FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 16 of Article II of the 1987 Constitution provides: “The State shall protect 
and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with 
rhythm and harmony of nature.” 
The development of parks and mini-parks in barangays, cities, municipalities and 
provinces complements the country‘s beautification and reforestration goals. 
As pointed out by one journalist: “fn every big city in the world, whether it be New 
York, San Francisco, Rome, London, Moscow, Canberra, etc., there is at least one big 
park in the middle of the city. Moscow has a small park every few blocks; every house is 
always within a short walking distance to a park. Aside from parks, China has a green 
belt surrounding every city. The streets and sidewalks are wide and shaded by trees so 
that even downtown areas have a park-like atmosphere. Even tiny Singapore, although 
short of land, has a park-like feel because every inch of available space on the 
sidewalks and backyards are planted to shady narra trees that came from, ironically, 
the Philippines.” 
But in Metro Manila, the only park of consequence for all the cities and towns 
comprising the megalopolis is in Rizal Park. 
Quezon City, for all its huge sprawling area, has only the pocket-sized Quezon 
Memorial Park and the tiny Bernard0 Park at EDSA as parks worth mentioning. 
With the passage of this bill, it is hoped that more public parks can be created 
and enjoyed by the people. 
MANNYv


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
First Regular Session 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
-7" 
JUN 30 PI$ :33 
.**a 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. __ 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKS AND MINI-PARKS IN 
BARANGAYS, MUNICIPALITIES, CITIES AND PROVINCES, AND, FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be if enacfed by the Senate and House of Repmenfafives of the Philippines in 
congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. -- This Act shall be known and cited as the "Philippine Parks 
and Mini-Parks Development Act." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -- It is hereby declared the national policy to build 
parks and mini-parks in barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces to promote 
balanced and healthful ecology as well as to beautify and enhance the environment. 
SEC. 3. Scope. -- This Act shall cover all barangays, municipalities, cities and 
provinces in the country. 
SEC. 4. Definition of Terms. --As used in this Act, the following definitions shall 
apply: 
a. Environment - the surroundings; all the conditions, circumstances and 
influences surrounding and affecting the development of an organism or group of 
organisms; 
b. Parks and mini-parks - an open space for leisure, recreation and promenade 
where soft (Le. plants, trees) and hard (Le. pavement, benches) landscape may be 
found; 
SEC. 5. Objectives. -- Pursuant to the policy declared herein, it is the objective 
of this Act; 
a. To build, develop and maintain parks and mini-parks in all barangays, 
municipalities, cities, and provinces: and 
b. To provide a scenic environment in major areas of the country. 


SEC. 6. National Committee. -- A National Parks and Mini-Parks Development 
Committee is hereby created with the Secretary of the Department of Public Works and 
Highways (DPWH) as Chairman and the respective secretaries of the Department of 
Local and-Interior Government (DILG), the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR), the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of 
Tourism (DOT), through the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), as members. 
The National Committee shall initiate, coordinate and monitor all the activities of 
parks and mini-parks development. 
The National Committee shall tap any or all government agencies, corporations 
and instrumentalities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations 
(POs), the Governor's League of the Philippines, Mayor's League of the Philippines and 
the Barangay Associations of the Philippines as local committees to provide resources 
and assistance in the implementation of this Act. 
The National Committee shall have the power to promulgate the pertinent rules 
and regulations as may be necessary to fully implement the objectives and purposes of 
this Act within a period not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days from approval 
hereof. 
SEC. 7. Specific Functions of the Executive Departments. -- For the purpose of 
carrying out effectively the provisions of this Act, -- 
a) The DPWH shall: 
1. Provide the necessary technical data with respect to the classification, 
location, condition, and length of all existing vacant public lots in barangays, 
municipalities, cities and provinces; 
2. Provide the necessary tools, equipment, and manpower to effect, the 
development of parks and mini-parks; 
b) The DILG shall: 
1. Mobilize all local government units (LGUs) to ensure prompt and effective 
implementation of this Act in every barangay, municipality, city and province in 
the country; 
2. Effect the apprehension and prosecution of all persons violating the provisions 
of this Act; 
c) The DENR shall: 
1. Determine the suitable species of trees and provide seeds or saplings to be 
planted in the parks and mini-parks, suited to the kind, classification, and 
condition of the area; 
2. Provide for effective measures and ways for the optimum maintenance of 
parks and mini-parks and the healthy growth of trees and plants in the same: 
d) The DOT through the PTA shall: 
1. Assist in the conceptualization, design and site-evaluation of parks and mini- 
parks in barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces; and 
2. Provide effective measures and ways for the optimum maintenance of parks 
and mini-parks. 


SEC. 8. Prohibited Acts. -- No cutting and destroying of trees and plants found in 
the parks and mini-parks shall be permitted except when the cutting and destroying of 
the same is necessary for public safety. Likewise, littering in and destroying of the 
structures in the parks and mini-parks are strictly prohibited. 
SEC. 9. Persons Liable and Penalties. -- Any person who destroys, damages or 
litters the parks and mini-parks shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six 
months to not more than one year or a fine of not less than Three Thousand Pesos 
(P3,OOO.OO) to not more than Ten Thousand Pesos (PlO,OOO.OO), or with both such 
imprisonment and fine, at the discretion of the court. 
SEC. I O .  Submission of Reports. -- The National Committee shall within ninety 
(90) days after the approval of this Act and every one hundred eighty (180) days 
thereafter submit periodic reports to both Houses of Congress of the Philippines for 
evaluation and consideration. 
SEC. 11. Funding. -- The fund needed for the implementation of the park and 
mini-parks development in this Act shall be taken from any available appropriations in 
the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the year; Provided, thaf funds for this purpose 
shall also be included in the GAA for the following year and every year thereafter; 
Provided, finally, that there shall be equitable and proportionate appropriations of funds 
annually for this purpose for all barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces. In 
addition, adequate portion of financial grants and concessional loans extended to the 
Philippines by foreign governments and multilateral agencies shall be allocated to 
augment the annual appropriations. 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. -- If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, such declaration of unconstitutionality shall not affect the other 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 13. Amending and Repealing Clause. -- All laws, decrees, rules, and 
regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at 
least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,