NINETEENTH CONGRESS 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Feeding the growing Philippine population now at 105 million is a primary and urgent 
concern of the national government and the local government units (LGUs).  Along this, the 
country’s  9.7  million hectares of agricultural  lands for agricultural and fisheries production 
need to be maximized and fully developed to produced enough food for the Filipino people 
and livelihood for the farmers. The provision of adequate and responsive agricultural support 
services is vital and necessary for this endeavour. 
Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991  have mandated local government units 
at the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels to provide  basic agricultural support 
services and facilities. To carry-out this task, Title V of the said Code prescribes appointive 
local officials common to cities, municipalities and provinces which include the appointment 
of Agriculturist as mandatory position in the provinces and optional in the cities and 
municipalities, and  Veterinarian as mandatory in the provinces and cities, and optional in the 
municipalities. 
These mandates of the LGUs were expanded with the enactment of R.A. No. 8435 
(Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act), and R.A. No. 10601 (Agricultural and 
Fisheries Mechanization Law) which included small scale irrigation, post harvest facilities 
and farm mechanization. Correspondingly, Agricultural Engineering Divisions are being 
established at the Agriculturist Offices to support its implementation. However, these 
services are still lacking and limited in many LGUs.  
Faced by the challenges on ASEAN integration where our agriculture sector needs to be 
competitive, these agricultural services must be strengthened, modernized and 
professionalized in accordance with the regulations of the practice of agriculturist (Section 75 
of R.A. No. 8435 and PRC Resolution No. 2000-663), agricultural and biosystems engineer 
(R.A. No. 10915) and veterinarian (R.A. No. 9268). 
In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested. 
RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ 
August 14, 2023
8:00 am
8851


NINETEENTH CONGRESS   
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
Second Regular Session 
 
) 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez 
House Bill No.  _____ 
AN ACT 
TO STRENGTHEN, MODERNIZE AND PROFESSIONALIZE THE AGRICULTURAL 
SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress 
Assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 443 of Republic Act No.  R.A. 7160 is 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; 
A 
MUNICIPAL 
AGRICULTURIST, 
AND 
A 
MUNICIPAL
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO
THIRD CLASS LGUs. THE APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURIST
AND MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER IS
OPTIONAL IN ALL 4TH CLASS TO 6TH CLASS MUNICIPAL LGUs.
SECTION 2. Section 454 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follow: 
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; A CITY
AGRICULTURIST AND A CITY AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS
ENGINEER IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO THIRD CLASS LGUs. THE
APPOINTMENT OF CITY AGRICULTURIST AND CITY AGRICULTURAL AND
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER ARE OPTIONAL IN ALL 4TH CLASS TO THIRD
CLASS CITY LGUs.
SECTION 3. Section 43 of the same Code is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. 
(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of the
sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a
provincial treasurer, a provincial assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial
engineer, a provincial budget officer, a provincial planning and development
coordinator, a provincial legal officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial
health officer, a provincial social welfare and development officer, a provincial
8851


general services officer, a provincial agriculturist, [and] a provincial veterinarian;  
AND A PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEER. 
 
SECTION 4. Article Twelve and Section 482 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as 
follows : 
 
“ARTICLE TWELVE 
The Agriculturist 
 
Sec. 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 related field for 
at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city agriculturist, and three 
(3) years in the case of  the municipal agriculturist. 
 
The position of an agriculturist shall be mandatory for the provincial AND CITY  
governments AND  IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO THIRD CLASS  MUNICIPAL 
GOVERNMENTS, and optional for the  4TH CLASS TO 6TH CLASS MUNICIPAL  
GOVERNMENTS 
AND 
IN 
HIGHLY 
URBANIZED 
CITIES 
AND 
MUNICIPALITIES.    
 
(b) The agriculturist shall take charge of the office for agricultural  services and 
shall : XXX 
 
 (6) 
IN 
CASE 
OF 
PROVINCIAL 
AGRICULTURIST, 
EXERCISE 
TECHNICAL 
SUPERVISION 
OVER-ALL 
AGRICULTURAL 
OFFICES OF COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES. 
 
SECTION 5. Article Nineteen and Section 482 of the same Act  is hereby amended to read 
as follows : 
“ARTICLE NINETEEN 
The Veterinarian 
Section 489. Qualifications, Powers and Duties.  
(a) No person shall be appointed veterinarian unless he is a citizen of the 
Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned, of good moral 
character, a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. He must have practiced his 
profession for at least three (3) years in the case of provincial or city veterinarian 
and at least one (1) year in the case of the municipal veterinarian.  
The appointment of a veterinarian  is mandatory for the provincial,  [and] city  
AND IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO THIRD CLASS MUNICIPAL  governments,  
AND OPTIONAL IN ALL FOURTH CLASS TO SIXTH  CLASS CITY AND 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. 
(b) The veterinarian shall take charge of the office for veterinary services and 
shall: XXX 
 (6) 
IN 
CASE 
OF 
PROVINCIAL 
VETERINARIAN, 
EXERCISE 
TECHNICAL SUPERVISION OVER-ALL VETERINARY OFFICES 
OF COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES;  
 
