NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 1538
of tliP ^ n etnrp
*22 NOV 23 P6:17
RECEIVED BY;
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (10) TREES EACH AS A PREREQUISITE 
FOR GRADUATION AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 16, Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall 
protect and advance the right of the Filipino people to a balanced and healthful ecology 
in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.
In the data provided by the National Mapping and Resource Information 
Authority (NAMRIA), half of all provinces lost forest cover totaling more than 154,000 
hectares in the past 12 years. The depletion of the country's forest resources leads to 
grave environmental and economic losses. With the country now being tagged as one 
of the world's most severely deforested countries, policies to promote forest 
conservation and environmental sustainability are of priority.
This bill aims to address the alarming effects of climate change and ensure the 
cultivation of a socially-responsible citizenry. It shall make tree planting mandatory for 
every graduating elementary, high school, and college student and include the ethical 
use of our natural resources in the Philippine educational system. This measure would 
complement the existing Enhanced National Greening Program.
In view of raising a living legacy to the environment and to future generations 
of Filipinos, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested.
RAMON
)NG REVILLA, JR.


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
)
)
SENATE
S. No.
1538
feenatc
*■ i/ilDftitc of tlif 
f t plnI'a
*22 NOV 23 P6:17 
\
RECEIVED BY.__ ^ ^_____
Introduced by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (10) TREES EACH AS A PREREQUISITE 
FOR GRADUATION AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Title. — This act shall be known as the "Graduation Legacy for
2 
the Environment Act of2022'.
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 
promote and pursue environmental protection and sustainable development for
5 
poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change
6 
mitigation and adaptation.
7 
Sec. 3. Tree-Planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation in Public
8 
Educational Institutions. - Pursuant to the policy of the state to promote and pursue
9 
environmental protection and sustainable development, all graduating elementary,
10 
secondary and college students from public educational institutions shall be required
11 
to plant at least ten (10) trees as a mandatory prerequisite for their graduation and
12 
serving their living legacy to the environment and to future generations of Filipinos.
13 
Graduates from Private Educational Institutions will be encouraged to consider
14 
a similar program.
15 
Sec. 4. Complementarity with the Enhanced National Greening Program. - The
16 
program should be complementary to the Enhanced National Greening Program of the
17 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).


1 
Sec. 5. Location. - The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in any
2 
of the following: forestlands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil
3 
and military reservations, urban areas under the greening plan of the LGUs, inactive
4 
and abandoned mine sites, and other suitable lands.
5 
Sec. 6. Partner Agencies/Stakeholders. - The Department of Education (DepEd)
6 
and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall implement the provisions of
7 
this act in partnership with the following agencies/ stakeholders, whose responsibilities
8 
shall include, but not limited to, the following:
9 
A. Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and
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Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
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a. Nursery establishment and seedling production
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b. Site identification and site preparation
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c. Social mobilization
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d. Tree planting
15 
e. Monitoring and evaluation
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f. Technical support and extension services
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g. Provision of certified seeds of agronomic crops
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h. Provision of access roads and trails to planting site
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i. Provision of post-harvest and processing facilities
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j. Technical assistance in product development and marketing
21 
B. Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
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a. Allocation of funds for all activities of the NGP
23 
C. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
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a. Provision of transportation, security and fire protection amenities
25 
b. Information, Education and Communication
26 
D. Local Government Units (LGUs)
27 
a. Establishment of nurseries and production of planting materials
28 
b. Development of greening plan for urban and suburban areas
29 
c. Lead the establishment of communal tree farms for firewood and other
30 
domestic uses Construction of access roads and trails to the planting
31 
sites
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d. Provision of medical support


1 
e. Technical assistance and extension of services
2 
E. Department of Health (DOH)
3 
a. Provision of transportation and medical support
4 
F. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
5 
a. Provision of transportation in the hauling of seedlings and volunteer
6 
planters
7 
b. Assistance in the construction of access roads and trails to the planting
8 
sites
9 
G. Department of Transportation (DOTr)
10 
a. Provision of transport for applicants
11 
H. Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT)
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a. Provision of communication facilities
13 
I. Department of National Defense (DND)
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a. Nursery establishment and seedling production
15 
b. Provision of transportation support
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c. Provision of security
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J. Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
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a. Development and transfer of appropriate technologies
19 
b. Information, Education and Communication
20 
K. Department of Justice (DOJ)
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a. Nursery establishment and production of planting materials
22 
b. Provision of transportation
23 
L. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
24 
a. Mobilization of participation of indigenous peoples
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b. Identification of sites for NGP inside ancestral domains
26 
c. Supervision of forest protection activities inside ancestral domains
27 
M. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
28 
a. Technical assistance in seedling development
29 
N. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)
30 
a. Provision of funds for seedling production and other related activities
31 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - The DepEd and the CHED,
32 
in consultation with the DENR and other participating agencies/institutions, shall


1 
promulgate and issue the IRR of this Act within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
2 
this Act.
3 
Sec. 8. Appropriation. - The amount necessary to impiement this Act for the
4 
current year shali be provided by the DBM and funding for the succeeding years shali
5 
be incorporated in the regular appropriation of participating agencies.
6 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act or the application of
7 
such provision is declared unconstitutional or invalid, the provisions not affected
8 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
9 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
10 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to, or
11 
inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
12 
accordingly.
13 
Sec. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
14 
publication either in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation
15 
in the Philippines.
Approved,