Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

15™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

“are AGA

HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by REP. ESCUDERO III and R. M. ESTRELLA.

EXPLANATORY NOTE,

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 1991 should be introduced to
rationalized agricultural services.

The recent passage of Republic Act No. $435 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 imperative 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.

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SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO III ROBERT RAYMUND M. ESTRELLA
Representative Representative

1* District, Sorsogon Party-List, ABONO,


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

1s™ CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2 464
No.

HOUSE BIL!

Introduced by REP. SALVADOR H. ESCUDERO IIL

AN ACT

REVERTING TO THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT THE DISCHARGE OF BASIC
AGRICULTURAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES DEVOLVED TO
LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991

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

SECTION 1. Section 17 of the Republic No. 1760, otherwise known as the Local
Government Code of 1991, 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. I of the
Local Government Code of 1991.

Section 2.2 The devolution of the basic services and facilities 10 the
Municipality on "Extension and on-site research services and facilities related
10 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 10 the National
Government. This amends Section 17, item (b), No. (2), Par. 1 of the Local
Government Code of 1991.



Section 2.3 The devolution of basic services and facilities to the
province on "Agricultural 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 station and artificial
insemination centers, and assistance in the organization of farmer's and
Sishermen's cooperative and other collective organizations, as well as the
transfer of appropriate technology,” is hereby withdrawn from the Province
and reverted back to the National Government. This amends Section 17, item
(b), No. (3), Par. I, of the Local Government Code of 1991

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, Par 1, is hereby withdrawn
from the city and reverted back to the National Government. This amends
Section 17, item (b), No. (4), Par 1 of the Local Government Code of 1991.

SEC. 2. Accordingly all personnel, technicians, facilities and properties previously
transferred to the Barangay, Municipalities, Provinces and Cities shall be returned to the
National Government.

SEC. 3. The funds necessary to cover the implementation of these amendments shall
be appropriated for agriculture and shall be provided for in the current General
Appropriations Act and the years thereafter.

SEC. 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 Council or their duly designated representatives, as members.

SEC. 5. The Agriculture 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.

SEC. 6. All provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991 not inconsistent with
the foregoing amendments will remain in force and effect.

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

Approved,