Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and his son, District 2 Representative Omar Vincent S. Duterte, have filed a bill seeking to strengthen and institutionalize forestland rehabilitation and protection efforts at the barangay level, recognizing the crucial role of local communities in addressing climate change and environmental degradation.
The proposed measure, titled the “Barangay Greening and Forestland Rehabilitation and Protection Act of 2025,” aims to integrate forest protection, rehabilitation, and greening initiatives into barangay governance.
The bill seeks to enhance local climate action by making environmental stewardship a sustained responsibility of grassroots institutions.
Building on the gains of the National Greening Program, the measure aims to expand its impact by empowering barangays, local governments, and communities to take an active role in safeguarding forestlands, with priority given to planting native and endangered tree species.
“The National Greening Program has shown what can be achieved when communities and government work together. Institutionalizing barangay participation ensures accountability, continuity, and local ownership, allowing forest protection and greening efforts to endure across generations,” Rep. Omar said.
The bill also seeks to institutionalize the Barangay Forest Program, first introduced through a 2013 joint memorandum circular issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
By codifying the program into national law, the measure aims to ensure consistency in forest management regardless of changes in local leadership.
Under the proposed legislation, barangays will be required to conduct inventories of forest resources in both public and private lands. These will be consolidated by cities and municipalities to guide planning and policy formulation.
The bill also encourages the involvement of schools specializing in forestry, natural resources, agriculture, and fisheries in program implementation and monitoring, and provides for technical support as well as fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
“Climate change is already affecting our communities, especially those living near forestlands and watersheds. This measure ensures that barangays are not just beneficiaries but active partners in protecting and rehabilitating our forests. When local governments and communities are empowered, environmental programs become more effective and sustainable,” Rep. Pulong said.
The lawmakers emphasized that meaningful climate action must begin at the community level, where environmental challenges are most immediately felt.
By institutionalizing barangay participation in forest protection and greening efforts, they said the bill aims to safeguard the gains of the National Greening Program while strengthening local climate resilience for future generations.
“By empowering barangays and institutionalizing their role in forest protection and greening, we strengthen local climate action and ensure that the gains of the National Greening Program are protected and sustained for future generations,” they said.
