Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State policy to protect and promote a balanced, healthful ecology.
- Recognizes the vital role of trees in ecological stability.
- Mandates collaboration between State and citizenry to combat natural resource loss.
- Calls for nationwide tree planting activities and sustainable maintenance measures.
- Requires provinces, cities, and municipalities to revive Arbor Day by local proclamation annually.
- Allows flexibility in Arbor Day dates to suit local climate, planting seasons, and budget.
Creation of Arbor Day Committee
- An Arbor Day Celebration Committee is created in every province, city, and municipality.
- Committee members selected by the local chief executive.
- Preferably composed of field officers from various government agencies including local sanggunian, DENR, BPI, DepED, DILG, CHED, DA, DAR, DPWH, DOT, PNP, AFP, PCA, local civic organizations, SK, Liga ng mga Barangay, and media associations.
Proclamation of Arbor Day
- All local government units must declare an Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day by local proclamation and ordinance.
- Date to be fixed annually and suited to local planting season.
- Encourages uniform dates but allows variation for flexibility.
- Arbor Day to be declared a public working holiday to ensure broad participation.
Funding
- Local sanggunian shall appropriate funds necessary for Arbor Day implementation at the local level.
Information and Monitoring
- LGUs must submit to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) the actual date of Arbor Day celebration for monitoring.
Supply and Distribution of Seedlings
- Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), in coordination with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), responsible for supplying and distributing seedlings to LGUs.
Planting of Trees
- All able-bodied citizens at least twelve years old are required to plant one tree annually.
Areas Covered by Tree Planting
- Arbor Day Committee specifies planting or reforestation areas within the LGU.
- Encourages endemic or indigenous species for protected areas or protection forests.
- Tree planting is conducted on public school grounds, vacant public lands, public parks, and with consent, on private lands.
Maintenance of Trees
- Barangay officials and deputized non-governmental organizations are responsible for tree maintenance.
Implementing Rules and Regulations
- The DILG, together with LGUs, DENR, and DA, shall promulgate implementing rules and regulations.
Separability Clause
- Invalidity of any provision does not affect the remaining provisions which stay in full force.
Repealing Clause
- Any laws, presidential decrees, proclamations, executive orders, or regulations inconsistent with this Act are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
Effectivity
- The Act takes effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or two newspapers of general circulation.