ACT NO.

3572
AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE CUTTING OF TINDALO, AKLE, OR MOLAVE TREES,
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND TO PENALIZE VIOLATIONS THEREOF
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representative of the Philippines in Legislature
assembled and by the authority of the same:

SECTION 1. The cutting in the public forests of tindalo, akle, or molave trees less than sixty
centimeters in diameter measured at a height of four feet from the ground (breast high) is
hereby prohibited.

SECTION 2. Any person, company, or corporation violating the provisions of this Act shall be
punished by a fine of not more than fifty pesos or imprisonment for not more than fifteen
days, or both, and to pay, besides, two times the amount of the tax on the timber cut:
Provided, That in the case of a company or corporation, the president or manager shall be
directly responsible for the acts of his employees or laborers if it is proven that the latter
acted with his knowledge; otherwise the responsibility will extend only as far as fine is
concerned: Provided, further, That all tindalo, akle or molave timber cut in violation of this
Act shall be forfeited to the Government.

SECTION 3. All acts and provisions of law inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on its approval

Approved, November 26, 1929.















The tree was planted by President Manuel L. Quezon on Oct. 19, 1938 to mark the inauguration of
Bacolod as a chartered city. Because of its historical value, the tree is being preserved at the plaza.
Balayong or Tindalo Afzelia rhomboides
Family: Caesalpiniaceae
Description: Tree reaching up to 25m in height and 50cm in diameter.
Distribution: Widely distributed in the Philippines
Economic Importance: Wood is good for carvings, furniture, high-grade construction work. Xylocarpa
bark is used for tanning cattle hides, goatskin, and sheepskin. Young seeds are edible due to fatty
cotyledons.
Ecological Status: Depleted due to logging and kaingin-making


Distribution
Akle is found in northern Luzon to Palawan and Negros in humid lowland forest from sea level to 150 meters. It sheds
off its leaves when flowering starts. The young leaves develop during flowering. It is also found in Albay, Bataan,
Bulacan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Capiz, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Negros
Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Surigao, Tarlac, and Zambales


Contemporary Use
The wood is one of the best materials for cabinet-making because of its color, good grain quality, and durability. It is
also used for gunstocks, carvings, sculpture, and musical instruments, as well as for interior finish, panels, and high-
grade furniture. The tree is also a substitute for black walnut. It is also used for house construction, naval
construction, railroad ties, high-quality furniture, sills, general construction, charcoal, and interior trim of automobiles
and other vehicles.


Everything in life is speaking in spite of its
apparent silence. Hazrat Inayat Khan

A tree is the climax species of the plant kingdom
as man is the climax species of the animal kingdom.
Anonymous