SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )

REPUBLIC OF PHILIPPINES )
THIRD REGULAR SESSION )
SENATE
sB.No, 1912

Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar

AN ACT

STRENGTHENING LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN AGRICULTURE
DEVELOPMENT BY INSTITUTIONALIZING A TEN PERCENT (10%) ALLOCATION FROM
THEIR INTERNAL REVENUE ALLOTMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS,
ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES ADVANCEMENT AND
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 17, 106, 107, 110, 287, 443, 454, AND
482(a), 511 (a), of REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 is the first medium-term plan
anchored on “Ambisyon Natin 2040". The Plan aims to lay a stronger foundation
for inclusive growth, a high-trust society, and a globally-competitive economy
toward realizing the vision by 2040.

Under the current plan, the target is to reduce poverty incidence from 21.6
percent in 2015 to 14.0 percent by 2022. This is equivalent to lifting about 6 million
people out of poverty. Specifically, poverty in agriculture and in lagging regions
with high poverty incidence and inequality will be targeted. Individuals and
communities will also be made more resilient by reducing their exposure to risks,
mitigating the impact of risks, and accelerating recovery when the risk
materializes. —_(https://manila2018.dof.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/5-
Philippine-Development-Plan-2017-2022.pdf)



One of the long-standing challenges in the Agriculture and Fisheries sector which
continue to hamper productivity is the weak extension service which slows down
the diffusion and adoption of farm practices and technologies that are
applicable to a specific area and responsive to the needs of farmers and
fisherfolks. Inefficiencies in the delivery of extension services can be attributed to
inadequate operational funds and lack of human resources of local government
units (LGUs). Almost half of the agricultural extension workers are ageing, ranging
from 43-64 years old, based on the survey conducted by the Agricultural Training
Institute. (ibid)

The poverty incidence among the population in 2015 is at 21.6 percent or 21.9
million Filipinos. Farmers and fishermen belonging to the poor families had higher
poverty incidence than the general population. The farming and the fishermen
sectors registered 34.3 and 34.0 percent respectively
(https://psa.gov.ph/content/farmers-fishermen-and-children-consistently-
posted-highest-poverty-incidence-among-basic).

About half of all Filipinos live in rural areas and are dependent on fishing and/or
farming. The level of urbanization in 2010 or the proportion of urban population to
the total population was 45.3 percent. This means that of the 92.3 million
population in the Philippines in 2010, 41.9 million lived in areas classified as urban.
The rural population or those who lived in areas classified as rural numbered 50.5
million and accounted for 54.7 percent of the total population. The urban
population in the Philippines increased on average by 4.0 percent annually during
the period 2007 to 2010. (https://psa.gov.ph/content/urban-barangays-
philippines-based-2010-cph|

In the first quarter of 2018, according to the SWS survey an estimated 2.3 million
Filipino families or close to 10% (specifically 9.9%) of the population said they
suffered hunger in the first quarter of 2018.

The numbers showed significant improvement after a spike in the December 2017
survey, where self-rated hunger spiked to 15.9%.

As to location, there were 190,000 families in Metro Manila, 583,000 families in the
Visayas, and 390,000 families in Mindanao who said they suffered hunger.
(httos://www.rappler.com/nation/201425-sws-march2018-self-rated-hunger)



Hunger in the Philippines is caused by various factors, one of which is income and
lack of a regular job. People working in the agriculture sector are more prone to
hunger because of the low rural income, lack of access to productive resources
such as capital, and the vulnerability to various shocks such as, climate change.
pests and disease, and conflict in the countryside, as these directly impact food
production, farm gate prices and retail prices. Hunger is often referred to as very
complex with no single cause. But for most families in the poorest provinces in the
Philippines, the problem can be traced back to lack of “hanap buhay" or
livelihood.

According to a 2015 survey sponsored by the World Food Programme (WFP), the
top reasons cited for food insecurity in the country's poorest areas include
inadequate income and lack of a regular job among others.
(https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/hunger/111581-food-insecurity-
causes-ph-poorest-provinces)

The United Nations defines the Right to Food as “the right to have regular,
permanent and unrestricted access, either directly or by means of financial
purchases, to quantitatively and qualitatively adequate and sufficient food
Corresponding to the cultural traditions of the people to which the consumer
belongs, and which ensure a physical and mental, individual and collective,
fulfiling and dignified life free of fear.” The right to food has four dimensions:
availability, accessibility (economic and physical), adequacy and food safety.
‘An added dimension is sustainability.

