SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Arbor Day Act of 2012?.

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. Towards this end, the vital role and importance of trees in ecological stability is recognized. Hence, there is a need for a collaborated effort between the State and its citizenry to combat the loss of our natural resources and rejuvenate our environment by undertaking nationwide tree planting activities and providing effective measures for their maintenance and sustainability.

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 cities shall be encouraged, varying dates for Arbor Day celebrations may be permitted in order to afford flexibility in planning and in 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. 3. Creation of Arbor Day Committee. – In implementing the intents of this Act, there shall be created in every province, city and municipality m the country an Arbor Day Celebration Committee the composition of which shall he selected by the concerned local chief executive. The members shall preferably, composed of field officers of various government agencies, based in the locality, but not limited to the following:

(a) Local sanggunian;

(b) Local Environment and Natural Resources Office;

(c) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

(d) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI);

(e) Department of Education (DepED);

(f) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

(g) Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(h) Department of Agriculture (DA);

(i) Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR);

(j) Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH);

(k) Department of Tourism (DOT);

(l) Philippine National Police (PNP);

(m) Armed Forces of the Philippines(AFP);

(n) Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA);

(o) Civic organizations;

(p) Sangguniang Kabataan (SK);

(q) Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB); and

(r) Media associations.

SEC. 4. Proclamation of Arbor Day. – All provinces, cities and municipalities with their component barangays shall be required to declare an Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day, by appropriate proclamation of their respective local chief executive through an ordinance passed by the respective local sanggunian, at a fixed date every calendar year as shall be deemed conducive to the proper tune and season for planting trees in the respective localities. Although adoption of uniform dates for its celebration shall be encouraged, varying dates may be allowed in order to afford flexibility in the planning and implementing of the programs for tree planting: Provided, That the Arbor Day designated shall be declared as a public working holiday in order to ensure the participation of the different sectors of society and such declaration may be embodied in the proclamation that local chief executives are authorized to do under this Act.

SEC. 5. Funding. – The local sanggunian shall provide for the allocation of resources pertinent to the implementation of this Act at their respective local government level.

SEC. 6. Information and Monitoring. – For information and monitoring purposes, all local government units (LGUs) shall submit to the DILG the actual date of the Arbor Day Celebration in their respective locality.

SEC. 7. Supply and Distribution of Seedlings. – The BPI, in coordination with the PCA, shall supply and distribute the seedlings to the LGUs for the Tree Planting Program.

SEC. 8. Planting of Trees. – All able-bodied citizens of the Philippines, who are at least twelve (12) years of age, shall be required to plant one (1) tree every year.

SEC. 9. Areas Covered by Tree Planting. – The local Arbor Day Celebrations Committee shall specify the area within the LGU to be planted or reforested. If the area to be planted or reforested is a protected area or a protection forest, the Committee shall encourage the use of endemic or indigenous species during the observance of the Arbor Day designated by the LGU.

The tree planting activities shall be done in any of the following areas:

(a) Public school grounds, gardens or other available areas within the school premises;

(b) Idle or vacant public lands;

(c) Public parks in urban and rural areas; and

(d) Private schools, parks and lands with the consent of the owner thereof.

SEC. 10. Maintenance of Trees. – The barangay officials and deputized nongovernmental organizations shall be responsible for the maintenance of such trees.

SEC. 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DILG, in coordination with the LGUs, the DENR and the DA shall promulgate the rules and regulations to effectively implement the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 12. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act or any part thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect.

SEC. 13. Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, proclamations, executive orders or regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 14. Effectivity. – This Act shall lake effect after fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE President of the Senate

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 3146 and House Bill No. 4330 was finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 30, 2012 and June 5, 2012, respectively.

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP Secretary General House of Representatives

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES Secretary of the Senate

Approved: SEP 12 2012

(Sgd.) BENIGNO S. AQUINO III
President of the Philippines