Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. _3700

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill secks to establish an arboretum in the premises of the Community
Environment and Natural Resources Office in Barangay Poblacion, Municipality
of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte to be known as the Kolambugan 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
(C02), using the carbon (C) to produce sugar for tree growth and releasing the
oxygen (Oz) 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.

IMELDA QUIBFANZA DIMAPORO SITTIE AMINAH Q. DIMAPORO
First District, Lanao del Norte Second District, Lanao del Norte


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

‘TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3700
Introduced by Rep. Imelda Quibranza Dimaporo and Rep. Sittie Aminah Q. Dimapor

AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARBORETUM IN THE PREMISES OF THE
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
OFFICE (CENRO) 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:

SECTION 1. There is hereby established an arboretum in the premises of
the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in the
Municipality of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte to be known as the Kolambugan
Arboretum.

As used in this Act, the term arboretum refers to a reserved area which is
essentially for a well-grown and representative collection of trees, shrubs and
herbs planted and maintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies and
as a convenient source of seeds and herbarium materials.

SECTION. 2. The Arboretum shall serve the following purposes:

a)  Toaid 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, shrubs and herbs, and as a model for environmentally
sound landscape management;

c) To provide an area wherein the best species of indigenous woody
plants can be propagated and where new species, can be introduced and be
allowed to thrive in the locality;

d) To provide a healthy and conducive area for recreation and at the
same time enhance the consciousness of the community to preserve and protect
the environment; and

e) To serve as a habitat for a variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds,
small mammals, and other wildlife in the area.

SECTION 3. The Arboretum shall conform to the following
considerations:

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

b) At least five (5) replicates of each specie shall be planted to ensure its
preservation; and

c) Each tree specie shall be numbered, labelled and tagged with its
scientific name, common or local name, and the date and place of collection.

SECTION 4. To ensure the growth of the species to be planted:
a) The seedling of every specie to be planted shall be of high-quality, and

shall be selected 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 shall be done prior to planting, to include
brushing/slashing, staking, digging of hole, plowing and/or cultivation;
c) In case of mortality, the replanting of the respective specie shall be

undertaken; and

d). Planting shall 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 appoint a
Superintendent of the Arboretum who, together with a staff to be provided 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, to be composed of
the following:

a) DENR Secretary or a duly designated representative as Chairperson;

b) Provincial Governor of the Province of Lanao del Norte or a duly
designated representative, as co-Chairperson;

c) Mayor of the Municipality of Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte as Vice-
Chairperson;

d) President of the League of Municipal Mayors of Lanao del Norte or
the Vice-President thereof if the Mayor of Kolambugan is the President of
the League, as member; and

e) 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 local and foreign private entities.

SECTION 8. The DENR Secretary shall include in the Department's
program the implementation of this Act, the funding of which shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The local government units concerned shall set aside from any
available local revenue an amount deemed appropriate as annual counterpart
fund to support the operations of the Arboretum herein established.

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,