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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution states that, 
“The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and 
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.” 
Further, our Constitution also mentioned that “forest lands and national parks shall be 
conserved”… 
Thus, this bill which is aimed to conserve, protect, and support the renewal program of public 
forests, mangroves and the wildlife. Further, this bill seeks to formulate a program to rehabilitate 
our forests which have been denuded. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
May 3, 2023
4:06 pm
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NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
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 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.
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(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.  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. 


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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. 
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,