EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No. 
57
RECEIVED
,(/) TIME:
BILLS
Introduced by SENATOR MANUEL "UTO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURISTS 
IN  MUNICIPALITIES WHERE AGRICULTURE IS A SIGNIFICANT 
INDUSTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 443 AND 482 (A) OF 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS 
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991
EXPLANATORY NOTE
At present, only provincial governments are mandated to appoint 
agriculturists in order to ensure effective representation of the agricultural sector 
in local government planning and coordination. The law permits the 
appointment of agriculturists by city and municipality governments but the 
same is not mandatory.
The mandatory appointment of agriculturists at the level of the provincial 
government reflects the importance vested by the State in the agricultural 
sector. It likewise reflects recognition that the Philippines remains a largely 
agricultural country with many citizens dependent on farming, fishing, or 
husbandry as sources of livelihood.
In light thereof, the optional appointment of agriculturists at the level of 
smaller local government units, particularly municipalities, should be reviewed. In 
municipalities where the main industry is agriculture, the appointment of


agriculturists to the local government unit should no longer be an option but a 
necessary prerequisite for local government growth. In such municipalities, the 
interest and voice of the agricultural sector should be of paramount importance in 
the determination of local planning and development measures. Hence, a qualified 
expert in the field should be available to address constituent concerns as well as to 
aid in government decision- making.
The proposed measure will mandate the appointment of municipal 
agriculturists in municipalities where agriculture is a significant industry.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly
lUEL "LITO " LAPID/
Senator


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E
S. No.
57
L(0  TIME:
BILLS &
Introduced by SENATOR MANUEL "LITO" M. LAPID
AN ACT
MANDATING THE APPOINTMENT OF MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURISTS IN 
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE AGRICULTURE IS A SIGNIFICANT 
INDUSTRY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 443 AND 482 (A) 
OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, AS AMENDED, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991
Be it enacted by the Senate and House o f Representatives o f the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 443 of Republic Act No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known
2 
as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows.
3
4 
"Section 443. Officials o f the Municipal Government —
5 
(a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, a
6 
municipal vice-mayor, sangguniang bayan members, a secretary to the
7 
sangguniang bayan, a municipal treasurer, a municipal assessor, 
a
8 
municipal accountant, a municipal budget officer, a municipal planning
9 
and development coordinator, a municipal engineer/building official, a
10 
municipal health officer and a municipal civil registrar.
11 
(b) In addition thereto, the mayor may appoint a municipal
12 
administrator, a municipal legal officer, a municipal agriculturist, a


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
municipal environment and natural resources officer, a municipal social 
welfare and 
development officer, 
a 
municipal 
architect, 
and a 
municipal 
information officer: 
PROVIDED, THAT INSOFAR AS 
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE AGRICULTURE IS A 
SIGNIFICANT 
INDUSTRY 
OR 
WHERE 
THE 
MAIN 
LIVELIHOOD 
IS 
AGRICULTURAL 
IN 
NATURE, 
THE 
APPOINTMENT 
OF 
A 
MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURIST SHALL BE MANDATORY."
Sec. 2. Section 482(a) of R.A. No. 7160, as amended, is hereby amended to read 
as follows:
"Section 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 first grade civil 
service eligible or its equivalent. He must have practiced his profession in 
agriculture or acquired experience in a related field for at least five (5) years 
in the case of the provincial and city agriculturist, and three (3) years in 
the case of the municipal agriculturist.
The position of the agriculturist shall be mandatory for the provincial 
government and optional 
for the city and 
municipal governments:
PROVIDED, 
THAT 
INSOFAR 
AS 
MUNICIPALITIES 
WHERE 
AGRICULTURE IS A SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRY OR WHERE THE MAIN 
LIVELIHOOD IS AGRICULTURAL IN NATURE, THE APPOINTMENT OF 
A MUNICIPAL AGRICULTURIST SHALL BE MANDATORY."
Sec. 3. Implementing Agency. — The Department of the Interior and Local 
Governance (DILG) and the Department of Agriculture (DA), in coordination with local


3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
1
2
government units, shall promulgate the rules and regulations necessary for the 
effective implementation of this Act.
Sec. 
4. Appropriations Ciause. — The amount necessary for the effective 
implementation of this Act shall be included in the general appropriations Act of the year 
following its enactment.
Sec. 5. Repeaiing/Amending Clause. — Other relevant provisions of R.A. No. 
7160, insofar as the appointment of agriculturists is concerned, and any law, decree, 
executive order, and rules and regulations, or portions thereof inconsistent with this Act 
are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.
Sec. 6. Separability Clause. — Should any part or provision o f this Act be 
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining parts or provisions not affected 
thereby shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 7. Effectivity Clause. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
19
Approved,