Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No. °92°

Introduced by Representative CARLITO S. MARQUEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend pertinent provisions of Republic
7160, otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”.
This is a re-filed bill in the 17 Congress and was mothballed by
the Committee on Local Government.

The Environment and Natural Resources Management Office
in every local government unit is very vital in formulating measures
for the consideration of the sanggunian and in providing technical
assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may
be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic
services and provision of adequate facilities relative to environment

and natural resources services.

The Office establishes, maintains, protects and preserves
communal forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts
and.similar forest projects and commercial forest, like industrial
tree farms and agro-forestry projects. It also provides extension
services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and

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technical, financial and infrastructure assistance. It has also the
primordial duty in managing and maintaining seed banks and in
producing seedlings for forests and tree parks. By the same token,
it provides extension services to beneficiaries of forest development
projects and renders assistance for natural resources-related
conservation and utilization activities consistent with ecological
balance. It helps in promoting the small-scale mining and
utilization of mineral resources, particularly mining of gold and
acts as a regulator to the large-scale mining firms.

It is the overseer in coordinating with government agencies
and non-governmental organizations in the implementation of
measures to prevent and control land, air and water pollution with
the assistance of the DENR. It isthe front-liner in the delivery of
services concerning the environment and natural resources,
particularly in the renewal and rehabilitation of the environment
during and in the aftermath of man-made and natural calamities
and disasters. It is duty-bound to recommend to the sanggunian
and advises the governor or mayor, as the case may be, on all
matters relative to the protection, conservation, maximum
utilization, application of appropriate technology and other

matters related to the environment and natural resources.

We cannot downplay the -ital function of the office to nation-
building. However, when the Local Government code of 1991 was
enacted, ‘it bestowed “for the optional appointment of an
environment and natural resources officer in the province, city or
municipality. This manifest error:should be corrected. We must


consider that State should not just formulate the creation of
Environment and Natural Resources Management Office for the
provincial, city and municipal government as optional but rather
be institutionalized as mandatory so that these offices would.
ensure that the tasks and visions for the provision of environment

and natural resources development principles

Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

be A

ENGR. CARLITO “Lito” S. MARQUEZ


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

18™* CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.’°29

Introduced by Representative CARLITO S. MARQUEZ

AN ACT

INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MANDATORY ESTABLISHMENT OF
AN ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MANAGEMENT OFFICE IN ALL PROVINCES, CITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION
484 (A) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNONW AS
“THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”, AS AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives
of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known and referred to as
the “Mandatory Establishment of Provincial, City and
Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Management

Office of 2019”.

Section. 2. There shall be a mandatory establishment of an
Environment and Natural Resources Management Office in every

province, city and municipality with the necessary budgetary


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appropriations covering the current operating expenditures and

capital outlays.

Section. 3. Section 484 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise.
known as “The Local Government Act of 1991”, as amended,
particularly Title V (Appointive Local Officials Common To All
Municipalities, Cities And Provinces) is hereby amended further to

be read as follows:

“Article Fourteen. - The Environment and Natural
Resources Officer.

SEC. 484, Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (a) No person
shall be appointed environment and natural resources officer
unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the local
government unit concerned, of good moral character, a holder of a
college degree preferably in environment, forestry, agriculture or
any related course from a recognized college or university, and a
first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have
acquired experience in environmental and natural resources
management, conservation, and utilization, of at least five (5) years

in the case of the provincial or city environment and natural


sby

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resources officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal
environment and natural resources officer.

The appointment of the environment and natural resources
officer [optional] MANDATORY for provincial city and municipal
governments.

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Section 4. Separability Clause. - If any part or section of this
Act is declared unconstitutional, such declaration shall not affect
the other parts or sections of this Act.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees,
executive orders, ordinances, circulars, rules and regulations
inconsistent with,any.provisions of this Act shall be deemed
repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in two (2)
newspapers of general eeaierion or in the Official Gazette.

Approved.