THlRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
Introduced by Senator 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 the cutting of trees that otherwise give food, shelter, 
security and beauty of the surroundings. 
Efforts to prevent deforestation and promote afforestation of forest areas have 
failed. This proposed measure does not seek to amend much less repeal existing tee- 
planting laws; instead it will serve to complement the former in the hope that it will 
succeed and therefore, serve to buttress the implementation of said existing laws. It 
proposes to underwrite tree-planting in the urban and countryside areas with the 
concerted effort of both the government and 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." 
In view thereof, the proposed measure seeks to establish a national committee 
which will oversee the implementation of the greening efforts of the government. 
The passage of the bill is earnestly urged. 
EJERCITO ESTRADA 
Senator 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
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S.B. NO. 
27 
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Introduced by Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada 
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR 
THE URBAN AND COUNTRYSIDE GREENING 
IN THE PHILIPPINES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION I. 
Title. This Act shall be known and cited as the "Greening Act of 
2004.'' 
SECTION 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. 
SECTION 3. Scope. This Act shall apply to all barangays, municipalities, cities 
and provinces. 
SECTION 4. Objectives. 
Pursuant to the policy declared herein, it is the 
objective of this Act: 
a.) 
to build, develop and maintain forest parks in provincia1,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; 
b.) 


.c.) 
to promote environmental consciousness among the 
community members, i.e. students, youth, other civic action 
groups, by encouraging active participation in tree-planting 
activities; 
to protect trees from various human activities. 
d.) 
SECTION 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, Culture and Sports (DECS) and 
the Department of Agriculture (DA) as members. 
The National Committee shall have the power to promulgate 
the pertinent rules and regulations 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 from the Regional Committee. 
SECTION 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 
Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education, 
Culture and Sports (DECS) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) 


and at most three (3) representatives from civic action groups 
appointed by the Chairman. 
The Regional Greening Committee shall coordinate with all 
the 
concerned 
government 
agencies, 
non-governmental 
' organizations (NGOs), peoples organizations (POs) and other civic 
action groups for assistance and cooperation in the implementation 
of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Specific functions of the Executive Departments. Aside from 
the Committee responsibilities, 
a. 
The DENR shall determine the suitable species of trees and 
provide seeds or saplings to be planted along or on major 
thoroughfares, suited to the kind, classification, and condition of the 
area and shall provide technical support involving tree-planting 
activities; 
b. 
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 Sections 8 and 9 of this Act; 
c. 
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; 
d. 
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; 
e. 
The DILG shall coordinate the local government units to 
ensure prompt and effective implementation of this Act; and 
f. 
The DECS shall integrate the tree-planting activities into the 
school 
curriculum to raise awareness and to promote 
environmental consciousness. 


SECTION 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 24fh of 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 the varieties of the root systems 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 on one side of the road shall be planted 
alternately with the trees on the other side, thus ensuring 
adequate sunlight needed for drying the road; 
d. For roads without curbs, the trees shall be planted with a 
minimum clear distance of 0.60 meters beyond the edge of the 
Shoulder, but in no case less than 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 1.00 meters beyond the 
face of the curb; 
f. Where there are longitudinal drainage canals, the trees shall be 
planted on the outer side of such canals; 
g. On roadway curves and intersections, the pertinent design 
standards on sight distance shall be observed; 
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 hazards 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 the 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 (I 
80) days thereafter, submit periodic 
reports to the National Greening Committee. 
SECTION 9. Tree Planting in Urban and Countryside 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 sites identified with the 
. quality of soil where different or certain species of trees can thrive. 
This shall apply to 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) 
ii) 
iii) 
All public parks in urban and rural areas; 
All public school grounds in the city and in the provinces; 
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; 
iv) 
Parks, schools and other pieces of land owned by private 
individuals, organizations, or institutions whose proprietorh 
voluntarily and willingly subject their properties in this Act. 
b. 
with the following general guidelines: 
General Guidelines. Tree planting in the duly qualified areas shall comply 
0 
i i ) 
iii) 
iv) 
Considering the classification and condition of the soil and the total 
land area of the site, suited species of forest trees or fast-growing 
trees shall be planted in the identified areas; 
In case wherein multiple trees can be planted, the trees should be 
planted in clusters wherein one is not more than four (4) meters 
apart from another; 
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 eighty (180) 


days, thereafter submit periodic reports to the National Greening 
Committee. 
SECTION 10. Issuing 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 consultations done by and the 
consensus of the Regional Committee. 
SECTION I I. 
Prohibited Acts. 
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 subject to the issuance of 
permits. 
SECTION 12. Persons Liable and Penalties therefore. 
Any person who 
violates sections 9 and 10 shall be punished with imprisonment of 
not less than six (6) months to not more than 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. 
SECTION 13. Submission of Reports. The National Committee shall within 
ninety (90) days after the approval of this Act and every one 
hundred eighty (1 80) days thereafter submit periodic reports to buth 
Houses of Congress of the Philippines for evaluation and 
consideration. 
SECTION 14. Funding. 
The fund needed for the implementation of this Act 
shall be taken from any available appropriation in the General 
Appropriations Act (GAA) for 2001; Provided, that funds for this 
purpose shall also be included in every annual GAA; provided 
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. 
SECTION 15. Separability Clause. All Laws, decrees, rules and regulations, or 
parts thereof, inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or 
modified accordingly. 
SECTION 16. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect upon its publication 
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,