THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
1 
First Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Introduced by Senator S. R. Osrnefia 111 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The rate of deforestation in the Philippines has reached an alarming level. 
Of the total land area of 30 million hectares, the forest cover is now estimated at 
just a little over 19 percent. 
The local level is where deforestation has had and will have the most 
immediate effect. With forest loss, the local community loses the system that 
performed valuable but unnoticed services like ensuring the regular flow of clean 
water and protecting the community from flood and drought. The forest acts as a 
sort of sponge, soaking up the tremendous amounts of rainfall brought by tropical 
downpours, and releasing water at regular intervals. This regulating feature of 
tropical rainforests prevents destructive flood and drought cycles. However, when 
forest cover is lost, runoff rapidly flows into streams, elevating river levels and 
subjecting downstream villages, cities, and agricultural fields to sudden and 
severe flooding especially during the rainy season. During the dry season, such 
areas downstream of deforestation are prone to months-long droughts which 
interrupt river navigation, wreak havoc on crops, and disrupt industrial 
operations. 
This bill aims to enlist the participation of different sectors of society in the 
task of restoring the grandeur of our forest lands. Various national government 
agencies, the upland, lowland, and coastal communities, local government units, 
civic and non-government organizations, schools, colleges and universities are in 
partnership to plant forest and fruit tree species in open and denuded public 
forest lands, private lands, and idle portions of alienable and disposable (A&D) 
lands. 
Groups and individuals who participate in this program are given benefits 
and incentives. For instance, holders of Communiiy-based Forest Management 
Agreement (CBFMA) shall have the right to make the reforested and protected 
area as an eco-tourism spot. They may collect entrance fees and put up income- 
generating auxiliary services for the maintenance and conservation of the area. 
They are also exempted from forest charges and real property tax. Moreover, 
those who planted and maintained the trees along highways, roadsides, and 
other vacant portions of public A&D land shall have the exclusive right to harvest 
and utilize the trees when these mature. 
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Finally, this bill makes it illegal for any person who is not a member of the 
community or cooperative who planted the trees to cut or gather trees from 
reforested areas. It will also prohibit illegal occupancy of any portion of the mini- 
forest reserve. 
The urgent need for the enactment of this measure cannot be 
overemphasized. The economic and environmental costs of deforestation are 
staggering. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
SERGIO OSMENA Ill 
Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLI 
First Regular Session 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
1 
Introduced by Senator OsmeAa 111 
AN ACT 
TO 
SPUR 
THE 
PLANTING 
OF 
A 
BILLION 
TREES 
THROUGH 
COMPLEMENTARY TREE PLANTING PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT 
OF 
ENVIRONMENT 
AND 
NATURAL 
RESOURCES 
AND 
VARIOUS 
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, COMMUNITIES, 
SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES, AND CIVIC AND NONGOVERNMENTAL 
MUNICIPALITIES AND SUBDIVISION PROJECTS, PROMOTING FOREST 
PLANTATIONS, AND PROTECTING THE REMAINING NATURAL FORESTS, 
CREATING A FUNF THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
ORGANIZATIONS, ESTABLISHING MINI-FOREST RESERVES IN CITIES, 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Billion 
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Trees Act of 2004” 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State shall protect and advance 
4 the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the 
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rhythm and harmony of nature. The protection and rehabilitation of forestlands 
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shall be given the highest priority to ensure environmental stability of the nation. 
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The State shall adopt and implement a sustainable forest development 
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and management program. It shall promote the participation of all sectors of 
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society, particularly national government agencies, the upland, lowland, and 
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coastal communities, local government units (LGUs), non government 
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organizations (NGOs), schools, colleges and universities, private landowners and 
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corporations, indigenous peoples in replanting denuded forest land and idle 
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alienable and disposable (A&D) land. 
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The State shall likewise promote community-based forest management. 
SEC. 3. Objectives. - The Billion Trees Program, hereinafter referred to 
as the Program, aims to improve the countryk ecology and forest regeneration 
capacity. More specifically, it intends: 
(a) To make forest and fruit tree seedlings available and more accessible 
to all cities and municipalities in the country; 
(b) To significantly increase reforestation efforts in upland, lowland and 
coastal communities in a more efficient manner; 
(c) To reverse the deteriorating effects of soil erosion, flash flooding, 
siltation of rivers and dams, drought and other negative consequences through 
rehabilitation of degraded watershed areas; 
(d) To help rehabilitate wildlife habitat through effective forest protection 
strategy; 
(e) To promote forest diversity by planting endemic species such as 
dipterocarps, pine, mangroves, etc. in portions of the plantation whenever 
feasible; 
(9 To ensure adequate supply of forest and agricultural products in t.he 
future; and 
(9) To generate employment opportunities and provide additional income 
to the countryside and rural communities. 
