‘Plant trees to get your marriage license’

If Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera gets her way, a  couple who  plans to  get married in Cebu City must plant a tree and attend a lecture on solid waste management   before they are issued  a marriage license by the Civil Registrar.

Cabrera introduced a  draft ordinance for this requirement to promote environmental awareness.

“Failure of the couple to attend the solid waste management lecture or seminar and accomplish the tree planting (requirement) is (grounds for) a denial of the application for marriage license,” said the proposed ordinance present in the council session last Aug. 17.

It was referred to comittee on laws headed by Councilor Edgar Labella for further study.

Cabrera said she wants Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro)  personnel or their deputized persons to implement  the ordinance.

Failure to comply with the ordinance draws a fine of  P1,000 to P2,500.

Cabrera said the purpose of her ordinance is to “widen participation in the reforestation program of the city.”

If approved, the ordinance would ask couples who plan to marry to “commit to greening the city, strictly enforce the laws protecting the life support system and initiate environmental program.”

Solid waste management lectures will be incorporated in a pre-marriage seminar which is a requisite for the issuance of a Pre-Marriage Certificate.

The couple would be asked to plant at least five seedlings before they  are issued  a marriage license by the Office of the Cebu City Civil Local Registrar.

The City Agriculture Office will provide the  seedlings for free.

Cenro will be tasked to make sure that the seedlings survive and grow.