Accordingly UNFAO said that, the small farmers feed the world and they are
expected to feed the growing population by providing safe and affordable food,
while taking care of the environment through sustainable farming methods. They
can only do this with a clear program for small farm development.

Solutions to food insecurity must include elimination of poverty in the countryside
and sustainable agriculture & environment.

Strengthening the rural extension service

The Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code
(LGC), was enacted by Congress and became a law in October 1991 taking
effect in January 1992. The LGC is an attempt to regularly involve the people,
through their organizations, in governance. It aims to reverse centuries of
centralism believed to cause grass-roots underdevelopment and make up for the

3



government's failure to deliver basic services. The Code decentralizes
governance by devolving powers and functions of LGUs and by strengthening
the mechanisms for people's participation in governance.

Through devolution, the 1991 Code and its implementation is an instrument to
promote sustainable development and address related problems of poverty.
inequity and food security.

Among the significant reforms on devolution mandated by the Local
Government Code is devolution of authority, assets and personnel of various
national government agencies (NGAs) to local government units (LGUs) to
provide primary responsibility for basic services and facilities. This involves the
mandatory delivery of five basic front-line services - health, social welfare, natural
resources and environment, agricultural extension. The LGUs are mandated to
lead the implementation of agricultural programs including the provision of
support services that include manpower and financial assistance.
(http://www.odf,ph/downloads/decentralization/LPP-Aari-PolicyPaper2.pdf)

Findings on Agricultural Extension. The local agricultural officers have become
"political appointees” or else are being assigned to unrelated tasks. The DA now
operates only at the level of Regional Offices, now working directly through each
LGU at provincial and municipal levels. This resulted in ineffective coordination
between agricultural development plans at national to the local levels. (ibid)

Devolution is not an end in itself but a means to the goal of people
empowerment. The strategy of delegating powers and responsibilities to LGUs
provides opportunities for providing responsive and high quality services, as well
as the possibility of strengthening accountability and extensive public
participation in the delivery of extension services. The Department of Agriculture
and the LGU can strengthen their partnership. It is necessary to get feedback
from the frontliners not at the provincial level where it is right now. In planning,
budgeting and implementation of programs and projects in agriculture and
fisheries, the participation of stakeholders is necessary to establish ownership and
ensure quality of undertakings.

In order to enhance the capacity of small farmers and fisherfolk to adapt better
and new technologies this entails information dissemination and capacity



building on the use of certified seeds as well as post-harvest, processing and
packaging technologies, among others at the level of the LGU.

This bill seeks to mandate the allocation of funds for agriculture and fisheries
development from the yearly Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) of the LGUs and
to professionalize the position of Agriculturist for better extension services in
agriculture and fisheries programs that can effectively result in poverty alleviation,
social equity, food security and job creation in the Philippine countryside.

In view of the foregoing the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.

Senator



"18 AUG -6 36
Seventeenth Congress of the ) 135d [ie

Republic of the Philippines)
Third Regular Session ) foe LE
SENATE
S.B.No._ 1912

Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar

AN ACT STRENGTHENING LOCAL GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION IN
AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT BY INSTITUTIONALIZING A TEN PERCENT
(10%) BUDGETARY ALLOCATION FROM THEIR INTERNAL REVENUE
ALLOTMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND
SERVICES FOR AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND AMENDING FOR THE
PURPOSE SECTIONS 17, 106, 107, 110, 287, 443,454, AND 482(A), 511 (A), OF
REPUBLIC ACT 7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CODE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Chapter |
General Provisions

1 Section 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the Local Government Agriculture
2. Development Act of 2016.

3 Section 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to
4 promote, localize and accelerate the development and modemization of Philippine
5 agriculture and fisheries and improve the economic and social well-being of rural folks
6 particularly the farmers and fishermen. The State shall likewise develop the
7 countryside and with the local government units as its main partner in improving food
8 security and increasing farm and fisheries income, increasing rural folks employment,
9 and resiliency to climate change risks and promoting sustainable development in the
10 countryside.

