Republic of the Philippine:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DATE:

Tive

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend pertinent provisions of Republic
7160, otherwise known as the "Local Government Code of 1991”.

The Environment and Natural Resources Management
Office in every local government unit is very vital in formulating
measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and in
providing 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.

The Office establishes, maintains, protects and preserves
communal forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts
and similar forest projects and commercial forest, like industrial
tree farms and agro-forestry projects. It also provides extension ~
services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and
technical, financial and infrastructure assistance. It has also the
primordial duty in managing and maintaining seed banks and in
producing seedlings for forests and tree parks. By the same
token, it provides extension services to beneficiaries of forest
development projects and renders assistance for natural
resources-related conservation and _ utilization activities
consistent with ecological balance. It helps in promoting the

RESENTATIVES
RECEIVED
16 AUG 2016



small-scale mining and utilization of mineral resources,
particularly mining of gold and acts as a police to the large-scale
mining firms.

It is the overseer in coordinating 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 DENR. It is the front-liner in 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 calamities and disasters. It is duty-bound to recommend
to the sanggunian and advises 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.

We cannot downplay the vital function of the office to
nation-building. However, when the Local Government Code of
1991 was enacted, it bestowed for the optional appointment of an
environment and natural resources officer in the province, city or
municipality. This manifest error should be corrected. We must
consider that State should not just formulate the creation of
Environment and Natural Resources Management Office for the
provincial, city and municipal government as optional but rather
be institutionalized as mandatory so that these offices would
ensure that the tasks and visions for the provision of
environment and natural resources development principles and
agenda in every local government unit.

Immediate approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

On. Zp

ENGR. CARLITO “Lito” MARQUEZ

Co)


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

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__ 3009

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE MANDATORY
ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT OFFICE
IN ALL PROVINCES, CITIES .. AND
MUNICIPALITIES AMENDING FOR THE™
PURPOSE SECTION 484 (A) OF REPUBLIC ACT
NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”, AS
AMENDED

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in
Congress assembled:

Section 1. Title - This Act shall be known and referred to as
the “Mandatory Establishment of Provincial, City and Municipal
Environment and Natural Resources Management Office of 2016’.

Section 2. There shall be a mandatory establishment of an
Environment and Natural Resources Management Office in every
province, city and municipality with the necessary budgetary
appropriations covering the current operating expenditures and
capital outlays.


Section 3. Section 484 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise
known as “The Local Government Act of 1991”, as amended,
particularly Title V (Appointive Local Officials Common To All
Municipalities, Cities and Provinces) is hereby amended further to
be read as follows:

“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, of 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] MANDATORY for provincial, city, and
municipal governments. ‘

XXX”

Section 4. Separability Clause. - If any part or section of
this Act is declared unconstitutional, such declaration shall not
affect the other parts or sections of this Act.

Section 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential
decrees, executive orders, ordinances, circulars, rules and
regulations inconsistent with any provisions of this Act shall be
deemed repealed or modified accordingly.


Section 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect
fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation or in the Official Gazette.

Approved;