Republic of the Philippine
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

4136
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero
and Enrico A. Pineda

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
{.GUs). Along this, the country’s 9.7 million hectares of agricultural lands for
‘uricultural and fisheries production need to be maximized and fully developed
o produced enough food for the Filipino people and livelihood for the farmers.

“he provision of adequate and responsive agricultural support services is vital
und necessary for this endeavor.

Section 17 of the Local Government Code of 1991 have mandated local
sovernment units at the provincial, city, municipal and barangay levels to
2rovice basic agricultural support services and facilities. To carry-out this task,
“Ue V of the said Code prescribes appointive local officials common to cities,
‘uaicipalities and provinces which include the appointment of Agriculturist as
vandatory position in the provinces and optional in the cities and
‘unicipalicies, and Veterinarian as mandatory in the provinces and cities, and
» ational in the municipalities.

mechanization. Correspondingly,
‘wicultural Engineering Division are being established at the Agriculturist
‘ices to support its implementation. However, these services are still lacking
vid limited in many LGUs.



“acec by the challenges on ASEAN integration where our agriculture sector

d to be competitive, these agricultural services must be strengthened,
modernized and professionalized in accordance with the regulations of the
practice of agriculturist (Section 75 of R.A. No. 8435 and PRC Resolution No.

2000-663), agricultural and biosystems engineer (R.A. No. 10915) and
veterinarian (R.A. No. 9268).

ence, the swift passage of this legislation is earnestly sought.

/) ”
‘<
mca L. ROMERO <aENRICO\A. PINEDA

/


Republic of the Philippine
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

18™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL wo, 4136

Introduced by Representatives Michael L. Romero

and Enrico A. Pineda

AN ACT

TO STRENGTHEN, MODERNIZE AND PROFESSIONALIZE THE
AGRICULTURAL SERVICES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
UNITS, AMENDING PROVISIONS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT

CODE OF 1991

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

ollows:

1ON 1. Section 443 of Republic Act 7160 is hereby amended to read as

“Section 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. -

(e) There shall be in each municipality a 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; AND
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 IS


OPTIONAL IN ALL 4T CLASS TO 6T CLASS MUNICIPAL
LGUs.

SBCTION 2. Section 454 of Republic Act 7160 is hereby amended to read

a8 follows:

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]
@ city general services officer; AND A CITY AGRICULTURIST
AND A CITY AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER
IN ALL FIRST CLASS TO THIRD CLASS LGUs.

THE APPOINTMENT OF CITY AGRICULTURIST AND CITY
AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEER ARE
OPTIONAL IN ALL 47# CLASS TO THIRD CLASS CITY LGUs.

SHCTION 3. Section 463 of republic Act 7160 is hereby amended to read as

‘ollows:
Section 463. Officials of the Provincial Government.

(2) 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
vincial 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.

“MON 4. Section 482 of Article XII of Republic Act 7160 is hereby amended

d as follows:

“ARTICLE TWELVE


ECON 5.
de

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 concerned,
of good moral character, a holder of a college degree in
agriculture or any related course from a recognized college or
university, and a ffirst grade civil service eligible or its
equivalent. He must have practiced his profession [in
agriculture or acquired experience in related field for at least
Ave (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 47 CLASS TO 6TH 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

(6) IN CASE OF PROVINCIAL AGRICULTURIST,
EXERCISE TECHNICAL SUPERVISION OVER-ALL
AGRICULTURAL OFFICES OF COMPONENT
CITIES AND MUNICIPALITI!

- Section 489 of Article XIX of Republic Act 7160 is hereby amended

8 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 government
unit concerned, 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;

“TION 6. Additional Articles and Sections are hereby added to Book 111,
‘ive of Republic Act 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

ENGINEERS.

‘THE POSITION OF AN AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS
ENGINEER SHALL BE MANDATORY FOR THE PROVINCIAL
GOVERNMENTS AND CITY GOVERNMENTS AND
OPTIONAL IN 47 CLASS TO 6TH 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 1, R.A. 7160 is
hereby renumbered Section 493 and all other succeeding sections (Section 492

\) 536) are renumbered accordingly.

SECTION 8. Career Progression - There shall be instituted a

tees Progression System in the Agriculturist, Agricultural and Biosystems
"ngineer and Veterinarian Office at the provincial, city and municipal levels.
‘or this purpose, various level of Agriculturist, Agricultural and Biosystems

fngin

r and Veterinarian positions shall be created.

Moreover, the existing Agricultural Technologist positions shall be
jograded or reclassified to various levels of Agriculturist, Agricultural and
-ms Engineer and Veterinarian positions.

Biosys

SECTION 9. The Department of Agriculture through its Regional
3, Bureau of Animal Industry, Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries
“ngineering and other concerned offices shall deploy Agriculturists,

\aricultural and Biosystems Engineers and Veterinarians in all 4t Class to 6th

LGUs, and for this purpose create plantilla positions.

SECTION 10. Funding - The funding necessary for the
‘plementation of this Act shall be incorporated in the annual appropriations
"the LGUs. For this purpose, the personnel services limitation imposed under
of the Local Government Code is hereby waived.



SECTION 11. Separability Clause. - If any part or provision of this
“ct is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected
ereby shall remain in fulll force and effect.

SECTION 12. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, executive orders
and other administrative issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

SECTION 13. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen
| days following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2)

pepers of general circulation in the Philippines.

Approved.