EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
} 
F irst R egular Session 
}
t (  ilji' f e f u r f a r p
'19 
DEC 17 
P 3  2 6
SEN
S.B. No
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO IH
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARBORETUM WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE MIGHTY 
CAVE PARK LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF T AGO LOAN, LANAO DEL 
NORTE, TO BE KNOWN AS THE MIGHTY CAVE PARK ARBORETUM 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
In a survey conducted in 2018, the Philippines ranked third am ong four 
countries in the world as 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 our 
country these days. F requent 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 address and 
m itigate its harm ful effects is to p lan t m ore trees. Trees serve a s our first line of 
defense in tim es of disasters. However, one of the 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 fully 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 p>eople to a  balanced an d  healthful ecology2, th is legislation seeks to 
establish an  arboretum  w ithin the vicinity of the Mighty Cave Park located in 
the M unicipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte. An arboretum  is a n  area devoted 
to specim en planting an d  cultivation of woody p lan ts w hich are either trees or 
sh ru b s for ecological, research, educational, and recreational purposes.
1 https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2018/03/21/1798866/climate-change- 
vulnerability- philippines-ranks-3rd?wpisrc=nl_todayworld&wpmm= 1
2 Section 16, Article II, 1987 Philippine Constitution


The Mighty Cave Park A rboretum  shall serve a s a n  outdoor laboratory for 
scientific studies by the faculty, a n 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 sanctuary for endem ic tree species in the p articu lar 
region of the Philippines.
Thus, the passage of th is bUl is earnestly sought.
VICENTE C. SOTTO HI


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE } 
REPUBLIC OF TH E PHILIPPINES 
}
F irs t R e g u la r S e ssio n  
}
•19 
DEC 17 
P 3  2 6
S E N
S.B. No.
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR VICENTE C. SOTTO HI
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING AN ARBORETUM WITHIN THE VICINITY OF THE MIGHTY 
CAVE PARK LOCATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF TAGOLOAN, LANAO DEL 
NORTE, 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:
1 
SECTION 
1. 
A rb o retu m  E sta b lish m e n t. -  There shall be an
2 
establishm ent of a n  arboretum  w ith an  area of 200 hectares located w ithin the
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vicinity of the Mighty Cave Park located in the M unicipality of Tagoloan, Lanao
4 
del Norte, to be know n a s  the Mighty Cave Park 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 an d  m aintained for the purpose of reference, scientific studies
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and as a convenient source of seed an d  herbarium  m aterials.
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SECTION 2. O bjectives. -  The Mighty Cave Park A rboretum  shall have
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th e 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 Avill aid in the study of dendrology, phenology, forestry,
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botany, an d  other related fields of environm ental science;
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b) To preserve and conserve the genetic resources of trees an d  sh ru b s, and
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u se a s a m odel for environm entally sound landscape m anagem ent;


1 
c) To propagate the b est 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 and conducive space for recreation, appreciation of
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n atu re, an d  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 
SECTION 3. L a y o u t a n d  D esign. -  The layout an d  design shall be in
8 
consideration of the objectives of th is Act an d  the following;
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a) The trees should be planted in row s following th e 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 en su re 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 and tagged w ith
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scientific nam e, com m on or local nam e, and the date an d  place of collection. In
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case of m ortality, the species should be replanted w ith the appropriate species
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a s indicated in the plan.
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SECTION 4 . P la n tin g . -  To ensure the grow th of the species to be
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planted;
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a) The species to be planted should be of high quality m aterials, an d  the
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selection of w hich should be m ade a t least twelve (12) m onths prior to
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planting, in consultation w ith the n earest office of the D epartm ent of
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E nvironm ent an d  N atural R esources (DENR);
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b) Proper site preparation should be done prior to planting, to include
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b ru sh in g /slash in g , 
staking, 
digging 
of 
hole, 
plowing 
a n d /o r
25 
cultivation;
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c) Planting should be done a t the o nset of th e rainy season.
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SEXJTION 5. M an ag em en t a n d  S u p erv isio n . -  The A rboretum  shall be
28 
u n der the 
overall m anagem ent and supervision of the D epartm ent of
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E nvironm ent an d  N atural R esources (DENR). The DENR Secretary shall appoint
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a  S u perintendent of the A rboretum  who, together w ith a  staff who should be a


1 
representative from the natives in the area, 
shall en su re th e proper
2 
m anagem ent of the A rboretum .
3 
SECTION 6. O v ersig h t C om m ittee. -  An O versight Com m ittee is hereby
4 
created to oversee an d  m onitor the developm ent and operation of the arboretum
5 
com posed of the following;
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1) The DENR Secretary or h is duly designated representative as
7 
C hairperson;
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2) The Provincial G overnor of the Province of Lanao del Norte or h is duly
9 
designated representative as co-C hairperson;
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3) The Mayor of the M unicipality of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte a s  Vice-
11 
C hairperson;
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4) The President of the League of M unicipal M ayors of Lanao del Norte or
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th e V ice-President thereof if the Mayor of Tagolosm is the President of the
14 
League, a s  m em ber; and
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5) One (1) m em ber to be appointed by th e DENR Secretary from am ong
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three (3) nom inees as recom m ended by the Provincial Governor.
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SECTION 7 . D o n atio n s. -  The A rboretum  m ay accept donations from
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governm ent agencies or u n its and from private entities, both local an d  foreign.
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SEICTION 8. A p p ro p ria tio n s. -  The am ount necessary to im plem ent
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initially the provisions of this Act shall be taken from the available savings of
21 
the DENR System . Such sum s a s m ay be necessary for the continued operation
22 
of th e arboretum  shall be included in the an n u al G eneral A ppropriations Act.
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SECTION 9. S e p a ra b ility  C lause. -  In case any provision of th is Act
24 
is declared invalid or unconstitutional, su ch  declaration shall have no effect
25 
in the validity or constitutionality of the rem aining provisions hereof.
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SEJCTION 10. R ep e a lin g  C lause. -  All laws, decrees, rules and
27 
regulations inconsistent w ith the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed
28 
or am ended accordingly.


1 
SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. -  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15)
2 
days after its publication in th e Official G azette or in a new spaper of general
3 
circulation.
Approved,