SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES) 4 ee “))
First Regular Session ) 4-3F = }
Pepi,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

House Bill No,_ 3608

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Recently, our country was ravaged by one of the worst super typhoons known
locally as Yolanda with an unprecedented number of fatalities and costs of damages
Three weeks after the said super typhoon, the National Risk Reduction Management
Council (NDRRMC) reported the death toll at 5,632 and total damage to
infrastructure and agriculture amounts to around P30.8 billion. Damage to
infrastructure reached P15.7 billion while damage to agriculture at P15.1 billion

Last 2012, another super typhoon hit the country, known as “Pablo”, and
NDRRMC reported that the typhoon has killed 1,020 people, a total of 844 people
missing. The Department of Agriculture disclosed that production losses and
damage to agriculture-related infrastructure has climbed to P11.57 billion. The
increase was largely due to an increase in production losses equivalent to P10.37
billion worth of 123,634 metric tons (MT) of damaged crops.

Aside from these worst super typhoons that hit the country, we also
experienced the onslaught of other calamities that killed hundreds of lives and
damages costs millions of pesos. These experiences with typhoons are a
manifestation of the changing times that could be directly attributed to the global
warming phenomenon.

The phenomenon presupposes the extinction of Earth and mankind as global
warming progresses with its devastating effects. The need for Global cooperation
necessitates action in all sectors and requires our local action to prevent further
environmental degradation as a means to counter the ill-effect of the unpredictability
of weather conditions.

It has been widely discussed that man-made developments contributes to the
deterioration of the environment requiring an immediate policy to address
sustainability of the environment, inculcate and reinforce the plan of action as we
need to adopt and salvage changing tide. Integral to our human development is the


need to enliven the value of preserving and sustaining our environment in our
pedagogical processes, which could take place primarily in our educational system

It is for these reasons that we have crafted this bill. The main aim of this bill is
to impart knowledge in young children and encourage them to understand their
social responsibility at an early age, in particular the importance for the care of the
environment. By way of planting trees and interaction with their surroundings we can
start introducing, cultivating and having placed the value and appreciation for life.

Approval of the bill is earnestly sought.

\

MARK A. VILLAR


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)
First Regular Session )
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE BILLNo.__3608

Introduced by HONORABLE MARK A. VILLAR

AN ACT
MANDATING INTERMEDIATE GRADE SCHOOLERS, SECONDARY,
VOCATIONAL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PLANT TREES
IN AN OPEN SPACE OF THE COMMUNITY AS PART OF THEIR
CURRICULUM AND AS PRE-REQUISITE FOR GRADUATION
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 “Green Community Act of
2013."

Section 2. Declaration of Policy - The State shall protect and advance the
right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature.

Section 3. All intermediate grade schoolers, secondary, college and all
vocational students are hereby required to plant trees as part of their school curricula
and as pre-requisite for graduation.

a.) “Student” refers to the subject of this Act particularly those in the
intermediate schools (Grade V, VI or VII as the case may be), secondary,
vocational schools offers two (2) years technical vocational courses, and
college levels whether in the public or private learning institution.

b.) "Open Spaces” refers to an area reserved exclusively for parks,
playgrounds, recreational uses, schools, roads, places of worship,
hospitals, health centers, barangay centers and other similar facilities and
amenities

Section 5. Tress shall be planted and maintained in open spaces, in case the
school does not have open spaces for tree planting, the schools may adopt a certain
community for this purpose.


Section 6. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
and the schools shall determine the number of trees to be planted, the variety of
trees to be planted and their distribution, and the size of the open space established
in a community or in the adopt community.

Section 7. Incentives. - The schools of the participating program shall be
entitled to the following incentives:

(a.) Free tree and plant seedlings and free technical assistance in the
development and maintenance of the green community provided by
DENR and the Department of Agriculture (DA) and their attached
agencies: Provided that the school shall be responsible for any mortality in
the seedlings planted; and

(b.) Free artesian well and free tools and implements to be used exclusively
used for the development and maintenance of the green community and
to be provided by the city or municipal govemment having jurisdiction over
the proposed green community.

Section 8. Requirements. - In order to avail of the aforementioned
incentives, the school shall submit to the DENR the requirements for the
development and maintenance of the green community, which shall include:

{a.)A planting plan indicating the types of trees and plants, preferably of
indigenous or endemic species of medicinal value that are intended to be
planted and grown in the community.

(b.)A plan for the maintenance of the green community, to ensure its
ecological viability, as well as evidence of actual application thereof.

Section 9. Ecological Standards. - The DENR shall promulgate the
standards to ensure that the green community instituted creates a balanced and
healthful ecology within the community,

Section 10. Issuance of Certification. - Upon submission of all the
requirements by the schools, the DENR shall issue a certification that the
development and maintenance plans meet the ecological standards set. This
Certification shall be the basis, upon application by the schools with the proper
agency or authority, for the grant of incentives provided under this Act.

Section 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The Secretary of
Department of Education, the Commissioner on Higher Education and the Director
General of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in consultation
with the Department of the Interior Local Government, Non-Government
Organization, Department of Environment and Natural Resources shall issue the
necessary implementing rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this
Act not later than two (2) months from the effectivity of this law.


Section 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive
orders, proclamations and/or administrative regulations which are inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act, are hereby amended, modified, superseded or repealed
accordingly.

Section 13. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is
declared void or unconstitutional, the remaining portions or provisions thereof shall
not be affected by such declaration

Section 14. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its complete publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation

Approved,