Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 4661

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Our environment has been the object of abuse, neglect and
unconcern for many decades. It is only now that some attention
and care is being extended to our environment and in most cases
on a sporadic basis.

Considering the present state of our environment, to be
effective and meaningful, efforts to rescue our environment from
its present degradation should be massive and sustained. The
mandate to care for our environment should not only be
compulsory. It should also contain incentives.

In other more socially advanced and environment-conscious
countries, one day of every year is declared Environment Day. On
this day, every year, everybody is expected to participate in
environment care activities, such as cleaning the streets, the
surroundings, fences, sidewalks, beaches, rivers, riverbanks and
all other areas which need cleaning.

In the Philippines, because of the sad state of our
environment, we need many more days to be devoted to our
environment. This bill proposes to make the last Saturday of
every month Environment Day.

I earnestly invite my colleagues to support this bill.

ew A,

ERIC L. OLIVAREZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Constitution Hills, Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4661
House Bill No.

Introduced by: REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

AN ACT DECLARING A NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT DAY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress Assembled.

Section 1. Title —- This act shall be known as the “National
Environment Day Act of 2016.”

Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the declared policy
of the state to protect the environment and to preserve and
maintain it in a clean and healthful condition and in order to
attain this objective the state shall involve the active participation
of the public sector as well as all segments of the private sector.

Section 3. Declaration of Environment Day - The last
Saturday of every month of the year is hereby declared as
Environment Day.

Section 4. Activities on Environment Day - Environment
Day shall be specially devoted to the following activities: Cleaning
of surroundings, streets, sidewalks, walkways, playgrounds,
parks, rivers, river banks, beaches & public buildings;
improvement of the appearance of buildings, fences & walls;
planting of trees, flowering plants; and any other environmental
activity.

In general, an environmental activity is one which will
enhance the condition or promote the aesthetic value of the


environment or any activity which is related or will contribute to
said objective.

Section 5. Participants in the Environment Day Activities:
All government offices and its attached agencies including
government owned and controlled corporations, privately owned
corporations, local government units (LGU’s), public and private
schools, non-government organizations (NGOs), civic clubs,
religious and non-religious organizations, and the general public.

Section 6. Incentives - The above-enumerated agencies
and organizations shall devise appropriate plans and programs to
give incentives and create sustained interest in the activities on
Environment Day among its employees, constituents, students,
and members;

Corporations shall be allowed tax exemptions/deductions
for expenses incurred for activities under this act. Public and
private schools are allowed to give academic credits to students
for participation in activities under this act. Local government
units shall appropriate reasonable amounts in their budget for
the expenditures for activities under this act.

Section 7. Advocacy - The Department of Energy and
Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Interior
and Local Governments, Department of Education, Commission
on Higher Education shall widely disseminate the provisions of
this Act and shall employ such programs as may be appropriate
to develop interest and sustained support for the objectives of
this Act.

Section 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this
Act is declared unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or
provisions hereof not affected thereby shall continue to be in full
force and effect.

Section 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this act
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.


Section 10. Effectivity. - This act shall take effect fifteen
days after publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of
general circulation.

Approved,