SEC. 4. Coverage. - At least one million (1,000,000) hectares of open 
and denuded public forest lands, private lands, and idle portions of alienable and 
disposable (A&D) lands are targeted for the first (5) years to be planted to both 
forest and fruit tree species after which the remaining areas shall be planted in 
the succeeding years. 
SEC. 5 Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act, the following terms 
shall mean: 
(a) 
“Alienable and Disposable (A & D) Lands” refers to lands of the 
public domain which have been delimited, classified and declared as such, and 
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available for disposition under the provisions of Commonwealth Act No. 141, as 
2 amended, otherwise known as the Public Land Act. 
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(b) 
“Community” refers to a group of people who may or may not share 
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common interests, needs, visions, goals and beliefs, occupying a particular 
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(c) 
“Community-based Forest Management Agreement (CBFMA)” 
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refers to an agreement between the Department of Environment and Natural 
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Resources (DENRO and an organized community for the management by the 
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said community of a specified area in the public domain according to a 
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comprehensive management and development plan and, in consideration 
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therefore and certain other obligations, grants said community the right to 
territory inside or adjacent to a forest land or national park. 
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harvest, process, sell or otherwise utilize the trees and other products grown by 
them or from the residual forest within their specified area. The term of the 
agreement shall be for twenty-five (25) years, renewable for another twenty-five 
(25) years. 
All references to “Forest Land Management Agreement (FLMA)” are 
hereby amended to mean “Community-Based Forest Management Agreement 
(C B F MA)” 
(d)”Critical watershed” refers to the portion of a watershed reservation 
which has been classified as’a strict protection zone pursuant‘ to Republic Act 
No. 7586 or the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act and its 
implementing rules and regulations. 
(e) “Eco- tourism spot” refers to a plantation site developed for biodiversity 
conservation, cultural and human enjoyment such as a forest park, bird and 
some wild life sanctuary, and where sound tourism activities are implemented, 
yielding socio-economic benefits. The developer can put up auxiliary services, 
collect appropriate fees, for hidher income and for the maintenance of the area. 
(9 
“Forest charges” refer to the levy imposed and collected by the 
government on timber and other forest products cut, harvested or gathered from 
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the forestlands and from “Alienable and Disposable” (A&D) lands in accordance 
with Republic Act No. 7161 (Increasing the Forest Charges on Timber and Other 
Forest Products). 
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(9) 
“Forest diversity” refers to the variety and variability of forest 
species growing in the forestland. In the plantation, at least three (3) different 
species, including fuelwood species and other species such as banana, bamboo, 
etc., should be planted every ten (10)- hectares, with the least planted species 
occupying at least one-fifth (1/5) of the ten (1 0) hectare area. 
(h) 
“Forest lands” refer to those lands of the public domain that have 
been classified into production forestlands and protection forest. 
Forest 
reservation refers to forestlands that have been set aside by the law for a specific 
purpose or purposes, such as watershed reservation, military or civil reservation. 
“Fuelwood species” refer to tree species of high calorific value and 
are suitable for fuelwood or firewood such as, but not limited to ipil-ipil, kakawate, 
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agoho, kamachile, gmelina, acacia, bakauan and neem tree. 
(j) 
“Green park” refers to an area, designated on the subdivision plan, 
of forested land reserved for public use as an ecological refuge. Such green park 
shall be devoted exclusively to the planting and growing of trees of any kind, 
flowering or ornamental plants and shrubs, or plants of scenic, aesthetic and 
ecological values. 
(k) 
“Hardwood” refers to heavy, compact and close grained wood, 
attributed to such trees as narra, mahogany, acacia, tanguile, guijo and molave. 
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“Indigenous peoples” refer to a tribe or indigenous Filipinos who 
have continuously lived as communities on communally bounded and defined 
land since time immemorial and have succeeded in preserving, maintaining and 
sharing common bonds or languages, customs, traditions and other distinctive 
cultural traits. 
(m) 
“Industrial Forest Plantation Management Agreement (IFPMA)” 
refers to a contract entered into by and between a qualified person and the 
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government for the former to occupy and possess for a definite period of time in 
consideration of a specified rental of a specific area of the production forestland 
in order to establish an industrial forest plantation. 
(n) 
Military reservation’’ refers to a forestland proclaimed or reserved 
by the President or by the law for military purposes such as air base, campsite, 
docks and harbors, training camp, firing range, naval base, target range and 
wharves. 
(0) 
“Mini -forest reserve” refers to lands withdrawn from settlement or 
occupancy upon which are found either natural vegetation or plantation of forest 
flora, such as trees most particularly hardwood trees, or both, occupying a 
definable aggregate area exceeding but not less than one (I) 
hectare in size with 
the tree crowns covering at least ten (IO) percent of the area, exclusive of 
seedlings, saplings, bushes and other undercover vegetation. 
