Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 3571)
The primary policy is to cherish, protect, and conserve planted or growing trees, flowering plants, shrubs, or plants of ornamental value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises, or any other public ground to promote and conserve scenic beauty and preserve a healthful climate.
The Director of Parks and Wildlife has the power to create a committee in each municipality for the implementation of this Act.
The ex-officio members are the municipal mayor, the municipal treasurer, the supervising school teacher, and the municipal health officer.
The chairman receives a compensation of one peso per annum to be paid out of the funds of the city or municipality concerned; members receive no extra compensation.
It is permitted only when necessary for public safety or when pruning is necessary to enhance the plant's beauty, subject to the committee's recommendation and the Director of Parks and Wildlife's approval.
The municipal committee created under this Act supervises the cutting, destroying, or pruning of plants.
Any person who unlawfully cuts, destroys, or injures such plants shall be punished by prisión correccional in its minimum period to prisión mayor in its minimum period.
Under the supervision of the municipal committee, school children are required to plant trees and flowering plants of useful and scenic value on Arbor Day in designated public places.
All laws, acts, parts of acts, executive orders, administrative orders or regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed.
This Act took effect upon its approval on June 21, 1963.