Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session
204

HOUSE BILL NO.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill reenacts House Bill No. 233 which was approved by the 14"
Congress of the House of Representatives on 11 June 2008 and was
transmitted to and received by the Senate on 17 June 2008.

The denudation and inordinate exploitation of our forests has been a
subject of serious concern of government, such that elementary and high
school graduates are encouraged to plant a specified minimum number of
trees every year as a condition for graduation.

Nevertheless, tree planting has not been given the importance that
it deserves by way of setting aside a specific day every year to be
dedicated to tree planting and to celebrate Arbor Day.

This bill proposes the revival of Arbor Day in the Philippines not
necessarily as a national holiday for commemoration of the day, but seeks
to vest in the local government units the responsibility for celebrating
Arbor Day as an annual event.

The origin of Arbor Day dates back since the last century as a day
for tree planting when standing trees were deemed insufficient for
beautification and ecological purposes. In recent years, Arbor Day has
been made the occasion for emphasizing the importance of conservation
of forest resources. The date declared for Arbor Day has, however, been
made flexible from place to place to permit local authorities to select an
appropriate date, according to the proper time for planting and the
budgetary requirements shall allow for specific trees and other plants that
are sought to be planted according to the peculiar needs of a given
locality.

Considering the significance of Arbor Day and the current relevance
of giving impetus to forest conservation, early approval of this/bill is
earnestly requested.

LUIS R| VILLAFUERTE


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Guezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

AN ACT TO PROVIDE THE REVIVAL OF ARBOR DAY BY VESTING IN
PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS WITH
THEIR COMPONENT BARANGAYS THE RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR CELEBRATING THE DAY FOR TREE PLANTING AS AN
ANNUAL EVENT

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. In order to emphasize the imperative necessity for
maintaining proper ecological balance, for encouraging the beautification
of communities and creating more healthful environments, it is hereby
mandated that all provinces, cities and municipalities with their
component barangays shall be required to revive, by appropriate
proclamation of their respective local chief executives, an Arbor Day at an
appropriate fixed date every calendar 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. Although adoption of uniform dates for every province

and its component municipalities and the cities shall be encouraged,

varying dates for Arbor Day celebrations may be permitted in order to


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afford flexibility in planning and implementing tree-planting programs to

adjust to the proper time and period of the year most suited to the trees

selected to be planted, and as local budgetary allotments shall allow.

Sec. 2. In implementing the intents of this Act, there shall be

created in every province, city and municipality an Arbor Day Celebrations

Committee, the composition of which shall be selected or designated by

the local chief executive concerned. The members of said committee shall

preferably consist of officers based in the locality, representing, but not

limited to:

a.

The local sanggunian;

. The local Environment and National Resources Office;

. The Department of Environment and National Resources;
. The Department of Education;

. The Department of the Interior and Local Government;
. The Department of Agriculture;

|. The Department of Agrarian Reform;

|. The Department of Public Works and Highways;

. The Department of Tourism;

|. The Philippine National Police;

. The Armed Forces of the Philippines;

|. The Philippine Coconut Authority;

. Civic organizations;

. Youth organizations;

. Liga ng mga barangays; and


p. Media associations.

Sec. 3. In order to assure active participation of students, out-of-
school youths and employees of the government and private sectors, the
Arbor Day designated every calendar year by each and every local
government unit may be declared as a public holiday and such declaration
may be embodied in the appropriate proclamation that local chief
executives are in this Act authorized to do.

Sec. 4. The local sanggunian shall promulgate the rules and
regulations, including the allocation of resources pertinent to the
implementation of this Act at their respective local government level. For
information and monitoring purposes, the respective local government
units shall submit to the Department of the Interior and Local
Government (DILG), copy furnished the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR), the official date of the specified Arbor Day.

Sec. 5. The DILG, in coordination with the DENR, shall promulgate
the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this
Act.

Sec. 6. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved,