Solon initiates 'One Child, One Seedling' policy

THE HOUSE Committee on Reforestation, chaired by Rep. Noel Villanueva, approved HB 3632 filed by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go requiring parents to plant a seedling for every child born to them.

According to the solon, the measure was filed as an effort to help in mitigating the impact of climate change which can affect biodiversity, sea level, agriculture, forestry, water resources, energy use, and transportation.

“This is a simple way of protecting and preserving our environment, and helping the state to achieve its goals for ecological balance,” Go stressed.

Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), an average of 4,791 babies are born daily. This is 200 babies per hour. A total of 1,748,857 births are registered in 2014.

Go said requiring every parent to plant one (1) seedling for every child born to them will result to almost 2,000,000 seedlings planted annually and will reduce the trees and seedlings needed to be planted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) through its Enhanced National Greening Program.

“As the child grows, so does the seedling. The connection between the child and their seedling leads to increased environmental consciousness and care,” Go noted.

Similar bills were also filed in the said committee and a technical working group was created to consolidate the measures and to come up with a substitute bill.