Republic of the Philippines:

House of Representatives
Quejon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 3198

Introduced by

HON. ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ and
HON. DAVID C. SUAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The fundamental law, in several provisions, enjoins the State and the people
to conserve and develop our national patrimony. It mandates the State to conserve
our forest lands and. national parks, prohibit, for such period it may deem
necessary, logging in endangered forests and watershed areas, and to protect the
nation’s marine wealth and exclusive economic zones. Most importantly, the
constitution directs that the exploration, development, and utilization of natural
resources shall be under the full control and supervision of the State.

Pursuant to aforementioned constitutional directives, Executive Order No.193
series of 2015, known as the Extended National Greening Program (NEGP), was
issued to rehabilitate and reforest all remaining unproductive, denuded, and
degraded forestlands nationwide. In its ‘whereas clause’, it stated that there is still
an estimated 7.1 million hectares of unproductive, denuded, and degraded
forestlands, which contribute to environment-related risks, such as soil erosion,
landslides, and flooding. There is a need to institutionalize such program and to
develop and implement similar and/or complementary programs aimed at
preserving not only forestlands, but other natural resources such as mangroves,
wildlife and the nation’s flora and fauna for the benefit of future generations.


This bill lays down the national policy and a program framework for the
conservation, protection and rejuvenation of public forests, mangroves and the
wildlife and seeks to establish a coordinating council tasked to put into effect the
said policy and framework through the development and implementation of a
comprehensive environmental program of renewal and reforestation. The measure
also encourages the participation of various sectors, particularly the youth, in
carrying out its objectives.

For the foregoing reasons, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.

Me

HON. ANNA MARIE VLLARAZA-SUAREZ
REPRESENTATIVE
ALONA PARTYLIST



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Republic of the Philippines
Bouse of Representatives
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. eae

Introduced by

HON. ANNA MARIE VILLARAZA-SUAREZ and
HON. DAVID C. SUAREZ

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 House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the ‘Comprehensive
Environment Program Act of 2019.

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 as protection and conservation
forests.

(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 reclassified and be opened for exploitation 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.

(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
hereinafter referred to as the Council. 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 Trust Fund. — 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.

SECTION 8. Appropriations - 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 for implementation under this Act shall be included in the
budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as part of its
annual appropriation.

The program harnessing youth for reforestation shall be funded by project funds of
the Council or from donations earmarked for the purpose.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — When any part or provision of this Act is
held unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — Any law, decree, rule, regulation, executive
order or part thereof inconsistent with this Act, is hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 411.  Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon its complete
Publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation,

Approved.