FlI<'TEENTH CONGRESS 01<' THI<: 
) 
REPUBLIC 011 THE PHILII'PINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATF. 
S:NO. 382 
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I_~duced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. !rillane!,_' _IV ____ ~ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Article II, Section 16 provides that the State shall protect and advance the right ofthe people (0 a 
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. How<!ver, 
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 govemment but the whole cOIlll11unity, as well. 
It is in this light that this bill seeks to officially provide a revival of Arbor Day by mandating that 
all provinces, cities and municipalities with their component barangays to revive, by appropriate 
proclamatiOli oftheir respective local chief executives, an Arbor Day at an appropriate fixed date 
every cale'ndar 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 1. Sterling M01ion 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 envil:onmental protection. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly sought. 
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AN/rdNIo ~'SONNY" ~. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
I Information retrieved from: ht!p'./~WY·iw,gn~~nlis!!1gtip_s-,-~qmJpag~~/Tn!i;':-~)JaJ1tjng,,:r~rngr'1!1).htl1_d. Retrieved 011 16 
February 2009. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS m' THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 
, 
First Regular Scssion 
) 
,; . 
SENATE 
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AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE THE REVIVAL OF ARBOR DAY BY VESTING IN PROVINCIAL, CITY 
AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WITH THEIR COMPONENT BARAN GAYS THE 
RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CELEBRATING THE DAY FOR TREE-PLANTING AS AN 
ANNUAL EVENT 
Be it enacted by the Senate and HOllse of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SEC. 1. In ordcr to emphasize the imperative necessity for maintaining proper ecological 
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balance, for encouraging the beantification of communities and creating more healthful 
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environments, it is hereby mandated that all provinces, cities and municipalities with their 
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component barangays shall be required to revive, by appropriate proclamation of their respective 
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local chief executives, an Arbor Day at an appropriate fixed date every calendar year as shall be 
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deemed suitable according to the proper time and season for planting trees in the respective 
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provinces and their respective component municipalities or cities concerned. Although adoption 
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of uniform dates for every province and its component municipalities and the cities shall be 
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encouraged, 'Varying dates for Arbor Day celebrations may be permitted in order to afford 
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flexibility. in planning and in implementing tree-planting programs to adjust to the proper time 
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and period of the year most suited to the trees selected to be planted, and as local budgetary 
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allotments shall allow, 
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SlcC. 2. In implementing the intents of this Act, there shall be created in every province, 
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city and municipality an Arbor Day Celebrations Committee, the composition of which shall be 
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selected or designated by the local chief executi ve concerned. The members of said committee 
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shall preferably consist of officers based in the locality, representing, but not limited to: 


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( a) The local Sanggunian; 
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(b 1 The local Environment and Natural Resources Office; 
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(c) The Department of Envirollment and Natural Resources; 
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(d) The Depmtment of Education; 
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(el The Department of the Interior and Local Government; 
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(f) The Department of Agriculture; 
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(g) The Department of Agrarian Reform; 
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(h) The Depmtment of Public Works and Highways; 
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(i) The Department of Tourism; 
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(j) The Philippine National Police; 
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(k) The Armed Forces ofthe Philippines; 
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(I) The Philippine Coconut Authority; 
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(m) Civic organizations; 
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(n ) Youth organizations; 
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(0) Liga ng mga barangays; and 
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(p) Media associations. 
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SEC. 3. In order to assure active pmticipation of students, out-of-school youths and 
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employees of the government and private sectors, the Arbor Day designated every calendar year 
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by each and every local govemment unit may be declared as a public holiday and such 
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declm'ation may be embodied in the appropriate proclmnation that local chief executives are in 
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this Act authorized to do. 
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SI<~c. 4. The local Sanggunian shall promulgate the rules and regulations, including the 
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allocation of resources pertinent to the implementation of this Act at their respective local 
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govemment level. For infomlation aI1d monitoring purposes, the respective local govemment 
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units shall submit to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DlLG). copy 
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fumished the Department of Environment and Natmal Resources (DENR), the official date of 
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the specified Arbor Day. 
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SEC. 5. The DILG, in coordination with the DENR, shall promulgate the rules and 
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regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act. 
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SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its complete publication in 
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the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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