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All Graduates Must Plant 10 Trees Under New Rules In The Philippines

All Graduates Must Plant 10 Trees Under New Rules In The Philippines

The idea is to make planting trees as much a part of graduation as wearing a silly gown

Tom Wood

Tom Wood

Under a new law in The Philippines, students will be required to plant at least 10 trees before they will be allowed to graduate from primary school, high school and university.

According to reports by CNN, the Filipino House of Representatives passed a bill on 15 May that makes planting a load of trees as much of a part of any graduation ceremony as getting fleeced for a daft hat that you're only going to chuck into the air and then give back.

It's called the 'Graduation Legacy for the Environment Act' and it was passed by Gary Alejano, who represents the area of Madgalo, and Strike Revilla, the representative for the Cavite 2nd District.

PA

It serves two purposes, really. The first being to ensure that trees get planted - we can all agree on that one - but also instilling environmental values into people from a young age.

Hard to disagree with that logic.

The idea is that if planting a load of trees becomes normal, and even something of a rite of passage, then future generations will have at least one thing better off than those that went before them.

Over enough time, that could create real and meaningful change to the environment.

PA

Rep. Alejano explained: "With over 12 million students graduating from elementary and nearly five million students graduating from high school and almost 500,000 graduating from college each year, this initiative, if properly implemented, will ensure that at least 175 million new trees would be planted each year.

"In the course of one generation, no less than 525 billion can be planted under this initiative

"Even with a survival rate of only 10 percent, this would mean an additional 525 million trees would be available for the youth to enjoy."

I'm sure you'll agree, that's a hell of a lot of trees.

PA

The real question is: how does a government enforce such a law? Are they going to employ people to stand around and watch while trees are planted?

Probably not, but the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education is going to work to get the bill into the schools properly.

They're also suggesting that kids who want to plant should choose species that are indigenous to The Philippines and that are likely to be suited to their area.

This could mean planting trees that thrive in mangrove swamps, urban areas, or anywhere really. As long as they're getting planted, it can only be a good thing.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: World News