WHEREAS, Section 16 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution states that the “State shall protect

and advance the rights of every people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm
and harmony of nature;

WHEREAS, Section 458(5)(i) of Republic Act No. 7160 or otherwise known as the Local Government Code
provides for the establishment, maintenance, protection and conservation of communal forests and
watersheds, tree parks, greenbelts, mangroves and other similar forest development projects;

WHEREAS, Republic Act No. 10176 otherwise known as the Arbor Day Act of 2012, requires all Local
Government Units to declare an Arbor Day as Tree Planting Day by appropriate proclamation of the
Local Chief Executive through an ordinance at a date according to the proper season for planting trees;

WHEREAS, the institutionalization of the Arbor Day in the City of Vigan shall be another instrument in
promoting the importance of trees in attaining ecological balance for a healthy environment, not only
for the present Bigueño generation, but also for the future generation;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Vigan in session duly assembled
to enact:

SECTION 1. TITLE. This Ordinance shall be known as “Arbor Day Ordinance of the City of Vigan”

SECTION 2. DECLARATION OF CITY’S ARBOR DAY. The City of Vigan, hereby declares the third Friday of
June and every year thereafter as the City’s Arbor Day.

SECTION 3. GENERAL PROVISIONS. a) The City Government of Vigan, all barangays, accredited non-
government organizations (NGOs), People’s Organization, public and private schools, national
government agencies, the private sector shall initiate tree planting activities during the Arbor Day of the
City of Vigan. b) The different Departments of the City Government of Vigan, Non-Government
Organization, Schools (Elementary to College), all Barangays, City Scholars, shall be required to provide
at least ten (10) seedlings every year during the Arbor Day Celebration at the designated tree planting
areas. c) The Vigan City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the City Agriculture Office shall
identify the areas to be covered by the Tree Planting Activity and the trees to be planted. d) Tree
planting activity shall be done preferably in: i. Public or private grounds;

Page 2. Ordinance No. 11, Series of 2014. 5th City Council (An Ordinance institutionalizing Arbor
day in the City of Vigan…)
ii. Idle or vacant public lands; iii. Public parks; and iv. Private parks and lands with the consent of the
owner.

SECTION 4. ARBOR DAY COMMITTEE. A Committee is hereby created which shall be composed of the
following: City Mayor SP Chairman of the Committee on Environment Vigan City Environment and
Natural Resources Officer Department of Education- Vigan City Division President of Association of
Barangay Councils Representative from the Department of Interior and Local Government
Representative from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Accredited Non-
Government Organizations and People’s Organizations President of the Vigan City Press Corps

SECTION 5. FUNCTIONS OF THE ARBOR DAY COMMITTEE. a) Formulate plans and programs necessary to
achieve the intent of this ordinance; b) Specify the areas to be planted with trees and ornamental
plants; c) Monitor and record the activities and projects undertaken under the ordinance; d) Monitor
and evaluate the different sectors on their tree planting activities; e) Give award/credit to the
sector/group that have the most trees that lived; f) Identify century and heritage trees.

SECTION 6. TAGGING/LABELING/MARKING OF CENTURY AND HERITAGE TREES. As part of the city’s

thrust to protect and preserve the environment, all century and heritage trees shall be
tagged/marked/labeled by the Vigan City Environment and Natural Resources Office identifying its size,
age, historical value and rarity.

SECTION 7. MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION. The maintenance and protection of the planted seedlings
shall be the responsibility of the respective participants/agency in the tree planting activity.

SECTION 8. ESTABLISHMENT OF A NURSERY. The Vigan City Environment and Natural Resources Office
and the City Agriculture Office shall establish a seedling nursery for the effective implementation of this
Ordinance.

SECTION 9. FUNDING. The funds needed for the effective implementation and sustainability of the tree
planting activities shall come from any available funds at the city’s Annual Development Plan under the
Environmental Development Sector.

SECTION 10. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. The provisions of this ordinance shall hereby declared separate and
in the event one or more of such provisions are held unconstitutional, the validity of other provisions
shall not be affected thereby.
SECTION 11. REPEALING CLAUSE. Any existing ordinance or any of its provision/s which are inconsistent
with this ordinance shall be deemed repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 12. EFFECTIVITY. This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval and publication in a newspaper
of local circulation.

Approved on MARCH 31, 2014.