FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
) 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Unregulated human activities have contributed to the deterioration of the 
community's quality of life and the degradation of the environment. Urbanization and 
modernization have rationalized senseless cutting down of trees that provide food, 
shelter and security and beautify our surroundings. 
Efforts to prevent deforestation and promote afforestation have failed. This 
proposed measure does not seek to amend or repeal existing tree-planting laws; 
instead it will serve to complement the former in the hope that it will succeed and 
therefore, serve to strengthen the implementation of said existing laws. It proposes to 
undertake tree-planting in the urban and countryside areas with the concerted efforts of 
both the government and the private sector. 
Indeed, there is a need for a collaborative effort between the State and its 
citizenry to fulfill the constitutional mandate that "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." 
which will oversee the implementation of the greening effort of the government. 
In view thereof, the proposed measure seeks to establish a national committee 
The passage of the bill is earnestly urged. 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
I 
Senate Bill No. 4 7 7 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
AN ACT 
TO PROMOTE THE URBAN AND COUNTRYSIDE GREENING 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representafives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Title. this act shall be known and cited as the "Greening Act of 
2007" 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. Recognizing the vital role of trees in ecological 
stability, it is hereby declared the national policy to ensure sufficient greenery in urban 
and countryside and to promote the right of the people to enjoy the benefits of a 
balanced and healthful ecology. 
SEC. 3. Scope. This Act shall apply to all barangays, municipalities, cities and 
provinces. 
SEC. 4. Objectives. Pursuant to the policy declared herein, it is the objective of 
this Act: 
(a) 
to build, develop and maintain forest parks in provincial, city and 
municipal plazas, elementary school grounds and by the planting of 
trees in national, provincial, municipal or barangay roads and other 
public open spaces where appropriate; 
to require from the national agencies and local government units the 
planting of trees and shrubbery in specified areas; 
(c) 
to promote environmental consciousness among the community 
members, Le. students, youth, other civic action groups, by 
encouraging active participation in tree-planting activities; 
to protect trees from various human activities. 
(b) 
( 4  
SEC. 5. National Committee. A National Greening Committee is hereby created 
with the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DENR) as Chairman and 
the respective secretaries of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), 
Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), 
Department of Education (Dept. Ed.) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) as 
members. 


The National Committee shall have the power to promulgate the pertinent rules 
and regulation as may be necessary to fully implement the objectives and purposes of 
this Act within a period not later than ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act. 
It shall have the power to rule on disputes involving the Regional Greening 
Committee and to appoint or form an ad-hoc committee when the Regional Committee 
is unable to perform its duties. 
The National Committee also convenes every quarter to hear the reports or 
performance form the Regional Committee. 
SEC. 6. Regional Committee, A Greening Committee for every region in the 
country. In cooperation with the various local government offices, is hereby created to 
initiate and oversee all the tree-planting activities to be done in barangays, 
municipalities, cities and provinces in the respective regions. 
The Regional Director representing the Secretary of the Department of 
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the lead official of the concerned local 
government unit (LGU) shall both serve as Co-Chairman of the Committee. Members of 
the Committee, representing the respective secretaries, will be the regional directors of 
the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Tourism (DOT), 
Department of Education (Dept. Ed.), and the Department of Agriculture (DA) and at 
most three (3) representatives form civic action groups appointed by the Chairman. 
The Regional Greening Committee shall coordinate with all the concerned 
government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations 
(Pos) and other civic action groups for assistance and cooperation in the 
implementation of this Act. 
SEC. 7. Specific functions of fhe Execufive Deparfmenf. Aside from the 
the DENR shall determine the suitable soecies of tree and orovide 
Committee responsibilities, 
seeds or saplings to be planted along or on major thoroughfares, 
suited to the kind, classifications, and condition of the area and shall 
provide technical support involving tree-planting activities; 
the LGU shall: 
(1) mobilize all local concerned agencies and communities to ensure 
prompt and effective implementation of this Act in every barangay, 
municipality, city and province; 
(2) provide for effective measures and ways for the optimum maintenance 
and sustainability of trees and shrubbery; 
(3) effect the apprehension, and the prosecution of all persons violating 
Section 8 and 9 of this Act; 
the DPWH and the DA shall provide the technical support, i.e. the 
necessary 
tools, 
equipment, 
and 
manpower to 
effect 
the 
implementation of this Act; 
the DOT shall assist in the conceptualization and site-evaluation and 
cooperate in the maintenance of parks and specified areas and 
provide additional funding from its resources; 
the DlLG shall coordinate the local government units to ensure prompt 
and effective implementation of this Act; and 
the DepEd shall integrate the tree-planting activities into the school 
curriculum to raise awareness and to promote environmental 
consciousness. 
SEC. 8. Requirements for Tree Planting along National Roads. In consonance 
with the Department Order No. 15 of the Department of Public Works and 