11 A healthy and dynamic agricultural sector is an important foundation of rural
12 development, generating strong linkages to other economic sectors. Rural livelihoods



are enhanced through effective participation of rural people and rural communities in
the management of their own social, economic and environmental objectives by
applying the bottom-up approach. Agricultural development involves transition from
farming and fishing to agribusiness.

Towards this end, there shall be a comprehensive program on agriculture
development in all local government units which shall form part of the basic, regular
and direct services it shall deliver to the inhabitants within their territorial jurisdiction.

Section 3. Scope and Coverage. - This shall be implemented in all Local Government
Units in consultation and partnership with all stakeholders.

Section 4. Local Agriculture Development Program. Shall focus on the areas identified
as factors contributing to the competitiveness of the agriculture industry. These are
seeds and other inputs, labor and mechanization and post-harvest, irrigation
maintenance, marketing, credit, guarantee, and insurance, farming systems, and
organic farming, among others. Towards this aim, the Local Government Units
(Municipalities, Cities and Provinces) shall undertake the following -

1. Enhance, strengthen and promote agriculture and fisheries as a major
livelihood in the locality;

2. Allocate a minimum often percent (10%) of their annual development fund to
agriculture and fisheries development;

3. Create a Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries Development in the Local
Government Legislative Council to address legislation in the said legislative
body related to all agriculture and fisheries development and protection
matters;

4. Create the position of City and Municipal Agriculturist in the Local Government
Unit's regular plantilla;

5. Enhance capability of Local Chief Executives to deliver agriculture programs;

6. Strengthen linkages and partnerships among various partners in agriculture
development;

7. Establish an agriculture and fisheries office and strengthen the capacities of its
personnel who shall see to the implementation of the agriculture and fisheries
programs and projects;

8. Conserve, protect and manage the agriculture and aquatic environment using
good agricultural and aquaculture practices;

9. Develop and strengthen the capacities and the technical skills of farmers and
fisherfolks throughout the production, harvesting, processing, storage and
transport stages in the value chain including simple business management and
profitability;

10. Provide appropriate infrastructure and equipment for post-harvest technology;

11. Promote the easy access to financial institutions of agriculture stakeholders:

12. Monitor and assess the implementation of the agriculture and fisheries
development program and evaluate its impact to the citizenry;



ene

aus

7

13. Coordinate with national government agencies, non-governmental
organizations and private companies and individuals which promote agricultural
productivity through appropriate technology compatible with environmental
integrity;

14. Discharge the functions and responsibilities incidental to the efficient and
effective performance of the objectives enumerated.

Chapter I
Definition of Terms

Section 5. Definition of Terms. For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:

a. “Agroecology’ is defined as an environmentally and socially sensitive approach
to agriculture that focuses not only on production, but also on the ecological
sustainability of the productive system. It refers to the study of purely ecological
phenomena within the crop field, such as predator/prey relations, or crophweed
competition.

b. “Capacity” - a combination of all strengths and resources available within the
community, society or organization. Capacity may include infrastructure,
institutions, human knowledge, skills and collective attributes such as social
relationships, leadership and management. It also means capability

c. “Climate Change” refers to a change in climate that can be identified by
changes in the mean and /or variability of its properties and that persist for an
extended period typically decades or longer, whether due to natural variability
or as a result of human activity

d. “Food Safety’ - refers to the conditions and practices that preserve the quality
of food to prevent contamination and food-borne illnesses

e. “Food Security’ - shall mean building local capacity, increasing productivity, and
improving markets and trade.

f. “Good Agricultural Practices"(GAP) is an approach which aims at applying
available knowledge to addressing environmental, economic and social
sustainability dimensions for on-farm production and post-production
processes, resulting in safe and quality food and non-food agricultural products.

g. “Integrated Pest Management “(IPM) is an ecologically based approach to pest
(animal and weed) control that utilizes a multi-disciplinary knowledge of
crop/pest relationships, establishment of acceptable economic thresholds for
pest populations and constant field monitoring for potential problems.
Management may include such practices as "the use of resistant varieties; crop
rotation; cultural practices; optimal use of biological control organisms; certified
seed; protective seed treatments; disease-free transplants or rootstock;
timeliness of crop cultivation; improved timing of pesticide applications; and
removal or ‘plow down' of infested plant material.



