FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Section 463, Chapter 2, Title 4, Book 111 of the Local 
Government Code of 1991 as well as its Implementing Rules and Regulations, 
specifically Article 115@), by making mandatory instead of optional the appointment of 
the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer or PENRO. 
Time was when the country was teeming with rich forest reserves and lush 
mountain ranges surrounded by age-old timber resources that provided sanctuary to a 
variety of wildlife. This forest cover did not only provide us with quality building 
materials like wood or supply us with a steady flow of wildlife for food but also protected 
us from the destructive consequences of strong typhoons that often hit the country. 
Times have changed and together these changes transformed some of our forest 
lands into virtual savannas due to the illegal logging activities which have scalped it of 
the precious cover that in the past has served as protection against rampaging rain water 
during the typhoon season. 
It is in light of the foregoing circumstances that the government should be 
enjoined to protect and preserve our precious forest reserved to avoid destructive 
flooding. It is also for the same reasons that the government should designate an official 


who should be responsible for ensuring that the forest lands in every province are 
protected from wanton and illegal cutting of logs and that in areas where reforestation is 
needed, the same shall be undertaken to avoid destructive flooding in the future. This bill 
seeks to address this concern. 
This is a Senate counterpart bill to the one filed in the House of Representatives 
by Representative Rodriguez D. Dadivas. 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 463, 
CHAPTER 2, TITLE FOUR, BOOK 111 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, 
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 463, Chapter 2, Title Four, Book I11 of Republic Act No. 7160, 
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
“SECTION 463.Officials of the 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 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 general services officer, a provincial agriculturist, a provincial 
veterinarian, 
and 
a 
PROVINCIAL 
ENVIRONMENT 
AND 
NATURAL 
RESOURCES OFFICER. 
SECTION 2. In relation thereto, Article 115@) of the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations of Republic Act No. 7160 is accordingly amended to read as follows: 
“Article 11 5. Appointive Provincial Officials. (a) The mandatory appointive provincial 
officials are as follows: 
(1) secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
(2) provincial treasurer; 
(3) provincial accountant; 
(4) provincial budget officer; 
(5) provincial planning and development coordinator; 
(6) provincial engineer; 
(7) provincial health officer; 
(8) provincial administrator; 
(9) provincial legal officer; 
(10) 
provincial agriculturist; 
(1 1) 
(12) 
provincial veterinarian; 
(13) 
provincial general services officer; 
(14) 
provincial social welfare and development officer; 
PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER 
SECTION 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 5. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,