SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE I'HILlPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
s. B. No .. rfr() 
'13 
JUL -·1 
A9 :08 
Introduced hy Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Congress is mandated under the law to undertake a mandatory review of Republic 
Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. 
In various consultations with concerned constituents nationwide, it has been 
determined that amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991 should be 
introduced to rationalized agricultural services. 
The recent passage of Republic Act No. 8435 otherwise known as the Agriculture 
Modernization Act of 1997 makes it imperative that the Depmiment of Agriculture, the 
lead department tasked to implement the law, for its monitoring and data gathering 
requirements, shall have complete administrative control and supervision over all 
personnel in the field level that are involved in agriculture and fishery, in order to 
effectively implement and achieve the objectives of the Agriculture and Fisheries Law. 
More so, the DA devolved agricultural extension workers are a potent force that can be 
utilized to pole vault the cOlmtry's present agricultural growth to fast growing 
agricultural-based economy. 
Time and again, the govel11ment has always placed agricultural productivity as 
one of its priority and to address this thrust it is imperative to amend certain provisions of 
the Local Government Code for the effective and efficient implementation of its program 
thrusts. 
With the above cited reasons, the urgent passage of this measure is earnestly 
requested. 
~, 
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF TIm PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S, B. No. _ 
:::~ () 
§.9tm~ati' 
(~Hl;f ,If HIt? ,:~~.·{l'.th.r\l 
"13 ,JUL' J 
119 :()8 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUOERO 
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AN ACT 
REVI<:ll.TING TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THE mSCHARGE OF 
BASIC AGRICULTURAL l?UNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES DEVOLVED 
TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND AMENmNG FOR THE PURPOSE 
REI'UBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House ()f Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 17 of the Republic No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local 
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Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended: 
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Section 1.1 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to the 
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Barangay on "Agricultural Support services which include planting materials 
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distribution system and operation of farm produce collection and buying 
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station," is hereby withdrawn fi-om the Barangay and reverted back to the 
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National Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (1), Par. 1 of the 
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Local Government Code of 1991. 
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Section 1.2 The devolution of the basic services and facilities (0 the 
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Municipality on "Extension and on-site research services and facilities related to 
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Agriculture and Fisheries activities which include dispersal of livestock and 
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poultry, fingerling:; and other seedlings materials for aquaculture; palay, corn 
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and vegetable seed farms; medicinal plant gardens; fruit tree, coconut and other 
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kinds of seedling nurserics; dcmonstration farms; quality control of copra and 
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improvement and development of local dish'ibution channels, preferably 
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through cooperatives; inter-barangay irrigation system; water and soil resource 
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utilization and conservation projects; and enforcement of fishery laws in 
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municipal waters including the conservation of mangroves" is hereby 
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withdrawn from the MUllicipality and reverted back to the National 
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Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (2), Par. 1 of the Local 
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Government Code ofl991. 
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Section 1.3 The devolution of basic services and facilities to the province 
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on "Agricultural extension and on-site research services and facilities which 
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include the prevention and control of pest and animal pest and diseases; dairy 
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farms, livestock markets, animal breeding station and artificial insemination 
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centers, and assistance in the organization of farmer's and fishermen's 
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cooperative and other collective organizations, as well as the transfer of 
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appropriate technology," is hereby withdrawn from the Province and reverted 
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back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (3), 
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Par. 1, of the LocaJ Government Code of 1991. 
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Section 1.4 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to the City 
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"as embodied in (he same basic services and facilities for Municipality and 
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Province," Section 17, Item (b), No.2 and 3, Far 1, is hereby withdrawn from 
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the city and reverted back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, 
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item (b), No. (4), Par 1 ofthe Local Government Code of 1991. 
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SECTION 2. Accordingly all personnel, technicians, facilities and properties 
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previously transferred to the Barangay, Municipalities, Provinces and Cities shal1 be 
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returned to the National Government. 
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SECTION 3. TI1e funds necessary to cover the implementation of these 
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amendments should be appropriated for agriculture and shall be provided for in the 
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current General Appropriations Act and the years thereafter. 
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SECTION 4. For the purpose of this Act, an Agriculture and Fisheries Review 
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Panel is hereby created to be composed of the following: the Secretary of Agriculture, as 
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Chairman, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, the President of National 
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Agriculture and Fishery Councilor their duly designated representatives, as members. 
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SECTION 5. The Agriculture and Fishery Review Panel in consultation with 
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concerned sectors in th,~ field, shall identify the problems of the industry under the re-
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nationalization set-up and recommend measures to enhance the agriculture productivity. 
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SECTION 6. All provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 not 
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inconsistent with the foregoing amendments will remain in force and effect. 
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SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval. 
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Approved, 
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