2014

IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT 10176, ALSO KNOWN AS "AN ACT REVIVING THE OBSERVANCE OF ARBOR DAY BY AUTHORIZING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR CELEBRATING THE DAY FOR THE TREE PLANTING AS AN ANNUAL EVENT"

RULE 1

General Provisions

SECTION 1. Title. — These rules shall be known and cited as the "Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of RA 10176 otherwise known as the "Arbor Day Act of 2012"."

SECTION 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 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. IHTASa

RULE 2

Definition of Terms

SECTION 1. Whenever used in these Rules, the following shall refer to:

(a) Arbor Day — refers to a one-day activity of tree planting and other forms of relevant activities held annually at fixed date identified by each province, city or municipality.

(b) LGU Greening Plan — refers to the LGU's contribution to EO No. 26 or the National Greening Program (NGP), whereby specific activities relative but not limited to seedling production and tree planting are conducted.

(c) Planting of Tree — refers to the planting of perennial plant, either fruit bearing tree or forest tree that grows to a height of several feet including mangrove.

(d) Maintenance of Tree — refers to the nurturing of the seedlings after the planting until they are stabilized in the field.

RULE 3

The Arbor Day Committee

SECTION 1. Creation of Arbor Day Committee. — There shall be created in every province, city and municipality in the country an Arbor Day Celebration Committee to be chaired by the Provincial Governor, City Mayor or the Municipal Mayor, as the case may be, with the following agencies/stakeholders, whose responsibilities shall include but not limited to the following:

(a) Local Sanggunian

a.1 Enactment of an ordinance declaring the Arbor Day in entire province, city or municipality, as the case may be

a.2 Appropriation of funds for the annual tree planting TcDHSI

(b) Local Environment and Natural Resources

b.1 Preparation of LGU Greening Plan

b.2 Establishment and maintenance of nursery

b.3 Planting site identification, characterization and preparation

b.4 Maintenance of planting site

b.5 Monitoring and Evaluation

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

c.1 Technical assistance in the preparation of the LGU Greening Plan; establishment of nursery and in seedling production; and site identification, characterization and preparation

c.2 Social Mobilization

c.3 Monitoring and Evaluation

(d) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)

d.1 Provision and distribution of seeds or seedlings to the LGUs for the Tree Planting Program

(e) Department of Education (DepEd)

e.1 Information, Education and Communication

e.2 Establishment of school nurseries

e.3 Development and maintenance of school miniforest for rural areas or school green corners for urban areas ETISAc

e.4 Mobilization of all students who are 12 years and above to join tree planting activity outside school premises

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

f.1 Information, Education and Communication thru LGU leagues

f.2 Coordination with LGU on the promulgation of actual Arbor Day

f.3 Social Mobilization

f.4 Monitoring and Evaluation

(g) Commission on Higher Education (CHED)

g.1 Information, Education and Communication

g.2 Establishment of school nurseries

g.3 Development of school miniforest for rural areas or school green corners for urban areas

g.4 Mobilization of all students to join tree planting activity outside the school premises

(h) Department of Agriculture (DA)

h.1 Technical assistance in the preparation of LGU Greening Plan; establishment of nursery and in seedling production; and site identification, characterization and preparation

h.2 Social Mobilization

(i) Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

i.1 Technical assistance in the preparation of LGU Greening Plan; establishment of nursery; and seedling production cSIADH

i.2 Social Mobilization

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

j.1 Provision of transportation in the hauling of seedlings and volunteer planters; and

j.2 Assistance in the construction of access roads and trails to the planting site.

(k) Department of Tourism (DOT)

k.1 Identification of tourism sites or potential areas requiring tree planting to rejuvenate the environment and enhance attractiveness of the site for nature tourism

k.2 Promotion of eco-tourism program relative to the conduct of Arbor Day Celebration

(l) Philippine National Police (PNP)

l.i Clearing operation of Tree Planting Site for possible enemy threats

l.2 Area security during tree planting activity

l.3 Road security before, during and after the tree planting activity

(m) Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)

m.1 The AFP shall perform a supporting role to DILG in the implementation of Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day;

m.2 The AFP shall support security and force protection effort of the local PNP during the conduct of Arbor Day or Tree Planting Day; DaHISE

m.3 The AFP unit shall conduct tree planting activities within the camps/base in support to the declaration of Arbor Day in their respective provinces, cities and municipalities; and

m.4 AFP CMO Staff Officers on the ground shall be the AFP representatives as members in the Arbor Day Committee that shall be created in every province, city and municipality.

(n) Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA)

n.1 Provision and distribution of seeds or seedlings to the LGUs for the Tree Planting Program

(o) Civil Society Organizations (CSO)

o.1 Mobilization of the local CSOs in the area

o.2 Maintenance of planted trees

o.3 Provision of logistic and/or services during the tree planting such as medical support among others

(p) Sangguniang Kabataan Federation (SKF)

p.1 Information, Education and Communication

p.2 Mobilization of the youth sector

(q) Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB)

q.1 Information, Education and Communication

q.2 Mobilization of the community SCcHIE

q.3 Establishment of barangay nurseries

q.4 Maintenance of the planting site

(r) Media Associations

r.1 Provision of public service announcements (PSAs) for the tree planting activity and related undertakings

r.2 Conduct of Radio/TV hosting for the Arbor Day Celebration

r.3 Media coverage of the actual tree planting

RULE 4

Arbor Day

SECTION 1. 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 time and season for planting trees in the respective localities. Although adoption of uniform date 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 the 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 these Rules.

SECTION 2. Funding. — The local sanggunian shall provide for the allocation of resources pertinent to the implementation of this Act at their respective level which may be taken from the 20% of the Internal Revenue Allotment.

SECTION 3. 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.

SECTION 4. Planting of Trees. — All abled-bodied citizens of the Philippines, who are at least twelve (12) years of age, shall be required to plant and support the maintenance of one (1) tree every year.

SECTION 5. 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.

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

(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.

SECTION 6. Maintenance of Trees. —

(a) Maintenance — The barangay which covers the planting site and a deputized non-governmental organization shall be responsible for the maintenance of trees. The province, city or municipality may also designate caretakers in the said area in coordination with the concerned barangay. School administrators, both in public and private schools, shall be responsible in their respective school premises. On the other hand, maintenance of trees planted in private lands shall be governed by a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).  

(b) Enabling Mechanism — Every LGU shall ensure the protection, maintenance and preservation of the planted trees through the passing of an ordinance by the sanggunian concerned.

(c) Fire Protection — Local Fire Station, in cooperation with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and Fire Volunteers, shall conduct fire protection training as part of the maintenance of the planting site.

SECTION 7. Monitoring and Evaluation. — The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, shall develop and adopt an appropriate monitoring system to be adopted by the local government units. Likewise, for information and monitoring purposes, all local government units (LGUs) shall submit to the DILG the actual date of the Arbor Day in their respective locality. aASDTE

RULE 5

Final Provisions

SECTION 1. Separability Clause. — If any provision of these Rules or any part thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions not affected thereby shall continue in full force and effect.

SECTION 2. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, proclamations, executive orders or regulations and other issuances inconsistent with the provisions and/or purposes of these Rules are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 3. Effectivity. — These Rules shall take effect upon approval.

(SGD.) RAMON J.P. PAJESecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

(SGD.) PROCESO J. ALCALASecretary of the Department of Agriculture

(SGD.) MAR ROXASSecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government