PLANTING B4 WEDDING

Soon-to-be-married couples required to plant fruit trees before issuance of marriage license
By Ramil D Soliveres

VIRAC, Catanduanes --- This province’s capital town recently approved an ordinance requiring soon-to-be-married couples to plant at least five fruit-bearing trees before a marriage license can be issued.

According to its proponents, Councilors Hermin Zafe and Virgilio Candelaria, in order to heed the global call to involve everyone in saving forest resources, there is a need to engage the citizens to plant trees especially in low-lying and typhoon-prone areas to control flooding. “Since the devastations caused by floods all over the world continue to scare people of all races, damage properties and claim lives, planting trees before marriage is a couple’s commitment to save Mother Earth from further devastation,” the authors of the ordinance said.

Municipal Ordinance No. 2011-07 of this capital town requires couples who are applying for a marriage license to plant said five fruit-bearing trees in their barangay. This ordinance does not exclude couples participating in mass wedding ceremonies. The concerned punong barangay shall issue a certification as to compliance with the said requirement.

Section 2 of the Ordinance provides that the Municipal Nursery, through the Municipal Agriculture Office, shall distribute the couples with the fruit-bearing tree seedlings. However, in case of non-availability of seedlings, a certification shall be issued by the Municipal Agriculturist, so that the couple may opt to plant any fruit-bearing tree available in their barangay. The barangay council, on the other hand, must designate the areas where the trees will be planted. In case there are no available private lots, government lots shall be utilized as tree planting areas.

If for any reason a soon-to-be married couple was not able to plant trees, the ordinance says solemnization of marriage may proceed provided that the marriage license will not be released until such time that they have complied with the ordinance.

The barangay council is responsible in monitoring and nurturing of the planted fruit-bearing trees. An inventory and report of progress will be submitted to the Sangguniang Bayan on a quarterly basis.

Among other penalties, the ordinance provides administrative charges against any punong barangay who falsely issues certification to non-complying couples. In like manner, a punong barangay who refuses to issue a certification despite compliance by the soon-to-be-married couple will likewise be charged administratively.

The Committee on Justice and Human Rights of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of this province has reported the ordinance’s approval during its 34th Regular Session last August 22, 2011. 

Would you agree if I say this is stupidity? Oh, never mind, just kiddin’. If they would have to mandate every soon-to-be married couples with this ordinance, to involve everyone in saving forest resources and that there is a need to engage the citizens to plant trees especially in low-lying and typhoon-prone areas to control flooding, why not mandate it in every sector of the society? Not everyone will marry. How would you reach the goal of involving everyone in saving forest resources?

One more thing, I think it would also be better if they would marry in the forest. There, they would have to live with the trees they’ve planted and live happily ever after. Ahw.