EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
S E N A T E  
S. No. 
6 6 8
ilt'i 
of ll)f
22 P2 ;13
In tro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.
•RCCLi'/ l Li l
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (1 0 ) TREES EACH AS A PREREQUISITE 
FOR GRADUATION AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The depletion of the country's forest resources have caused insurmountable 
environmental and economic losses for the nation. The increasing problems brought 
by climate change continue to pose significant threats. With the country now being 
tagged as one of the world's most severely deforested countries, policies to promote 
forest conversation and environmental sustainability are of priority.
As the Philippine Constitution states, it is the policy of the State to protect and 
advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the 
rhythm and harmony of nature. This bill aims to address the alarming effects of global 
warming and climate change and ensure the cultivation of a socially-responsible 
citizenry. It shall make tree planting mandatory for every graduating elementary, high 
school, and college student and include the ethical use of our natural resources in the 
Philippine educational system. Through this measure, every graduate will have a living 
legacy to the environment and to future generations of Filipinos.
Approval of this bill is earnestly requested.
—
RAMON BONG REVILLA, JR.


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
s. No. 
6 6 8
<0((icr of l!ir
’* 1 29 
JUL22 P2:13
In tro d u ce d  by SENATOR RAMON BONG RE VILLA, JR.
RtC£i..0b .
AN ACT
REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE 
STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (1 0 ) TREES EACH AS A PREREQUISITE 
FOR GRADUATION AND FOR OTHER RELATED PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House o f Representative o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Short Tide. — This act shall be known as the "Graduation Legacy for
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the Environment Act of 2019".
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Section 2. Declaration o f Policy. -  It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
to promote and pursue environmental protection and sustainable development for 
poverty reduction, food security, biodiversity conservation, and climate change 
mitigation and adaptation.
Section 3. Tree-planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation. -  Pursuant 
to the policy of the state to promote and pursue environmental protection and 
sustainable development, all graduating grade-school or primary education students, 
high school or secondary education students, as well as all college or university 
students shall be required to plant at least ten (10) trees as a mandatory prerequisite 
for their graduation. Said trees shall be their living legacy to the environment and to 
future generations of Filipinos.
Section 4. Location. -  The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in 
any of the following:


4.1 Forestlands
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4.2 Mangrove and protected areas
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4.3 Ancestral domains
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4.4 Civil and military reservations
4.5 Urban areas under the greening plan of the LGUs
4.6 Inactive and abandoned mine sites; and
4.7 Other suitable lands
Section 5. Partner Agencies/ Stakeholders. -  The Department of Education 
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) shall implement the 
provisions of this act in partnership with the following agencies/ stakeholders, whose 
responsibilities shall include but not limited to the following:
5.1 Department of Agriculture, 
Department of Agrarian Reform, and 
Department of Environment and Natural Resources
5.1.1 Nursery establishment and seedling production
5.1.2 Site identification and site preparation
5.1.3 Social mobilization
5.1.4 Tree planting
5.1.5 Monitoring and evaluation
5.1.6 Technical support and extension services
5.1.7 Provision of certified seeds of agronomic crops
5.1.8 Provision of access roads and trails to planting site
5.1.9 Provision of post-harvest and processing facilities
5.1.10 Technical assistance in product development and marketing
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5.2. Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
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5.2.1 Allocation of funds for all activities of the NGP
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5.3 Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
5.3.1 Provision of transportation, security and fire protection amenities
5.3.2 Information, Education and Communication
5.4 Local Government Units (LGUs)
5.4.1 Establishment of nurseries and production of planting materials
5.4.2 Development of greening plan for urban and suburban areas
5.4.3 Lead the establishment of communal tree farms for firewood and other 
domestic uses
5.4.4 Construction of access roads and trails to the planting sites
5.4.5 Provision of medical support
5.4.6 Technical assistance and extension of services
5.5 Department of Health (DOH)
5.5.1 Provision of transportation and medical support
5.6 Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)
5.6.1 Provision of transportation in the hauling of seedlings and volunteer 
planters
5.6.2 Assistance in the construction of access roads and trails to the planting 
sites
5.7 Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)
5.7.1 Provision of transport for applicants
5.7.2 Provision of communication facilities
5.8 Department of National Defense (DND)
5.8.1 Nursery establishment and seedling production
5.8.2 Site preparation


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5.8.3 Provision of transportation support
5.8.4 Provision of security
5.9 Department of Science and Technoiogy (DOST)
5.9.1 Development and transfer of appropriate technologies
5.9.2 Information, Education and Communication
5.10 Department of Justice (DOJ)
5.10.1 Nursery establishment and production of planting materials
5.10.2 Provision of transportation
5.11 National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
5.11.1 Mobilization of participation of indigenous peoples
5.11.2 Identification of sites for NGP inside ancestral domains
5.11.3 Supervision of forest protection activities inside ancestral domains
5.12 Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
5.12.1 Technical assistance in seedling development
5.13 Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)
5.13.1 Provision of funds for seedling production and other related activities
Section 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. -  The Department of Education 
(DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in consultation with the 
participating agencies/ institutions, shall promulgate and issue the Implementing 
Rules and Regulations of this Act within sixty (60) days from the effectivity hereof.
Section 7. Funding Mechanisms. -  Funds needed for the implementation of this 
Act for the current year shall be provided by the Department of Budget and 
Management and funding for the succeeding years shall be incorporated in the regular 
appropriation of participating agencies.


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Section 8. Separability Clause. -  Any portion or provision of this Act that maybe 
declared unconstitutional shall not have the effect of nullifying other provisions hereof, 
as long as such remaining portions can still subsist and can be given effect in their 
entirety.
Section 9. Repealing Clause. -  All rules and regulations and other issuances or 
parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby amended, repealed or 
modified accordingly,
Section 10. Effectivity. -  This Act shall take effect within sixty (60) days upon 
its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation of the Official 
Gazette.
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Approved,