FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 2577

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Southeast Asia holds more diverse flora and fauna than Europe, but it is
in danger of losing its biodiversity. It has natural habitats of up to 40 percent of
all species existing on the planet. A single small tropical-forest patch anywhere
in this region, covering just a couple of hundred hectares, might support more
bird and mammal species than there are in the whole of the Netherlands,
Belgium and Germany combined.

However, the flora and fauna of the region are increasingly under threat.
Annually, ASEAN loses one percent of its forest cover, a figure four times
higher than the world average. There are more than 150 endangered species in
the Philippines alone. Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia were among the
world's top megadiverse countries. At the same time, the three Asean nations
were also among 25 biodiversity hotspots or places at risk of species loss.

The region's continued biodiversity loss is due to extensive deforestation
and habitat loss, widespread conversion of land for agriculture or urban and
industrial development, and the continuing rapid population growth. Southeast
Asia could have three-fourths less forest cover and 42 percent less biodiversity
by 2010 at the current rate of logging, forest fires and problematic land use,
among others. Today, more trees are being felled due to shifting agricultural
practices, illegal lumber trade and large-scale mining. Further, global warming
and climate change are environmental phenomena intertwined with the world's
decreasing biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity is making climate change more
complicated which poses threat on the planet's marine and plant life

This bill seeks to address the problem of biodiversity loss by requiring
every student to plant ten (10) trees every year. To date, there are 2.4 million
tertiary students, six million in the secondary level, and 13 million in the primary
level. Hence, in just a year, an additional 214,000,000.00 trees would be
planted.

In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.



FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
FIRST REGULAR SESSION )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 25

AN ACT
TO REQUIRE EVERY STUDENT TO PLANT TREES EVERY YEAR

Section 1. Declaration of Policy. ~ \t is the declared policy of the state
to protect and preserve biodiversity in the country.

Section 2. Requirement of Planting Ten (10) Trees Every Year. To
protect and preserve biodiversity in the country, the Department of Education
and the Commission on Higher Education shall require every student to plant
ten (10) trees every year.

Section. 3. Appropriations. The necessary budget to implement this
Act shall be included in the 2009 budget of the Department of Education and
the Commission on Higher Education.

Section 4. Rules and Regulations. — The Department of Education
and The Commission on Higher Education shall promulgate the rules and
regulations for the effective enforcement of the provisions of this Act

Section 5. Separability Clause. - Should any provision of this Act or
any part thereof be deciared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are
separable from the invalid ones, shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 6. Repealing Clause. - All |aws, orders, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or
modified accordingly.

Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general
circulation.

Approved,