Legal basis and predecessor issuances
- The President exercises authority “by virtue of the powers vested in me by law” to issue the proclamation.
- The proclamation repeals or amends accordingly Proclamation No. 1547 dated May 18, 1976 and other related issuances inconsistent with Proclamation No. 396.
Policy, purpose, and intent
- The proclamation states that environmental rehabilitation and regreening are necessary to promote a healthier ecosystem for the people.
- It declares the need for all government agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations, the private sector, schools, civil society, and the citizenry to participate in tree planting activities nationwide.
- It establishes the need to declare a yearly day for appropriate ceremonies that build partnerships and support actual tree planting.
- It recognizes that the activity develops greater public awareness of the importance and role of trees in environmental health and human life.
- It links the observance to June celebrations, including the Environment Month, the Philippine Month of Mountains, and the National Forestry Service Anniversary, to encourage public participation.
Coverage and who must participate
- The proclamation enjoins all government agencies, including government-owned or controlled corporations, to participate in tree planting activities.
- It enjoins the private sector, schools, civil society, and the citizenry to participate in tree planting activities nationwide.
- It requires leadership in tree planting activities through appropriate ceremonies by:
- Members of the Cabinet and heads of agencies,
- Local Government Units (LGUs), and
- Other government instrumentalities.
- It requires participating agencies, organizations, schools, and LGUs to identify appropriate areas for tree planting in coordination with the agencies having jurisdiction.
Tree planting areas and coordination duties
- Participating entities must identify appropriate tree planting areas through coordination with the agencies that have jurisdiction over those areas.
- The proclamation provides jurisdictional examples for coordination:
- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for public forest lands,
- The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) along roadsides of national highways,
- The Department of National Defense for military reservations,
- The Department of Tourism for ecotourism areas,
- Local Governments for areas within their jurisdictions.
- The tree planting observance must be implemented nationwide through actual planting of trees and ornamental plants, guided by these jurisdictional coordination requirements.
Nurseries, seedlings, and technical support
- LGUs, including barangays, schools, and the DENR must establish and maintain nurseries to produce planting materials.
- The nurseries’ planting materials must be made available to all participants.
- Maintenance and protection of the planted seedlings must be handled by the respective participating agencies/instrumentalities.
- The DENR must provide technical assistance to all participants for the PHILIPPINES ARBOR DAY celebration.
Repeal and amendment effect
- Proclamation No. 1547 dated May 18, 1976 is repealed or amended accordingly.
- Other related issuances inconsistent with Proclamation No. 396 are also repealed or amended accordingly.