Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

287

House Bill No.

Introduced by Representatives
Estrellita B, Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Cooperatives are among the major pillars of the people empowerment
movement. They have long been acknowledged and regarded as one of the
fundamental sources of economic strength in our country.

Cooperatives play a significant role in our country’s local economic
development, especially in rural areas where the absence of large spending
power does not attract private investment to harness local skills and
resources that can uplift the local economy and living standards besides
exporting produce to distant customer locations in cities.

‘The Philippine Constitution provides for the promotion of growth and
viability of cooperatives as instruments of equity, social justice and economic
development under the principles of subsidiarity and self-help. Under the said
principles, the government recognizes that cooperatives are self-governing
entities which shall initiate and regulate their own affairs to include
education, training, research and other support services with the government,
giving assistance when necessary.

Given the importance of cooperatives, it is, therefore, imperative to
amend Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government
Code of 1991, to provide for a mandatory appointment of a cooperatives officer
in every local government unit in the country.

This bill has been filed during the 17% Congress and subsequently
approved on Third and Final Reading. In view of the foregoing, the immediate
passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

REP. ‘LLITA B.

IG REP. noratfé. suANsING, JR.
1* District, Nueva Ecij

24 District, Sultan Kudarat


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 287

Introduced by Representative

Estrellita B. Suansing and Horacio P. Suansing, Jr.

AN ACT
MAKING THE POSITION OF A COOPERATIVES OFFICER 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 III, Title Two, Chapter 2 of 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
engineer/building official, a municipal health officer [and], a
municipal civil registrar, AND A MUNICIPAL COOPERATIVES
OFFICER.

“(b) xxx
“() xxx
“(d) xxx
“(e) xx x.”

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


1 “SEC. 454. Officials of the City Government. - (a) There shall
2 be in each city a mayor, a vice mayor, sangguniang panlungsod
3 members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city
4 treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, a city budget officer,
5 a city planning and development coordinator, a city engineer, a
6 city health officer, a city civil registrar, a city administrator, a city
7 legal officer, a city veterinarian, a city social welfare and
8 development officer, [and] a city general services officer, AND A
9 CITY COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

10 “(b) In addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint a city

11 architect, a city information officer, a city agriculturist, a city

2 population officer, AND a city environment and natural resources

2B officer[, and a city cooperatives officer.]

14 “xxx

15 “(c) xxx

16 “(d) xxx

v7 “(e) xxx.”

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

20 “SEC. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. -(a) There
21 shall be in each province a governor, a vice governor, members of
22 the sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang
23 panlalawigan, a provincial treasurer, a provincial assessor, a
24 provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a provincial budget
25 officer, a provincial planning and development coordinator, a
26 provincial legal officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial
27 health officer, a provincial social welfare and development officer,
28 a provincial general services officer, a provincial agriculturist,
29 [and] a provincial veterinarian, AND A PROVINCIAL
30 COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

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

35 “xX

36 “(c) xxx

37 “(d) xxx


“(e) xxx.”

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

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[Article Fourteen. - The Environment and Natural Resources
Officer

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 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 or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out the
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 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:


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(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;

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

(ii) Manage and maintain seed banks and produce
seedlings for forests 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 and utilization of
mineral resources, particularly mining of gold;

(vi) Coordinate with government agencies and non-
governmental 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

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

“ARTICLE FOURTEEN. - THE COOPERATIVES OFFICER

“SEC. 484. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. -
(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

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WITH SPECIAL TRAINING IN COOPERATIVES OR ANY
RELATED COURSE FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR
UNIVERSITY, 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) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE
CONSIDERATION OF THE SANGGUNIAN, AND PROVIDE
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNOR
OR MAYOR, AS THE CAE MAY BE, IN CARRYING OUT
MEASURES TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES
AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES THOUGH 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 EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE FOR UNDER
THIS CODE;

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

“q) ASSIST IN THE ORGANIZATION OF
COOPERATIVES;

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

“(III) ASSIST COOPERATIVES IN ESTABLISHING
LINKAGES WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED IN THE
PROMOTION AN INTEGRATION OF THE CONCEPT OF


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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 SEVENTEEN. - THE ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER

“SEC. 487. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. -
(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 ENVIRONMENT 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.


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“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 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;

“(I) PROVIDE EXTENSION SERVIC! TO
BENEFICIARIES OF FOREST DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND
TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURE
ASSISTANCE;

“(III) MANAGE AND MAINTAIN SEED BANKS AND
PRODUCE SEEDLINGS FOR FORESTS AND TREE PARKS;

“(Iv) PROVIDE EXTENSION SERVICES TO
BENEFICIARIES OF FOREST DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND


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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 AND 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 PERFORM
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,