EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

"Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez _

4881

House Bill No.
EXPLANATORY NOTE

Feeding the growing Philippine population now at 105 million is a primary and urgent
concern of the national government and the local government units (LGUs). Along this, the
country's 9.7 million hectares of agricultural lands for agricultural and fisheries production
need to be maximized and fully developed to produced enough food for the Filipino people
‘and livelihood for the farmers. The provision of adequate and responsive agricultural support
services is vital and necessary for this endeavour.

Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991 have mandated local government units
at the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels to provide basic agricultural support
services and facilities. To carry-out this task, Title V of the said Code prescribes appointive
local officials common to cities, municipalities and provinces which include the appointment
of Agriculturist as mandatory position in the provinces and optional in the cities and
municipalities, and Veterinarian as mandatory in the provinces and cities, and optional in the
municipalities.

These mandates of the LGUs were expanded with the enactment of R.A. No. 8435
(Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act), and R.A. No. 10601 (Agricultural and
Fisheries Mechanization Law) which included ‘small scale irrigation, post harvest facilities
and farm mechanization. Correspondingly, Agricultural Engineering Divisions are being
established at the Agriculturist Offices to support its implementation. However, these
services are still lacking and limited in many LGUs

Faced by the challenges on ASEAN integration where our agriculture sector needs to be
competitive, these agricultural services must be strengthened, modemized and
professionalized in accordance with the regulations of the practice of agriculturist (Section 75
of RA. No. 8435 and PRC Resolution No. 2000-663), agricultural and biosystems engineer
(R.A. No. 10915) and veterinarian (R.A. No. 9268)

In view of the foregoing, immediate approval of this measure is earnestly requested.

Ly
BO ia
é


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
4881

House Bill No.

AN ACT
TO STRENGTHEN, MODERNIZE AND PROFESSIONALIZE THE AGRICULTURAL
SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representative of the Philippines in Congress
Assembled:

SECTION 1. Section 443 of Republic Act No. R.A. 7160 is hereby amended to read as

follows
“Section 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. -
(a) There shall be in each municipality @ 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; A MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURIST, AND A MUNICIPAL
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO
THIRD CLASS LGUs. THE APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURIST
AND MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER |S
OPTIONAL IN ALL 4™ CLASS TO 6™ CLASS MUNICIPAL LGUs.

SECTION 2. Section 454 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as follow:
Section 454. Officials of the City Government.
(a) There shall be in each city a mayor, a vice-mayor, sangguniang panlungsod
members, a secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, 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; A CITY
AGRICULTURIST AND A CITY AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS

APPOINTMENT OF CITY AGRICULTURIST AND CITY AGRICULTURAL AND
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER ARE OPTIONAL IN ALL 4™ CLASS TO THIRD
CLASS CITY LGUs.

SECTION 3. Section 43 of the same Code is hereby amended to read as follows
Section 463. Officials of the Provincial Goverment.
(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 AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEER.

SECTION 4. Article Twelve and Section 482 of the same Act is hereby amended to read as
follows :

“ARTICLE TWELVE
The Agriculturist

Sec. 482. Qualifications, Powers, and Duties - (a) No person shall be
appointed agriculturist unless he is a citizen of the Philippines, a resident of the
local government unit concemed, of good moral character, a holder of a college
degree in agriculture or any related course from a recognized college or
university, and a [first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have
Practiced his profession [in agriculture or acquired experience in related field for
at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city agriculturist, and three
(3) years in the case of the municipal agriculturist.

The position of an agriculturist shall be mandatory for the provincial AND CITY
governments AND IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO THIRD CLASS MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS, and optional for the 4™ CLASS TO 6™ CLASS MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS AND IN HIGHLY URBANIZED CITIES AND
MUNICIPALITIES.

(b) The agriculturist shall take charge of the office for agricultural services and
shall : XXX

(68) IN CASE OF PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURIST, EXERCISE
TECHNICAL SUPERVISION OVER-ALL AGRICULTURAL
OFFICES OF COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES.

