FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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SENATE 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Congress is mandated under the law to undertake a mandatory review of 
Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991. 
In various consultations with concerned constituents nationwide, it has 
been determined that amendments to the Local Government Code of 1991 should 
be introduced to rationalized agricultural services. 
The recent passage of Republic Act No. 8435 otherwise known as the 
Agriculture Modernization Act of 1997 makes it imperative that the Department 
of Agriculture, the lead department tasked to implement the law, for its 
monitoring and data gathering requirements, shall have complete administrative 
control and supervision over all personnel in the field level that are involved in 
agriculture and fishery, in order to effectively implement and achieve the 
objectives of the Agriculture and Fisheries Law. More so, the DA devolved 
agricultural extension workers are a potent force that can be utilized to pole vault 
the country's present agricultural growth to fast growing agricultural-based 
economy. 
Time and again, the government has always placed agricultural 
productivity as one of its priority and to address this thrust it is imperative to 
amend certain provisions of the Local Government Code for the effective and 
efficient implementation of its program thrusts. 
With the above cited reasons, the urgent passage of this Measure is 
earnestly requested. 
'~.-IIIIt-
FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
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Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT 
REVERTING TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THE DISCHARGE 
OF BASIC AGRICULTURAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
DEVOLVED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND AMENDING FOR 
THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Represenlaliues of the T<epublic of 
the Plzilippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 17 of the Republic No. 7160, otherwise 
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known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby to read as 
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follows: 
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Section 2.1 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to 
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the Barangay on "Agricultural Support services which include 
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planting materials distribution system and operation of farm 
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produce collection and buying station," is hereby withdrawn from 
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the Barangay and reverted back to the National Government. This 
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amends Section 17, item (b), No. (1), Par. 1 of the Local Government 
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Code of 1991. 
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Section 2.2 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to 
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the Municipality on "Extension and on-site research services and 
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facilities related to Agriculture and Fisheries activities which include 
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dispersal of livestock and poultry, fingerlings and other seedlings 
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materials for aquaculture; palay, corn and vegetable seed farms; 
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medicinal plant gardens; fruit tree, coconut and other kinds of 
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seedling nurseries; demonstration farms; quality control of copra and 
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improvement and development of local distribution channels, 


preferably through cooperatives; inter-barangay irrigation system; 
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water and soil resource utilization and conservation projects; and 
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enforcement of fishery laws in municipal waters including the 
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conservation of mangroves' is 
hereby withdrawn from the 
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Municipality and reverted back to the National Government. This 
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amends Section 17, item (b), No. (2), Par. 1 of the Local Government 
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Code of 1991. 
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Section 2.3 The devolution of basic services and facilities to the 
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province on "Agricultural extension and on-site research services and 
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facilities which include the prevention and control of pest and animal 
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pest and diseases; dairy farms, livestock markets, animal breeding 
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station and artificial insemination centers, and assistance in the 
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organization of farmer's and fishermen's cooperative and other 
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collective organizations, as well as the transfer of appropriate 
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technology," is hereby withdrawn from the Province and reverted 
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back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), 
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No. (3), Par. 1, of the Local Government Code of 1991. 
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Section 2.4 The devolution of the basic services and facilities to 
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the City "as embodied in the same basic services and facilities for 
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Municipality and Province," Section 17, Item (b), No.2 and 3, Far 1, is 
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hereby withdrawn from the city and reverted back to the National 
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Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (4), Par 1 of the 
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Local Government Code of 1991. 
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SECTION 2. Accordingly all personnel, technicians, facilities and 
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properties previously transferred to the Barangay, Municipalities, Provinces 
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and Cities shall be returned to the National Government. 
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SECTION 3. The funds necessary to cover the implementation of these 
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amendments s h d be appropriated for agriculture and shall be provided for 
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in the current General A ppropriations Act and the years thereafter. 
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SECTION 4. For the purpose of this Act, an Agriculture and Fisheries 
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Review Panel is hereby created to be composed of the following: the Secretary 
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of Agriculture, as Chairman, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, 
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the President of National Agriculture and fishery Councilor their duly 
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designated representatives, as members. 
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SECTION 5. The Agriculture and Fishery I{eview Panel in consultation 
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with concerned sectors in the field, shall identify the problems of the industry 
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under the re-nationalization set-up and recommend measures to enhance the 
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agriculture productivity. 
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SECTION 6. All provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 not 
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inconsistent with the foregoing amendments will remain in force and effect. 
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SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval. 
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Approved, 
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