By Zaldy Comanda BAGUIO CITY — The City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) and the Baguio Re-greening Movement (BRM) said couples who want to get married here will have to plant trees prior to the release of their marriage license. CEPMO officer Cordella Lacsamana said that the requirement is included in Section 239 of Article 35 of Ordinance 18-2016 or the Environment Code of the City of Baguio mandates the planting of trees as a pre-requisite before the issuance of a marriage license. Credit: Flickr / MANILA BULLETIN The ordinance said “Couples intending to marry in the City of Baguio shall be prevailed upon to plant at least one tree at a place designated by the CEPMO before the issuance of a marriage license and shall certify thereafter to the Office of the Civil Registrar that this provision had been complied with, which certification shall be a pre-requisite before a marriage license shall be issued.” The requirement is in addition to the certificates of attendance to other seminars like family planning and family counseling sessions. She said that under the ordinance, the issuance of a marriage license in violation of the provision shall be a ground for dismissal of government employees involved. The city environment code passed in June 27, 2016 is aimed at protecting the natural forest covers of Baguio. Tree-planting is also a requisite for graduation in college and tertiary level. Section 240 of the same article says “all graduating students of the tertiary levels shall be required to plant at least one tree prior to their graduation. Schools shall be encouraged to partner with the city government in this endeavor through a memorandum of agreement.” The inclusion of the provision in the environment code is the city’s initiative to encourage all sectors to participate and cooperate in efforts to preserve and protect trhe city’s environment for the sake of city residents and guests and the future generation.