Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

House Bill No. geez

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

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

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Article II, Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides 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.” While it is the government's primary
duty to protect the environments within its territory to protect the welfare of its citizens,
the people has the responsibility to contribute towards the achievement of this goal

Currently, according to the data provided by the Forest Management Bureau of
the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Philippines loses
approximately 47,000 hectares of forest cover every year.’ From the original forest
cover in the 1900s, the country is now down to less than 24 percent causing adverse
effects to the Philippine ecology such as worsening air pollution and climate change.

This bill seeks to aid the existing programs of the Philippines, such as the
National Greening Program and others, by requiring all graduating students in the
elementary, high school, and college levels to plant at least ten (10) saplings as pre-
requisite to graduation.

+ 2018 Philippine Forestry Statistics. Foreign Management Bureau. Department of Environment and
Natural Resources:


Through the enactment of this bill, we can expect millions of trees every year,
thereby achieving a greener environment and investing for a greener future while
instilling environmental awareness and responsibility to the younger generation of
Filipinos.

EIR YY dewata

HON. EDUARDO “BRO. EDDIE” C. VILLANUEVA

IMINGO £. RA


BSABUVARRBNISeoNoOMsYN=

Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.
First Regular Session

6002

House Bill No.

Introduced by CIBAC Party-List Representatives
Eduardo “Bro. Eddie” C. Villanueva and Domingo C. Rivera

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

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 “Graduation Legacy for the
Environment Act of 2019.”

SECTION 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

SECTION 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.

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

(a) Forestiands;

(b) Mangrove and protected areas;


OCOVDHARON=

() Ancestral domains;

(d) Civil and military reservations;

() Urban areas under the greening plan of the LGUs;
(Inactive and abandoned mine sites; and

(Q) Other suitable lands.

SECTION 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

SECTION 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:

(@) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)

(b) Department of Agriculture (DA)

(c) Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)

(d) Department of Budget and Management (DBM)

(€) Department of interior and Local Government (DILG)

(f) Department of Health

(g) Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)

(h) Department of National Defense (OND)

()) Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

() Department of Justice (DOJ)

(k) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)

()) Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) (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 Technical support and extension services

SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DepEd, 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

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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

SECTION 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.

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

Approved,