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Republic of the Philippines 5 RECEIVED ~,\
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES oarBEP_2. 5.2019
Quezon City
Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session
4813
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

EXPLANATORY NOTE

In the year 2018, 708,445 students graduated from college, while 1.252 million students
graduated from senior high school all over the Philippines. With the exception of a small
minority who would immediately pursue full-time post-graduate or professional studies,
college graduates will soon join the government, the business sector, NGOs, or engage in
various professional and skilled trade and industry as members of the labor force. Likewise,
with the implementation of the K-12 program, senior high school graduates received
considerable competency and skills training, such that those who are unable to pursue
further education are able to secure gainful employment. As these college and senior high
school graduates join the labor force, requiring them to participate in addressing a national
concern that has a direct impact on them will instill upon the youth the value of public
service and civic participation in wherever trade or employment they would soon join. This
is consistent with the constitutional recognition of the vital role of the youth in nation-
building and the constitutional mandate of inculcating in them patriotism and nationalism,
and encouraging their involvement in public and civic affairs. Towards this end, it is the
purpose of this bill to involve the youth in addressing the country’s dwindling forest stock,
which is among our country’s most pressing issues and which threatens the very future of
our youth.

The Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
estimates a loss of about 47,000 hectares of forest cover in the Philippines annually. It is
common knowledge that the country’s forest stock serves as the first line of defense against
natural calamities, and is therefore crucial particularly for an island country such as the
pines, which is frequently visited by torrential rain and strong typhoons. The
continuous decimation of the country’s forest stock has caused water insecurity due to
degradation and poor management of watersheds, food insecurity due to soil erosion,
destruction of indigenous cultures and serious threat to local biodiversity. With the urgent
need to rehabilitate the environment and restore ecological balance amidst the evident force
of climate change, reforestation efforts are now matters of civic responsibility and must
therefore be made mandatory

“SEPRESS
‘REPRESS: aS


By requiring graduating college and senior high school students to plant two trees as
prerequisite to their graduation, we will augment our country’s forest stock by around five
million trees annually, and this number is expected to improve further with the continuous
implementation of the Universal Free Access to Tertiary Education, and the increase in the
number of schools offering senior high school programs. This will create a significant
impact in our reforestation, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development efforts.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is eamestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. 4813

Introduced by Honorable Mark O. Go

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PLANT TWO (2) TREES EACH AS A CIVIC DUTY
FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION,

AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

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 “Graduating Students for
Reforestation Act of 2019”

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is the declared policy of the State to protect and
advance the right of the Filipino people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of nature. Towards this end, the State shall promote and pursue
reforestation programs and encourange tree planting as a means of involving the youth in
public and civic affairs.

SEC. 3. Tree-planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation. ~ All graduating
students from senior high school, and college shall be required to plant at least two (2) trees
as a mandatory prerequisite for their graduation. The tree-planting activity shall be their first
act of public service as they enter the country’s labor force.

SEC. 4. Location. — The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in suitable
lands and areas as determined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR), and local government units in coordination with schools, colleges and universities.

SEC. 5. Preference for Indigenous Species. ~ The species of trees to be planted should
be appropriate to the location, climate and topography of the area with preference for the
planting of indigenous species.

SEC. 6. Pariner Agencies and Stakeholders. ~ The Department of Education (DepEd)
and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall implement the provisions of this
Acct, in partnership with the following agencies


(a) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
(b) Department of Agriculture (DA)

(c) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)

(d) Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

(e) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)

The responsibilities of these agencies shall include:

_ Establishment of nursery and seedling preparation
Site identification and preparation
Technical support and extension service
Monitoring and evaluation

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SEC. 7. Provision of Seedlings. — The Community Environment and Natural Resources
Office (CENRO) of the Departnment of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) and the
Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with local government units (LGUs)
throughout the Philippines shall maintain a seedling bank and will serve as ready source of
seedlings to be provided to senior high schools, colleges and universities for the
implementation of this Act.

SEC. 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The DepEd and CHED, in
coordination with DENR and DILG, and in consultation with other agencies, shall
promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) necessary to implement
this Act within sixty (60) days after its approval

SEC. 9. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act
shall be included in the budgets of the implementing departments/agencies in the annual
General Appropriations Act.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act be declared
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly

SEC. 12. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,