i -e 
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 16 of Article I1 of the 1987 Constitution provides: “The State shall protect and 
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with rhythm and 
harmony of nature.” 
The development of parks and mini-parks in barangays, cities, municipalities and provinces 
complements the country’s beautification and reforestration goals. 
As pointed out by one journalist: “In every big city in the world, whether it be New,York, 
San Francisco, Rome, London, Moscow, Canberra, etc., there is at least one big park in the 
middle of the city. Moscow has a small park every few blocks; every house is always within a 
short walking distance to a park. Aside from parks, China has a green belt surrounding every city. 
The streets and sidewalks are wide and shaded by trees so that even downtown areas have a park- 
like atmosphere. Even tiny Singapore, although short of land, has a park-like feel because every 
inch of available space on the sidewalks and backyards are planted to shady narra trees that came 
from, ironically, the Philippines.” 
But in Metro Manila, the only park of consequence for all the cities and towns comprising 
the megalopolis is in Rizal Park. 
Quezon City, for all its huge sprawling area, has only the pocket-sized Quezon Memorial 
Park and the tiny Bemardo Park at EDSA as parks worth mentioning. 
With the passage of this bill, it is hoped that more public parks can be created and 
enjoyed by the people. 
MANUEL B. VI 


SENATE 
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1NTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARKS AND MINI-PARKS IN 
BARANGAYS, MUNICIPALITIES, CITIES AND PROVINCES, AND, FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Bc it eiiiictecl lyj the Seiinte and House of Representatives of the Philippines iii congress 
ctsscn~hlerl: 
SECTION 1. Title. -- This Act sliall be Icnowii aiid cited as tlie "Philippine Parks and Mini- 
P arks D eve I o p iii eiit Act . 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. -- It is hereby declared the national policy to build parlcs 
and miiii-parks in barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces to promote balanced and 
healthful ecology as well as to beautify aiid enhance the eiiviroiiinent. 
SEC. 3. Scope. -- This Act shall cover all barangays, municipalities, cities and provinces 
in the country. 
SEC. 4. Definitioii of Teiiiis. -- As used in this Act, tlie following definitions sliall apply: 
a. Enviroiiment - the suiroundiiigs; all the conditions, circuinstai~ces and influences 
sui-rontidiug and affecting the developinelit of an organism or group of organisms; 
b. Parks and mini-parks - an open space for leisure, recreation and proiiienade where soft 
(i.e. plants, trees) aiid hard (i.e. pavement, benches) landscape may be found; 
SEC. 5. Objectives. -- Pursuaiit to the policy declared herein, it is the objective of this 
Act; 
a. To build, develop aiid niaintaiii parks and mini-parks in all barangays, municipalities, 
cilies, and provinces; and 


b. To provide a scenic enviroiiiiient in major areas of the country. 
SEC. 6. 
National Committee. 
-- A National Pal-la and Mini-Parks Developinent 
Committee is liereby created with tlie Secretary of the Departiiient of Public Worl<s and 
I-li&\\/ays (DPWH) as Chaii-iiiaii and the respective secretaries of the Department of Local aiid- 
Interior Goveiiiment (DILG), the Department of Environment aiid Natural Resources (DENR), 
the Department of Educatioii, Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Department of Tourism 
(DOT), through the Philippine Tourisiii Authority (PTA), as members. 
The National Committee shall initiate, coordinate and monitor all tlie activities of parks 
and iii i n i -par Its deve 1 o pni eii t . 
The National Committee shall tap any or all goveniment agencies, corporations and 
iiistruiiieiitalities, lion-govemmeiital organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs), thc 
Goveiuor's League of the Philippines, Mayor's League of the Philippines and the Barangay 
Associations of tlie Philippines as local coiiiinittees to provide resources and assistance in the 
implcmentation of this Act. 
'The National Coiiimittee shall have the power to promulgate the pertinent rules and 
regulations as niay be necessary to fully impleiiient tlie objectives and purposes of this Act within 
a period not to exceed one hundred eighty (1 80) days froin approval hereof. 
SEC. 7. Specific Fiiiictioiis of the Executive Departments. -- For tlie purpose of carrying 
out ell'ectively the provisions of this Act, -- 
a) The DPWH shall: 
1 . Provide the necessary technical data with respect to the classification, locatioii, 
condition, and length of all existing vacant public lots in barangays, municipalities, cities 
and provinces ; 
2. Provide the necessary tools, equipment, and inaiipower to efrect, the development of 
parks and mini -parks; 
b) The DILG shall: 
1 .  Mobilize all local goveiiiiiieiit units (LGUs) to eiisure proiiipt and effective 
iiiiplemeiitation of this Act in every barangay, municipality, city and province in the 
co 1111 try; 
2. Effect the apprehension and prosecution of all persons violating the provisions of this 
Act; 
c) The DENR shall: 
1. Determine the suitable species of trees and provide seeds or saplings to be planted in 
the parks and imiiii-parks, suited to the kind, classification, and condition of tlie area; 
2. Provide for effective measures and ways for the optiiiiuin maintenance of parks and 
mini-parks and the healthy growth of trees and plants in the same; 
d) The DOT through tlie PTA shall: 


1, Assist in the coiiceptualizatioii, design and site-evaluation of parks and mini-parks in 
baraiigays, municipalities, cities aiid provinces; and 
2. Provide effective iiieasLires and ways for the opti1iiLiiii mainteiiaiice of parks and mini- 
parks. 
SEC. 8. Prohibited Acts. -- No cutting and destroying of trees and plants found in the 
parks and mini-parks shall be peiinitted except wheii the cutting and destroying of tlie same is 
necessary for public safety. Likewise, littering in aiid destroying of tlie structures in the parks and 
mini-l~arl<s 
are strictly prohibited. 
SEC. 9. Persons Liable and Penalties. -- Any person who destroys, damages or litters the 
parks and mini-parks shall be punislied with imprisonment of not less than six months to not 
iiiore than one year or a fine of not less than Three Thousand Pesos (P3,OOO.OO) to not more than 
Ten Tholisand Pesos (PI O,OOO.OO), or with both such imprisonment and fine, at the disci-etion of 
the court. 
SEC. IO. Submission of Reports. -- The National Coiiimittee sliall within ninety (90) 
days after tlie approval of this Act and every one hundred eighty (180) days thereafter subiiiit 
periodic reports to both Houses of Congress of tlie Philippines for evaluation and consideration. 
SEC. 1 1 . Funding. -- The fund needed for the iinpleineiitatioii oftlie park aiid mini-parks 
developnient in this Act shall be talteii from any available appropriations in tlie General 
Appropriations Act (GAA) for the year; Provided, that funds for this purpose shall also be 
included in the GAA for tlie following year aiid every year thereafter; Provided, finally, that there 
shall be equitable and proportionate appropriatioiis of f h d s  aiinually for this purpose for a1 I 
barangays, iiiuiiicipalities, cities and provinces. In addition, adequate portion of financial grants 
and concessional loaiis extended to the Philippines by €oreign goveiiiments and multilateral 
agencies shall be allocated to augment the aniiual appropriations. 
SEC. 12. Separability Clause. 
-- If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
ii ti con s t i t LI t i on a1 , such decl ar at ion of uii cons t i tut i oiiali t y shall 110 t affect t 11 e other p rov i s i ons of 
this Act. 
SEC. 13. Amending and Repealing Clause. -- All laws, decrees, rules, and regulations, or 
parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect Lipon its publication in at least two 
(2) ne\vspapers of general circulatio~i. 
Approved,