26

h. "Land Use Planning’ - the process undertaken by public authorities to identify,
evaluate and decide on different options for the use of land, including
consideration of long-term economic, social and environmental objectives and
the implications for different communities and interest groups, and the
subsequent formulation and promulgation of plans that describes the permitted
or acceptable uses.

i. ‘Local Government Unit’ - refers to a province, city and municipality in the
country.

j. "Nutrient management’ is managing the amount, source, placement, form, and
timing of the application of nutrients and soil amendments to ensure adequate
soil fertility for plant production and to minimize the potential for environmental
degradation, particularly water quality impairment.

k. “Sustainable Agriculture” means an integrated system of plant and animal
production practices having a site-specific application that will in the long term
satisfy human food needs, enhance environmental quality and natural resource
base upon which the agricultural economy depends, sustain the economic
viability of farm operations, efficient use of on-farm resources and enhance the
quality of life of farmers as a whole. A whole-systems approach to food, feed,
and other plant and animal production that balances environmental soundness,
social equity, and economic viability among all sectors of the public, including
international and intergeneration of people.

|. "Sustainable agro ecosystems" refers to the maintenance of the natural
resource base of a farm the reliance on minimum artificial inputs from outside
the farm system, the management of pests and diseases through internal
regulating mechanisms and the recovery of the land from the disturbances
caused by cultivation and harvest.

Chapter Ill
INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM

Section 6. (a) The Department of Agriculture shall continue to be responsible for the
promotion of agricultural development by providing the policy framework, public
investments, and support services including infrastructure support, research,
development and extension, including agri-business and market development
services, regulation and policy planning

It shall use a bottom-up self-reliant farm system approach that will emphasize social
justice, equity, productivity and sustainability in the use of agricultural resources. The
convergence framework recognizes that “one size does not fit all" - that different rural
communities have different opportunities, needs and aspirations.

(b) State Agencies and Instrumentalities. - Through convergence the DA and the LGU



shall maximize the partnership in development to reduce cost in the delivery of
services and maximize knowledge on programs, funding and investment access. The
Field Regional Offices of the Department of Agriculture (DA-RFU), the Regional
Directors of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of
Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the National
Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Department of Public Works and
Highways, Department of Tourism (DOT), Regional Integrated Agriculture Research
Centers (RIARC), The Regional Fisheries Research Centers (RFRC), The Regional
Director of the Agricultural Training Institute (Regional Director- ATI), The Regional
Head of the Philippine Association of State Colleges and Universities(Regional Head
of PASUC), The Head of the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Council, the
Provincial Agriculture and Fisheries Council Head, the Office of the Provincial
Agriculturists (OPA) and the Provincial Governors, all City Mayors and the Municipal
Mayors shall constitute the Regional Agricultural Development Council (RADC).

The RADC shall assist in the preparation, monitoring and evaluation of short and long-
term Local Government Unit's development plans and investment programs.

The offices of the various regional agencies of the government shall, upon request of
the local chief executives, provide such technical support as may be required in the
discharge of their functions.

The Council shall be headed by the DA-Regional Executive Director. The Council shall
meet as often as necessary but not less than once a semester.

Funds necessary for the RADC operations, project monitoring and evaluation,
implementation of special projects shall be included in the General Appropriations Act
of the DA, subject to the usual auditing and accounting rules and regulations.

() The Governors through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist shall activate the
provincial agricultural council which shall monitor the formulation, development, and
implementation of the cities/municipalities agriculture development plans, programs
and projects within their jurisdictions.

(4) The Municipal and Component City Mayors shall activate their agriculture sectoral
council which shall formulate and implement a three year agriculture development
plan with measurable and time bounded annual goals, programs, activities and
Projects. The Local Chief Executive (LCE) shall see to timeliness, transparency and
accountability in the delivery of technical know-how, goods and services to farmers
and fisherfolks. The agriculture development plan of each Local Government Units
shall be submitted to the Governor through the Provincial Development Council. An
annual report containing accomplishment and impact of the programs shall be
submitted to the Provincial Development Council on or before March 31, of the
succeeding year.