(p) 
“National park” refers to an area of the public domain essentially 
natural, wilderness, scenic or historic in character which has been withdrawn 
from settlement, occupancy, or any form of exploitation except in conformity with 
an approved management plan and set aside exclusively to conserve the area 
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and preserve the scenery, the natural and historic objects, wild animals and 
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plants therein mainly for the purpose of biodiversity conservation and/or human 
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enjoyment. 
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(9) 
“People-oriented forestry’’ refers to a program that grants access 
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and management of forestland to poor upland and coastal dwellers. Aside form 
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CBFMA, this may include Integrated Social Forestry Program (ISFP), Community 
Forestry Program (CFP), and Ancestral Land Management. 
“Private lands” refer to lands covered by either administrative or 
judicial titles such as free patent, homestead and sale patent, and Torrens title 
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obtained under Act No. 496 or the Land Registration Act as amended 
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(s) 
“Silviculture” refers to the scientific method of growing forest trees, 
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their management and harvest. This includes such practices as assisted natural 
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regeneration (ANR), timber stand improvement (TSI) and selective cutting 
method. 
(t) 
“Subdivision Project” refers to a tract or parcel of land registered 
under the Land Registration Act, as amended, partitioned primarily for residential 
purposes into individual lots, with or without improvements thereon, and offered 
to the public for sale, in cash or in instalment terms. It shall include all residential, 
commercial, industrial and recreational areas, as well as open spaces and other 
community and public areas in the project. 
SEC. 6. Irnplernenfihg Agencies. - The following departments’st-iall ‘ 
perform major roles: 
(a) 
The DENR and its network of provinciakommunity environment 
and natural resources offices (PENROs/CENROs) shall be the overall 
coordinating and monitoring agency of the Program, particularly in the 
identification, selection and allocation of sites; accessing quality planting 
materials; planting of the right species in particular areas; prioritization of critical 
watersheds; application of efficient reforestation technologies; adoption of 
necessary steps to protect and maintain newly reforested areas, remaining 
natural forest and national parks; conduct of information and education 
campaigns (IECs); and issuance of the permit to cut and transport trees from 
plantations within thirty (30) working days from the date the application is filed. 
The DENR shall provide data to the LGUs pertaining to the priority reforestation 
areas under this Act for inclusion in the development plans of concerned LGUs. 
(b) 
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and 
LGUs shall mobilize the police and help organize communities and other sectors 
of society to participate in the Program. It shall create special police units which 
shall be responsible for the forest protection activities in coordination with the 
DENR. The LGUs shall ensure close coordination with the DENR to indicate the 
necessary extension, IEC services, organizing communities, and concerned civil 
society in the undertaking of various programs and activities. 
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As mandated under the Local Government Code, the LGUs shall be 
responsible in the distribution of seedlings or planting materials and the 
establishment and development of nurseries as part of their extension services in 
their respective constituencies. 
(c) 
The Department of National Defense (DND) shall organize a 
special unit whose main responsibility shall be reforesting denuded portions of 
military reservations and other areas designated by the DENR and maintaining 
and protecting forest areas, both natural and plantation. It shall also assign full- 
time personnel to protect forest areas, in accordance with Section 25 hereof. 
(d) 
The Department of Agriculture (DA) shall assist lowland and 
upland communities raise fruit tree seedlings and adopt programs for the transfer 
of proper and sustainable agricultural technologies and practices to community 
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members, including post harvest techniques and marketing assistance. 
(e) 
The 
Department of 
Education 
(DepEdO 
shall 
strengthen 
environmental education and mobilize the students to plant trees and take care 
of them in appropriate vacant areas in their localities. 
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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall 
organize special units to plant appropriate and available species on strips of land 
along national arterial roads and maintain and protect them. 
(9) 
The Department of Tourism (DOT), in coordination with the DENR, 
shall identify and promote forest plantations as eco-tourism spots. 
(h) 
Other government agencies such as the 
National 
Power 
Corporation (NPC), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Philippine National 
Oil Company (PNOC), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) with 
administrative jurisdiction over tract of public land and critical watersheds shall 
also rehabilitate and reforest lands under their respective jurisdictions. 
The SUCs shall likewise develop programs/projects that would promote 
appropriate silvicultural practices, production, utilization, processing and 
marketing techniques through IEC, training and establishment of model sites. 
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(i) 
The Department of trade and Industry (DTI) shall promote 
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processing, and exporting of timber related products and specific crops and fruit 
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trees. 
