Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid has filed a bill which requires all dealers, retailers, and similar entities engaged in the sale of motor vehicles to plant at least10 trees for every sales transaction.

This requirement of tree planting, according to Lapid, shall be accomplished within six months from the date of the sales transaction as reflected in the official receipt issued to the buyer.

Lapid’s measure, Senate Bill 1938, seeks to contribute to the reforestation efforts of the government.

He stated that the emission produced by motor vehicles contribute not only to air pollution but also to the destruction of the environment as a whole. Thus, planting trees should be an activity that could start off from the dealers and retailers of motor vehicles.

Lapid pointed out that the country was just devastated by three consecutive strong typhoons – “Quinta,” “Rolly,” and “Ulysses” – in a span of less than a month while in the middle of a global COVID-19 pandemic.

While typhoons maybe regular occurrences in the country, however, they have become more destructive as years pass by, both in terms of loss of human lives and economic damages. Time and again, the connection between flooding and denuded forests is sufficiently proven, Lapid pointed out.

Lapid said that aside the destruction of the environment, the climate is affected pollution caused by motor vehicles.

“Ngayon ramdam na natin ang tindi ng galit ng kalikasan lalo na sa panahon ng mga sakuna gaya ng bagyo kaya ngayon na rin ang tamang panahon na sa tingin ko ay dapat na aksyunan natin ang problemang ito. Isang konkretong batas ang dapat na maipasa kaugnay nito at puwede natin simulan bilang requirement sa mga dealers ng sasakyan na kapalit ng kinita nila sa kanilang negosyo ay magbalik sila ng kaunting pabor para sa ating kalikasan sa pamamagitan ng pagtatanim ng puno,” Lapid said.
(It is high time to look for solutions to climate change. A concrete measure is a law requiring vehicle dealers to planting trees)
Deforestation on flood-prone areas was hugely blamed for intensifying the level of inundation in the past typhoons.

‘’That is why this measure pushes for mandatory tree planting for every motor vehicle sales. Motor vehicle refers to four-wheeled road vehicle designed to carry passengers including, but not limited to sedans, coupes, station wagons, convertibles, pickups, vans, Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), and Asian Utility Vehicles (AUVs),’’ Lapid said.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) shall be the agency tasked with the enforcement and monitoring of obligations imposed under this measure.