Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

261

House Bill No.

Introduced by Honorable ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Deforestation has been identified as one of the causes of flash floods
associated with climate change and global warming, which has become a
global concern, as more countries are beginning to experience climate
change and its negative effects. In the past three years, typhoons Ondoy,
Pedring, and Sendong resulted to wide-spread flash floods due to our
denuded forests and water reservoirs — the flash floods claimed thousands of
lives, left numerous families devastated, and sent small and medium-scale
businesses in the affected areas reeling to the ground.

As an appropriate solution to this problem, reforestation has become a
major and priority concern of the State, through the National Greening
Program (NGP) recently launched by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources (DENR). Nevertheless, reforestation should also be the
concern of every citizen and residents alike.

As an effort of every citizen to help in the reforestation crusade of the
State, this measure requires the planting of two trees for every child born of
a couple, one tree for the father and another tree for the mother.

The number of trees to be planted as a result of this bill will be very
significant and it will effectively supplement the 1.5 billion trees to ve
planted by the DENR through its NGP, taking into account the thousands of
babies that are born in the Philippines every day, Based on the National
Statistics Office and Human Development Report statistics almost 2 million
babies are born in the Philippines every year, 166,667 every month and
5,556 every day; thereby assuring no less than 4 million trees yearly.

Furthermore, it will serve to develop the people’s awareness of the
need for reforestation and encourage tree planting as part of the family’s
concern and responsibility, thereby reviving the Filipino tradition - whereby


parents, as a sign of love and care for their children, plant trees for them;
and in turn, their children will take care of these trees as a sign of love,
respect and as living memories for their parents.

To ensure compliance with this compulsory measure, the couple is
required to execute a Joint Affidavit of Compliance sworn to before the
Punong Barangay of the place where they reside, or the appropriate legal
officer of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO)
or Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in the
area where they reside. Thereafter, this joint-affidavit shall be submitted co
the Civil Registrar’s Office of the Municipality or City where the birth of the
child should be registered as a requirement for the release of the child’s
Certificate of Live Birth.

Because of the merits of this measure and the urgency of
reforestation, it is hoped that this bill will get the support of the colleagues.

Bees Uy

ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST REGULAR SESSION

oR
House Bi wo. +

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT
REQUIRING PARENTS TO PLANT TWO TREES FOR EVERY CHILD BORN
TO THEM, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known as the “Family
Tree Planting Act of 2013”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - The State recognizes the prevailing
climate change and global warming brought about by human activity, and
which have been experienced by countries world-wide. Likewise, the State
recognizes that in the last three years typhoons have caused wide-spread
flash floods that devastated different areas of the country, claimed
thousands of lives, and caused massive damage to properties. Reforestation
has thus become a primary concern of the State, which had recently
launched the National Greening Program through the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources. Supplemental thereto, it is the policy
of the State of involve the Filipino people in the conservation of our natural
resources, particularly the State\s reforestation project under the National
Greening Program, and in the process, encourage tree planting as part of the
family’s concern and responsibility, thereby reviving the Filipino tradition ~
whereby parents, as a sign of love and care for their children, plant trees for
them; and in tum, their children will take care of these trees as a sign of
love, respect and as living memories for their parents.

SECTION 3. Mandatory Family Tree Planting - Each couple residing in
the Philippines whether legally married or not, shall be required to plant or
cause to plant two trees for every child born to them. These trees shall be
planted within the premises of their family home. If the same is not
possible, the same shall be planted in the areas to be designated by the
concerned Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENCO) or
Community Environment and Natural (CENRO) where they reside.


SECTION 4. Ownership of Trees. - Ownership of the trees planted
pursuant to this Act shall pertain to the parents or the child for whom the
trees were planted , regardless of location, including those planted in public
lands or along highways.

SECTION 5. Joint Affidavit Attesting to Compliance. - As a prerequisite
for the release of the Certificate of Live Birth of the child, the Local Civil
Registrar of the City or Municipality where the birth of a child shall be
registered shall require an affidavit executed by both parents, or by the solo
parent exercising parental authority over the child, attesting that they have
planted two trees in compliance with the requirement of this Act, and sworn
before the Punong Barangay where they reside if the trees were planted
within the premises of the family home, or before the appropriate legal
officer of the PENRO or CENRO if the trees were planted in Government
sites.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources shall issue the necessary rules and
regulations to carry into effect the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 7. Penal Provision. - Any violation of this act by any civil
registrar shall be penalized by a suspension for 15 days or fine of Five
Thousand Pesos (5,000.00), or both, in discretion of the court, for the first
offense; for the second offense, suspension of one month or a fine of Ten
Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00), or both, in the discretion of the court; and for
the third offense, the erring Local Civil Registrar shall be dismissed from the
office. The prosecution of violations committed by the erring Local Civil
Registrar shall be without prejudice to the filing of a criminal case against
the guilty parents or parent.

SECTION 8. Effectivity. - This Act shall be effective fifteen (15) days
following the completion of its publication in the Official Gazette or a
newspaper of general circulation.

SECTION 9. Appropriation. - The sums necessary for the
implementation of this act, including but not limited to the seedlings to be
planted pursuant to this Act shall be included in the Annual General
‘Appropriations Act.

Approved,