Highways issued on the 24'h January 2000, all projects concerning to the 
construction and development of national roads shall comply with the following 
standard requirements: 
(a) the trees that will be planted along the national roads shall be of 
varieties of the root system which grow downward rather than sideward 
to avoid road and sidewalk slabs destruction; 
(b) trees shall be planted in a neat row, within the road right-of-way (ROW) 
and as close as possible to the ROW limit, with sufficient allowance so 
that fully grown trees will not encroach on the adjoining property or 
touch electric and other overhead utility lines; 
(c) the center-to-center spacing between trees shall be 10-20 meters (m). 
for road sections with a generally north-south alignment, the trees in 
one side of the road shall be planted alternately with the trees on the 
other side, thus ensuring adequate sunlight needed for dying the road; 
(d) for roads without curbs, the trees shall be planted with a minimum 
clear distance of 0.62 meters beyond the edge of the Shoulder, but in 
no case less that 0.30 meters from the edge of the pavement; 
(e) for roads with curbs, particularly in urban areas, the trees shall be 
planted with a minimum setback of 3.00 meters beyond the face of the 
curb; 
(9 where there are longitudinal drainage canals, the trees shall be planted 
on the outer side of such canals; 
(9) on roadway curve and intersections, the pertinent design standards on 
sight distance shall be observes; 
(h) non-traversable hazards (ravine, waiting shed, and the like) along the 
line of trees shall be provided with appropriate clearly marked barriers 
so that these do not pose hazard to motorists; 
(i) the Department of Public Works and Highways shall be principally 
responsible for the watering and maintenance of the planted trees, 
wherein it may utilize its available resources, effect its existing policies 
and formulate new ones as may be necessary; provided, however, that 
the newly formulated policies and guidelines are consistent with 
provisions contained herein. 
(j) The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shall, within 
ninety (90) days after the approval of the Act and every one hundred 
eighty (180) days thereafter, submit periodic reports to the National 
Greening Committee. 
SEC. 9. Tree Planting in Urban and Country Parks, Public Vacant Lots, and 
Other Permissible Areas. Planting of trees shall be mandatory in urban and countryside 
parks as well in school grounds, vacant lots, and other unutilized sited identified with 
quality of soil where different or certain species of trees can thrive. This shall apply top 
all publicly-owned lands, without exempting the properties of interested private 
individuals or institutions. 
(a) Scope. The areas covered by this provision shall include: 
I. 
All public parks in urban and rural areas; 
ii. 
All public school grounds in the city and in the provinces; 
iii. 
All idle public lands in urban and rural areas, unless 
otherwise identified to soon be used for other purposes such 
as agriculture, infrastructure-building, and others; 
Parks, schools and other pieces of land owned by private 
individuals, organizations, or institutions whose proprietork 
voluntarily and willingly subject their properties in this Act. 
iv. 
(b) General Guidelines. Tree planting in the duly qualified areas shall 
comply with the following general guidelines: 


I. 
Considering the classification and condition of the soil and 
the total land area of the site, suited species of forest trees 
of fast growing trees shall be planted in the identified areas; 
ii. 
In case wherein multiple one is not more than four (4) meters 
apart from another; 
iii. 
The Regional Greening Committee shall facilitate and 
supervise all the tree-planting activities in its jurisdiction. The 
government agencies concerned shall perform their duties 
and responsibilities as indicated in Section 7, Specific 
Functions of the Executive Department, of this Act; 
The Regional Greening Committee shall, within ninety (90) 
days after the approval of the Act and every one hundred 
eight (180) days, thereafter submit periodic reports to the 
National Greening Committee. 
SEC. I O .  lssuing of Permits. The Issuance of Permit allowing a person or 
company to cut, uproot and in any way disturb the planted trees given by the DENR 
should also be approved and co-signed by the Regional Committee following public 
consultation done by and the consensus of the Regional Committee. 
SEC. 11. Prohibited Act. No cutting and destroying of trees and plants shall be 
permitted, except when the cutting and destroying of the same is necessary for public 
safety and the subject to the issuance of permits. 
SEC. 12. Persons Liable and Penalties therefore. Any person who violated 
section 9 and I O  shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than six (6) months to 
not more that one (1) year or a fine of not less than Three Thousand Pesos to not more 
than Ten Thousand Pesos, or with both imprisonment and fine, at the discretion of the 
court. 
iv. 
SEC. 13. Submission of Reports. The National Committee shall within ninety (90) 
days after the approval of this Act and every one hundred eighty (1800 days thereafter 
submit periodic reports to both Houses of Congress of the Philippines for evaluation and 
consideration. 
SEC. 14. Funding. The fund needed for the implementation of this Act shall be 
taken from any available appropriation in the General Appropriation Act (GAA) 
for 2001 ; 
provided, that funds for this finally, that there shall be equitable and proportionate 
appropriations of funds annually for this purpose for all barangays, municipalities, cities, 
and provinces. In addition, adequate portion of financial grants and concessional loans 
extended to Philippines by foreign governments and multilateral agencies every year, 
the amount to be determined by the President, shall be allocated to augment the annual 
appropriations until this Act is fully implemented. 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. All laws, decrees, rules and regulations, or parts 
thereof, consistent with this Act Are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 16. Effectivity, This Act shall take effect upon its publication in at least two 
(2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,