Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE GREENING AND FORESTLAND REHABILITATION AND 
PROTECTION AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL, STIMULATING LOCAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE ACTION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Climate change has always been a critical global concern with wide-
ranging destructive impacts on countries that affect human lives, the 
environment, and the economy. It threatens the sources of every human’s basic 
needs such as clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply, and safe 
shelter. 
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030 to 2050, climate 
change would cause 250,000 deaths annually due to malnutrition, malaria, 
diarrhea, and heat stress alone1. 
In the Philippines, the effects of climate change have been evident in the 
changes in rainfall patterns and distribution, droughts, threats to biodiversity 
and security, sea level rise, public health risks, and endangerment of vulnerable 
groups such as women and indigenous people2. 
Cognizant of the threats of climate change to the country and the people, 
the State enacted Republic Act No. 10174, otherwise known as the “Climate 
Change Act of 2009” mandating the “participation of national and local 
1 World Health Organization. 2022 
2 National Integrated Climate Change Database and Information Exchange System. 2018 
July 27, 2023
1:25 pm
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governments, businesses, nongovernment organizations, local communities, and 
the public to prevent and reduce the adverse impacts of climate change and, at 
the same time, maximize the potential benefits of climate change.” 
  
The “Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection Act” 
seeks to encourage innovation on ways to create sustainable and eco-friendly 
environments by introducing these measures as essential strategies to combat 
climate change within each community. The proposed bill puts emphasis on 
strategically challenging the limitations of neoliberal climate change governance 
by mobilizing actions and measures that tackle the issue at a granular or 
grassroots level. It aims to realize the importance and the gravity of starting at a 
micro level (ie. barangay level), in creating small collective changes that in turn, 
would influence a magnitude of action driven by the same positive goal. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
 
 
 
REP. PM VARGAS 
Fifth District, Quezon City 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
Second Regular Session 
House Bill No. _______ 
INTRODUCED BY REP. PM VARGAS 
AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE GREENING AND FORESTLAND REHABILITATION AND 
PROTECTION AT THE BARANGAY LEVEL, STIMULATING LOCAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE ACTION, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. – This Act shall be known as the “Barangay Greening and 
Forest Land Rehabilitation and Protection Act.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. – Recognizing the vulnerability of local 
communities to the impact of climate change and the role of local governments 
as frontline agencies in the formulation and implementation of climate change 
action, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to advance climate change 
adaptation strategies from the national to the barangay level and promote the 
right of people to enjoy the benefits of a balanced and healthy ecology. 
Further recognizing that environmental degradation aggravates the impact 
of climate change, it is the policy of the State to advance greening and 
rehabilitation and protection of forest lands as a priority adaptation strategy. 
SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. – As used in this Act: 
(a.) Adaptation refers to the adjustment in natural or human systems in 
response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which 
moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities; 
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(b.) Climate Change refers to a change in climate identified by changes in the 
mean and/or variability of its properties that persists for an extended 
period, typically decades or longer, whether due to natural variability or 
as a result of human activity; 
(c.) Forest lands include the public forest, the permanent forest or forest 
reserves, and forest reservations; 
(d.) Forest land rehabilitation programs shall include the conservation, 
management, and development of forest resources and biodiversity; and 
(e.) Forest resources shall refer to any timber stands of half a hectare or more 
regardless of land classification or ownership; 
(f.) Local greening programs shall aim to build, develop, and maintain forest 
parks in provincial, city, municipal, and barangay parks, roads, 
elementary school grounds, and other public open spaces, where 
appropriate and in private lands where permitted or if such are left idle for 
at least 10 years. 
 
SECTION 4. Barangay Greening and Forest Land Rehabilitation and 
Protection. – Pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act No. 7160 or 
the Local Government Code, local government units (LGUs) shall share the 
responsibility for sustainable management and utilization of forest resources 
within their territorial jurisdiction, including those assigned by law to other 
government agencies. The Barangay Environment Committee in the Barangay 
Council shall inventory forest resources in public and private lands for the City 
or Municipality to consolidate in their databases for planning purposes. These 
inventories should specify, as far as possible, the dominant species in the timber 
stands. 
 
 
Subject to vested rights, the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources (DENR) and LGUs at the provincial, city, municipal, and barangay 
level, in consultation with other government agencies, local communities, non-
government organizations, academic and research institutions, and other 
sectors, shall jointly undertake the planning, formulation, and implementation 
of local greening and forest land rehabilitation and protection programs. 
 
SECTION 5. Institutional Arrangements. – Each province, city, and 
municipality shall integrate the objectives of this Act in its policies, plans, and 
programs. Each city and municipality shall mobilize all concerned local agencies 
and communities to ensure prompt and effective implementation of this Act in 
every barangay. The LGUs shall conduct information and advocacy drives to 


promote local greening and forest and rehabilitation and protection programs, 
prioritizing native trees and if possible, species of endangered trees. 
 
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) shall coordinate 
with the LGUs to ensure prompt and effective implementation of this Act. 
 
The Climate Change Commission (CCC), as the sole government agency 
tasked to coordinate, monitor, and evaluate government programs and actions 
plans relating to climate change, shall coordinate and synchronize programs on 
forest land rehabilitation to ensure harmonization with national plans and 
programs and to facilitate the provision of resources. 
 
DENR shall provide assistance to LGUs in the identification, selection, and 
allocation of sites for rehabilitation and local greening and in enhancing LGU 
capability for the planting of the right species, especially in critical watersheds, 
natural forests, and mangrove areas, the use of efficient reforestation 
technologies, and the necessary steps to protect the remaining natural forests 
and national parks. The DENR shall likewise assist in the planning and 
permitting to cull invasive tree species and/or species that may impact 
vulnerable food chain elements such as but not limited to African Tulips. 
 
All concerned agencies shall undertake information and advocacy drives. 
 
SECTION 6. Coordination with Forestry, Natural Resources, Agricultural, 
and Fisheries Schools. – Subject to the rules and regulations, DENR, in 
consultation with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on 
Higher Education (CHED), may promulgate forestry, natural resources, 
agricultural and fisheries schools, both public and private, shall participate in 
the national and local implementation and monitoring of this Act. The concerned 
national agencies shall facilitate government or other financial assistance for 
such participation. The DENR shall provide technical assistance for capacity 
building of participating educational institutions, not only to ensure an 
adequate, quality supply of planting materials but also to transfer and propagate 
appropriate technologies for local greening and forest land rehabilitation and 
protection. The DENR shall likewise mobilize civil society to assist in these tasks 
and help DENR with localized plans and inventories. 
 
SECTION 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DENR shall, in 
consultation with CCC and DILG, promulgate the pertinent rules and regulations 


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. 
 
SECTION 8. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to initially implement the 
provision of this Act shall be taken out of any funds in the National Treasury not 
otherwise appropriated: Provided, that subsequent annual funding for the 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act: 
Provided, further, that there shall be an equitable and proportionate annual 
appropriation of funds, and access thereto, for this purpose for all barangays. 
 
SECTION 9. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining 
provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
 
SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. – Any laws, presidential decree, issuance, 
executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation 
contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, 
modified, or amended accordingly. 
 
SECTION 11. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in any two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation in the Philippines. 
 
Approved,