A CRITICAL REVIEW OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8048 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS COCONUT PRESERVATION ACT OF 1995: ITS IMPLICATIONS TO COCONUT TREE CLEARING OPERATION

This study reviewed the existence of RA No. 8048 otherwise known as “Coconut Tree Preservation Act of 1995” to derive its implication to coconut tree clearing operation and activities in San Francisco, Quezon. The respondents were divided into three different categories such as ordinary citizen, coconut farmers and landowners and Barangay Officials from five different Barangays being chosen through purposive or judgmental non-probability sampling technique by which a researcher-made survey questionnaire was used having 5-point Likert Scale to gather the needed data. Using Slovin’s formula, there were 355, 71 from each Barangay coconut farmers and landowners. Therefore, the same number of ordinary citizens were considered and 35 Barangay Officials, 7 from each Barangay to get a total of 745 respondents. With this, quantitative descriptive approach was employed since an existence of a problem was described. The raw data were tabulated, organized and computed using the statistical tools percentage and weighted mean. The results revealed that the respondents were “Slightly Aware” (1.87) of the various sections stated on RA 8048. Furthermore, the respondents “Disagree” on Environmental Factor (2.16), Social Factor (2.20) and Economic Factor (2.14). In terms of the problems, the highest to exist was the system of paying of violations committed related to illegal cutting of trees (2.57). Based on careful analysis and interpretation, an implication to regulate the coconut tree clearing operations and activities was derived. Hence, an infographic on the implementation of Republic Act No. 8048 was crafted towards coconut trees conservation and preservation.