Republic of the Philippines 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
First Regular %ssion 
S E N A T E  
I 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
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 
199 1 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. 
Furthermore, the present administration has placed agricultural 
productivity as one of its priority and to address this thrust it is imperathe 
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. 


Republic of the Philippines 
I 
Fimt Regular Session 
1 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 
J 
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS G. ESCUDERO 
AN ACT REVERTING TO THE BATIORAL GOVERWMERT THE 
DISCHARGE OF BASIC AGRICULTURAL FWZCTIONS AND 
RESPONSIBILITIJZS DEVOLED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT molTs AND 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPWBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERaBQEloT CODE OF 1991 
Be it enaded by SENAlE and HOUSE OF REPRESENTATWES of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled. 
SECTIOION 1. Section 17 of the Republic No. 1760, otherwise known as 
the Local Government Code of 199 1, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
Section 2.1 The devolution of the basic services and 
facilities to the Barangay on "Agricultural Support services 
which include planting materials distribution system and 
operation of farm produce collection and buying station," is 
hereby withdrawn from the Barangay and reverted back to the 
National Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (1)> 
Par. 1 of the Local Government Code of 1991. 
Section 2.2 The devolution of the basic services and 
facilities to the Municipality on "Extension and on-site research 
services and facilities related to Agriculture and Fisheries 
activities which include dispersal of livestock and poultry, 
fingerlings and other seedlings materials for aquaculture; palay, 
corn and vegetable seed farms; medicinal plant gardens; fruit 
tree, coconut and other kinds of 
seedling nurseries; 
demonstration farms; quality control of copra and improvement 
and development of local distribution channels, preferably 
through cooperatives; inter-barangay irrigation system; water 
and soil resource utilization and conservation projects; and 
enforcement of fishery laws in municipal waters including the 
conservation of mangroves' is hereby withdrawn from the 
Municipality and reverted back to the National Government. 
This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (2), Par. 1 of the Local 
Government Code of 199 1. 


Section 2.3 The devolution of basic services and facilities 
to the province on "Agricultumt extension and on-site research 
services and facilities which include the prevention and control 
of pest and animal pest and diseases; dairy farms, livestock 
markets, animal breeding statim and artificial insemination 
centers, and assistance in the organization of farmer's and 
fishermen's cooperative and other collective organizations, as 
well as the transfer of appropriate technology," is hereby 
withdram from the Province and reverted back to the National 
Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (3), Par. 1, 
of the Local Government Code of 199 1. 
Section 2.4 The devolution of the basic services and 
facilities to the City "as embodied in the same basic services and 
facilities for Municipality and Province," Section 17, Item (b), No. 
2 and 3, Far 1, is hereby withdrawn from the city and merted 
back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, 
item (b), No. (4), Par 1 of the Local Government Code of 1991. 
SECTIOBI 2. Accordingly all personnel, technicians, facilities and 
properties previously transferred to the Barangay, Municipalities, Provinces 
and Cities shall be returned to the National Government. 
SECTIOIY 3. The funds necessary to cover the implementation of 
these amendments s h d  be appropriated for agriculture and shall be 
provided for in the current General Appropriations Act and the years 
thereafter. 
SECTION 4. For the purpose of this Act, an Agriculture and Fisheries 
Review Panel is hereby created to be composed of the following: the 
Secretary of Agriculture, as Chairman, the Secretary of Interior and Local 
Government, the President of National Agriculture and Fishery Cowncil or 
their duly designated representatives, as members. 
SECTION 5. 
The AIJriculture and Fishery Review Panel in 
consultation with concerned sectors in the field, shall identify the problems 
of the industry under the re-nationalization set-up and recommend 
measures to enhance the agriculture productivity. 
SEZ"IOIY6. All provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 not 
inconsistent with the foregoing amendments will remain in force and effect. 


SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval. 
Approved,