House Approves Bill Requiring Graduating Students To Plant 10 Trees Before Graduation

The House of Representatives approved on the third and final reading on Monday a measure that seeks to require all graduating elementary, high school and college students to plant at least 10 trees as a prerequisite for graduation.

With a vote of 208-0, the chamber approved House Bill 8728, or the proposed Graduation Legacy for the Environment Act, principally authored by Magdalo party-list Representative Gary Alejano.

Alejano, in his measure, pointed out that the state should pursue programs and projects that promote environment protection and biodiversity, among others, and schools should be an avenue to propagate ethical and sustainable use of natural resources among the youth.

Under the measure, the trees should be planted in either forest lands, mangrove and protected areas, ancestral domains, civil and military reservations, urban areas under the greening plan of the local government units, inactive and abandoned mine sites, or other suitable lands.

Section 5 of the proposed law also states that the planted species of trees should be appropriate to the location, climate, and topography of the area. Indigenous species are likewise preferred to be planted.

The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education are mandated to implement the act in partnership with other concerned government agencies.