SECTION 6. Additional Articles and Sections  are hereby added to Book 111, Title Five of  
R.A. 7160 to read as follows : 
 
 “ARTICLE  TWENTY ONE 


THE AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER 
       
SEC. 491.  QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES -  (a) NO PERSON 
SHALL BE APPOINTED  AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEM ENGINEER 
UNLESS HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, OF GOOD MORAL 
CHARACTER AND A  REGISTERED AND LICENSED AGRICULTURAL AND 
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER. HE MUST HAVE PRACTICED HIS PROFESSION 
FOR AT THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL   
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER, AND ONE  (1) YEAR IN 
THE CASE OF  THE CITY AND MUNICIPAL  AGRICULTURAL AND 
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERS. 
 
 
THE POSITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER 
SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AND 
CITY GOVERNMENTS  AND   OPTIONAL IN  4TH CLASS TO 6TH CLASS 
CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. 
 
(b)  
THE AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER SHALL TAKE 
CHARGE OF THE OFFICE FOR AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING 
SERVICES AND SHALL : 
 
(1)  FORMULATE   MEASURES FOR APPROVAL OF THE 
SANGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND 
SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR AS THE CASE 
MAYBE IN CARRYING OUT SAID MEASURES TO ENSURE THE 
DELIVERY 
OF 
BASIC 
SERVICES 
AND 
PROVISION 
OF 
ADEQUATE FACILITIES ON IRRIGATION, SOIL AND WATER 
CONSERVATION 
AND 
UTILIZATION, 
AGRICULTURAL, 
FISHERY 
AND 
BIOSYSTEMS 
MECHANIZATION, 
POST 
HARVEST AND AGRO-PROCESSING FACILITIES AND OTHER 
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS 
AND PROJECTS;  
 
(2) DEVELOP  PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND UPON APPROVAL  
THEREOF BY THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE 
MAY BE, IMPLEMENT THE SAME, PARTICULARLY THOSE 
WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ON 
IRRIGATION,  SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION AND 
UTILIZATION, 
AGRICULTURAL 
AND 
BIOYSTEMS 
MECHANIZATION, POST HARVEST FACILITIES,  AGRO-
PROCESSING AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS 
ENGINEERING ENDEAVORS  WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR 
MAYOR IS EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT AND WHICH THE 
SANGUNIAN IS EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE UNDER THE 
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE;  
 
(3) 
THE 
FUNCTIONS 
AND 
RESPONSIBILITIES 
OF 
THE 
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DIVISION/SECTION OF THE 
OFFICE 
OF 
THE 
PROVINCIAL, 
CITY 
AND 
MUNICIPAL 
AGRICULTURIST PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 29 OF R.A. 
NO. 10601 SHALL BE TRANSFERRED AND ASSUMED BY THE 
PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL AND 
BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERS. 
 


 
 
 
 
 
4) 
IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, 
THE  AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEER SHALL 
PROVIDE SERVICES AND RESPONSIBLE IN THE PLANNING 
AND  IMPLEMENTATION OF LGU PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS 
ON COMPOSTING, FARM DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND 
OTHER AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERING 
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. 
 
(5) IN CASE OF PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS 
ENGINEER, EXERCISE TECHNICAL SUPERVISION OVER-ALL 
AGRICULTURAL 
AND 
BIOYSTEMS 
ENGINEERS 
OF 
COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES;  
 
SECTION 7.  Sec. 491 of Book 111, Title Six, Article l , R.A. 7160 is hereby  renumbered 
Section 493 and all other succeeding sections (Section 492 to 536) are renumbered 
accordingly. 
 
SECTION 8. Career Progression- There shall be instituted a Career Progression System in 
the Agriculturist, Agricultural and Bioystems Engineer and Veterinarian Office at the 
provincial, city and municipal levels.  For this purpose, various level of Agriculturist, 
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer and Veterinarian positions shall be created. Moreover, 
the existing Agricultural Technologist positions shall be upgraded or reclassified to various 
levels of Agriculturist, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer and Veterinarian positions. 
 
SECTION 9. The Department of Agriculture through its Regional Offices, Bureau of Animal 
Industry, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering and other concerned offices shall 
provide and augment the agricultural and fishery services and facilities of 4th Class to 6th 
Class  LGUs. 
 
SECTION 10. Funding – The funding necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be 
incorporated in the annual appropriations of the LGUs. For this purpose, the personnel 
services limitation imposed under Section 325 of the Local Government Code is hereby 
waived. 
 
SECTION 11. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional 
or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force effect. 
 
SECTION 12. 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 13.  Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. 
 
Approved,