DENR reminds candidates: a CRIME to tack or nail campaign materials on trees


PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.rappler.com/nation/politics/elections/2016/127166-in-photos-local-campaign-period
You may go to fail for 6 months to 2 years if you tack or nail campaign materials on trees.

“This is to issue a reminder to all election candidates that putting up streamers and tarpaulins on trees, especially when using iron nails, could severely damage the health condition of trees,” Gonzales said in a statement dated Friday but released Saturday. xxx Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3571 prohibits the cutting, destroying, or injuring of trees along public roads, in parks, schools, and other public areas.

A similar prohibition is provided under Presidential Decree No. 953, which penalizes a violator of imprisonment from six months to two years, or a fine of PHP500 to PHP5,000, or both at the discretion of the court. (NEWS No campaign materials on trees: DENR; By PTV NewsPosted on May 5, 2018; www.ptvnews.ph/no-campaign-materials-trees-denr/)
Trees are not posts on which to nail or hang campaign materials. The candidate who is promoted this way will be held liable for violating two national laws against damaging trees in public places, said officials. Several main streets in Cebu City are considered hotspots of this type of illegal campaign ads, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7, whose monitoring team has been making rounds since July this year. (‘Don’t nail or hang posters on trees’ By Nestle L. Semilla on November 25,2015 Read more: http://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/75582/dont-nail-or-hang-posters-on-trees#ixzz5EdN7HhNG Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook)

RELEVANT LAW: https://www.lawphil.net/statutes/presdecs/pd1976/pd_953_1976.html

Any person who cuts, destroys, damages or injures, naturally growing or planted trees of any kind, flowering or ornamental plants and shrubs, or plants of scenic, aesthetic and ecological values, along public roads, in plazas, parks other than national parks, school premises or in any other public ground or place, or on banks of rivers or creeks, or along roads in land subdivisions or areas therein for the common use of the owners of lots therein, or any species of vegetation or forest cover found therein shall, be punished with imprisonment for not less than six months and not more than two years, or a fine of not less than five hundred pesos and not more than five thousand pesos, or with both such imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the court, except when the cutting, destroying, damaging or injuring is necessary for public safety or the pruning thereof is necessary to enhance beauty, and only upon the approval of the duly authorized representative of the head of agency or political subdivision having jurisdiction therein, or of the Director of Forest Development in the case of trees on banks of rivers and creeks, or of the owner of the land subdivision in the case of trees along roads and in other areas therein for the common use of owners of lots therein. If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, the penalty shall be imposed upon the officer or officers thereof responsible for the offense, and if such officer or officers are aliens, in addition to the penalty herein prescribed, he or they shall be deported without further proceedings before the Commission on Immigration and Deportation. Nothing in this Decree shall prevent the cancellation of a license agreement, lease, license or permit from the Government, if such cancellation is prescribed therein or in Government regulations for such offense. (Section 3 of PD 953)