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(j) 
The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) shall create public 
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awareness on the Program and its components, and shall be responsible in 
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producing information materials and their dissemination through the use of the 
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mass media. 
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CHAPTER I I  
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REFORESTATION BY THE COMMUNITIES 
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SEC. 
7. 
Community Reforestation through CBFMA. - New 
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reforestation, assisted natural regeneration and related program shall be 
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awarded mainly to upland and coastal communities. Individual families, police, 
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military, and other government personnel who wish to participate in the Program 
shall form themselves into cooperatives. The agreement shall be granted for 
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twenty-five (25) years, renewable for another twenty-five (25) years subject to the 
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terms and conditions in the CBFMA and subsequent rules and regulations 
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SEC. 8. Role of NGOs and Academic Institutions. - NGOs and 
promulgated in accordance with Section 36 hereof. 
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academic institutions shall be tapped to handle relevant services, especially 
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social and technical training and monitoring and evaluation of the reforested 
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area: Provided, that NGOs and academic institutions which handled training shall 
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SEC. 9. Rights and Obligations of the CBFMA Holder. - The 
not conduct the monitoring and evaluation of the reforested area. 
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CBFMA holder can harvest, process, sell or otherwise utilize the products grown 
on land covered by the CBFMA, or make portions of the contracted area into an 
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eco-tourism spot. The CBFMA holder shall have the following obligations: 
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(a) 
Practice appropriate cilvicultural system or cutting regimes for 
mature trees in accordance with management plans; replant cleared areas within 
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year after cutting; 
(b) 
Promote forest biodiversity by planting indigenous forest species 
and conserving natural forest species in contracted forest areas. Fuelwood trees 
can be planted to add to species diversity arid to eliminate the cutting of prime 
wood species for fuel and charcoal purposes; 
(c) 
Pay the government through the DENR or the government agency 
that has administrative jurisdiction over the forestland, a production share from 
the sales of forest products harvested equivalent to the real value of 
government’s investment in the area; and 
(d) 
Ensure high survival rate of planted seedlings and maintain and 
protect trees until maturity, In exchange for the right to harvest in accordance 
with DENR guidelines, and utilize the trees. 
SEC. 10. Additional Area for Fruif Tree Planfafion. - Every six (6) 
hectares planted with forest species shall entitle the community to devote a 
hectare for raising of fruit trees and other agricultural crops. The land tenure over 
such plantation of fruit trees or agricultural crops shall be coterminous with the 
terms of CBFMA. 
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The DA and devolved agricultural extension workers shall assist the 
community raise fruit tree seedlings. They shall also train the communities on 
proper agricultural technologies and post-harvest and marketing practices. 
SEC. 11. Ofher Incentives. - CBFMA holders shall enjoy the following 
benefits: 
(a) 
Use the reforested area as eco-tourism spot. Holders of CBFMA 
shall have the right to make use of the reforested and protected area as eco- 
tourism spot. They may collect gatelentrance fee and put up income-generating 
auxiliary services for the maintenance and conservation of the area. Operation of 
the area shall be coordinated with Department of Tourism (DOT) for tourist 
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promotion, and the LGUs for infrastructure support and collection of appropriate 
taxes. 
(b) 
Market linkages for agricultural output. The DA, in coordination with 
DTI Is regional and provincial offices and agribusiness research organizations of 
the private sector, shall update upland farmers on market prices of fruits and 
other agricultural products, and assist them in identifying buyers and marketing 
outlets. 
(c) 
Market linkage for forest products. The DENR and other concerned 
agencies and groups shall update CBFMA holders about domestic buyers for 
particular forest products, including the specified product quality. 
(d) 
Option to turn over the management and right to harvest the 
reforested land to the DENR at least after five (5) years of the CBFMA. This is 
particularly applicable in plantations and eco-tourism spots where the trees are 
better left to grow and mature beyond the fifty (50)-year constitutional limit. The 
government, through the DENR, shall compensate the CBFMA holders the 
amount equivalent to stumpage value of standing trees minus real investment of 
the government in the area. 
(e) 
Priority to be granted additional areas for reforestation CBFMA or 
IFPMA of purely plantation establishment type. 
(f) 
Exemption from.forest charges and real property tax. Holders. of 
CBFMA and awardees of other people-oriented forestry programs shall be 
exempted from paying taxes on revenue from reforested and protected areas. 
(9) 
Right to securitize the growing trees. Holders of CBFMA may use 
the plantation of at least five (5) years old with adequate forest stand, in the 
assurance of asset-backed securities, such as bonds and stocks, to finance the 
reforestation of another area. Said asset backed securities shall enjoy tax breaks 
and other incentives, whenever possible, already provided under existing laws. 
