EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irst R egular Session 
}
(pttirt ct t’lf s-n.'tarp
•19 
DEC 17 
P 3  2 7
S E N
S.B. No.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO HI
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARBORETUM WITHIN THE PREM ISES OF THE 
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE 
(CENRO) IN BARANGAY POBLACION, MUNICIPALITY OF KOLAMBUGAN, 
LANAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS THE KOLAMBUGAN
ARBORETUM
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a survey conducted in 2018, the Philippines ranked third am ong four 
countries in the world a s m ost vulnerable to clim ate change1. India is a t th e top 
of the list, while P akistan and B angladesh ranked second an d  fourth, 
respectively. 
Indeed, it h a s w orsened the n atu ral calam ities th a t strike our 
country these days. Frequent flooding, soil erosion, and landslides resulted in a 
trem endous loss in term s of property, livelihood, and m ost of aU -  lives.
T hreats posed by clim ate change are serious. A way to ad d ress and 
m itigate its harm ful effects is to p lan t more trees. Trees serve as o u r first line of 
defense in tim es of disasters. However, one of the crucial factors to consider is 
th e right species th at are native to and can thrive in the intended planting site. 
Only by doing so, can we fully enjoy its benefits. Otherw ise, all efforts shall be 
futile.
C onsistent w ith the C onstitutional m andate to protect and advance the 
right of the people to a balanced an d  healthful ecology2, this legislation seeks to 
establish a n  arboretum  w ithin the prem ises of the C om m unity E nvironm ent 
an d  N atural R esources Office (CENRO) in B arangay Poblacion, M unicipality of 
K olam bugan, Lanao del Norte to be know n a s the K olam bugan A rboretum . An 
arboretum  is a n  area devoted to specim en planting and cultivation of woody
1 https: / / www.philstar.com/headlines /2018/03/21/1798866/climate-change- 
vulnerability- philippines-ranks-3rdr>wpisrc=nl_todayworld&wpmm= 1
2 Section 16, Article 11, 1987 Philippine Constitution


p lan ts w hich are either trees or sh ru b s for ecological, research, educational, 
an d  recreational purposes.
The K olam bugan A rboretum  shall serve as an  outdoor laboratory for 
scientific studies by the faculty, and stu d en ts in dendrology, phenology, 
forestry, botany, environm ental studies, and other related fields of study. 
Furtherm ore, it shall be a san ctu ary  for endem ic tree sp>ecies in the particular 
region of the Philippines.
T hus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
CENTE C. SOTTO III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF TH E PHILIPPINES 
}
F irs t R e g u la r S e ssio n  
}
S E N A T E
S.B. No. 1245
a tij: 
- W fr
•19 
DEC 17 
P3 2 7
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO HI
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARBORETUM IN THE PREM ISES OF THE COMMUNITY 
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE IN THE 
MUNICIPALITY OF KOLAMBUGAN, LANAO DEL NORTE TO BE KNOWN AS 
THE KOLAMBUGAN ARBORETUM AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS
THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 
1. 
A rb o retu m  E sta b lish m e n t. — There shall be a n
2 
establishm ent of an  arboretum  w ithin th e prem ises of the C om m unity
3 
Environm ent a n d  N atural R esources Office in th e M unicipality of K olam bugan,
4 
Lanao del Norte to be know n a s the K olam bugan A rboretum .
5 
For purposes of th is Act, a rb o re tu m  refers to a  reserved area w hich is
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essentially for a  well-grown an d  representative collection of trees or sh ru b s
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species planted and m aintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies
8 
an d  a s  a convenient source of seed and herbarium  m aterials.
9 
SECTION. 2 . 
O bjectives. -  The K olam bugan A rboretum  shall have the
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following objectives:
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a) To provide an  outdoor laboratory for faculty and stu d en ts of nearby
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schools th a t will aid in the study of dendrology, phenology, forestry,
13 
botany, an d  other related fields of environm ental science
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b) To preserve and conserve th e genetic resources of trees and shrubs, an d
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reuse a s a  m odel for environm entally sound landscape m anagem ent;


