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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES. 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
720 
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The speedy attainment of economic development depends largely on the construction of 
roads in the countryside, linking urban centers to far-flung barrios and barangays. Besides being 
vital conduits for agricultural and industrial products, roads foster the creation of a close-knit 
national community. Indeed, no economic prosperity is possible without an extensive network of 
roads and highways. 
However, the construction of roads creates more threatening problems: that of 
environmental destruction and ecological imbalance. To pave the way for more roads, ancient 
forests have to be cleared, mountains blasted, and rivers canalled and dammed. With more roads 
comes an influx of human activities that disrupt the cycles that have sustained life through the 
ages. As more vehicles traverse areas hitherto unexplored, we witness with dismay the gradual 
tilt of the environment toward pollution, floods, dry spells and a general warming of our planet. 
This bill requiring the planting of trees along roads and highways seeks to bring a more 
positive tilt to the environmental imbalances. Trees, being nature's workhouses, purify the air and 
provide food, shelter and wood to our expanding population. The planting of trees along roads 
would shade weary travelers from the oppressive heat of our tropical sun and protect our 
highways from perennial floods. By requiring only the cooperation of existing agencies in 
government, this program as envisioned, is an-inexpensive means toward a fhitful end. 
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly prayed for. 
MANUEL B. v LLAR, JR. 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 
720 
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Z
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INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR JR. 
AN ACT REQUIRING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO PLANT TREES ALONG 
NATIONAL AND LOCAL HIGHWAYS WITHIN ITS TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES 
AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as "The Greening of Philippine Highways 
Act of 2004." 
SECTION 2. It shall be the policy of the State to advance and promote the conservation 
of the environment through the planting of trees along national and local roads and highways, to 
minimize and contain the adverse effects of road-building in the countryside. 
SECTION 3. It shall be the primary responsibility of local government, with the 
cooperation of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Environment 
and Natura0 Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways and other concerned 
government agencies, to plant and maintain indigenous Philippine trees along national and local 
highways within their respective territorial boundaries. 
SECTION 4. The Department of Interior and Local Government shall prescribe the 
implementing rules and guidelines within thirty (30) days after the effectivity of this Act. 
SECTION 5. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, particularly the 
Bureau of Forest Management, shall provide the necessary seedlings and expertise in planting 
and maintaining the trees. 


SECTION 6. The amount necessary to implement this Act is hereby appropriated out of 
any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and shall form part of the 
budgetary allocation of the concerned department or agency in the ensuing fiscal year. 
SECTION 7. The local executives and legislative bodies shall supervise the effective 
implementation of this Act. 
SECTION 8. The Department of Interior and local Government in coordination with the 
various departments and agencies concerned shall submit an annual report on the status of 
implementation of this program to Congress. 
SECTION 9. All laws, decrees, acts, regulations and executive order which are contrary 
or inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 10. If any provision of this Act or any part thereof is declared unconstitutional, 
such declaration shall not affect the other provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 1 1. This Act shall take effect fifteen (1 5) days after its publication in two (2) 
newspaper of general circulqtion. 
Approved,