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CHAPTER 111 
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REFORESTATION BY AFPlPNP PERSONNEL 
SEC. 12. Reforestation of Denuded military Reservation Areas.- 
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4 Spearheaded by organized special units, all personnel of the Armed Forces of 
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the Philippines (AFP) stationed temporarily or permanently in military reservation 
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areas shall be involved in reforesting denuded portions of the area not directly 
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utilized for military and training purposes. They and the succeeding units shall 
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maintain and protect the trees until maturity. Reforestation for three (3) years and 
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maintenance costs shall be funded by the DND. 
SEC. 13. Rights, Obligations and Incentives. - The military and police 
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personnel participating in the reforestation program shall have the following rights 
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(a) 
Rights and obligations of the CBFMA holder as enumerated under 
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Section 9 hereof; 
and obligations, and entitled to following incentives: 
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(b) 
Incentives enumerated under Section 11 hereof; 
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(c) 
Additional allowance as compensation for particular tasks or 
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phases of the contract they have completed; 
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(d) 
Acquisition of shares of stocks of the cooperative/corporation to be 
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formed representing the economic value of trees planted; and 
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(e) 
Earning from said stocks and revenue shares from the sale of 
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forest products yielded by the plantation as their retirement credits in the future 
SEC. 14. Report to the DENR. - The AFP and the PNP shall submit an 
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annual report to the DENR ori the progress of their projects including the areas ' 
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CHAPTER IV 
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they have reforested and the results of their operqtions in forest protection as 
mandated in Chapter VI of this Act. 
INVOLVEMENT OF PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATIONS 
SEC. 15. Adoption of a Reforestation Project. - Private corporations, 
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foundations, foreign and local NGOs, and similar institutions shall be invited by 
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the DENR, government agencies with administrative jurisdiction over watershed 
and forestland reservations, and local government officials to adopt and finance a 
denuded area for reforestation, maintenance and protection. The assistance can 
be channelled directly from the donor to the implernentors and beneficiaries and 
assisting local NGOs. The DENR shall be informed of such arrangement for 
assistance in identifying priorijy areas for reforestation. If funds are channeled 
through the DENR, the latter shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA) with the donor to account for wise and proper spending of the donated 
funds. 
SEC. 16. Adoption of a Reforestation Project- Private corporations, 
foundations, foreign and local NGOs, and similar institutions shall be invited by 
the DENR, government agencies with administrative jurisdiction over watersheds 
and forestland reservations, and local government officials to adopt and finance a 
denuded area for reforestation, maintenance and protection. The assistance can 
be channelled directly from the donor to the implementors and beneficiaries and 
assisting local NGOs. The DENR shall be informed of such arrangement for 
assistance in identifying priority areas for reforestation. If funds are channelled 
through the DENR, the latter shall enter into a Memorandum of Agreement 
(MOA) with the donor to account for wise and proper spending of the donated 
funds. 
SEC. 16. Adoption of a Forested Area for Protection. - The private 
sector, in coordination with the DENR and government agencies with 
administrative jurisdictions over watersheds and forestland reservations, may 
adopt a particular forested area, like portions of a national park or watershed for 
maintenance, protection and biodiversity conservation through a memorandum of 
agreement with the DENR. The mechanics for the channelling of funds as 
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specified in Section 15 above shall be adopted. The DENR and government 
agencies with administrative jurisdiction over watershed and reservations shall 
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identify and publish areas available for adoption in each region or province or 
specific watersheds or reservations. 
SEC. 17. Development of Private Forestry and /ncenfives.- Owners of 
private lands who plant forest trees in their property shall enjoy the following 
incentives: 
(a) 
Technical assistance from the DENR 
on proper silvicultural 
practices; 
(b) 
Update on forest products markets and prices by the DENR and 
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wood producers' groups or associations; 
(c) 
Exemption from forest charges under Republic Act No. 7161 and 
value- added tax (VAT) for the sale, barter or exchange of timber and forest 
products, and from real property tax under Republic Act No. 7160; 
(d) 
Priority in credit assistance granted by government-owned and 
controlled corporations at reasonable interest rates; and 
(e) 
Right to export timber and other forest products grown in the land 
subject, however, to existing rules and regulations governing trade policies and 
incentives as provided by the DTI. 
For certification purposes, tree plantations shall be registered with the 
barangays and municipal offices, which shall maintain permanent registry books. 
SEC. 18. Planning of Fuelwood Species- The DENR shall disseminate 
technology on the planting of fuelwood species not only to lessen the pressure 
on the cutting and harvesting of prime wood species for firewood purposes but 
also to meet fuelwood requirements and create livelihood opportunities and 
sources of income for the communities without impairing the integrity of the 
environment. 