The Municipal and City Planning Office shall be the Secretariat of the Agricultural



19

Sectoral Council. The members of the council shall be the following - The barangay
chairmen of the agricultural barangays, the Chair of the Municipal/City Sanggunian
Bayan in charge of Agriculture and Fisheries, three (3) representative of the local
farmer's organization, the head of the local fisheries organization, an NGO in
agriculture operating in the Municipality/City, a representative of a local agricultural
development cooperative, the Local Chief Executive, the DA-Regional Executive
Director or his representative.

Section 7 Incentives and Awards. - There shall be established an incentives and
award system which shall be administered by the Department of Agriculture which
shall promulgate such rules and regulations to qualify deserving LGUs for their
outstanding performance in promoting agriculture development and implementing
effective agricultural practices.

Chapter IV
AMENDATORY PROVISIONS

Section 8. Amendatory Provisions. Section 106 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise
known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows:

1. Section 17 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government
Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows

“Section 17. Basic Services and Facilities. -

(a) Local government units shall endeavor to be self-reliant and shall
continue exercising the powers and discharging the duties and functions
currently vested upon them. They shall also discharge the functions and
responsibilities of national agencies and offices devolved to them
Pursuant to this Code. Local government units shall likewise exercise
such other powers and discharge such other functions and
responsibilities as are necessary, appropriate, or incidental to efficient
and effective provisions of the basic services and facilities enumerated
herein

THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD STRIVE TO CAPACITATE
THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR INSTITUTIONS TO BECOME FOOD
SECURE BY: TRAINING THEIR SMALL FARMERS AND FISHERFOLKS
AND THE MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESSESS IN AGRICULTURE BE IT
IN PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, TRADE AND PROMOTION; AND
MINIMIZING THEIR RISKS AND LOSSES AND ESTABLISHING
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, INCLUDING PEST
MANAGEMENT AND PROMOTING FOOD SAFETY.”

(b) Such basic services and facilities include, but are not limited to, the



following: XXXX

2. Section 106 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as
follows:

“Section 106. Local Development Councils. - (a) each local government
unit shall have a comprehensive multi-sectoral development plan to be initiated
by its development council and approved by its Sanggunian. For this purpose,
the development council at the provincial city, municipal, or Barangay level,
shall assist the corresponding Sanggunian in setting the direction of economic
and social development, and coordinating development efforts within its
territorial jurisdiction. THE LOCAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE SHALL CONVENE
THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT COUNCILS WITHIN THIRTY
(30) DAYS FROM THEIR ASSUMPTION TO OFFICE.”

3. Section 107 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 107. Composition of Local Development Councils. - The
composition of the local development council shall be as follows: (a) The
barangay development council shall be chaired by the punong barangay and
shall be composed of the following members: (1) Members of the Sangguniang
Barangay; (2) Representatives of non-governmental organizations operating in
the Barangay, who shall constitute not less than one fourth (1/4) of the
members of the fully organized council; (3) A representative of the
congressman

(b) The city or municipal development council shall be headed by the mayor
and the vice mayor as vice chair, and shall be composed of the following
members: (1) All Punong Barangays in the city or municipality;(2) The chairman
of the committee on appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlungsod or
Sangguniang bayan concerned;(3) The congressman or his representative; and
(4) Representatives of non-governmental organizations operating in the city or
municipality, as the case may be, who shall constitute not less than one-fourth
(1/4) of the members of the fully organized council

(c) The provincial development council shall be headed by the governor and
the vice governor as vice chair, and shall be composed of the following
members: (1) All mayors of component cities and municipalities ;4) The
chairman of the committee on appropriations of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan
(3) the congressman or his representative; and (4) Representatives of
nongovernmental organizations operating in the province, who shall constitute
not less than one- fourth (1/4) of the members of the fully organized council. (5)
Provincial president of the Vice Mayors’ League (VMLP) to include the



i
2

13

15
16
18

19
20

PPR»
RoR

25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35

36

38

-

a

2

~

committee on infrastructure and planning in all levels of legislature
except the barangays.”

Section 110 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 110. Meetings and Quorum. - The local development
council shall meet at least [once every six (6) months] FOUR (4) TIMES A
YEAR, PREFERABLY EVERY MARCH, JUNE, SEPTEMBER, AND
DECEMBER EACH YEAR, or as often as may be necessary.”

