! ,il 
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
);”” 
9 Jl 28 1’1 :44 
S. B. No. sENA93 
5 3 
L 
Introduced by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. 
I, 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 16 Article I1 of the I987 Constitution provides: 
“The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced 
and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”. 
Several other provisions are scattered in the Constitution in Articles II and 
Xlll giving particular attention to the protection of the environment and 
conservation of our natural resources vis a vis sustainability of our food sources, 
national development and promotion of health for the benefit of the citizens of the 
Philippines. 
The trend during the past decades is to stimulate economic development 
which has proven to be beneficial for Filipinos both in the urban and rural areas. 
But progress does not come without a price. We all bore witness to the ills that 
the environment is susceptible of suffering as a by-product of development, be it 
economic, industrial, and even agricultural growth. 
Republic Act 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 
1991 was enacted for the purpose of providing and reaffirming the autonomy of 
local government units with the end in view of each local government unit being 
empowered and capable to spur development within its constituency. 
By mandating the appointment of an Environment and Natural Resources 
Officer for the intended local government units, this bills seeks to reconcile 
development and growth with the State’s constitutionally mandated duty to 
safeguard the environment for future generations to come. In doing so, the 
powers and duties of the Environment and Natural Resources Officer provided in 
R.A. 7160, with due regard to the legislative intent of preservation and 
rehabilitation of the environment, shall be exercised by the designated officers in 
fruition. 
Ultimately, the responsibility of the State mentioned in Sec. 16 Art. II of the 
1987 Constitution is not only a concern of our local government units, but of the 
citizenry and the national government as well, thus, partnership among all in 
achieving such goal is most necessarily desired. 
Passage of this bill into law is therefore recommend. 
ON 
ONG” REVILLA, JR. 


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* ? F i r  
FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
Third Regular Session 
1 
9 
JUC 28 P l  44 
Introduced by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilia, Jr. 
AN ACT MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND 
NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, 
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTION 484(a) OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
CODE OF 1991” 
Be if enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 484(a) of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, 
otherwise known as the “Local Government Code of 1991”, is hereby further 
amended to read as follows: 
“SEC. 484. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. - (a) x x x “The 
appointment of the environment and natural resources officer is [optional] 
MANDATORY for the provincial, city, CAPITAL TOWNS and FIRST AND 
SECOND CLASS municipal governments [.I, 
INCLUDING THE 
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF PATEROS IN METROPOLITAN 
MANILA: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE APPOINTMENT OF SAID 
OFFICER IS OPTIONAL FOR THIRD TO SIXTH CLASS MUNICIPAL 
GOVERNMENTS OUTSIDE METROPOLITAN MANILA.” 
SEC. 2. Sections 443(b), 454(b) and 463(b) of the Local Government 
Code of 1991 insofar as the appointment of municipal, city and provincial 
environment and natural resources officer respectively, and any law, decree, 
executive order and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
amended accordingly. 
SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in 
Approved. 
any two (2) newspapers of general circulation.