Senator Cynthia A. Villar has filed a bill requiring all graduating senior high school and college students to plant two trees each as a civic duty for environment protection and preservation. In the explanatory note of Senate Bill (SB) 2228, an Act to be known as the “Graduating Students for Reforestation Act of 2023,” Villar stated that the Philippine Constitution, at its heart, recognizes the fundamental roles that both the youth and the environment play in the nation’s present and future. “It outlines the youth’s crucial role in nation-building and their holistic development, alongside the State’s commitment to secure a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature,” she said. Villar chairs the Senate Committee on Environment, and Natural Respurces and Climate Change. To fulfill constitutional mandates, Villar said the bill seeks to require all graduating senior high school and college students to plant two trees each as a civic duty for environment protection and preservation. She semphasized that this promotes a unique synergy between these two core constitutional mandates by involving the youth -our nation's future - in tangible efforts towards environmental conservation. With an estimated two million students graduating from senior high school and college annually, Villar pointed out that the Act could potentially add about 4 million trees to our forest cover each year, fostering an environment-conscious mindset in our young citizens, while significantly contributing to reforestation. Our forests, integral to the country’s ecological balance, are experiencing a decline at an alarming rate, with the Forest Management Bureau reporting an annual loss of approximately 47,000 hectares, she said. She said that these forests shield us from natural disasters, ensure our water and food security, shelter diverse ecosystems, and preserve our rich indigenous traditions. “It is, therefore, a matter of urgency that we restore our forest cover, not just for environmental integrity, but also for our survival and sustainability,” she explained. As we are now undergoing the UN Decade of Ecological Restoration, Villar said this legislation serves as a significant step in our battle against climate change and our pursuit of sustainable development. “It nurtures in our youth a sense of responsibility, encouraging their active engagement in crucial environmental and sustainability initiatives,” she added. SB 2228 is a counterpart measure of HB 978 filed by Congressman Mark Go, the chairman of the committee on higher and technical education in the House of Representatives. –