Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. TG!

Introduced by HON. JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL
Malabon City, Lone District

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to encourage the strict implementation of philippine environmental
laws with the main goal of turning around the negative environmental damages by making green
more greener.

The world today battles with serious environmental plights it cannot go through. One of
which is deforestation!, In the international setting, in total, the forest covers about 30% of the
world’s land area. Unfortunately, a significant size are lost each year’ due to modern-day plagues
such as deforestation, urbanization’, among many others, which results in critical threats to our
environment, our habitat, and most especially to the safety of the future generations.

In the 2016 Philippine Forestry Statistics published by the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources through the Forest Management Bureau, it states that our country has a total
land area of 30 million hectares. Of which, 14.2 million hectares or 47.33% of the total land are
classified as alienable and disposable, 15.8 million hectares or 52.67% of the total land area are
classified as forest lands and 750 thousand hectares or 0.23% of the total land are are classified
as unclassified forestlands. Of the classified forest lands, 3.2 million hectares or 20.25% are estab-
lished forest reserves, 10.1 million hectares or 63.92% are established _ timberland, 1.3 million
hectares or 8.23% are national parks, 126 thousand hectares or 0.79% are military and naval res-
ervations, 166 thousand hectares or 1.1% are civil reservations and 91 thousand hectares or 0.58%
are fishponds*.

1. hitps:/Aeww merriam-webster.com/dictionarydeforestation. Definition of DEFORESTATION: the action or process of clearing of forests:

4. ups: forestry: denr gov pWvindex php/statsticsphiippines-foresrystaistics


Unfortunately, local and international studies would show that the Philippine forest cover
has significantly dwindled through the years, and this can be attributed to increasing ure
banization, expanding industrializations, destructive logging, large-scale mining, agricultural ex-
pansion, forest fires and energy source*.

It is for this noble cause that this bill is drafted to support and strengthen the National
Greening Program of the government by mandating every local government unit to set aside one
(1%) percent of its land of the public domain for the sole purpose of establishing a forest park and
oversee the maintenance, conservation and protection thereof.

Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

/

JOSEPHINE VERONIQVE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL

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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

5164
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON, JOSEPHINE VERONIQUE “Jaye” R. LACSON - NOEL
Malabon City, Lone District

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 193 OR THE ‘NATIONAL GREENING
PROGRAM AND THE FOREST PROTECTION PROGRAM’ BY MANDATING EVERY
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT IN THE COUNTRY TO SET ASIDE ONE PERCENT
(1%) OF ITS TOTAL REGISTERED LAND AREA OF JURISDICTION TO ESTABLISH
FOREST PARKS AND PROVIDING FOR THE CONSERVATION, MAINTENANCE
AND PROTECTION THEREOF.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippine in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Forest Park. - every local government unit in the country shall locate
one percent (1%) of its available land equivalent to its total registered lands of the public domain
within its territorial jurisdiction for the establishment of a forest park.

SECTION 2. National Greening Program and Forest Protection Program. - all
cities and municipalities shall adopt and adhere to the implementing rules and regulations set forth
by Executive Order No. 193.

SECTION 3. Local Seed Bank. - For the effective implementation of this Act,
cities and municipalities shall maintain a seed bank from which the local residents can draw seeds
or saplings and learn proper planting technology. The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR), through the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), shall regularly contribute to the
local seed banks, identify the species of trees to be distributed and determine the proper plating


technology to be employed, in consideration of the different topographies, climates, soil types and
other conditions in the local government.

SECTION 4. Sustainable Tourism. - The Department of Tourism (DOT) together
with DENR shall implement projects and programs for the development of forest parks in prov-
inces, cities and municipalities.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) shall provide support to the
infrastructural needs of cities and municipalities within the National Capital Region while the
Tourism and Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) shall provide assistance to
cities and municipalities located in other regions.

SECTION 5. Oversight Board. - In order to ensure the success of these forest
parks, an oversight committee shall be created and will be chaired by the head of the Forest Man-
agement Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Its members shall in-
clude the LGU Executive, the PNP Chief Regional Director, the Secretary of the Department of
Public Works and Highways and Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.

SECTION 6. Incentive. - Upon final assessment and determination of the Over-
sight Board, a successful LGU shall receive a local infrastructure assistance from the national
government twice the amount spent for the compliance of the provisions of this act.

SECTION 7. Funding. - With the help of the national government through the
NGP and FPP, a subsidy shall be given to the local governments for the establishment, conserva-
tion, maintenance and protection of the forest park.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days after
the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources shall formulate the
necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws decrees, executive orders, proclama-
tions, rules and regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the

provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publi-
cation in the Official Gazette or in two (2) national newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,