Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 953)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 953 is to require the planting of trees in certain places such as lands adjoining rivers and creeks, subdivision common areas, and government-occupied forest or grazing lands, as well as to penalize unauthorized cutting, destruction, damaging, and injuring of certain trees, plants, and vegetation.
Every person who owns land adjoining a river or creek, every owner of an existing subdivision, and every holder of a government license involving forest or grazing land with a river or creek are required to plant trees as specified in Section 1.
Every person owning land adjoining a river or creek must plant trees extending at least five meters from the edge of the bank of the river or creek, except where permanent improvements prevent planting.
Trees must be planted extending at least twenty (20) meters from each edge of the bank of the river or creek.
Subdivision owners must reserve, develop, and maintain not less than thirty percent (30%) of the subdivision's total area (excluding roads and alleys) as open space for parks and recreational areas, and no subdivision plan is approved without this provision.
Unauthorized cutting, destruction, damaging or injuring of protected vegetation can result in imprisonment of six months to two years, a fine of 500 to 5,000 pesos, or both, at the court's discretion.
Yes, cutting or pruning is allowed if necessary for public safety or to enhance beauty, provided there is approval from the authorized agency, Director of Forest Development, or owner of the subdivision land.
The officer responsible shall be penalized, and if the officer is an alien, they shall also be deported without further proceedings.
Violators may be imprisoned for six months to two years, fined 500 to 5,000 pesos, or both; public officers who offend will also be dismissed and disqualified from public office permanently.
Violators may face imprisonment from two to five years, a fine equivalent to the value of the required open space, or both penalties at the Court’s discretion.
The Decree took effect upon its promulgation on July 6, 1976.