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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 403

Introduced by Representative JESUS R. MARQUEZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend pertinent provisions of Republic 7160, otherwise know as
the “Local Government Code of 1991”.

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 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 police 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 is the 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,

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conservation, maximum utilization, application of appropriate technology and other
matters related to the environment and natural resources.

We cannot downplay the vital 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.

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HON, JESWS “Jess” K MARQUEZ


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

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL 409

Introduced by Representative JESUS R. 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
KNOWN 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 2022”.

SEC. 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 appropriations covering the current operating expenditures and capital

outlays.

SEC. 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 isa 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


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provincial or city environment and natural 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.
XXX”

SEC. 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.

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shall be deemed repealed or modified accordingly.

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

Approved,