AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE BIKOL BOTANICAL GARDEN IN THE PROVINCE OF CAMARINES SUR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 10451

Establishment of the Bikol Botanical Garden
- A botanical garden called the "Bikol Botanical Garden" is established within the territorial jurisdiction of the Province of Camarines Sur. (Section 1)
- It shall be located in a portion of Mt. Isarog Natural Park within the Municipality of Pili and occupy an area of at least twenty-five (25) hectares. (Section 1)
- The area will be determined and delineated by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). (Section 1)

Facilities and Components of the Bikol Botanical Garden
- The garden shall have open-air plantings, living plant collections housed in greenhouses, and herbarium houses for specimens. (Section 2)
- It may have an arboretum for trees and shrubs, a bamboo setum, pinetum, medicinal plants setum, flowering and ornamental plants setum, aquatic plants setum, palm setum, fernery, and orchidarium, depending on space and technical requirements. (Section 2)
- The facilities shall be built within a five (5)-year period, depending on the availability of funds. (Section 2)
- Satellite gardens may be established elsewhere in the Province of Camarines Sur, depending on soil, topography, climatic conditions, and cooperative arrangements with other local governments. (Section 2)
- Buildings for officials, staff, library, and facilities for conferences, seminars, workshops, and audio-visual presentations shall be built within a three (3)-year period. (Section 3)

Functions and Activities of the Bikol Botanical Garden
- The garden shall maintain a system for the classification of plants for various utilitarian purposes. (Section 4)
- It shall adopt a program for botanical expeditions to augment its collections. (Section 4)
- It shall undertake studies and experiments on the commercial cultivation of wild plant species. (Section 4)
- It shall arrange for exchanges with other botanical gardens or collectors of plant samples or specimens. (Section 4)
- It shall cultivate medicinal plants found in the Bicol Region or elsewhere. (Section 4)
- It shall establish linkages with agricultural schools and other institutions interested in botanical science. (Section 4)

Provision of Land and Funding
- The provincial government of Camarines Sur shall provide or arrange to provide the lands suitable for establishing the Bikol Botanical Garden and any satellite gardens, through purchase, expropriation, grants from the national government, or donation from other governmental or private philanthropic sources. (Section 5)
- The provincial government of Camarines Sur shall provide the necessary capital outlays and operating expenses required to maintain the botanical garden. (Section 5)

Technical Assistance
- The DENR and other agencies of the national government shall extend technical assistance to the provincial government of Camarines Sur in the implementation of this Act. (Section 6)

Effectivity
- This Act shall take effect upon its approval. (Section 7)