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

EIGHTEENTH (18) CONGRESS
1* Regular Session

302
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced by Hon. WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Nowadays, the importance of cooperatives cannot be overlooked. This is
due to the fact that cooperatives represent a robust, vibrant, and manageable
economic alternative that influences the lives of the people. At its very core,
cooperatives are formed in order to serve as a central mechanism that would
achieve goals and provide mutual needs that none of them could achieve alone.

In an increasingly competitive global economy, cooperatives have been an
effective mechanism for people to assume control over their livelihoods. This is
achieved through various risk management efforts for the members of various
sectors (such as Agriculture, Service, Manufacturing, et. al.) that would aid these
workers save for their respective futures through monthly contributions.

This is particularly prevalent in the case of the Philippines. The presence of
cooperatives for our workers has greatly contributed towards the promotion of
inclusion as well as the establishment of avenue that would facilitate a more
equitable and viable benefits distribution system to be enjoyed by its members. In
light of this, the Republic Act No. 7160 otherwise known as the Local Government
Code, allows for the appointment of cooperative officers that is in charge of the
office for the development of cooperatives. However, the appointment of a
cooperative officer as stated in the code is optional. As a result, the local
government units tend to disregard the importance of such appointment.


At its very core, the bill aims to recognize and reaffirm the importance of
maintaining sustainability amongst local government units by fostering the
creation of cooperatives that would greatly contribute to the overall development
of various enterprises. With this, a cooperatives officer under the Cooperative
Development Office in every province, city and municipality should be made
mandatory. In view thereof, support and approval of this measure is earnestly
sought.

al—
ER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II
District, Zamboanga Sibugay

ATTY.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City, Philippines

EIGHTEENTH (18") CONGRESS
First Regular Session

3024
HOUSE BILLNO.

Introduced By HON. WILTER “SHARKY” WEE PALMA II

AN ACT

MAKING THE POSITION OF A COOPERATIVES OFFCER MANDATORY IN THE
MUNICIPAL, CITY AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS, 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 443, Book II, Title Two, Chapter 2 of the Republic Act
No. 7160, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. —

(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a
municipal vice mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the
sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, a
municipal accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning and
development coordinator, a municipal engineering/building official, a


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municipal health officer, a municipal civil registrar, AND A MUNICIPAL
COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

“(b) xxx
“(c) xxx
“(d) xxx

“(e) xxx

SEC. 2. Section 454, Book Ill, Title Three, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No.
7160, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 454. Officials of the City Government. —

(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice mayor,
sangguniang pang lungsod members, a secretary to the sangguniang
panglungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, a city
budget officer, a city planning and development coordinator, a city
engineer, a city health officer, a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a
city legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social welfare and development
officer, [and] a city general services officer, AND A CITY COOPERATIVES
OFFICER.

“(b) In addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint a city
architect, a city information officer, a city agriculturist, a city population
officer, AND a city environment and natural resources officer [,and a city
cooperatives officer].

“KKK
“(c) xxx
“(d) xxx

“(e) Xxx


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SEC. 3. Section 463, Book III, Title Four, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160,
is hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 463. Officials of the Provincial 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 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, [and] a provincial veterinarian, AND A PROVINCIAL
COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

“(b) In addition thereto, the governor may appoint a provincial
population officer, a provincial natural resources and environment officer,
{a provincial cooperative officer,] a provincial architect, and a provincial
information officer.

“XK
“(c) xxx
“(d) xxx

“(e) xxx.”

SEC. 4. Section 484 of Book Ill, Title Five, Article Fourteen of Republic Act
No. 7160, is hereby amended to read as follows:

[Article XIV

The Environment and Natural Resources Officer


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Sec. 484. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. — (a) No person shall be
appointed environment and natural resources officer unless he is a citizen
of the Philippines, a resident of the local government unit concerned of
good moral character, a holder of a college degree preferably in
environment, forestry, agriculture, or any related course from a recognized
college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent.
He must have acquired experience in environmental and natural resources
management, conservation, and utilization, for at least five (5) years in the
case of the provincial or city environment and natural resources officer, and
three (3) years in the case of the municipal environment and natural
resources officer.

The appointment of the environment and natural resources officer is
optional for the provincial, city, and municipal governments.

(b) The environment and natural resources management officer shall
take charge of the office on environment and natural resources and shall:

(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and
provide technical assistance and support to the governor and mayor, as the
case may be, in carrying out measures to ensure the delivery of basic
services and provision of adequate facilities relative to environment and
natural resources services as provided for under Section 17 of this Code:

(2) Develop plans and strategies and upon approval thereof by the
Governor or mayor, as the case may be, implement the same, particularly
those which have to do with environment and natural resources programs
and prjects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and
which the sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code;

(3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the
environment and natural resources officer shall:

(i) Establish, maintain, protect and preserve communal forests,
watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts, commercial forests, and
similar forest projects, like industrial tree farms and agro-forestry projects:


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

(iii) Manage and maintain seed banks and produce seedlings for
forest and tree parks;

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

(v) Promote the small-scale mining utilization of mineral resources,
particularly mining of gold;

(vi) Coordinate with government agencies and non-govermental
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;

(4) Be in the frontline of the delivery of services concerning the
environment and natural resources, particularly in the renewal and
rehabilitation of the environment during and in the aftermath of man-made
and natural disasters and calamities;

(5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor,
as the case may be, on all matters relative to the protection, conservation,
maximum utilization, application of appropriate technology and other
matters related to the environment and natural resources; and

(c) Exercise such other powers and reform such other duties and
functions as may be prescribed by law or ordinance.]

