EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez _

50

House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to ensure the sufficient greenery in the urban and countryside by
making it mandatory to plant trees in urban and countryside parks as well as in school
grounds, vacant lots and other urbanized sites all over the country.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has 293 nurseries
distributed all over the country. Other national and local agencies have 802 nurseries, which
provide seedlings nationwide. Despite the efforts of the various government institutions, the
number of trees and forest areas in our country is fast depleting.

The Philippines was once known for its vast and lush forests. Over the last 15 years,
the environmental situation of the country has undergone a transformation. This bill aims to
improve the country's environmental conditions by building, developing and maintaining
forests parks in local areas, educational institutions and public roads; promoting
environmental consciousness among the Filipinos; and protecting the existing trees from
further harm.

This proposed measure will establish a National Greening Committee to be headed
by the Secretary of the Department of Environment and National Resources. To guarantee
the proper nationwide implementation ‘of the programs, the respective secretaries of the
other departments such as the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and
Local Government (DILG), and Department of Agriculture will serve as the committee's
members. Among the dealings the committee has to undertake are the strict implementation
of the requirements of the tree planting along national roads and mandatory planting of trees
in urban and countryside parks, public vacant lots and other permissible areas.

Finally, this bill protects existing trees and plants by prohibiting cutting and destroying
without the necessary permit. The penalties against violators have been included and
specified.

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

mpi Pricuez


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez __ a
2750

House Bill No.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE URBAN AND COUNTRYSIDE GREENING IN THE PHILIPPINES

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

SECTION 1. Title. — This Act shall be known and cited as the "National Greening Act.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - Recognizing the vital role of trees in ecological
stability, it is hereby declared the national policy to ensure sufficient greenery in urban and
‘countryside and to promote the right of the people to enjoy the benefits of a balanced and
healthy ecology.

SECTION 3. Scope. - This Act shall apply to all barangays, municipalities, cities and
provinces.

SECTION 4. Objectives. — Pursuant to the policy declared herein, it is the objective of this
Act

(a) to build, develop and maintain forest parks in provincial, city and municipal
plazas, elementary school grounds and by the planting of trees in national,
provincial, municipal or barangay roads and other public open spaces where
appropriate;

(b) to require from the national agencies and local government units the planting of
trees and shrubbery in specified areas;

(c) to promote environmental consciousness among the community members, /.¢.
students, youth, other civic action groups, by encouraging active participation in
tree-planting activities;

(d) to protect trees from various human activities.

SECTION 5. A National Greening Committee is hereby created with the Secretary of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as Chairman and the respective
secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of
Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of
Education (DepEd) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) as members.

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 later than ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act.

It shall have the power to rule on disputes involving the Regional Greening
Committee and to appoint or form an ad-hoc committee when the Regional Committee is
unable to perform its duties.

The National Committee also convenes every quarter to hear the reports or
performance from the Regional Committee.

SECTION 6. Regional Committee. A Greening Committee for every region in the country,
in cooperation with the various local government offices, is hereby created to initiate and


‘oversee all the tree-planting activities to be done in barangays, municipalities, cities and
provinces in the respective regions.

The Regional Director representing the Secretary of the Department of Environment
and Natural Resources (DENR) and the lead official of the concerned local government uni
(LGU) shall both serve as Co-Chairmen of the Committee. Members of the Committee,
representing the respective secretaries, will be the regional directors of the Department of
Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of
Education (DepEd) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) and at most three (3)
representatives from civic action groups appointed by the Chairman.

The regional Greening Committee shall coordinate with all the concemed
government agencies, non-governmental organization (NGOs), peoples organizations
(POs), and other civic action groups for assistance and cooperation in the implementation of
this Act.

SECTION 7. Specific functions of the Executive Departments. Aside from the Committee
responsibilities,

(a) The DENR shall determine the suitable species of trees and provide seeds or
saplings to be planted along or on major thoroughfares, suited to the kind,
classification, and condition of the area and shall provide technical support
involving tree-planting activities;

(b) The LGU shall

(1) mobilize all local concerned agencies and communities to ensure prompt
and effective implementation of this Act in every barangay, municipality,
city and province;

(2) provide for effective measures and ways for the optimum maintenance
and sustainability of trees an shrubbery;

(3) effect the apprehension and the prosecution of all persons violating
Sections 8 and 9 of this Act;

(c) The DPWH and the DA shall provide the technical support i.e. the necessary
tools, equipment, and manpower to effect the implementation of this Act;

(d) The DOT shall assist in the conceptualization and site-evaluation and cooperate
in the maintenance of parks and specified areas and provide additional funding
from its resources;

(e) The DILG shall coordinate the local government units to ensure prompt and
effective implementation of this Act; and

(f) The DepEd shall integrate the tree-planting activities into the school curriculum to
raise awareness and to promote environmental consciousness.

