Republic of the Bhlippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
@urzon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill reenacts House Bill No. 6205 which has been approved by
the 14™ Congress on 26 May 2009 and was transmitted to on 29 May
2009 and received on even date by the Senate.

Since the enactment of the Local Government Code in 1991, the
Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) has been organized in
many local government units notwithstanding the fact that the present
law makes it only optional.

Pilot organizations have been established in various local
government units but they need to be strengthened.

The function of an environment and natural resources officer should
be made mandatory in the light of the fact that many environmental and
natural resource problems have emerged in recent years that require
constant attention at the local government level.

However, because of financial constraints it is envisioned in this bill
that the mandatory requirement of appointing an environment and
natural resources officer be limited only to Provinces, cities, and
municipalities in the Metropolitan Manila area.

However, due to budgetary constraints in municipalities that are
components of provinces, the organization, staffing, and appointment of
an environment and natural resources officer and office will remain
optional.

Given that in addition to the primary responsibilities as stated in
Section 484 paragraph (b) (1) and (2) of the Local Government Code, the
environment and natural resources officer is also tasked under Paragraph
(b) (3) to do the following:


vi

There are too many tasks on hand and far too much responsibility
that needs to be shouldered that local governments should be exhorted to

establish, maintain, protect and preserve communal
forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts and
similar forests projects and commercial forest, like
industrial tree farms and agro-forestry projects;

Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest
development projects and technical, financial and
infrastructure assistance;

Manage and maintain seed banks and produce seedlings for
forests and tree parks;

Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest
development projects and render assistance for natural
resources-related conservation and utilization activities
consistent with ecological balance;

Promote the small-scale mining and utilization of mineral
resources, particularly mining of gold;

Coordinate 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 Department of
Environment and Natural Resources.

appoint an environment and natural resources officer.

Furthermore, the tasks and responsibilities require competencies
and specialization that may not be available in the staffing of local
government units. Hence, the mandatory appointment of an environment
and natural resources officer in provinces, cities, and municipalities in the

Metropolitan Manila has become not only necessary, but imperative.

The early approval of this bill is earnestly recommended.

un)

LUIS R. VIL 'UERTE


‘Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 354

AN ACT CHANGING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT
AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER FROM OPTIONAL TO
MANDATORY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION
484(a) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF
1991”

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

SECTION 1. Section 484(a) of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended,
otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991” is hereby
further amended as follows:

“SEC. 484. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (a) xxx
“The appointment of the environment and natural
resources officer is [optional] MANDATORY for provincial, city,

CAPITAL TOWNS and FIRST AND SECOND CLASS municipal

governments[.], INCLUDING THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF

PATEROS IN METRO MANILA: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE

APPOINTMENT OF SAID OFFICER IS OPTIONAL FOR THIRD TO SIXTH

CLASS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS OUTSIDE METROPOLITAN

MANILA.”


Sec. 2. Section 443(b), 454(b) and 463(b) of the Local
Government Code of 1991 insofar as the appointment of municipal, city
and provincial environment and natural resources officer respectively, and
any law, decree, executive order and rules and regulations inconsistent
with this Act are hereby amended accordingly.

Sec. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
Publication in any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,