Press Release - Opening Statement of Senator Cynthia A. Villar Public Hearing on Tree Planting Bills

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Joint with Committee On Higher, Technical And Vocational Education,
Committee On Local Government, And Committee On Finance

May 22, 2024 (Wednesday), 10:00 a.m.
Sen. Lorenzo M. Tañada Room, 2/F Right Wing, Senate

In today's hearing, we will discuss the bills aimed at enhancing environmental sustainability and mitigating the climate change impact through various tree planting initiatives.

These bills are as follows:

1) Senate Bills No. 1538, 2228, and House Bill No. 9588: Filed by Senator Revilla, myself and Congressman Mark Go, respectively, these refer to the Graduating Legacy for Reforestation Bill. In sum, these bills require graduating high school and college students to plant trees as a requirement for graduation and as part of their civic duties.

2) House Bill No. 9587 (Family Tree Planting Bill): Filed by Representatives Primicias-Agabas, Mark Go, et al., this bill requires parents to plant two trees for every child born to them.

3) Senate Bill No. 1444 (by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada) and House Bill No. 8569 (by Representative Primicias-Agabas): These bills require the submission of a tree planting plan as part of the requirements for obtaining building permits.

The severity of the heat wave index we have experienced lately as part of the El Niño phenomenon, reaching as high as 53 degrees Celsius, has prompted us to seriously consider these tree planting bills.

Why plant trees? Let us count the ways:

 The Environmental Benefits:

1) Carbon Sequestration Trees play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO2), a major greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. Through the process of photosynthesis, trees convert CO2 into oxygen and carbon, storing the carbon in their biomass (trunks, branches, leaves, and roots) and soil. This process reduces the overall concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere, helping to combat the greenhouse effect and global warming. Mature forests are significant carbon sinks, sequestering large amounts of carbon annually.

2) Air Quality Improvement: Trees act as natural air filters. They absorb pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, ammonia, and nitrogen