SECTION 5. Article Nineteen and Section 482 of the same Act is hereby amended to read
as follows
“ARTICLE NINETEEN
The Veterinarian
Section 489. Qualifications, Powers and Duties.
(2) No person shall be appointed veterinarian unless he is a citizen of the
Philippines, a resident of the local govemment unit concemed, of good moral
character, a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. He must have practiced his
profession for at least three (3) years in the case of provincial or city veterinarian
and at least one (1) year in the case of the municipal veterinarian.
The appointment of a veterinarian is mandatory for the provincial, [and] city
AND IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO THIRD CLASS MUNICIPAL governments,
AND OPTIONAL IN ALL FOURTH CLASS TO SIXTH CLASS CITY AND
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.
(b) The veterinarian shall take charge of the office for veterinary services and
shall: XXX
(6) IN CASE OF PROVINCIAL VETERINARIAN, EXERCISE
TECHNICAL SUPERVISION OVER-ALL VETERINARY OFFICES
OF COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES;

SECTION 6. Additional Articles and Sections are hereby added to Book 111, Title Five of
R.A. 7160 to read as follows

“ARTICLE TWENTY ONE


THE AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER

SEC. 491. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES - (a) NO PERSON
SHALL BE APPOINTED AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEM ENGINEER
UNLESS HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, OF GOOD MORAL
CHARACTER AND A REGISTERED AND LICENSED AGRICULTURAL AND
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER. HE MUST HAVE PRACTICED HIS PROFESSION
FOR AT THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER, AND ONE (1) YEAR IN
THE CASE OF THE CITY AND MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL AND
BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERS.

THE POSITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER
SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS AND
CITY GOVERNMENTS AND OPTIONAL IN 4™ CLASS TO 6™ CLASS
CITY AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS.

(b) THE AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER SHALL TAKE
CHARGE OF THE OFFICE FOR AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES AND SHALL :

(1) _FORMULATE MEASURES FOR APPROVAL OF THE
SANGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
SUPPORT TO THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR AS THE CASE
MAYBE IN CARRYING OUT SAID MEASURES TO ENSURE THE
DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES AND PROVISION OF
ADEQUATE FACILITIES ON IRRIGATION, SOIL AND WATER
CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION, AGRICULTURAL,
FISHERY AND BIOSYSTEMS MECHANIZATION, POST
HARVEST AND AGRO-PROCESSING FACILITIES AND OTHER
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERING PROGRAMS
AND PROJECTS;

(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 PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS ON
IRRIGATION, SOIL _AND WATER CONSERVATION AND
UTILIZATION, AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS
MECHANIZATION, POST HARVEST FACILITIES, AGRO-
PROCESSING AND OTHER AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS
ENGINEERING ENDEAVORS WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR
MAYOR IS EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT AND WHICH THE
SANGUNIAN IS EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE UNDER THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE;

(3) THE FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DIVISION/SECTION OF THE
OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL
AGRICULTURIST PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 29 OF R.A.
NO. 10601 SHALL BE TRANSFERRED AND ASSUMED BY THE
PROVINCIAL, CITY AND MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURAL AND
BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERS.


4) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS,
THE AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEER SHALL.
PROVIDE SERVICES AND RESPONSIBLE IN THE PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LGU PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS
ON COMPOSTING, FARM DEVELOPMENT PLANNING AND
OTHER AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERING
PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS.

(5) IN CASE OF PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS
ENGINEER, EXERCISE TECHNICAL SUPERVISION OVER-ALL
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOYSTEMS ENGINEERS OF
COMPONENT CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES;

SECTION 7. Sec. 491 of Book 111, Title Six, Article |, R.A. 7160 is hereby renumbered
Section 493 and all other succeeding sections (Section 492 to 536) are renumbered

accordingly.

SECTION 8. Career Progression- There shall be instituted a Career Progression System in
the Agricutturist, Agricultural and Bioystems Engineer and Veterinarian Office at the
Provincial, city and municipal levels. For this purpose, various level of Agriculturist,
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer and Veterinarian positions shall be created. Moreover,
the existing Agricultural Technologist positions shall be upgraded or reclassified to various
levels of Agriculturist, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineer and Veterinarian positions.

SECTION 9. The Department of Agriculture through its Regional Offices, Bureau of Animal
Industry, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering and other concerned offices shall
Provide and augment the agricultural and fishery services and facilities of 4" Class to 6"
Class LGUs.

SECTION 10. Funding — The funding necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be
incorporated in the annual appropriations of the LGUs. For this purpose, the personnel
services limitation imposed under Section 325 of the Local Government Code is hereby

waived,

SECTION 11. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be held unconstitutional
or invalid, the other provisions not otherwise affected shall remain in full force effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders,
ordinances, rules and regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are
inconsistent with this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in
the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,