Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

First Regular Session
House BillNo___ 249

Introduced by HONORABLE RODRIGUEZ D. DADIVAS

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to amend Section 463, Chapter 2, Title 4, Book ill of the
Local Government Code of 1991 as well as its Implementing Rules and
Regulations, specifically Article 115 (b), by making mandatory instead of optional
the appointment of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer or
PENRO.

Time was when the country was teeming with rich forest reserves and lush
mountain ranges surrounded by age-old timber resources that provided sanctuary
to a variety of wildlife animals. This forest cover did not only provide us with quality
building materials like wood nor supply us with a steady flow of wildlife for food but
also protected us from the destructive consequences of strong typhoons that often
hit the country.

Somehow times have changed and together with these changes is the
transformation of some of our forest lands into virtual savannas due to illegal
logging activities which have scalped it of the precious cover that in the past has
served as protection against rampaging rain water during typhoon season.

Recent events have also proven that uncontrolled and unregulated cutting
Of logs is the cause of so much flood that, whenever a strong typhoon finds its way
into the country, many of our fellow Filipinos are invariably submerged for days in
floodwaters, suffering not only homelessness but also loss of income due to the
displacement cause by their relocation as well as destruction of their precious
farmlands that serve as their only source of livelihood.

It is in the light of the foregoing circumstances that the government should
be enjoined to protect and preserve our precious forest reserves to avoid
destructive flooding. It is also for the same reasons that the government should


designate an official who should be responsible in ensuring that the forest lands in
every province are protected from wanton and illegal cutting of logs and that in are
areas where reforestations is needed, the same shall be undertaken to avoid
destructive flooding in the future.

This measure is subsequent to the version, which was filed during the
Twelfth Congress. The Twelfth Congress version of this bill was pending with the
House Committees on Local Government and Appropriation for approval but the
insufficiency of time impeded its passage into law.

For these reasons, approval of this bill is earnestly reque



Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City
THIRTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 249

Introduced by HONORABLE RODRIGUEZ D. DADIVAS

AN ACT AMENDING SECTION 463, CHAPTER 2, TITLE FOUR, BOOK III OF
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THERFOR.

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

SECTION 1. Section 463, Chapter 2, Title Book Ill OF republic Act No.
7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991 is hereby
amended to read follows:

“SECTION 463, Officials of the Government-

(a) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members of
the sangguniang panialawigan, 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 agricutturist, a provincial veterinarian, and a PROVINCIAL
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER.

SECTION 2. In relation thereto, Article 115 (b) of the Implementing Rules
and Regulations of Republic Act No. 7160 is accordingly amended to read as
follows:


“ARTICLE 115. Appointive Provincial Officials. (a) The
mandatory appointive provincial officials are as follows:

(1) secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan;
(2) provincial treasurer;

(3) provincial accountant;

(4) provincial budget officer;

(6) provincial planning and development coordinator;
(6) provincial engineer,

(7) provincial health officer;

(8) provincial administrator;

(9) provincial legal officer;

(10) provincial agricutturist;

(11) provincial social welfare and development officer;
(12) provincial veterinarian;

(13) provincial general services officer;
(14)PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES OFFICER

XXX XXX

SECTION 3. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act

‘shall be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following its
‘enactment into law and thereafter.

SECTION 4. All laws, decrees, rules and regulations inconsistent with
this Act shall not effect the validity and effectivity of the provisions thereof.

SECTION 5. If any provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the
same shall not effect the validity and effectivity of the other provision thereof.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,