INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Two bills that would require parents to听plant听two听trees听for every child born to them, and students graduating from senior high school to likewise听plant听two听trees, have been approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.
During the plenary session on Tuesday, House Bill (HB) Nos. 9587 and 9588 have been approved via nominal voting, with 250 lawmakers voting in favor of both bills, with none voting against it or abstaining.
HB No. 9587 is the Family听Tree听Planting听Act which requires parents, whether legally married or not, to听plant听two听trees听for every child born to them.听听HB No. 9588 on the other hand is the Graduation Legacy for Reforestation Act, which makes听tree听planting听mandatory before students are allowed to graduate.
READ: House bills ordering parents, students to plant trees OK鈥檇 on 2nd reading听
鈥淎s an act of public service before they join the country鈥檚 labor force, all graduating students in senior high school and college, except physically handicapped and students with special needs, shall听plant听two (2)听trees听each as a prerequisite for graduation,鈥� Section 3 of HB No. 9588 said.
READ: House approves bill on mandatory听tree听planting听for building permit applicants听
Meanwhile, under Section 5 of HB No. 9587, birth certificates would not be released if the parents fail to present a sworn statement of compliance.听听Parents are urged to听plant听the听trees听within 30 days after their child is born, except in extraordinary circumstances.
Seedlings would come from the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with local government units (LGUs) involved.
Meanwhile, the DENR, DA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are the primary agencies tasked to implement HB No. 9587 if enacted.