FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPtTBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
-. 
S. NO. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article 11, Section 16 provides that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a 
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. However, 
recent data prove contrary to the aforementioned policy. Over the last 50 years, 66% of the 
forests in the Philippines were destroyed - one of the highest deforestation rates in the world.’ 
These bleak conditions, compounded by looming climate change issues, call for state measures 
that involve not only the government but the whole community, as well. 
It is in this Tight that this 61TI seeks to oi-iciaITy provide a reviva1 of-Arbor Day by mandating that 
all provinces, cities and municipalities with their component barangays 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. 
The first Arbor Day was founded by American journalist J. Sterling Morton over 135 years ago. 
During the first Arbor Day, more than a million trees were planted in the State of Nebraska. His 
simple proposal of setting aside a special day for tree planting is now being practiced and 
celebrated worldwide. By following suit, it is hoped that this measure shall inculcate the value of 
tree-planting in every citizen and a deeper commitment towards environmental protection. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought 
s
a
 
’ Information retrieved from: http://www.~eenlivinetios,comlpages/Tree-plantine-oropram.html. 
Retrieved on 16 
Febauary 2002 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
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lntrndiirecl hv Senator Antnnin “Snnnv” F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE TEE REVIVAL OF ARBOR DAY BY VESTING IN PROVINCIAL, CITY 
AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WITH THEIR COMPONENT BARANGAYS THE 
ANNUAL EVENT 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CELEBRATING THE DAY FOR TREE-PLANTING AS AN 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatzves of the Phzlippznes zn Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. In order to emphasize the imperative necessity for maintaining proper ecological 
balance, for encouraging the beautification of communities and creating more healthful 
environments, 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 the 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. 2. In implementing the intents of this Act, there shall be created in every province, 
city and municipality an Arbor Day Celebrations Committee, the composition of which shall be 
selected or designated by the local chief executive concerned. The members of said committee 
shall preferably consist of officers based in the locality, representing, but not limited to: 
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(a) The local Sanggunian; 
(b) The local Environment and Natural Resources Office; 
(c) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources; 
(d) The Department of Education; 
(e) The Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
(0 The Department of Agriculture; 
(g) The Department of Agrarian Reform; 
(h) The Department of Public Works and Highways, 
(i) The Department of Tourism; 
(j) The Philippine National Police; 
(k) The Armed Forces of the Philippines; 
(1) The Philippine Coconut Authority; 
(m) Civic organizations; 
(n) Youth organizations; 
(0) Liga ng mga barangays; and 
(p) Media associations. 
SEC. 3. In order to assure active participation of students, out-of-school youths and 
employees of the government and private sectors, the Arbor Day designated every calendar year 
by each and every local government unit may be declared as a public holiday and such 
declaration may be embodied in the appropriate proclamation that local chief executives are in 
this Act authorized to do. 
SEC. 4. The local Sanggunian shall promulgate the rules and regulations, including the 
allocation of resources pertinent to the implementation of this Act at their respective local 
government level. For information and monitoring purposes, the respective local government 
units shall submit to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), copy 
furnished the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the official date of 
the specified Arbor Day. 
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SEC. 5. The DILG, in coordination with the DENR, shall promulgate the rules and 
regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in 
the Oflciul Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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