SEC. 19. Ownership of Planted Trees along Highways- Those who 
planted and maintained the trees along highways, roadsides, and other vacant 
portions of A & D land shall have the exclusive right to harvest and utilize the 
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trees when these mature. The local CENRO shall allocate among interested 


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individuals and/or groups the areas available for this arrangement and issue the 
2 necessary papers granting such exclusive rights and ownership to the awarded 
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party following the guidelines on Tree Certification Ownership (TCO) to be issued 
by the Secretary of the DENR. Should the local office of the DENR and the LGU 
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decide to keep the trees for ecological and beautification purposes, the parties 
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who planted and protected the trees shall be paid a sum equivalent to the market 
value of the trees at the time jurisdiction is transferred to the DENR or LGU. 
SEC. 20. Recognition and Awards- The DENR, DTI and the PIA shall 
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advertise the names of participating corpor8tions, agencies, and NGOs and their 
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environmental projects. Awards and recognition activities shall be determined by 
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rules and regulations (IRR) to be promulgated pursuant to Section 36 of this Act. 
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CHAPTER V 
REFORESTATION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS 
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SEC. 21. Seedling Nursery in Every City Municipality- Pursuant to 
Section 17(b) (1 .i) (3. hi) of the Local Government Code, seedling nurseries shall 
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be established in every city or municipality. For this purpose, LGUs shall be 
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allowed to enter into contract with private enterprises. Nursery supervisors, 
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whose positions shall be created by LGUs shall be hired and designated to 
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establish and oversee such nurseries, which shall contain both forest and fruit 
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tree species, though mainly the former. Seeds shall be secured from Seed 
Production Areas (SPAS) certified by the DENR. 
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SEC. 
22. 
Establishment 
of 
Mini-forest 
Parks 
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City/Municipalify- Every city or municipality shall establish a mini-forest park or 
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multipurpose park such as a botanical garden at a ration of not less than one (I) 
park per fifty thousand (50,000) population, each park to be at least half a 
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hectare of five thousand square meters (6,000 sq. m.) in area whenever 
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practicable or to the extent possible and with particular emphasis on the planting 
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and preservation of indigenous hardwood species. Each city or municipality 
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shall submit to the DENR the list of available lands for such purpose and include 
in its yearly budget the necessary funds for the establishment and maintenance 
of urban green parks. The Secretaries of the DENR and DlLG shall work closely 
to ensure compliance with this provision and coordinate with various agencies of 
the national government and the private sector to enhance the implementation 
of urban forestry. 
Roadsides and islands, campuses, office compounds, cemeteries, 
riverbanks, shorelines and other areas shall also be planted with trees 
Students, employees, and members of civic and people’s organizations shall be 
invited to undertake the activity. The maintenance and protection of the trees 
shall be closely coordinated by the LGUs, the DENR and all other concerned 
agencies. 
SEC. 23. Establishment of Mini-forest Parks in Subdivision Projects.- 
Every subdivision project to be developed after the promulgation of this Act shall 
include the establishment of green parks whose areas shall not be less than 
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twenty-five (25%) of the required open space in accordance with PD No. 953. 
For subdivision projects covering (1) hectare or more in total area, the open 
space allocated exclusively for parks, playgrounds and recreational uses shall 
have the following standards: 
(a) 
Nine percent (9”) 
of gross area for high-density or social housing 
(21 to 65 family lots per gross hectare); 
(b) 
Seven percent (7%) of gross area for medium-density or economic 
housing (21 to 65 family lots per gross hectare); 
(c) 
Three and one-half percent (3.5%) of the gross area for low density 
or open market housing (21 to 65 family lots and below per gross hectare). 
Areas reserved for parks, playgrounds and recreational uses shall be non- 
alienable and non-buildable public lands. The plans of the subdivision project for 
residential, industrial or commercial purposes shall include tree planting on such 
open spaces and other parts of such project as may be practicable and as may 
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be designated by the approving LGU. No portion of the parks or playgrounds 
may thereafter be converted to any other purpose or purposes nor shall any 
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artificial structures or improvements constructed thereon unless such are 
certified by the DENR to be absolutely necessary for development and 
maintenance of the park as well as the preservation of its ecological system. 
No plan for a subdivision project shall be approved by the local 
government in the city or municipality where such project is located without the 
inclusion of a tree-planting program in such plan and unless the owner thereof 
undertakes to develop such open space within three (3) years from the approval 
of the plan. In cases of subdivisions developed or development plans approved 
before the effectivity of this Act, it shall be incumbent upon the owner or 
developer of the project to plant trees in the open spaces reserved for the 
common use and enjoyment of the owners of the lots therein as well as along all 
roads and service streets. 
Guidelines for the establishment and maintenance of parks within 
subdivisions shall be prepared jointly by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory 
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Board (HLURB) and the DENR. 
