Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

2436

HOUSE BILL NO_

Introduced by Hon. Sabiniano S. Canama
COOP-NATCCO PARTYLIST

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Cooperative play an important role in national economic and social development. Cooperatives
promote the fullest participation of all people and facilitate a more equitable distribution of the benefits
to the community. To answer the clamor. Republic Act 7160 otherwise known as the Local
Government Code, slows for the appointment of cooperative officers to take charge of the office for the
development of cooperatives among others. However the words of the law were vague and the
implementation became optional on the part of the local government units (LGUs) resulting in either
LGUs with cooperative officers who serve other functions or no cooperatives officer at all. In the long

tun, the cooperative sector will be left to suffer by this inverse proportional line towards success.

Regardless of the type, size, geographical location or purpose, cooperatives provide a unique
tool for achieving one or more economic goal in an increasingly competitive global economy. The
national and local counterpart should not be left to decay. It is for this reason that the mandatory

appointment of cooperatives officers by LGUs is hereby earnestly sought

SABINIANQ S. CANAMA

COOP NATCCO PARTY-LIST


Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS,
First Regular Session

2436
HOUSE BILL NO.

Introduced by Hon. Sabiniano S. Canama
COOP-NATCCO PARTYLIST

AN ACT MAKING THE POSITION OF A COOPERATIVES OFFICER
MANDATORY IN THE MUNICIPAL, CITY AND PROVINCIAL LEVELS,
AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN
AS THE “LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991”

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

SECTION 1. Section 443, Book III, Title Two, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160, is
hereby amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government. — (a) There shail 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 COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

“(b) xxx
“) xxx
“@) xxx
“@) xxx.”

SEC. 2. Section 454, Book III, Title Three, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 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, a city general services officer, AND A CITY COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

“(b) In addition thereto, the city mayor may appoint a city architect, a city information
officer, a city agriculturist, a city population officer, AND a city environment and natural
resources officer], and a city cooperatives officer].

“xx
“© xxx
“d) xxx
“(e) XXX.”

SEC. 3. Section 463, Book III, Title Four, Chapter 2 of Republic Act No. 7160, is hereby
amended to read as follows:

“SEC. 463. Officials of the Provincial Government. — (a) 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 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 agriculturist, [and] a provincial veterinarian, AND A
PROVINCIAL COOPERATIVES OFFICER.

*(b) In addition thereto, the governor may appoint a provincial population officer, a
Provincial natural resources and environment officer, a provincial cooperative officer, a
provincial architect, and a provincial information officer.

Six

“© xxx
“d@) xxx
“e) xxx”

SEC. 4. Section 484 of Book III, Tille Five, Article Fourteen of Republic Act No. 7160, is
hereby amended to read as follows:

[Article Fourteen. — The Environment and Natural Resources Officer

SEC. 484. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. — (a) No person shall be appointed
environment and natural resources officer 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
preferably in environment, forestry, agriculture or any related course from a recognized
college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have
acquired experience in environmental and natural resources management, conservation, and
utilization, for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city environment and
natural resources officer, and three (3) years in the case of the municipal environment and
natural resources officer.

The appointment of the environment and natural resources officer is optional for the
provincial, city, and municipal governments.

(b) The environment and natural resources management officer shall take charge of the
office on environment and natural resources and shall.


(1) Formulate measures for the consideration of the sanggunian and provide technical
assistance and support to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, in carrying out measures
to ensure the delivery of basic services and provision of adequate facilities relative to
environment and natural resources services as provided for under Section 17 of this Code;

(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
environment and natural resources programs and

projects which the governor or mayor is empowered to implement and which the
sanggunian is empowered to provide for under this Code;

(3) In addition to the foregoing duties and functions, the environment and natural
resources officer shall:

(i) Establish, maintain, protect and preserve communal forests, watersheds, tree parks,
mangroves, greenbelts, commercial forests and similar forest projects, like industrial tree
farms and agro-forestry projects;

(ii) Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and
technical, financial and infrastructure assistance;

(iii) Manage and maintain seed banks and produce seedlings for forests and tree parks;

(iv) Provide extension services to beneficiaries of forest development projects and render
assistance for natural resources-related conservation and utilization activities consistent with
ecological balance;

(v) Promote the small-scale mining and utilization of mineral resources, particularly
mining of gold;

(vi) Coordinate with government agencies and non-governmental organizations in the
implementation of measures to prevent and control land, air and water pollution with the
assistance of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources;

(4) Be in the frontline of the delivery of services concerning the environment and natural
resources, particularly in the renewal and rehabilitation of the environment during and in the
aftermath of man-made and natural disasters and calamities;

(5) Recommend to the sanggunian and advise the governor or mayor, as the case may be,
‘on all matters relative to the protection, conservation, maximum utilization, application of
appropriate technology and other matters related to the environment and natural resources;
and

(c) Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and functions as may be
prescribed by law or ordinance.

“ARTICLE FOURTEEN. — THE COOPERATIVES OFFICER

“SEC. 484. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. — (A) NO PERSON SHALL
BE APPOINTED COOPERATIVES OFFICER UNLESS ONE IS A CITIZEN OF THE
PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF
GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERABLY IN
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION WITH SPECIAL TRAINING IN COOPERATIVES OR
ANY RELATED COURSE FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY, AND A
FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. ONE MUST HAVE


EXPERIENCE IN COOPERATIVES ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT FOR AT
LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF PROVINCIAL OR CITY COOPERATIVES
OFFICER, AND THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE OF MUNICIPAL COOPERATIVES
OFFICER.

