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To minimize global warming the Sangguniang Bayan (SB) adopted municipal environment code (MEC) of 2018 thru municipal ordinance 02-18 dated 04 April 2018 thoroughly approved by the Sangguniang Paanlalawigan (SP).
Global warming poses threat due to impact on environmental hazards to human health, such as: extreme weather, ozone depletion, increased danger of woodland fires happening in other countries nowadays, loss of biodiversity, stress to food-producing systems and the global spread of infectious diseases.
The code declares May to September of each year as tree planting season which requires all commercial, industrial, institutional establishments and residential subdivisions in all 24 barangays to hold a tree planting activity in areas either inside or outside their jurisdiction, as approved by the municipal environment and natural resources officer (MENRO) who requires submission of monitoring report of surviving trees.
It is provided in the Environment Code that a rural-urban architectural design shall be followed on what species of trees and other planting materials to be planted along major roads and highways and in public places. The planting of timber and fruit-bearing trees are encouraged to get returns on investment.
Moreover, it also mandates that all male and female applicants for marriage shall each plant ten (10) different species of trees before issuance of marriage license. Non-compliance will deny them issuance of the latter.
The intent of the trees planted by marriage applicants is not only to comply the requirements but to keep and protect them as they grow while they also live as husband and wife.
The ordinance further provides that the couple may seek assistance from barangay officials where to plant the trees if they have no land in possession and let their family keep the trees grow should they transfer residence.
Another policy is for all incoming pre-school, elementary, high school and college students in all schools within Libacao to plant and adopt a tree or shrub upon enrollment as directed by their respective school administrators.
Integrated in the code is Municipal Resolution No. 11, series of 1993 that requires adoption, conservation and protection of ACACIA as municipal tree; GUMAMELA as municipal flower and MUDFISH as municipal aquatic animal or fish, in compliance with DENR’s Community Awareness on Resources and Environment (CARE) program.
An “Adopt A Place” campaign shall be undertaken to preserve and maintain the aesthetic outlook of trees in all public lands drawing participation from the private sector. The MENRO shall formulate appropriate guidelines for sectoral participation in adopting the place.
To promote and conserve the beauty of objects of scenic and ornamental value along public places and help preserve a cool, fresh and healthy climate, the code mandates to cherish, protect, and conserve planted or growing trees, flowering plants and shrubs, or plants of ornamental value along public roads, in plazas, parks, school premises, or in any other public grounds, including street islands as well as shoulders of all roads or streets in the town proper, barangays, subdivisions and compounds.
These areas shall be planted with shade or ornamental trees in a manner that is scientifically and agriculturally acceptable, or at intervals sufficient to provide the healthy growth of such flora.
The code also empowers the sangguniang bayan in consultation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to declare eco-tourism areas to preserve the quality of watershed areas and improve water recharging potential of underground aquifers (tilaga).
Libacao is known as the watershed and last frontier in the eastern part of the province and occupies almost 1/6th the total land area of Aklan. It contains wide tract of land which approximately measures 42,573 hectares. 25% (10,500 hectares) is alienable and disposable (A&D) and 75% (31,990 hectares) is public forest (DENR classification). It is blessed with seven different soil types identified as Mt. soil undifferentiated, sara clay loam, umingan sandy loam, alimodian clay loam, sigcay clay, san Miguel clay loam.
No development permit or any favorable endorsement shall be issued by the municipality for subdivisions or housing projects and business establishments unless there are provisions for the planting of trees in their development plan.
Any person given the authority to cut, destroy or injure a tree shall plant no less than five (5) tree seedlings for every single tree cut, destroyed or injured in a watershed or area designated.
The code further empowers the MENRO to conduct annual inventory of trees both in alienable and disposable lands and forestlands that shall be classified by species, age, location, ownership and other related data. All trees shall be numbered and entered into the registry for monitoring and management purposes.##
- Rey Orbista / LGU Libacao
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