Republic of the Philippines 2
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House Bit No._8687

id by: CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Trees and forests act as effective carbon sinks and also help improve air quality.
According to Department of Environment and Natural Resources, a single tree can
sequester 0.56 meitic tons of carbon dioxide in its lifetime. Thus, integrating tree-planting
in our environmental agenda is a must and encouraging the youth, as most active partners
in challenging development norms, to actively participate in this cause will strengthen our
initiatives towards the greening of urban and the countryside in the Philippines.

This bill seeks to mandate the submission of a greening plan prior to the issuance
ofa building permit. Under this bill, a greening plan, must include a short-term, mid-term,
and long-term plan on the conservation of the areas subject of the tree-planting or greening
program, such as the maintenance of the tree cover, the replenishment of seedling,
protection against calamities, soil erosion, and other environmental factors, monitoring
mechanisms, and other details pertinent to the implementation of the greening plan.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnest

‘ONIO R. SY-ALVARADO
epresentative
&t District of Bulacan

CONG. “KUYA” JOS!

R
Zea? “SN
RECEIVED ~
3 CATESER 02 |

TIME: Kop



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No, 2687

Introduced by: CONG. “KUYA” JOSE ANTONIO R. SY-ALVARADO

AN ACT.
MANDATING THE SUBMISSION OF A GREENING PLAN AS A
REQUIREMENT FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A BUILDING PERMIT

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 “Lingkod Urban Greening
Act”.

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby the policy of the State to promote
urban greening by requiring applicants of a building permit to create and execute a greening
plan in line with the constitutional directive to protect and advance the right of the people
to a balanced and healthy ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature.

SECTION 3. Requirement of Greening Plan, — All applicants for building permits of
any development project are required to submit a greening plan, in addition to other
requirements imposed by local government units. The greening plan shall also be required
for the alteration, repair, or conversion of buildings which require a building permit,

SECTION 4. Contents of a Greening Plan, — The greening plan shall include, but not
be limited to, the following:

a. The total land area of the building project;

b. The lay-out of the land area devoted for tree-planting or greening within the land
area of the building program or project, which should be at least 20 percent of the
latter; Provided, that floor areas in a multi-storey building project may be counted
to fulfill the 20 percent requirement.

c. The Species of the trees or plants to be included in the design, which shall take into
account the biodiversity of the area or locality where the building projects situated;

4. The plan shall take into consideration the recommendations and best practices on
the use of plant species, and other relevant greening methodologies in the area
concemed from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR),
the local government unit where the building project is located, experts from the
academe, the scientific community, non-government organizations, the members
of the community, and other stakeholders concerned; and

e. Ashort-term, mid-term, and long-term plan on the conservation of the areas subject
of the tree-planting or greening program, such as the maintenance of the tree cover,
the replenishment of seedlings, protection against calamities, soil erosion, and other
environmental factors, monitoring mechanisms, and other details pertinent to the
implementation of the greening plan.



SECTION 5. Requirement of Indigenous Species. — The greening plan required under
this Act shall include indigenous species of trees, plants, or shrubs, taking into account the
recommendations of the DENR and other stakeholders mentioned in Section 4(d) of this
Act, as well as the location, climate, and topography of the arca.

SECTION 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. ~ The DENR, in coordination
with the Department of Interior and Local Government, the unions of local government
units, and other relevant stakeholders, shall formulate the implementing rules and
regulations for the effective implementation of this Act within 120 days after the effectivity
of this Act.

SECTION 7. Separability Clause. —If, for any reason or reasons, any part or provision
of this Act shall be declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions hereof
which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 8. Repealing Clause. ~ All provisions of existing laws, orders, rules and
regulations or purts thereof which are in conflict or inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repeated, amended or modified accordingly.

SECTION 9. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of
its publication in the Official Gazette and two (2) major newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

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