Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
AN ACT 
TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT PHILIPPINE PUBLIC FORESTS, MANGROVES 
AND WILDLIFE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM 
OF RENEWAL,  REPLANTING AND REFORESTATION, AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES  
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines faces critical environmental challenges, such as deforestation and 
habitat loss, necessitating comprehensive legislation to address these issues and 
ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. As a biodiversity hotspot, the 
Philippines holds unique and valuable ecosystems. Protecting these ecosystems is 
crucial for preserving biodiversity, supporting local livelihoods, and maintaining 
ecological balance. The bill, likewise, aligns with international agreements and 
commitments related to environmental conservation, reflecting the Philippines' 
dedication to global efforts to address climate change and protect the environment. 
This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for conserving and protecting the 
environment, including reforestation, wildlife conservation, and youth involvement, 
while creating a coordinating council and funding mechanisms for its implementation. 
On behalf of the people of Parañaque City’s Second District, and for the common good 
of the Filipino people, the approval of the said measure is earnestly sought. 
REP. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
2nd District, Parañaque City 
September 11, 2023
1:25 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _______ 
______________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING 
______________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACT 
TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT PHILIPPINE PUBLIC FORESTS, MANGROVES AND 
WILDLIFE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM OF 
RENEWAL,  
REPLANTING AND REFORESTATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES  
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known as and cited as the “Comprehensive 
Environment Program Act.”  
SECTION 2. Declaration of National Policy and Program Framework. – It is hereby declared 
the policy of the State to conserve, protect, and support the renewal program of public forests, 
mangroves and the wildlife. To this end, the State hereby adopts the following comprehensive 
program frameworks:  
(a) The specific limits of public forests, national parks and other forest reserve areas,
including mangroves with forest cover, shall be determined, by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources in consultation with various stakeholders including
individuals, non- governmental organizations and public associations representing
environmental management, local governments, academic community and others. Public
consultations shall be conducted.
(b) Public forests under lease and/or which have been denuded and deforested due to
logging shall be reforested, with tree species of its original forested state or similar species,
and reclassified protection and conservation forest.
(c) Mangroves without forest cover which have been utilized and cut to the detriment of
ecological balance and to the destruction of marine, air and other wildlife which take
sanctuary shall be replenished with the mangrove and other species of plants and
reseeded with the wildlife which would naturally thrive therein.
(d) Virgin forests and public parks and forest reserves declared as such shall in no case
be opened for exploitation or reclassification and shall remain so unless otherwise
declared by law.
(e) The protection of marine, air and wildlife, including the endangered species of
Philippine fauna shall be the ultimate objective of the government.
(f) Philippine flora, both natural to our forests and those which would enhance ecological
balance and the productivity and aesthetic value of our public forests, shall be replanted
and maintained in the public forests.
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(g)  Areas of the public forests leased or tolerated for use for social forestry or agro-forestry 
shall be limited to the area and percentage of the total public forests as may be indicated 
in the implementing rules and regulations that will be issued for the purpose.  
 
SECTION 3. Coordinating Council for the Conservation, Protection and Renewal of the 
Nation's Patrimony. – There is hereby created a Coordinating Council for the Conservation, 
Protection and Renewal of the Nation's Patrimony. The Council shall be headed by the 
Secretary of Environmental and Natural Resources as Chairman, with the Undersecretaries 
of Agriculture and of Education as Vice-Chairmen. The members shall include three (3) 
representatives from the government sector and three (3) representatives from the private 
sector appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the 
Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and from the list of nominees submitted by 
the sectors themselves.  
 
The Council shall formulate policies and develop projects to implement the national policy and 
program framework as defined in this Act. It shall also promulgate rules and regulations to 
carry out the purposes of this Act and adopt a code of services and guidelines to conserve, 
protect and renew the nation's patrimony.  
 
To assist the Council, the Chairman shall designate an Executive Secretary and a Secretariat 
from among the staff of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, with such 
allowances as may be approved by the Council. The per diems and allowances of the Council 
shall be approved by the Council, subject to the existing rules and regulations and auditing 
and accounting laws.  
 
SECTION 4. Reforestation and Renewal Program by the Youth. – Subject to such rules and 
regulations as the Council may promulgate, students and community youth below the age of 
twenty-five (25) years, shall be harnessed for the reforestation and renewal of public forests, 
mangrove and wildlife. Students who will render service as provided in this Act may be 
credited with the required units for the National Service Training Program.  
 
SECTION 5. Coordination with Agricultural and Fisheries Schools. – Subject to such rules 
and regulations as the Council may promulgate, agricultural and fisheries schools, both public 
and private, shall be encouraged to participate in the programs envisioned in this Act.  
 
SECTION 6. Comprehensive Program. – In consultation with all stakeholders and various 
sectors comprising the entire agriculture and fisheries sectors, agro-business and the 
concerned academic communities, a comprehensive program including the projects that may 
be supported by the Council shall be formulated to serve as guide for the effective 
implementation of this Act.  
 
SECTION 7. Conservation, Protection and Renewal Fund. – There is hereby authorized the 
amount of One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) for the operations of the Council, and Ten 
Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) for the projects under this Act to conserve, protect and renew 
public, forests, mangroves, and the wildlife under the comprehensive program framework of 
this Act.  
 
Thereafter, the operating expenses of the Council and the projects planned and implemented 
under this Act shall be included in the budget of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources as part of its annual appropriation.  
 


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The Council may receive donations from national and international sources for the 
implementation of this Act or for a specific project or projects.  
 
Donations received shall be placed in a trust fund for specific purposes and projects, as 
approved by the Council, subject to existing auditing and accounting regulations and for 
purposes of this Act.  
 
The program harnessing youth for reforestation shall be funded by project funds of the Council 
or from donations earmarked for the purpose.  
 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. – If any part of provision of this Act is held unconstitutional 
or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be 
in full force and effect.  
 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. – Any law, decree, rule, regulation, executive order or part 
thereof inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.  
 
SECTION 10. Effectivity. – This Act shall be effective upon its complete publication in the 
Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation, whichever 
comes earlier.  
 
 
 
Approved,