Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No._2657

Introduced by Representatives
DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT
TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT PHILIPPINE PUBLIC FORESTS,
MANGROVES AND WILDLIFE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM OF RENEWAL, REPLANTING AND
REFORESTATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our fundamental law enjoins us to "conserve and develop our patrimony.” By

“patrimony” we mean our public forests, mangroves, wildlife, and flora and fauna.

This bill is submitted with the view of honoring this mandate. Thus, it aims to

establish a mechanism that can help rehabilitate public forest lands and revert areas
presently denuded and eroded to become living thriving forest reserves. In addition, the
bill seeks to formulate a national renewal program of public forests, mangroves and to
activate various sectors, most especially the youth in carrying out these objectives

Considering the lofty purposes of this bill, we enjoin our colleagues to help us

pass the same into law.

NWe
DIOSDADO/MACAPAGAL ARROYO ovonulcearnoa ARROYO
Second District, Camarines Sur Second District, Pampanga


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No.__ 2657

Introduced by Representatives

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL ARROYO and GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO

AN ACT

TO CONSERVE AND PROTECT PHILIPPINE PUBLIC FORESTS,
MANGROVES AND WILDLIFE THROUGH A COMPREHENSIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAM OF RENEWAL, REPLANTING AND
REFORESTATION, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as and cited as the

“Comprehensive Environment Program Act of 2013.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of National Policy and Program Framework. — It is hereby
declared the policy of the State to conserve, protect, and support the renewal program
of public forests, mangroves and the wildlife. To this end, the State hereby adopts the

following comprehensive program frameworks:

(a)

(b)

The specific limits of public forests, national parks and other forest
reserve areas, including mangroves with forest cover, shall be
determined, by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources in consultation with various stakeholders including
individuals, non-governmental organizations and —_ public.
associations representing environmental management, local
governments, academic community and others. Public
consultations shall be conducted.

Public forests under lease and/or which have been denuded and
deforested due to logging shall be reforested, with tree species of


its original forested state or similar species, and reclassified
protection and conservation forest.

(c) Mangroves without forest cover which have been utilized and cut to
the detriment of ecological balance and to the destruction of
marine, air and other wildlife which take sanctuary shall be
replenished with the mangrove and other species of plants and
reseeded with the wildlife which would naturally thrive therein.

(4) Virgin forests and public parks and forest reserves declared as
such shall in no case be opened for exploitation or reclassification
and shall remain so unless otherwise declared by law.

(e) The protection of marine, air and wildlife, including the endangered
species of Philippine fauna shall be the ultimate objective of the
government.

() Philippine flora, both natural to our forests and those which would
enhance ecological balance and the productivity and aesthetic
value of our public forests, shall be replanted and maintained in the
public forests.

(9) Areas of the public forests leased or tolerated for use for social
forestry or agro-forestry shall be limited to the area and percentage
of the total public forests as may be indicated in the implementing
rules and regulations that will be issued for the purpose.

SECTION 3. Coordinating Council for the Conservation, Protection and Renewal of
the Nation's Patrimony. — There is hereby created a Coordinating Council for the
Conservation, Protection and Renewal of the Nation's Patrimony. The Council shall be
headed by the Secretary of Environmental and Natural Resources as Chairman, with
the Undersecretaries of Agriculture and of Education as Vice-Chairmen. The members
shall include three (3) representatives from the government sector and three (3)
representatives from the private sector appointed by the President of the Philippines
upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources and
from the list of nominees submitted by the sectors themselves.

The Council shall formulate policies and develop projects to implement the
national policy and program framework as defined in this Act. It shall also promulgate
rules and regulations to carry out the purposes of this Act and adopt a code of services
and guidelines to conserve, protect and renew the nation's patrimony.

To assist the Council, the Chairman shall designate an Executive Secretary and
a Secretariat from among the staff of the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources, with such allowances as may be approved by the Council. The per diems


and allowances of the Council shall be approved by the Council, subject to the existing
ules and regulations and auditing and accounting laws.

SECTION 4. Reforestation and Renewal Program by the Youth. — Subject to such
ules and regulations as the Council may promulgate, students and community youth
below the age of twenty-five (25) years, shall be harnessed for the reforestation and
renewal of public forests, mangrove and wildlife. Students who will render service as
provided in this Act may be credited with the required units for the National Service
Training Program.

SECTION 5. Coordination with Agricultural and Fisheries Schools. - Subject to
such rules and regulations as the Council may promulgate, agricultural and fisheries
schools, both public and private, shall be encouraged to participate in the programs
envisioned in this Act.

SECTION 6. Comprehensive Program. — In consultation with all stakeholders and
various sectors comprising the entire agriculture and fisheries sectors, agro-business
and the concerned academic communities, a comprehensive program including the
projects that may be supported by the Council shall be formulated to serve as guide for
the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 7. Conservation, Protection and Renewal Fund. — There is hereby
authorized the amount of One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) for the operations of the
Council, and Ten Million Pesos (P10,000,000.00) for the projects under this Act to
conserve, protect and renew public, forests, mangroves, and the wildlife under the
comprehensive program framework of this Act.

Thereafter, the operating expenses of the Council and the projects planned and
implemented under this Act shall be included in the budget of the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources as part of its annual appropriation.

The Council may receive donations from national and international sources for
the implementation of this Act or for a specific project or projects.

Donations received shall be placed in a trust fund for specific purposes and
projects, as approved by the Council, subject to existing auditing and accounting
regulations and for purposes of this Act.

The program harnessing youth for reforestation shall be funded by project funds
of the Council or from donations earmarked for the purpose.

SECTION 8. Separability Clause. — If any part of provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or provisions hereof which are not affected
thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. — Any law, decree, rule, regulation, executive
order or part thereof inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. — This Act shall be effective upon its complete publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation,
whichever comes earlier.

Approved,