Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1325 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill which seeks to require each graduating elementary, high school, and 
college student to plant at least ten (10) trees as a prerequisite for graduation has already 
been approved by the House of Representatives on its 3rd and final reading in the 17th ,18th
and 19th Congress. On account of the bill’s importance in our battle against climate change, 
this bill is being filed. 
Today, the biggest threat we face is climate change. It is real as the rise in global 
temperature over the last decade is now a concern of every government worldwide. If one 
may ask, is it bad? The answer is no. It is worse. Unlike decades back, no political 
candidate in the country can now run a house-to-house campaign at 1:00 in the afternoon 
without getting fried in the open. It is now becoming hotter and drier every year. Even the 
sea level is now rising up as a result of global warming, not to mention extreme flooding in 
recent years. If we will allow climate change to run unchecked, there won’t be much of us 
left in the future. The issue is survival.  
The Philippines is known for its rich biodiversity, but over the years, the country has 
experienced alarming deforestation and environmental degradation. The loss of forests 
has led to a decline in air quality, disrupted ecosystems, and contributed significantly to 
the growing effects of climate change. In the face of this crisis, it is essential to initiate 
efforts that not only raise environmental awareness but also involve the youth in tangible 
actions that can help restore and protect our natural resources. There is a need for us to 
individually and collectively adopt measures which can mitigate the effects of climate 
change or global warming. 
One such measure is to require everyone to plant a tree. In this legislative measure, 
all graduating students from elementary to college will be required to plant at least ten (10) 
trees as pre-requisite for graduation. With millions of graduating students each year, we 
are looking forward to the equivalent number of trees planted per year. This is one way of 
requiring everyone to actively participate in mitigating the growing effects of climate 
change. By incorporating this environmental responsibility into the educational system, the 
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bill aims to create a culture of sustainability, empower young Filipinos to actively participate 
in environmental conservation, and help address the country's pressing environmental 
challenges. This is one step forward for our survival. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought. 
MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO.  1325 
Introduced by Representative MARLYN L. PRIMICIAS-AGABAS 
AN ACT 
REQUIRING ALL GRADUATING ELEMENTARY, HIGH SCHOOL AND 
COLLEGE STUDENTS TO PLANT AT LEAST TEN (10) TREES EACH AS A 
PREREQUISITE FOR GRADUATION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act Shall be known as the “Graduation Legacy for the 
Environment Act". 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy - It is the policy of the State to pursue programs and 
projects that promote environmental protection, biodiversity climate change mitigation, 
poverty reduction and food security. To this end, the educational system shall be a focus 
for propagating ethical and sustainable use of natural resources among the young to 
ensure the cultivation of a socially responsible and conscious citizenry. 
SEC. 3. Tree-planting as a Mandatory Requisite for Graduation. – All Graduating 
students from grade school, high school and college 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.
Sec. 4. Location - The trees to be planted under this Act shall be located in any of the 
following areas: 
(a) Forestlands;
(b) Mangrove and Protected areas;
(c)
Ancestral domains;
(d)
Civil and military reservations;
(e)
Urban areas under the greening plan of the Local
Government units (LGUs);


 
(f) 
inactive and abandoned mine sites; and 
(g) Other suitable lands. 
Sec. 5. Preference for Indigenous Species - The planted species of trees 
should be appropriate to the location, climate and topography of the area with 
preference for the planting of Indigenous species. 
Sec. 6. 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: 
(a) Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); 
(b) Department of Agriculture (DA); 
(c) Department Agrarian Reform (DAR); 
(d) Department of Budget and Management (DBM); 
(e) Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); 
(f) 
Department of Health (DOH); 
(g) Department of Transportation (DOTr); 
(h) Department of National Defense (DND); 
(i) 
Department of Science and Technology (DOST); 
(j) 
Department of Justice (DOJ); 
(k) National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP); 
(l) 
Technical Education and Education and Skills Development Authority 
(TESDA); and 
(m) Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). 
The responsibilities of these agencies shall include: 
 
(1) Nursery establishment; 
(2) Seedling production and site preparation; 
(3) Site identification and site preparation; 
(4) Monitoring and evaluation; 
(5) Provision of security, transportation, fire protection amenities and medical support; 


 
and 
(6) Technical support and extension services. 
SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulation - The DepEd and the CHED, in 
coordination with the DENR and DILG, and in consultation with other agencies, shall 
promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) necessary to implement 
this Act within sixty (60) days after its approval. 
SEC. 8. Appropriations. - The Amount necessary to carry out the provision of this Act 
shall be included in the budgets of the implementing departments/agencies in the annual 
General Appropriations Act. 
SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, ordinance, rules and 
regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with any provision of 
this Act are hereby repealed, modified, superseded or amended accordingly. 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause, - Should any portion or provision of this Act be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid by a competent court, the other provisions hereof shall continue to 
be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
Approved,