EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irst R egular Session 
}
(©filer 0( ll)f ^r-LtlatV
*19 
DEC 17 
P 3 2 5
S E N A T E
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO HI
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-LANAO DEL 
NORTE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE ARBORETUM IN BARANGAY 
RAMAIN, MUNICIPALITY OF SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO 
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 the top 
of the list, while P akistan an d  B angladesh ranked second and fourth, 
respectively. 
Indeed, it h a s w orsened the n atu ral calam ities th a t strike o ur 
country these days. Frequent flooding, soil erosion, an d  landslides resulted in a  
trem endous loss in term s of property, livelihood, and m ost of all -  lives.
T hreats posed by clim ate change are serious. A way to ad d ress an d  
m itigate its harm ful effects is to plant m ore trees. Trees serve as our first line of 
defense in tim es of disasters. However, one of th e crucial factors to consider is 
th e right species th a t are native to and can thrive in th e intended planting site. 
Only by doing so, can we fuUy enjoy its benefits. O therw 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, th is legislation seeks to 
establish an  arboretum  inside the cam pus of th e M indanao State U niversity- 
Lanao del Norte A gricultural College in B arangay R am ain, M unicipality of 
S ultan Naga Dim aporo to be know n a s the MSU-LNAC A rboretum . An 
arboretum  is a n  area devoted to specim en planting a n d  cultivation of woody
1 https://w w w .philstar.eom /headlines/2018/03/21/1798866/clim ate-change- 
vulnerabUity- philippines-ranks-3rd?wpisrc=nl_todayworld&wpmm= 1
2 Section 16, Article II, 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 MSU-LNAC A rboretum  shall serve as a n  outdoor laboratory for 
scientific studies by the faculty, an d  stu d en ts in dendrology, phenology, 
forestry, botany, environm ental studies, an d  other related fields of study. 
Furtherm ore, it shall be a san ctu ary  for endem ic tree sptxies in the particular 
region of the Philippines.
T hus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
VICENTE C j^O T T O  III


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irst R egular Session 
}
% -ji' ®f(iu of tl)f Jfei
*19 
DEC 17 
P 3 2 5
S E N A T
S.B. No.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO HI
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-LANAO DEL NORTE 
AGRICULTURAL 
COLLEGE 
ARBORETUM 
IN 
BARANGAY 
RAMAIN, 
MUNICIPALITY O F SULTAN NAGA DIMAPORO AND APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines 
in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 
1. A rboretum  E stab lish m en t. -  
There 
shall be 
an
2 
estab lish m ent of a n  arboretum  w ith a n  area of 100 hectares located w ithin the
3 
cam p u s of the M indanao State University-Lanao del Norte A gricultural College
4 
(MSU-LNAC) in B arangay Ram ain, M unicipality of S ultan Naga D im aporo,
5 
Province of Lanao del Norte to be know n a s the MSU-LNAC A rboretum .
6 
For purposes of th is Act, arb o retu m  shall refer to a reserved area w hich
7 
is essentially for a  well-grown an d  representative collection of trees or sh ru b s
8 
species planted an d  m aintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies
9 
an d  a s a convenient source of seed an d  herbarium  m aterials.
10 
SECTION 2 . 
Objectives. -  The MSU-LNAC A rboretum  shall have the
11 
following objectives;
12 
a) To provide an  outdoor laboratory for faculty an d  stu d en ts of nearby
13 
schools th a t wtU aid in the study of dendrology, phenology, forestry,
14 
botany, an d  other related fields of environm ental science;
15 
b) To preserve an d  conserve the genetic resources of trees an d  sh ru b s, an d
16 
reuse as a  m odel for environm entally sound landscape m anagem ent;


1 
c) To propagate the best species of woody p lan ts an d  introduce new species
2 
th a t can thrive in the locality;
3 
d) To provide a  healthy an d  conducive space for recreation, appreciation of
4 
n atu re, and enhance the environm ental consciousness of the com m unity;
5 
e) To serve a s a h ab itat for a  variety of am phibians, reptiles, birds, sm all
6 
m am m als, and other wildlife in the area.
7 
SEJCTION 3. L ay o u t a n d  D esign. -  The layout an d  design shall be in
8 
consideration of the objectives of this Act an d  the following:
9 
a) The trees should be planted in row s following the contour of the land
10 
area;
11 
b) At least five replicates of each species should be planted to ensure the
12 
conservation an d  preservation of the species;
13 
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
15 
m ortality, the species should be replanted w ith the appropriate species as
16 
indicated in the plan.
17 
SEiCTION 4. P la n tin g . -  To 
ensure the grow th of 
the species to be
18 
planted:
19 
a) The species to be planted should be of high quality m aterials, an d  the
20 
selection of w hich should be determ ined a t least twelve (12) m onths prior
21 
to planting in consultation w ith the n earest office of the DENR;
22 
b) Proper site preparation should be done prior to planting, to include
23 
b ru sh in g /slash in g , staking, digging of hole, plowing a n d /o r cultivation;
24 
c) Planting should be done a t the onset of the rainy season.
25 
SECTION 5. M an a g e m en t a n d  S u p erv isio n . -  The A rboretum  shall be
26 
u n d er the overall m anagem ent an d  supervision of the D epartm ent of
27 
E nvironm ent and N atural R esources (DENR). The DENR Secretary shall appoint
28 
a  S u perintendent of the A rboretum  who, together w ith a  staff who should be a
29 
representative from the natives in th e area, 
shall ensure the proper
30 
m anagem ent of the A rboretum .


1 
SECTION 6. O v ersig h t C om m ittee, -  There shall be a  com m ittee th a t
2 
will oversee and m onitor the developm ent an d  operation of th e arboretum , an d
3 
it shall be com posed of the following:
4 
1) The DENR Secretary or his duly designated representative as
5 
C hairperson;
6 
2) The Provincial Governor of the Province of Lanao del Norte or his
7 
duly designated representative a s co-C hairperson;
8 
3) The Mayor of the M unicipality of S ultan Naga D im aporo a s Vice-
9 
C hairperson;
10 
4) The President of the League of M unicipal M ayors of Lanao del Norte
11 
or the V ice-President thereof if the Mayor of S ultan Naga Dim aporo is the
12 
President of the League as m em ber;
13 
5) The C hancellor or H ead of the MSU-LNAC as m em ber; and
14 
6) O ne (1) m em ber to be appointed by the DENR Secretary from am ong
15 
three (3) nom inees as recom m ended by the Provincial Governor.
16 
SECTION 7. D onations. -  The A rboretum  m ay accept donations from
17 
governm ent agencies or u n its and from private entities, both local and
18 
foreign.
19 
SECTION 8 . A ppropriations. -  The am ount necessary to im plem ent
20 
initially the provisions of this Act shall be taken from the available savings of
21 
th e DENR. Such sum s a s m ay be necessary for the continued operation of
22 
th e arboretum  shall be included in the an n u al G eneral A ppropriations Act.
23 
SECTION 9. S eparability Clause. -  In case any provision of this Act is
24 
declared invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration shall have no effect in the
25 
validity or constitutionality of the remaining provisions hereof.
26 
SECTION 10. R epeating Clause. -  All laws, decrees, rules and regulations
27 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended
28 
accordingly.


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