ARTICLE XIV
THE COOPERATIVES OFFICER
“SEC. 484 - A. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. —


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(A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED COOPERATIVES OFFICER
UNLESS ONE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A
HOLDER OF A COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERABLY IN BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION WITH SPECIAL TRAINING IN COOPERATIVES OR ANY
RELATED COURSE FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A
FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. ONE MUST
HAVE EXPERIENCE IN COOPERATIVES ORGANIZATION AND
MANAGEMENT FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF PROVINCIAL
OR CITY COOPERATIVES OFFICER, AND THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE OF
MUNICIPAL COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

“(B) THE COOPERATIVES OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE
OFFICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES AND SHALL:

“(1) FORUMALTE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
SANGGUNIAN, AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO
THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN CARRYING OUT
MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES AND PROVISION
OF FACILITIES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES, AND IN
PROVIDING ACCESS TO SUCH SERVICES AND FACILITIES;

“(2) DEVELOP PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND, UPON APPROVAL
THEREOF BY THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE,
IMPLEMENT THE SAME, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH
THE INTEGRATION OF COOPERATIVES PRINCIPLES AND METHODS IN
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR IS
EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT AND WHICH THE SANGGUNIAN IS
EMPOWERD TO PROVIDE FOR UNDER THIS CODE;

“(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, THE
COOPERATIVES OFFICER SHALL:

“(I) ASSIST THE ORGANIZATION OF COOPERATIVES;


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“(il) PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO
EXISTING COOPERATIVES TO ENHANCE THEIR VIABILITY AS AN ECONOMIC
ENTERPRISE AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION;

“(IIl) ASSIST COOPERATIVES IN ESTABLISHING LINKAGES WITH
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS
INVOLVED IN THE PROMOTION AND INTEGRATION OF THE CONCEPT OF
COOPERATIVES IN THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PEOPLE AND OTHER
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES;

“(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF COOPERATIVES ORGANIZATION,
REHABILITATION OR VIABILITY-ENHANCEMENT, PARTICULARLY DURING
AND IN THE AFTERMATH OF MAN-MADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND
CALAMITIES, TO AID IN THEIR SURVIVAL AND, IF NECESSARY,
SUBSEQUENT REHABILITATION’

“(5) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN, AND ADVISE THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, ON ALL MATTERS
RELATIVE TO COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT AND _ VIABILITY-
ENHANCEMENT WHICH WILL IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOOD AND QUALITY OF
LIFE OF THE INHABITANTS; AND

“(C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER
DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR
ORDINANCE.”

SEC. 5. Section 487 of Book III, Title Five, Article Seventeen of Republic Act

No. 7160, is hereby amended to read as follows:

“ARTICLE XVII
THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER

“SEC. 487. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. —


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(A) NO PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER UNLESS ONE IS A CITIZEN OF THE
PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT
CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE
DEGREE PREFERABLY IN ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY, AGRICULTURE OR
ANY RELATED COURSE FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY,
AND A FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. ONE
MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, AND UTILIZATION, FOR AT
LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL OR CITY
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER, AND THREE (3)
YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES OFFICER.

“THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES OFFICER IS OPTIONAL FOR PROVINCIAL, CITY, AND
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.

“(B) THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE OFFICE ON ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES AND SHALL:

“(1) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
SANGGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO
THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN CARRYING OUT
MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES AND PROVISION
OF ADEQUATE FACILITIES RELATIVE TO ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES SERVICES AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER SECTION 17 OF THIS
CODE:

“(2) DEVELOP PLANS AND STRATEGIES AND UPON APPROVAL
THEREOF BY THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE,
IMPLEMENT THE SAME, PARTICULARLY THOSE WHICH HAVE TO DO WITH
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR IS EMPOWERD TO IMPLEMENT AND


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WHICH THE SANGGUNIAN IS EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE FOR UNDER THIS
CODE;

“(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, THE
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER SHALL:

“(l) ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, PROTECT AND PRESERVE COMMUNAL
FORESTS, WAWTERSHEDS, TREE PARKSM MANGROVES, GREENBELTS,
COMMERCIAL FORESTS AND SIMILAR FOREST PROJECTS, LIKE INDUSTRIAL
TREE FARMS AND AGRO-FORESTRY PROJECTS;

“(ll) PROVIDE EXTENSION SERVICES TO BENEFICIARIES OF FOREST
DEVELOPMENT PROECTS AND TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL AND
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE;

“(Il) MANAGE AND MAINTAIN SEED BANKS AND PRODUCE
SEEDLINGS FOR FORESTS AND TREE PARLS;

“(IV) PROVIDE EXTENSION SERVICES TO BENEFICIARIES OF FOREST
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND RENDER ASSISTANCE FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES-RELATED CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION ACTIVITIES
CONSISTENT WITH ECOLOGICAL BALANCE;

“(V) PROMOTE THE SMALL-SCALE MINING AND UTILIZATION OF
MINERAL RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY MINING OF GOLD;

“(vi) COORDINATE WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
NONGOVERNMENTAL 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;

“(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES
CONCERNING THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES,
PARTICULARLY IN THE RENEWAL AND REHABILITATION OF THE
ENVIRONMENT DURING AND IN THE AFTERMATH OF MAN-MADE AND
NATURAL DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES;


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“(5) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN AND ADVISE THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, ON ALL MATTERS
RELATIVE TO THE PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, MAXIMUM
UTILIZATION, APPLICATION OF APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER
MATTERS RELATED TO THE ENVIROMNENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES;
AND

“(C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERSAND REFORM SUCH OTHER
DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR
ORDINANCE.”

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and

regulations, issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed or amended accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,