SENATOR Cynthia Villar filed a measure requiring all graduating Senior High School and college students to plant two trees each as a civic duty for environment protection and preservation.

Villar said with an estimated two million students graduating from senior high school and college annually, four million trees can be added to the country’s forest cover each year.

Senate Bill 2228 or the proposed Graduating Students for Reforestation Act of 2023 aims to foster an environment-conscious mindset in 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,” Villar said in her explanatory note.

“These forests shield us from natural disasters, ensure our water and food security, shelter diverse ecosystems, and preserve our rich indigenous traditions,” she added.

Villar said that the measure serves as a significant step in the country’s battle against climate change.