SEC. 24. Recognition of Outstanding and “Greenest” City or 
Municipality- Three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act, a city or 
municipality in each province having the best mini-forest parks and reforested 
idle portions of A&D land shall be given recognition and an award by the DENR 
and shall be promoted by the DOT as among the priority eco-tourism spots in 
the country: Provided, That the necessary tourism infrastructure and services 
are already in place before the are is promoted for eco-tourism. 
CHAPTER VI 
FOREST PROTECTION 
SEC. 25. Forest Protection Teams. The Secretary of the DENR shall 
enforce forestry laws to protect the remaining natural forests and plantation 
forests from illegal loggers, poachers, kaingin farmers, pests and diseases, fires 
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and other factors that destroy the forest. Forest protection teams under the 
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DENR shall be organized consisting of personnel drawn from the DENR, the AFP 
and the PNP including LGU deputized local leaders on a full-time basis. They 
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shall be assisted by personnel from other government agencies and SUCs with 
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administrative jurisdiction over watersheds and forestland reservations, civilian, 
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volunteers, concerned NGOs. Equipment shall be acquired by the DENR aside 
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from equipment support provided by other units. 
These forest protection teams shall conduct intensive intelligence 
operations, regular aerial photography and surveillance to detect, identify, 
apprehend forest criminals for prosecution, confiscate illegally cut timber forest 
products, conveyances, tools and equipment. 
SEC. 26. Incentives.- Members of forest protection teams shall be 
granted incentives, to include but not limited to higher base pay, free legal 
assistance, hazard pay, uniform allowance, group insurance, and a reward 
system of twenty percent (20%) of the value of confiscated materials. 
SEC. 27. Forest Protection Equipment. - The DENR, DlLG and 
DND shall allocate in their respective annual budgets sufficient funds to provide 
the protection teams access to modern technology and equipment such as 
aircraft, global positioning systems, land transportation vehicles, communication 
facilities, ground fire fighting equipment, and basic pesticides against commpn , 
forest pests and insects. 
SEC. 28. Control of Forest Conversion to Agricultural Use.- The 
DENR, DA and Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) shall adopt measures to 
stop the illegal conversion of forest lands into agricultural, mining, pasture, and 
other non-forest uses. The DENR shall cause the cancellation of instruments 
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through people-oriented forestry. 
issued over such lands and repossess said lands for reforestation purposes: 
Provided, That the farmers therein shall be organized to regenerate that land 
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SEC. 29. Appropriate Agroforesfry Technology.- In direct support to 
the Program, the DENR, DA and DAR shall implement appropriate agroforestry 
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techniques such as the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) and other 
applicable technology in all upland areas cultivated by their respective program 
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clientele/ beneficiaries. 
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CHAPTER VI1 
FINANCING THE PROGRAM 
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SEC. 30. Program Funding.- In addition to funds allocated to reforestation 
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the following: 
and forest protection activities of the national government under the General 
Appropriations Act, the Billion Trees Program shall be financed primarily from 
any available official development assistance (ODA) including but not limited to, 
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(a) 
Private sector investment in reforestation and tree plantation 
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projects; 
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(b) 
Joint venture operations between counterpart forest resource 
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(c) 
Funding schemes under Republic Act No. 6957 or the Build 
agencies of the Philippines and an assisting country; 
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Direct 
project 
investment 
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LGUs, 
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corporations, 
Operate and Transfer (BOT) Law, as amended by Republic Act No. 7718; 
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cooperatives, and where allowed, individuals on reforestation proposals 
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approved by the DENR; and 
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(e) 
Securitization of grown trees which are at least five (5) years old to 
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be undertaken by the project-investor, which may be treated as asset-backed + 
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securities or bonds, to finance the reforestation of other denuded areas. 
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Provided, That any forest development project which shall involve foreign equity 
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investment, such as direct investment; joint venture partnership, and/or BOT 
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reforestation projects shall conform with the 60/40 nationality requirement 
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provided under the Constitution of the Philippines. 
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SEC. 31. Fund Management. In the case of contract reforestation, the 
funds shall be channelled by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) 
through the Land Bank of the Philippines (LDP), the Development Bank of the 
Philippines (DBP), or LBP/DBP accredited rural banks. Funding shall be 
discontinued if the allocated funds are found misused or scheduled activities not 
followed. The DENR shall advise the banks on the amount and the period of 
release of funds to the community contractors. 
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CHAPTER Vlll 
CRIMINAL OFFENSES AND PENALTIES 
SEC. 32. Misuse of Funds.- Any contractor, officers of cooperatives, 
government officials including local officials and employees, who shall unlawfully 
and maliciously divert the funds under this Act for purposes other than intended, 
shall be criminally prosecuted and, if found guilty, shall be punished with 
imprisonment of not less than four (4) months but not more than four (4) years. 
