Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba 
AN ACT 
MANDATING 
THE 
PERMANENT 
APPOINTMENT 
OF 
PROVINCIAL/CITY/MUNICIPAL 
ENVIRONMENT 
AND 
NATURAL 
RESOURCES OFFICER AMENDING SECTION 484 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7160 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 16 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution declares it as policy of 
the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and 
healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. 
Unfortunately, the State has not been able to realize this policy with the 
resulting loss of lives and property from floods whenever there is a typhoon 
or heavy rainfall.  
By and large, the root cause of recent floods is attributed to the 
failure/collapse of flood control infrastructures such as dams and dikes. But 
there is an element behind these floods that is often not given much 
importance – the status and nature of the watersheds upstream of the dikes 
and dams. Much of the watersheds of river systems of the country are 
degraded, deteriorated, and lack vegetative cover. This is the result of 
conversion of forestlands into agriculture, illegal logging and poaching of 
timber and other forest products of kaingin-making and the cutting of 
trees/sapling for charcoal production. Moreover, it is also caused by the lack 
or ineffective implementation of forestry and natural resources laws, rules 
and regulations.  
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The rainwater as it drops into the ground infiltrates into the soil or 
evaporates, and what is left make up the runoff which causes floods. The 
amount of infiltration depends upon the nature and composition of the soil. 
Clayey soils are resistant to infiltration. During a rainfall episode, there is 
little evaporation of the rainwater. Studies have shown that more than 67% 
of the rainwater forms the runoff causing floods1. Vegetative cover of the 
watersheds such as forests improves the infiltration of rainwater, reduces 
erosion, and slows down the flow of rainwater thus reduces the occurrence 
of floods. Flood prevention/mitigation can be achieved through flood 
infrastructures in tandem with the rehabilitation/restoration of watershed. 
Local Government Units (LGUs) are mandated to rehabilitate and undertake 
in the restoration of watersheds within their jurisdiction. Under Section 447, 
(5)(i) 
of 
the 
Local 
Government 
Code, 
LGUs 
through 
its 
Provincial/City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers 
(P/C/MENRO) are mandated to establish, maintain, protect and preserve 
communal forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts and 
similar forest projects and commercial forest, like industrial tree farms and 
agro-forestry projects.  
Unfortunately, the mandatory nature of Section 447 is diluted by Section 
484, Article XIV of the same code, which states that “appointment of the 
environment and natural resources officer is optional for provincial, city, and 
municipal governments” (emphasis supplied). Not all provincial, city, and 
municipal governments have an appointed ENRO, and where such officer 
have been appointed, they are not occupying a permanent position, replaced 
when a new Governor, City/Municipal Mayor is elected. This results to a lack 
of continuity of rehabilitation projects involving watersheds. 
This is a timely legislation which seeks to promote flood prevention/mitigation 
through the maintenance, protection, and preservation of watersheds by 
amending Section 484 of the RA No. 7160, the Local Government Code 
making mandatory the appointment of an Environment and Natural 
Resources Officer at the province, city, or municipality, and a regular and 
permanent position. 
JOSE MANUEL F. ALBA 
Representative, 1st District, Bukidnon 
1 Integrated River Basin Management and Development Master Plan for Cagayan de Oro River Basin - based 
on NWRB 2012 as cited in Watershed Characterization 2015. 


Republic of the Philippines 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
Quezon City 
TWENTIETH CONGRESS 
First Regular Session 
House Bill No. __________ 
Introduced by Representative Jose Manuel F. Alba 
AN ACT 
MANDATING 
THE 
PERMANENT 
APPOINTMENT 
OF 
PROVINCIAL/CITY/MUNICIPAL 
ENVIRONMENT 
AND 
NATURAL 
RESOURCES OFFICER AMENDING SECTION 484 OF 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. This Act shall be known and referred to as the "Mandatory 
Permanent Appointment of Provincial/City/Municipal Environment and 
Natural Resources Officer Act.” 
Section 2. Sec. 484 (a) of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as 
the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
(a) No person shall be appointed environment and natural
resources officer unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, of
good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably
in forestry, environment, agriculture, or agro-forestry from a
recognized college or university, with first-grade civil service
eligibility or its equivalent, and preferably a resident of the
local government unit concerned. The Provincial and City
ENRO shall at least have a masteral degree in forestry,
environment, agriculture, or agro-forestry and must at least
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have five (5) years-experience in environmental and natural 
resources management, conservation, and utilization and 
three (3) years-experience in the case of the Municipal 
ENRO. The Provincial and City ENRO shall have a salary 
grade of 24 and the Municipal ENRO shall have a salary 
grade of 22. 
The appointment of Provincial/City/Municipal Environment 
and Natural Resources Officer (P/C/MENRO) shall be 
mandatory and shall be a regular and permanent position 
in the local government units. 
 
Section 3. All laws, acts, decrees, executive orders, administrative 
regulations, or part or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly. 
 
Section 4. This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official 
Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of national circulation.