SECTION 8. Requirements for Tree Planting along National Roads. In the consonance
with the Department Order No, 15 of the Department of Public Works and Highways issued
on the 24" of January 2000, all projects concerning to the construction and development of
national roads shall comply with the following standard requirements:

(a) The Trees that will be planted along the national roads shall be of the varieties of
the root systems which grow downward rather than sideward to avoid road and
sidewalk slabs destruction;

(b) Trees shall be planted in a neat row, within the road right-of-way (ROW) and as
close as possible to the ROW limit, with sufficient allowance so that fully grown



trees will not encroach on the adjoining property or touch electric and other
‘overhead utility lines;

(c) The center-to-center spacing between trees shall be 10-20 meters (m). For road
sections with a generally north-south alignment, the trees on one side of the road
shall be planted alternately with the trees on the other side, thus ensuring
adequate sunlight needed for drying the road;

(d) For roads without curbs, the trees shall be planted with minimum clear distance of
0.60 meters beyond the edge of the shoulder, but in no case less than 0.30
meters from the edge of the pavement;

(e) For roads with curbs, particularly in urban areas, the trees shall be planted with a
minimum setback of 1.00 meters beyond the face of the curb;

(f) Where there are longitudinal drainage canals, the trees shall be planted on the
outer side of such canals;

(g) On roadway curves and intersections, the pertinent design standards on sight
distance shall be concerned;

(h) Non-traversable hazards (ravine, waiting shed, and the like) along the line of
trees shall be provided with appropriate clearly marked barriers so that these do
not pose hazards to motorists;

(i) The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall, within ninety (90)
days after the approval of the Act and every one hundred eighty (180) days
thereafter, submit periodic reports to the National Greening Committee.

SECTION 9. Tree Planting in Urban and Countryside Parks, Public Vacant Lots, and
Other Permissible Areas. Planting of trees shall be mandatory in urban and countryside
parks as well as in school grounds, vacant lots, and other unutilized sites identified with the
quality of soil where different or certain species of trees can thrive. This shall apply to all
publicly-owned lands, without exempting the properties of interested private individuals or
institutions.

(a) Scope. The areas covered by this provision shall include:

(1) All Public parks in urban and rural areas;

(2) All public school grounds in the city and in the provinces;

(3) Alll idle public lands in urban and rural areas, unless otherwise identified to
soon be used for other purposes such as agriculture, infrastructure-
building, and others;

(4) Parks, schools and other pieces of land owned by private individuals,
organizations, or institutions whose proprietor/s voluntarily and willingly
subject their properties in this Act.

(b) General Guidelines. Tree Planting in the duty qualified areas shall comply with
the following general guideline:
(1) Considering the classification and condition of the ‘soil and the total land
area of the site, suited species of forest trees or fast-growing trees shall

be planted in the identified areas;
(2) In cases wherein multiple trees can be planted, the trees should be
planted in clusters wherein one is not more than four (4) meters apart

from one another;



(3) The Regional Greening Committee shall facilitate and supervise all the
tree-planting activities in its jurisdiction. The government agencies
concerned shall perform their duties and responsibilities as indicated in
Section 7, Specific Functions of the Executive Department, of this Act;

(4) The regional Greening Committee shall, within ninety (90) days after the
approval of the Act and every one hundred eighty (180) days, thereafter
submit periodic reports to the National Greening Committee.

SECTION 10. Issuing of Permits. The Issuance of Permit allowing a person or company to
cut, uproot and in any way disturb the planted trees given by the DENR should also be
approved and co-signed by the Regional Committee following public consultations done by
and the consensus of the Regional Committee.

SECTION 11. Prohibited Acts. No cutting and destroying of trees and plants shall be
permitted, except when the cutting and destroying of the same is necessary for public safety,
and subject to the issuance of permits.

SECTION 12. Persons Liable and Penalties Therefore. Any person who violates sections
9 and 10 shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months to not more
than one (1) year or a fine of not less than three thousand pesos to not more than ten
thousand pesos, or with both imprisonment and fine, at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 13. 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.

SECTION 14. Funding. The fund needed for the implementation of this Act shall be taken
from any available appropriation in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) of the year of its
implementation; Provided, that funds for this purpose shall also be included in every annual
GAA; 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 Philippines by
foreign governments and multilateral agencies every year, the amount to be determined by
the President, shall be allocated to augment the annual appropriations until this Act is fully
implemented.

SECTION 15. Separability Clause. All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, or parts
thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly,

SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least
two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,