which the best species of indigenous woody
plants can be propagated and where new species can be introduced;

d) To bea place for recreation where people can renew their affinity with
nature and thus be more conscious of their responsibility as stewards and guardians
of the natural 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 layout and design of the arboretum shall conform with the
National Greening Program (NGP) planting design in terms of specimen, plant
distribution, or spacing allocation in the planting sites, based on Executive Order No.
193, series of 2015, entitled, “Expanding the Coverage of the National Greening
Program”:

a) Planting shall be by group or cluster species by family. A minimum of
two hundred (200) saplings representing at least fifty (50) different native and
endemic tree species must be planted, in 10 meters x 10 meters spacing or closer,
depending on the species, in open two (2) hectare area without disturbance to the
existing patches of trees or vegetation;

b) Coordinates of all planted species shall be determined, and all species

shall be charted and mapped; and


c) Each sapling which must be: at least three (3) meters in height, labeled
and tagged using recycled soft drink tin cans or sturdier materials with consecutive
numbers, corresponding common names and scientific names, and secured by a nylon
string for identification. A permanent marker with the same information in the species
tag shall likewise be placed in front of every sapling.

SECTION 4. To ensure the growth of the species to be planted, the
following shall be observed:

a) Tree species should be of high quality, the selection of which should be
made at least twelve (12) months prior to planting, in consultation with the nearest
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of the Department
of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

b) Proper site preparation should be done prior to planting, which shall

include brushing or slashing, staking, digging of holes, plowing and cultivation; and

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

SECTION 5. The MSU-LNAC Arboretum shall be managed by the PENRO
which will be responsible in the implementation, monitoring, and maintenance of the
different activities in collaboration with its partners from the private sector, local
government units, and institutions or peoples’ organizations.

SECTION 6. A Monitoring Committee is hereby created to oversee the
development and operation of the MSU-LNAC Arboretum. It shall be composed
of the following:

1) DENR Secretary or a duly designated representative, as chairperson;


2) Provincial Governor of the Province of Lanao del Norte or a duly

designated representative, as co-chairperson;

3) Mayor of the Municipality of Sultan Naga Dimaporo, Province of Lanao

del Norte, as vice-chairperson;

4) President of the League of Municipal Mayors of Lanao del Norte, or the
Vice-President thereof, if the Mayor of the Municipality of Sultan Naga
Dimaporo, Province of Lanao del Norte is the President of the League, as

member;
5) Chancellor or Head of the MSU-LNAC as member; and

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

three (3) recommendees of the Provincial Governor.

SECTION 7. All grants, bequests, endowments, donations, and
contributions made to the MSU for the development and improvement of the
MSU-LNAC Arboretum shall be administered solely for the benefit of the MSU-
LNAC Arboretum in accordance with the instructions of the donor, or in default
thereof, of the MSU-LNAC.

SECTION 8. The Secretary of the DENR shall immediately include in the
DENR’s program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be

included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

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,