WHEREAS, trees are of paramount importance to the welfare and economic well-being of our country and people;

WHEREAS, trees and forests continue to be wantonly destroyed because their importance is not yet sufficiently appreciated; and

WHEREAS, there is urgent need to awaken tree consciousness among our people, to undertake a vigorous campaign for the planting of trees to beautify our yards, plazas, highways, parks, etc., and to reforest our bare and denuded lands through sustained tree planting work participated in by all elements of the community;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ramon Magsaysay, President of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby proclaim the week ending with the last Saturday of July of each year as Arbor Week to be observed throughout the country with appropriate programs and actual planting of shade, ornamental, fruit and forest trees.

The observance of Arbor Week shall be under the auspices of the National Forestry Council. The Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, as Chairman of said Council, is hereby empowered to create such committees as may be necessary to attain the objectives of this proclamation. He may call upon any department, bureau, office, agency or instrumentality of the Government for assistance and cooperation in the successful celebration of Arbor Week.

Proclamation No 30 dated July 30, 1947, as amended by Proclamation No. 41 dated September 3, 1947, is hereby revoked.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the Republic of the Philippines to be affixed.

Done in the City of Manila, this 5th day of March, in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and fifty-five, and of the Independence, the ninth.

RAMON MAGSAYSAY
President of the Philippines

By the President:

FRED RUIZ CASTRO
Executive Secretary