FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
FIRST REGULAR SESSION S.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

59

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House Bill No.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill was originally introduced as House Bill No. 3017 by the undersigned
Rufus B. Rodriguez during the Fourteenth Congress. It was approved by the
Committee on Local Government as substitute House Bill No. 6589 under Committee
Report No. 2168, dated July 20, 2009. It was approved on 2™ reading on August 24,
2009 and 3% reading on September 8, 2009. It was transmitted to the Senate on
September 15, 2009 where it was not acted upon.

Article 2, the Declaration of Policy of Republic Act No. 6938, otherwise
known as the “Cooperative Code of the Philippines,” provides as follows:

“Ant, 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the declared policy of the
State to foster the creation and growth of cooperatives as a practical
vehicle for promoting self-reliance and harnessing people power
towards the attainment of economic development and social justice.
The State shall encourage the private sector to undertake the actual
formation and organization of cooperatives and shall create an
‘atmosphere that is conducive to the growth and development of these
cooperatives.

Toward this end, the government and all its branches,
subdivisions, instrumentalities and agencies shall ensure the provision
of technical guidance, financial assistance and other services to enable
said cooperatives to develop into viable and responsive economic
enterprises and thereby bring about a strong cooperative movement
that is true from any conditions that might infringe upon the autonomy
or organizational integrity of cooperatives.”

The Local Government Code provides, only as an option, the appointment of
cooperatives officer in the provincial and city governments. Thus, many local
government units have not appointed their respective cooperatives officer but instead
delegated the said function to other local appointive officials. Hence, the local
government unit is deprived of the functions of this very important office which is

responsible for the creation, development and promotion of cooperatives as a viable
economic enterprise.


This bill seeks, therefore, to make the appointment of a cooperatives officer
mandatory for every local government unit in order to carry out its functions and
duties as instruments of equity, social justice and economic development.

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is eamestly sought.

RU B. RODRIGUEZ

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


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

Fifteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Honorable Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Honorable Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR THE MANDATORY APPOINTMENT OF
COOPERATIVES OFFICER IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO.
7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION. 1. Section 487 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to
read as follows:
“Section 487. Qualifications, Powers and Duties.— (a) xxx
The appointment of the cooperatives officer is [optional]
MANDATORY for the provincial, [and] city AND MUNICIPAL
governments.
Xxx”
SEC. 2. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,