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c) To propagate the b est species of woody p lan ts a n d  introduce new species
2 
th a t can  thrive in the locality;
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d) To provide a  healthy and conducive space for recreation, appreciation of
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n atu re, and enhance the environm ental consciousness of the com m unity;
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e) To serve a s a h a b ita t for a variety of am phibians, reptiles, birds, sm all
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m am m als, an d  other wildlife in the area.
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SECTION 3 . 
L a y o u t a n d  D esign. The layout an d  design of the
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arboretum  should satisfy its objectives an d  should conform  to th e following:
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a) The trees should be planted in row s following the contour of the land
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area;
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b) At least five replicates of each species should be planted to ensure the
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conservation an d  preservation of the species;
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c) E ach tree species should be num bered, labelled an d  tagged w ith scientific
14 
nam e, com m on or local nam e, date and place of collection. In case of
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m ortality, the species should be replanted w ith th e appropriate species.
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SBICTION 4 . P la n tin g . To ensure the growth of the species to be planted:
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a) The species to be planted should be of high quality m aterials. They should
Ig 
be properly determ ined a t least (12) m onths prior to planting in
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consultation w ith the n earest office of the DENR;
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b) Proper site preparation should be done prior to planting. This includes
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b ru sh in g /slash in g , staking, digging of hole, plowing a n d /o r cultivation.
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G rasses and other com peting vegetation w ithin a t least one m eter rad iu s
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aro u n d  each spot m u st be cleared;
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c) Planting should be done a t the onset of the rainy season.
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SECTION 5. M an ag em en t a n d  S u p erv isio n . -  The A rboretum  shall be
27 
u n d er the overall m anagem ent and supervision of the D epartm ent of
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E nvironm ent of N atural R esources (DENR). The DENR Secretary shall appoint a
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S u perintendent of the A rboretum  who, together w ith a staff who should be a
30 
representative from the natives in th e area, 
shall ensure the proper
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m anagem ent of the A rboretum .


1 
SECTION 6. O versig h t C om m ittee. -  An O versight Com m ittee is hereby
2 
created to oversee and m onitor the developm ent a n d  operation of the arboretum
3 
com posed of the following:
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1) The DENR Secretary or h is duly designated representative as
5 
C hairperson;
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2) The Provincial Governor of the Province of Lanao del Norte o r his
7 
representative a s  co-C hairperson;
8 
3) The Mayor of the M unicipality of K olam bugan, Lanao del Norte, as
9 
V ice-Chairperson;
10 
4) The President of the League of M unicipal M ayors of Lanao del Norte or
11 
the V ice-President thereof if the M ayor of K olam bugan is the President of the
12 
League, a s m em ber;
13 
5) O ne (1) m em ber to be appointed by th e DENR Secretary from am ong
14 
three (3) nom inees as recom m ended by the Provincial Governor.
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SECTION 7. 
D on atio n s. The A rboretum  m ay accept donations from 
governm ent agencies or u n its and from private entities, both local and foreign.
SE^CTION 8. 
A p p ro p ria tio n s. -  The am o u n t necessary to im plem ent 
initially the provisions of th is Act shall be taken from the available savings of 
th e DENR. S uch su m s as m ay be necessary for th e continued operation of th e 
arboretum  shall be included in the a n n u al G eneral A ppropriations Act.
22 
SEICTION 9. S e p a ra b ility  C lau se. -  In case any provision of th is Act
23 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration shall have no effect
24 
in th e validity or constitutionality of the rem aining provisions hereof.
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SECTION 10. R ep ealin g  C lause. -  All law s, decrees, rules an d  
regulations inconsistent w ith the provisions of th is Act are hereby repealed 
or am ended accordingly.


1 
SECTION 11. E ffectivity. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
2 
after its publication in the Official G azette or in a  newspap>er of general
3 
circulation.
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Approved,