Section 287 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 287. Local Development Projects. - Each local government unit
shall appropriate in its annual budget no less than twenty percent (20%) of its
annual internal revenue allotment for development projects. Copies of the
development plans of local government units shall be furnished the Department
of Interior and Local Government. Of this amount the “Local government
units shall allocate ten percent (10%) for the implementation of programs,
projects and activities of the local council for their agriculture and/or
fisheries development.”

Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. -

(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a municipal vice-
mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the sangguniang bayan, a
municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a municipal accountant, a municipal
budget officer, a municipal planning and development coordinator, a municipal
engineer/building official, a municipal health officer and a municipal civil
registrar.

(b) In addition thereto, the mayor may appoint a municipal administrator, a
municipal legal officer, [municipal agriculturist], 2 municipal environment and
natural resources officer, a municipal social welfare and development officer, a
municipal architect, and a municipal information officer. PROVIDED THAT
INSOFAR AS LIVELIHOOD OF THE MUNICIPALITY IS AT LEAST FIFTY
(50) PERCENT IN AGRICULTURE AND/OR FISHERIES, THE
APPOINTMENT OF A MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURIST SHALL BE
MANDATORY.”

Section 454 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the
Local Government Code of 1991, hereby amended to read as
follows:



30

32

34
35
36
37
38

39

“Section 454. Officials of the City Government.

(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod
members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a
city assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer, a city planning and
development coordinator, a city engineer, a city health officer, a city civil

registrar, a city administrator, a city legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social
welfare and development officer, and a city general services officer (b) In
addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint [a city architect], a city
information officer, a city agriculturist, a city population officer, a city
environment and natural resources officer, and a city cooperatives officer. The
appointment of a city population officer shall be optional in the city: Provided,
however, That cities which have existing population offices shall continue to
maintain such offices for a period of five (5) years from the date of the
effectivity of this Code, after which said offices shall become optional.”

Section 482 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, hereby amended to read as follows:

“Section 482. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (a) No person shall be
appointed agriculturist 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 in agriculture or any related course from a recognized college or
university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have
practiced his profession in agriculture or acquired experience in a related field
for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial and city agriculturist, and
three (3) years in the case of the municipal agriculturist

The position of the agriculturist shall be mandatory for the provincial
government and optional for the city and municipal governments: PROVIDED
THAT MUNICIPALITIES WHERE AGRICULTURE AND/OR FISHERIES IS A
SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY OR WHERE THE MAIN LIVELIHOOD IS
AGRICULTURAL IN NATURE, THE APPOINTMENT OF A MUNICIPAL
AGRICULTURIST SHALL BE MANDATOR.”

A new section denominated as Section 511 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160,
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, hereby incorporated
to read as follows: “SECTION 511-A. FAILURE TO CONVENE THE LOCAL
DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL UNDER Sections 106A AND 106 HEREOF
WITHOUT VALID GROUNDS SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH SUSPENSION
FROM OFFICE FRO A PERIOD OF THIRTY (30) DAYS. SUBSEQUENT
VIOLATIONS SHALL BE PUNISHED WITH SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE
FOR A PERIOD OF NINETY (90) DAYS.”

Section 9 Funding. - The initial funding requirements for the implementation of this Act



19

shall be charged against the current appropriations of the LGU. Thereafter, such sums
as may be necessary to the implementation of this Act shall be included in the yearly
budget of the LGU from their Internal Revenue Allocation.

Section 11. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The DILG, in consultation with the
DA and other concerned agencies and stakeholders, shall promulgate the
implementing rules and regulations of this Act within ninety (90) days from the
effectivity of this Act.

Section 12. Non-impairment Clause. - Nothing in this Act shall be construed as to
diminish, impair, or repeal the prohibited acts under existing laws, presidential
decrees, executive orders, ordinances, rules and regulations, and other issuances.

Section 13. Separability Clause. - If for any reason, any section or provision of this Act
shall be declared to be unconstitutional or invalid, the other sections or provisions not
affected thereby shall remain in full force and effect.

Section 14. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
ordinances, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Section 15. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation in the country

(agi Ur

CYNTHIA A. VILLAR
SENATOR

Approved,

10