Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO, 3973

Introduced by Rep. Mohamad Q. Dimaporo
and Rep. Abdullah D. Dimaporo

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.

MOHA! Q PORO ;DULLAH D. DIMAPORO
First District, Lanao del Norte Second District, Lanao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3979
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Rep. Mohamad Khalid Q. Dimaporo and Rep. Abdullah D.
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 1. There is hereby established an arboretum of two hundred
(200) hectares in the Municipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte with the Mighty
Cave Park in it, to be known as the Mighty Cave Park Arboretum.

For purposes of this Act, Arboretum refers to a reserved area which is
essentially for a well-grown and representative collection of trees or shrubs
species planted and maintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies and
as a convenient source of seed and herbarium materials.

SECTION 2 The Mighty Cave Park Arboretum shall have 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 and shrubs, and as a model for environmentally sound
landscape management;

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

d) To provide a healthy and conducive area for recreation while at the
same time enhancing the environmental consciousness of the community to
preserve the natural beauty and ambiance of the Arboretum’s protection zone;
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 to its
objectives and to the following consideration:

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

b) At least five (5) replicates of each species should be planted to ensure

the security of the species;


c) Each tree species should be numbered, labelled and tagged with
scientific name, common or local name, and the date and place of collection. In
case of mortality, the species should be replanted with the appropriate species
should be replanted.

SECTION 4. To ensure the growth of the species to be planted:
a) Each tree species should be of high-quality materials, the selection of

which should be made 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 should 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 be appoint
a Superintendent of the Arboretum who, together with a staff to be selected 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 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 Sultan Naga Dimaporo 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 units and from private entities, both local and foreign.

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.

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,