ALLACAPAN, Cagayan – Want to marry here? Make sure you have planted five seedlings to be able to obtain a marriage license.
This town has an ordinance mandating that couples getting married must first undertake a tree-planting or tree-growing activity before they are allowed to join a pre-marriage orientation and counseling (PMOC) and sign their marriage license.
Emmanuel Reynoso, municipal planning officer and Population Commission Focal Person on Family Planning, said that the planting of trees by couples who intend to get married is under an ordinance and also part of their PMOC program.
Jhomar Salem, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer (MENRO), said that due to the ordinance, seven couples recently planted five seedlings before they were issued a marriage license by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR). He said the couples planted various seedlings in Sitio Kasisiitan, Barangay Daan-Ili.
The Allacapan local government unit provided the seedlings and equipment for the couples.
“Kaya naman para sa lahat ng mga nagbabalak na magpakasal kinakailangan munang magtanim ng mga seedlings bago kayo sumailalim sa counselling at tuluyang maikasal (Couples who want to get married in Allacapan must plant trees first before they can undergo counseling and get married,” the Public Information Office here advised.