FlliTEENTII CONGRESS OF THE 
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REl'VBLIC OF TIlE PHILIPPINES 
) 
Second Regular Session 
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SENATE 
S.B. No.31 66 
Introduced by Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In the 1993 case of Oposa v, Factoran1 the Supreme Court recognized the concept of inter-generational 
equity, upholding the rights of minors to sue for the judicious management of our country's forests and 
the necessity of maintaining a sound ecological balance and protecting and enhancing the quality of the 
environment in accordance with Sections 15 and 16, Article II of the 1987 Constitution, 
Recognizing that a system of inter-generational equity involving both rights and responsibilities may be 
substantially more effective in achieving the twin goals of environment protection and sustainablc 
development, this bill seeks to impose a positive duty upon all graduating elementary, high school aud 
college students to plant at least ten (10) trees as a prerequisite for graduation, These trees shall be their 
legacy to the envirolunent and to fnture generations, 
Indeed, while we recognize the right of the youth to a balance and healthful ecology, as proclaimed in the 
1987 Constitution, there is no reason why they Calillot be made to contribnte in order to ensure that this 
would be an actnal reality, 
With over 12 Million students graduation from elementary and nearly 5 Million students graduation from 
high school' and almost 500,0003 graduating from college each year, this initiative, if properly 
implemcnted, will ensure that at least 175 Million new trees would be planted each year. In the course of 
one generation', no less than 5,25 Billion trces can be planted under this initiative, Even with a survival 
rate of on ten percent (10%), tins would mean an additional 525 Million trees would be available for the 
youth to enjoy, when they assume the mantle of leadership in the fnture, 
TIns bill also aims to complement Executive Order No, 26, Series of 2011, issued by his Excellency, 
President Benigno S, Aquino Ill, which aims to mobilize students and government employees to plant 1.5 
Billion trees over a period of six (6) years, from 2011 to 2016. 
In view ofllle foregoing, immediate passage of this bm is earnestly requested, 
ANTONIO "SONNY" F. TRILLANES IV 
Senator 
I Oposa v, Factoran, G.R, No, 101083 promulgated on 30 July 1993 (En Bane), 
2Basic Education Information System - Data Bulletin. Previous School Year Promotees and Graduates in 
Government Elementary and Secondary Schools by Year! Grade Level and by Sex, School Year 2010-2011, 
Information retrieved from Research & Statistics Division Office of Planning Service, Department of Education on 
20 March 2012, 
32009 Data. Information retrieved from Commission on Higher Education on 20 March 2012, 
, Computed at thirty (30) years, 
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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
~» 1 f'> It· 
S.B. NO.,_-"O,--=--=Q..;cU,-
Introduced by: Senator Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes IV 
AN ACT 
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REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND 
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (10) TREES EACH AS A 
PREREQUISITE 
FOR 
GRADUATION 
AND 
FOR 
OTHER 
RELATED 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. -
This act shall be known as the "Graduation Legacy 
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for the Euvironment Act of2012". 
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SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -
It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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promote and pursue environmental protection and sustainable development for poverty 
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reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation and 
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adaptation. 
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SEC. 3. Tree-planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation. - Pursuant to 
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the policy of the state to promote and pursue environmental protection and sustainable 
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development, all graduating grade-school or primary education (Grade 6 or 7) students, 
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high school or secondary education (4th Year High School) students, as well as all college 
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or university students shall be required to plant at least ten (10) trees as a mandatory 
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prerequisite for their graduation. 
Said trees shall be their living legacy to the 
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environment and to future generations of Filipinos. 
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SEC. 4. Location. - The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in any 
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ofthe following: 
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4.1 Forestlands 
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4.2 Mangrove and protected areas 
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4.3 Ancestral domains 
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4.4 Civil and military reservations 
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4.5 Urban areas under the greening plan ofthe LGUs 
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4.6 Inactive and abandoned mine sites; and 
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4.7 Other suitable lands 
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SECTION 5. Partner Agencies/Stakeholders. - The Department of Education 
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(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall implement the 
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provisions of this act in partnership with the following agencies/stakeholders, whose 
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responsibilities shall include but not limited to the following: 
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5.1 Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform and 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
5.1.1 Nursery establishment and seedling production 
5.1.2 Site identification and site preparation 
5.1.3 Social mobilization 
5.1.4 Tree planting 
5.1.5 Monitoring and evaluation 
5.1.6 Technical support and extension services 
5.1. 7 Provision of certified seeds of agronomic crops 
5.1.8 Provision of access roads and trails to planting site 
5.1.9 Provision of post harvest and processing facilities 
5.1.10 Technical assistance in product development and marketing 
5.2 Depal·tment of Budget and Management (DBM) 
5.2.1 Allocation of funds for all activities of the NGP 
5.3 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
5.3.1 Provision of transportation, security and fire protection amenities 
5.3.2 Information, Education and Communication 
5.4 Local Government Units (LGUs) 
5.4.1 Establishment of nurseries and production of planting materials 
5.4.2 Development of greening 
plan 
for 
urban 
and suburban 
areas 
5.4.3 Lead the establishment of communal tree farms for firewood and 
other domestic uses 
5.4.4 Consbuction of access roads and trails to the planting sites 
5.5.5 Provision of medical support 
5.6.6 Technical assistance and extension of services 
5.5 Department of Health (DOH) 
5.5.1 Provision oftranspOliation and medical support 
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5.6 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 
5.6.1 Provision of transportation in the hauling of seedlings and volunteer 
planters 
5.6.2 Assistance m the construction of access roads and trails to the 
planting sites 
5.7 Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) 
5.7.1 Provision of transport for participants 
5.7.2 Provision of communication facilities 
5.8 Department of National Defense (DND) 
5.8.1 Nursery establishment and seedling production 
5.8.2 Site preparation 
5.8.3 Provision oftranspOliation suppoti 
5.8.4 Provision of security 
5.9 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 
5.9.1 Development and transfer of appropriate technologies 
5.9.2 Information, Education and Communication 
5,10 Department of Justice (DOJ) 
5.10.1 Nursery establishment and production of planting materials 
5.1 0.2 Provision of transpotiation 
5.11 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) 
5.11.1 Mobilization of participation of indigenous peoples 
5.11.2 Identification of sites for NGP inside ancestral domains 
5.11.3 Supervision oHOl'est protection activities inside ancestral domains 
5.12 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) 
5.12.1 Technical assistance in seedling development 
5,13 Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) 
5.13.1 Provision of funds for seedling production and other related 
activities 
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SEC. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The DepEd and the CHcd, in 
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consultation with the participating agencies/institutions, shall promulgate and issue the 
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Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days fi'om the 
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effectivity hereof 
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SEC. 7. Funding Mechanisms. Funds needed for the implementation of this Act 
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for the current year shall be provided by the DBM and funding for the succeeding years 
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shall be incorporated in the regular appropriation of participating agencies. 
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SEC. 8. Separability Clause. Any portion or provision of this Act that maybe 
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declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other provisions hereof, 
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as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and can be given effect in their 
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entirety. 
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SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. All rules and regulations and other issuances or pmis 
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thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or modified 
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accordingly. 
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SEC. 10. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect within sixty (60) days upon its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation of the Official Gazette. 
Approved, 
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