“(B) THE COOPERATIVES OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE
OFFICE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES AND SHALL:

“() FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
SANGGUNIAN, AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN CARRYING OUT MEASURES
TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES AND PROVISION OF FACILITIES
THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF COOPERATIVES, AND IN PROVIDING ACCESS
TO SUCH SERVICES AND FACILITIES,

“(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 THE
INTEGRATION OF COOPERATIVES PRINCIPLES AND METHODS IN PROGRAMS,
AND PROJECTS WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR MAYOR IS EMPOWERED TO
IMPLEMENT AND WHICH THE SANGGUNIAN IS EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE FOR
UNDER THIS CODE;

“(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, THE
COOPERATIVES OFFICER SHALL:

“iD ASSIST IN THE ORGANIZATION OF COOPERATIVES;

“CD. PROVIDE TECHNICAL AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE TO
EXISTING COOPERATIVES TO ENHANCE THEIR VIABILITY AS AN ECONOMIC
ENTERPRISE AND SOCIAL ORGANIZATION;

“CID. ASSIST COOPERATIVES IN ESTABLISHING LINKAGES WITH
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND NONGOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED
IN THE PROMOTION AND INTEGRATION OF THE CONCEPT OF COOPERATIVES IN.
THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PEOPLE AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES;

“(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF COOPERATIVES ORGANIZATION,
REHABILITATION OR VIABILITY-ENHANCEMENT, PARTICULARLY DURING AND
IN THE AFTERMATH OF MAN-MADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND
CALAMITIES, TO AID IN THEIR SURVIVAL AND, IF NECESSARY, SUBSEQUENT
REHABILITATION;

“(5) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN, AND ADVISE THE GOVERNOR
OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, ON ALL MATTERS RELATIVE TO
COOPERATIVES DEVELOPMENT AND VIABILITY-ENHANCEMENT WHICH WILL
IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOOD AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE INHABITANTS; AND

“C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER
DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE.”

SEC. 5. Section 487 of Book III, Title Five, Article Seventeen of Republic Act No. 7160,
is hereby amended to read as follows.

“ARTICLE SEVENTEEN. —THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
OFFICER


“SEC. 487. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS AND DUTIES. ~ (A) NO PERSON SHALL
BE APPOINTED ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER UNLESS
ONE IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENT UNIT CONCERNED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER
OF A COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERABLY IN ENVIRONMENT, FORESTRY,
AGRICULTURE OR ANY RELATED COURSE FROM A RECOGNIZED COLLEGE OR
UNIVERSITY, AND A FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS
EQUIVALENT. ONE MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL
AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, CONSERVATION, AND UTILIZATION,
FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL OR CITY
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER, AND THREE (3) YEARS IN
THE CASE OF THE MUNICIPAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
OFFICER

“THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
OFFICER IS OPTIONAL FOR PROVINCIAL, CITY, AND MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENTS.

“(B) THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE OFFICE ON ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES AND SHALL:

“(1) FORMULATE MEASURES FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF THE
SANGGUNIAN AND PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO THE
GOVERNOR OR MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, IN CARRYING OUT MEASURES
TO ENSURE THE DELIVERY OF BASIC SERVICES AND PROVISION OF ADEQUATE
FACILITIES RELATIVE TO ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES SERVICES
AS PROVIDED FOR UNDER SECTION 17 OF THIS CODE;

“(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 ENVIRONMENT AND
NATURAL RESOURCES PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS WHICH THE GOVERNOR OR
MAYOR IS EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT AND WHICH THE SANGGUNIAN IS.
EMPOWERED TO PROVIDE FOR UNDER THIS CODE;

“(3) IN ADDITION TO THE FOREGOING DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS, THE
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER SHALL:

“(I) ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, PROTECT AND PRESERVE COMMUNAL
FORESTS, WATERSHEDS, TREE PARKS, MANGROVES, GREENBELTS,
COMMERCIAL FORESTS AND SIMILAR FOREST PROJECTS, LIKE INDUSTRIAL
‘TREE FARMS AND AGRO-FORESTRY PROJECTS;

“(II) PROVIDE EXTENSION SERVICES TO BENEFICIARIES OF FOREST
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND TECHNICAL, FINANCIAL AND
INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE;

“(Ill) MANAGE AND MAINTAIN SEED BANKS AND PRODUCE SEEDLINGS
FOR FORESTS AND TREE PARKS;

“(IV) PROVIDE EXTENSION SERVICES TO BENEFICIARIES OF FOREST
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND RENDER ASSISTANCE FOR NATURAL


RESOURCES-RELATED CONSERVATION AND UTILIZATION ACTIVITIES
CONSISTENT WITH ECOLOGICAL BALANCE;

“(V) PROMOTE THE SMALL-SCALE MINING AND UTILIZATION OF MINERAL
RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY MINING OF GOLD;

“(VI) COORDINATE WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND
NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
MEASURES TO PREVENT AND CONTROL LAND, AIR AND WATER POLLUTION
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL
RESOURCES;

“(4) BE IN THE FRONTLINE OF THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES CONCERNING
THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, PARTICULARLY IN THE
RENEWAL AND REHABILITATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT DURING AND IN THE
AFTERMATH OF MAN-MADE AND NATURAL DISASTERS AND CALAMITIES;

“(S) RECOMMEND TO THE SANGGUNIAN AND ADVISE THE GOVERNOR OR.
MAYOR, AS THE CASE MAY BE, ON ALL MATTERS RELATIVE TO THE
PROTECTION, CONSERVATION, MAXIMUM UTILIZATION, APPLICATION OF
APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES; AND

“(C) EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES
AND FUNCTIONS AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE.”

SEC. 6. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations,
issuances or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
accordingly.

SEC. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the
Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

HON. SABINIANO S. CANAMA
COOP NATCCO PARTY-LIST