NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2135
of tl)? .Tef.iri>
23 m -4 P6 '35
RtCEl V'FD 3V:
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE GREENING AND FORESTLAND REHABILITATION AND 
PROTECTION AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL, SPURRING LOCAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE ACTION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Philippines is known for its rich biodiversity and natural resources, but these have 
been under constant threat due to unsustainable human activities, deforestation, and climate 
change. As part of the State's policy, preventing and reducing the adverse impacts of climate 
change is a collective responsibility that requires the participation of national and local 
governments, businesses, nongovernment organizations, local communities, and the public.
This biQ aims at promoting the rehabilitation, protection, and preservation of forest 
lands and the environment at the grassroots level. This proposed legislation seeks to empower 
barangays or local communities to become stewards of their environment by encomaging the 
planting of trees, rehabilitating degraded forests, and protecting natural habitats.
Moreover, this measure aims to promote sustainable and community-led initiatives to 
rehabilitate and protect forest lands and the environment. By empowering the barangays, we 
hope to foster a culture of environmental stewardship that will ensure the protection and 
preservation of om: natural resources for future generations.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
LOREN LEGARDA


NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PfflLIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
s. No. 2135
Ornate
of ll)? S’r 'iftarp
23 may “4 P6 35
RHCEIVEDBV;
Introduced by Senator Loren B. Legarda
AN ACT
TO PROMOTE GREENING AND FORESTLAND REHABILITATION AND 
PROTECTION AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL, SPURRING LOCAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE ACTION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled:
1 
Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Barangay Greening and Forest
2 
Land RehabiUtation and Protection Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - Recognizing the vulnerability of local communities
4 
to the impact of climate change and the role of local governments as frontline agencies
5 
in the formulation and implementation of climate change action, it is hereby declared
6 
the policy of the State to advance climate change adaptation strategies from the
7 
national to the barangay level and promote the right of people to enjoy the benefits of
8 
a balanced and healthy ecology.
9 
Further recognizing that environmental degradation aggravates the impact of
10 
climate change, it is the policy of the State to advance greening and rehabilitation and
11 
protection of forest lands as a priority adaptation strategy.
12 
Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
13 
(a) Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to
14 
actual or expected climatic stimuH or their effects, which moderates harm or
15 
exploits beneficial opportunities;


1 
(b) Climate Change refers to a change in climate identified by changes in the mean
2 
and/or variabihty of its properties that persists for an extended period,
3 
typically decades or longer, whether due to natural variability or as a result of
4 
human activity;
5 
(c) Forest lands include the pubMc forest, the permanent forest or forest reserves,
6 
and forest reservations;
7 
(d) Forest land rehabilitation programs shall include the conservation, management,
8 
and development of forest resources and biodiversity; and
9 
(e) Forest resources shall refer to any timber stands of half a hectare or more
10 
regardless of land classification or ownership
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(f) Local greening programs shall aim to build, develop, and maintain forest parks
12 
in provincial, dty, municipal, barangay parks, roads, elementary school
13 
grounds, and other pubKc open spaces, where appropriate and in private lands
14 
where permitted or if such are left idle for at least 10 years.
15 
Sec. 4. Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection - Pursuant to
16 
the pertinent provisions of RepubHc Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code,
17 
local government units (LGUs) shall share the responsibility in sustainable
18 
management and utihzation of forest resources within their territorial jurisdiction,
19 
including those assigned by law to other government agencies. The Barangay
20 
Environment Committee in the Barangay Council shall inventory forest resources in
21 
pubhc and private lands for the City or Municipality to consoHdate in their
22 
databasees for planning purposes. These inventories should specify, as far as
23 
possible, the dominant species in the timber stands.
24 
Subject to vested rights, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
25 
(DENR) and LGUs in the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay level, in
26 
consultation with other government agencies, local communities, non-govemment
27 
organizations, academic and research institutions, and other sectors, shall jointly
28 
undertake the planning, formulation and implementation of local greening and forest
29 
land rehabiMtation and protection programs.


1 
Sec. 5. Institutional Arrangements, - Each province, city, and municipality shall
2 
integrate the objectives of this Act in its policies, plans, and programs. Each city and
3 
municipality shall mobilize all concerned local agencies and communities to ensure
4 
prompt and effective implementation of this Act in every barangay. The LGUs shall
5 
conduct information and advocacy drives to promote local greening and forest land
6 
rehabilitation and protection programs, prioritizing native trees and if possible,
7 
species of endangered trees..
8 
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall coordinate
9 
with the LGUs to ensure prompt and effective implementation of this Act.
10 
The Climate Change Commission (CCC), as the sole government agency
11 
tasked to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate government programs and actions plans
12 
relating to climate change, shall coordinate and synchronize programs on forest land
13 
rehabilitation to ensure harmonization with national plans and programs and to
14 
facilitate the provision of resources.
15 
DENR shall provide assistance to LGUs in the identification, selection, and
16 
allocation of sites for rehabilitation and local greening and in enhancing LGU
17 
capabihty for the planting of the right species, especially in critical watersheds,
18 
natural forests, and mangrove areas, the use of efficient reforestation technologies,
19 
and the necessary steps to protect the remaining natural forests and national parks.
20 
The DENR shall likewise assist in the planning and permitting to cull invasive tree
21 
species and/ or species that may impact vulnerable food chain elements such as but
22 
not limited to African Tulips.
23 
All concerned agencies shall undertake information and advocacy drives.
24 
Sec. 6. Coordination with Forestry, Natural Resources, Agricultural, and Fisheries
25 
Schools. - Subject to the rules and regulations, DENR, in consultation with the
26 
Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education
27 
(CHED), may promulgate forestry, natural resources, agricultural and fisheries
28 
schools, both public and private, shall participate in the national and local
29 
implementation and monitoring of this Act. The concerned national agencies shall
30 
facilitate government or other financial assistance for such participation. The DENR
31 
shall provide technical assistance for capacity building of participating educational
32 
institutions, not only to ensure adequate, quality supply of planting materials, but


1 
also to transfer and propagate appropriate technologies for local greening and forest
2 
land rehabilitation and protection. The DENR shall likewise mobilize civil society to
3 
assist in these tasks and help DENR with localized plans and inventories.
4 
Fiscal and non-fiscal incentives shall be granted to participating institutions.
5 
Sec. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DENR shall, in consultation
6 
with CCC and DILG, promulgate the pertinent rules and regulations to fully
7 
implement the objectives and purposes of this Act within a period not later than ninety
8 
(90) days after the approval of this Act.
9 
Sec. 8. Appropriations. - The amount necessary to initially implement the
10 
provision of this Act shall be taken out of any funds in the National Treasury not
11 
otherwise appropriated: Provided, that subsequent aimual funding for the
12 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act:
13 
Provided, further, that there shall be an equitable and proportionate annual
14 
appropriation of funds, and access thereto, for this purpose for all barangays.
15 
Sec. 9. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
16 
unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
17 
provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.
18 
Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree, issuance, executive
19 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
20 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended
21 
accordingly.
22 
Sec. 11. Efjectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
23 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation
24 
in the Philippines.
Approved,