SEC. 33. Ofher Prohibifed Acfs and Penalties. - (a) Any person who is 
not a member of the community or cooperative who planted the trees who shall 
cut or gather trees from reforested areas shall be fined with twice the current 
market value of the trees removed and its environmental cost and/or imprisoned 
of not less than six (6) months and one (I) 
day to six (6) years. 
(b) Any person who shall violate the provisions of Section 23 hereof, or 
any rules or regulations promulgated thereon shall be punished with six (6) 
months and one (I) 
day to six (60 years imprisonment, or with a fine equivalent 
to the value, at prevailing valuation, of the area representing ten percent (1 0%) 
of the total area of the subdivision project developed for residential, industrial or 
commercial purposes, or both imprisonment and fine at the discretion of the 
court: Provided, That in the case of corporations, partnerships; cooperatives or 
associations, the president, manager or administrator or the person in-charge of 
the administration of the business shall be criminally responsible for such 
violation. 
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(c) Any person, for personal gain or profit, who shall intentionally cut, 
remove, or in any manner destroy, set destructive fire or cause damage to the 
trees and forest growth found therein, shall, upon conviction, be fined the 
amount of not less than Ten thousand pesos (PlO,OOO.OO) nor more than One 
hundred thousand pesos (PI 00,000.00) and punished with imprisonment for a 
period of not less than two (2) years and one day nor more than four (4) years 
for each such offense: Provided, That the maximum penalty shall be imposed 
upon the offender who repeats the same offense and double the maximum of 
the penalty upon the offender.who commits the same offense for the third time. . 
(d) 
Any person who shall, without permit, occupy for any length of time 
any portion of the mini-forest reserve or who mutilates, defaces, destroys 
objects of natural beauty or of scenic value within the reserve, or who assists, 
aids or abets any other person to do so, or refuses to vacate the reserve when 
ordered by the duly authorized representative of the DENR or concerned LGU, 
shall upon conviction, be fined not less than Five thousand pesos (P5,OOO.OO) 
nor more than Fifty thousand pesos (PS0,000.00) and punished with 
imprisonment for a period of not less than six (6) rnonths nor more than two (2) 
years. 
In all cases of illegal occupancy, the Court of competent jurisdiction shall 
further order the eviction of the offended from the land and the forfeiture to the 
government of all improvements made and all vehicles, domestic animals and 
equipment of any kind used in the commission of the offense. If not suitable for 
use by the DENR, said vehicles, domestic animals, equipment and 
improvements shall be sold at public auction, the proceeds of which shall accrue 
to the DENR as additional funds for the implementation of this Act. 
In case the offender is a government official or employee, he shall, in 
addition to the above penalties be automatically dismissed from office and 
permanently disqualified from holding any elective or appointive position. 
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SEC. 34. Premature Cutting of Planted Trees and Noncompliance 
with Other Terms of the CBMfA.- Holders of CBFMA who shall prematurely 
cut the trees up to the one-fifth (1/5) of the area without any authority from the 
PENRO or CENRO, or replant dipterocarp and other endemic species not in 
accordance with sound forestry management practice, shall be disqualified from 
their rights under the CBFMA and shall not be compensated for the value of the 
remaining standing trees. The jurisdiction of the reforested area shall revert 
back to the DENR. In addition, if the estimated value of the felled trees is larger 
than the real investment of the government in the area, such guilty party shall 
pay the difference in value: be ineligible to participate in future government 
reforestation and other forestry-related activities; and shall be criminally 
prosecuted and imprisoned for a period of not less than four (4) months but not 
more than four (4) years. 
CHAPTER IX 
ADMINSITRATIVE PROCEDURES AND SPECIAL CLAUSES 
SEC. 35. Monitoring and €valuation.- Periodic monitoring and 
evaluation of reforestation contract, other people oriented forestry, urban 
reforestation, and forest protection activities shall be conducted by the 
CENTRO/PENRO or an independent entity contracted for the purpose whichever 
is practical, to ensure that proper use of resources and desired targets are 
accomplished on time. 
SEC. 36. Promulgation of Rules and Regulations.- The Secretary of the 
DENR, in coordination with the secretaries and heads of identified participating 
agencies, shall prepare and publish the rules and regulations implementing this 
Act within (60) days from the date of its effectivity. 
SEC. 37. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act shall be held 
unconstitutional, the remaining portions not otherwise affected shall remain in full 
force and effect. 
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SEC. 38. Repealing Clause- All laws, executive orders, rules and 
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hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 39. Effecfivify- This Act shall take effect after its complete 
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publication in at least (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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