Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. ________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
   EXPLANATORY NOTE 
In 2019, 796,576 students graduated from college, while around 1.39 million 
students graduated from senior high school all over the Philippines. With the exception of a 
small minority who would immediately pursue full-time post-graduate or professional 
studies, college graduates will soon join the government, the business sector, NGOs, or 
engage in various professional and skilled trade and industry as members of the labor force. 
Likewise, with the implementation of the K-12 program, senior high school graduates 
received considerable competency and skills training, such that those who are unable to 
pursue further education are able to secure gainful employment. As these college and senior 
high school graduates join the labor force, requiring them to participate in addressing a 
national concern that has a direct impact on them will instill upon the youth the value of 
public service and civic participation in wherever trade or employment they would soon 
join. This is consistent with the constitutional recognition of the vital role of the youth in 
nation building and the constitutional mandate of inculcating in them patriotism and 
nationalism, and encouraging their involvement in public and civic affairs. Towards this 
end, it is the purpose of this bill to involve the youth in addressing the country’s dwindling 
forest stock, which is among our country’s most pressing issues and which threatens the 
very future of our youth.  
The Forest Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural 
Resources estimates a loss of about 47,000 hectares of forest cover in the Philippines 
annually. It is common knowledge that the country’s forest stock serves as the first line of 
defense against natural calamities, and is therefore crucial particularly for an island country 
such as the Philippines, which is frequently visited by torrential rain and strong typhoons. 
The continuous decimation of the country’s forest stock has caused water insecurity due to 
degradation and poor management of watersheds, food insecurity due to soil erosion, 
destruction of indigenous cultures and serious threat to local biodiversity. With the urgent 
need to rehabilitate the environment and restore ecological balance amidst the evident force 
of climate change, reforestation efforts are now matters of civic responsibility and must 
therefore be made mandatory.  
July 1, 2022 
7:03 pm
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By requiring graduating college and senior high school students to plant two trees as 
prerequisite to their graduation, we will augment our country’s forest stock by around five 
million trees annually, and this number is expected to improve further with the continuous 
implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law, and the increase 
in the number of schools offering senior high school programs. This will create a significant 
impact in our reforestation, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development efforts.  
This bill has been approved by the House of Representatives in the 18th Congress and was 
transmitted to the Senate for its consideration and approval.  However, due to lack of material 
time, this proposed measure was not enacted into law. 
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARK O. GO 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.________ 
_____________________________________________________________________ 
Introduced by Hon. Mark O. Go 
AN ACT REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND 
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PLANT TWO (2) TREES EACH AS  A CIVIC DUTY 
FOR ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION, 
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR 
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 the “Graduating Students for 
Reforestation Act of 2022”. 
SEC. 2.  Declaration of Policy. – It is the declared policy of the State to protect and 
advance the right of the Filipino people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with 
the rhythm and harmony of nature. Towards this end, the State shall promote and pursue 
reforestation programs and encourange tree planting as a means of involving the youth in 
public and civic affairs.  
SEC. 3. Tree-planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation. – All graduating 
students from senior high school, and college shall be required to plant at least two (2) trees 
as a mandatory prerequisite for their graduation. The tree-planting activity shall be their first 
act of public service as they enter the country’s labor force.  
SEC. 4. Location. – The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in suitable 
lands and areas as determined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources 
(DENR), and local government units in coordination with schools, colleges and universities.  
SEC. 5.  Preference for Indigenous Species. – The species of trees to be planted should 
be appropriate to the location, climate and topography of the area with preference for the 
planting of indigenous species.   
SEC. 6.  Partner Agencies and Stakeholders. – The Department of Education (DepEd) 
and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall implement the provisions of this 
Act, in partnership with the following agencies: 
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(a) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 
(b) Department of Agriculture (DA) 
(c) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) 
(d) Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 
(e) National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) 
The responsibilities of these agencies shall include: 
1. Establishment of nursery and seedling preparation 
2. Site identification and preparation 
3. Technical support and extension service   
4. Monitoring and evaluation 
SEC. 7.  Provision of Seedlings. – The Community Environment and Natural Resources 
Office (CENRO) of the Departnment of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) and the 
Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with local government units (LGUs) 
throughout the Philippines shall maintain a seedling bank and will serve as ready source of 
seedlings to be provided to senior high schools, colleges and universities for the 
implementation of this Act.  
SEC. 8.  Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The DepEd and CHED, in 
coordination with DENR and DILG, and in consultation with other agencies, shall 
promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) necessary to implement 
this Act within sixty (60) days after its approval. 
SEC. 9. Appropriations. – The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act 
shall be included in the budgets of the implementing departments/agencies in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 10.  Separability Clause. – Should any provision of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder thereof not otherwise affected shall remain in full force and 
effect. 
SEC. 11.  Repealing Clause. – All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations or administrative regulations that are inconsistent with the provisions of this 
Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.   
SEC. 12. Effectivity.  –  This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,