Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House BILL No.4!

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

EXPLANATORY NOTE

There is no debate regarding the need to protect our environment and preserving the
ecological balance. With the continued rise in urbanization, our ecology is suffering in the
sense that trees are being cut to give way for various infrastructure projects. To address this
decline in the number of trees, this bill proposes every graduating student to plant ten trees in
order to qualify for graduation.

We recognize the role that the youth plays in nation-building. There is no reason why
the State may not impose on them to contribute in our quest to achieve our desired ecological
balance.

In 2011, the President issued Executive Order No. 26 which aims to mobilize students

and government employees to plant 1.5 Billion trees from 2011 to 2016, or over a period of six
(©) years. This proposed measure seeks to complement the said issuance.

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District, Cavite

Approval of this bill earnestly sought.



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL nol4 wi

Introduced by HONORABLE STRIKE B. REVILLA

AN ACT REQUIRING ALL GRADUTING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (10) TREES EACH AS A
PREREQUISITE FOR GRADUATION

Be it enacted by the House of Representatives and Senate of the Congress assembled:

SECTION I. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Graduation Legacy for the
Environment Act”.

SEC 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the state to pursue programs and
projects that promote environmental protection, biodiversity, climate change mitigation,
poverty reduction and food security. To this end, the educational system shall be a locus for
propagating ethical and sustainable use of natural resources among the young to ensure the
cultivation of a socially responsible and conscious citizenry.

SEC 3. Tree-planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation, — All graduating
students from grade school, high school and college shall be required to plant at least ten (10)
trees as a mandatory prerequisite for their graduation. Said trees shall be their living legacy to
the environment and to future generations of Filipinos.


SEC 4. Location. — The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in any of the
following areas:

(a) Forestlands;

(b) Mangrove and protected areas;

(©) Ancestral domains;

(@) Civil and military reservations;

(©) Urban areas under the greening plan of the local government units (LGUs);

(8) Inactive and abandoned mine sites; and

(g) Other suitable lands.

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

SEC 6. Partner Agencies/Stakeholders. — The Department of Education (DepEd) and
the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall implement the provisions of this Act, in
partnership with the following agencies:

(a) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR);

(b) Department of Agriculture (DA);

(©) Department of Agrarian reform (DAR);

(d) Department of Budget and Management (DBM);

(e) Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG);

(f) Department of Health (DOH);

(g) Department of Transportation (DOTr);

(h) Department of National Defense (DND);

(i) Department of Science and Technology (DOST);

@) Department of Justice (DOJ);

(&) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP);

(1) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); and

(m) Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).

The responsibilities of these agencies shall include:

(1) Nursery establishment;

(2) Seedling production and site preparation;


(3) Site identification;

(4) Monitoring and evaluation;

(5) Provision of security, transportation, fire protection amenities and medical support;

and

(© Technical support and extension services.

SEC 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DepEd and the CHED, in
coordination with the 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 8. 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 9. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, ordinances, rules and
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any provision of
this Act are hereby repealed, modified, superseded or amended accordingly.

SEC 10. Separability Clause. — Should any portion or provision of this Act be declared
unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the other provisions hereof shall continue to
be in full force and effect.

SEC 11. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,