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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPlNES 
) 
) 
) 
First Regular Session 
SEN~274 
S.No. ___ _ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to amend Section 463, Chapter 2, Title 4, Book III of the Local 
Government Code of 1991 as well as its Implementing Rules and Regulations, specifically 
Article 115, by making mandatory instead of optional the appointment of the Provincial 
Environment and Natural Resources Officer or PENRO. 
Time was when the country was teeming with rich forest reserves and lush mountain 
ranges surrounded by age-old timber resources that provided sanctuary to a variety of wildlife. 
This forest cover did not only provide us with quality building materials like wood or supply us 
with a steady flow of wildlife for food but also protected us from the destructive consequences of 
strong typhoons that often hit the country. Times have changed and together these changes 
transformed some of our forest lands into virtual savannas due to the illegal logging activities 
which have scalped it of the precious cover that in the past has served as protection against 
rampaging rain water during the typhoon season. 
It is in light of the foregoing circumstances that the government should be enjoined to 
protect and preserve our precious forest reserved to avoid destructive flooding. It is also for the 
same reasons that the government should designate an official who should be responsible for 
ensuring that ,the forest lands in every province are protected from wanton and illegal cutting of 
logs and that in areas where reforestation is needed, the same shall be undertaken to avoid 
destructive flooding in the future. This bill seeks to address this concern. 
1 


This is a Senate counterpart bill to the one filed in the House of Representatives by 
Representative Rodriguez D. Dadivas. 1 
I This bill was originally filed during the 14'h Congress I" Regular Session 
2 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
) 
First Regular ~ession 
) 
SEN'2~74 
S.No.~~_~ 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
1 
AN ACT 
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2 
AMENDING SECTION 463, CHAPTER 2, TITLE FOUR, BOOK III OF REPUBLIC ACT 
3 
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: 
4 
SECTION I. Section 463, Chapter 2, Title Four, Book III of Republic Act No. 7160, 
5 
otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, is hereby amended to read as follows: 
6 
"SECTION 463. Officials ofthe Government-
7 
(A) There shall be in each province a governor, a vice-governor, members 
8 
of the sangguniang panlalawigan, a secretary to the sangguniang panlalawigan, a 
9 
secretary to 
the sangguniang panlalawigan, a provincial treasurer, a provincial 
10 
assessor, a provincial accountant, a provincial engineer, a provincial budget 
11 
officer, a provincial planning and 
development coordinator, a provincial legal 
12 
officer, a provincial administrator, a provincial health officer, a provincial social 
13 
welfare and development officer, a 
provincial 
general 
servICes 
officer, 
a 
14 
provincial agriculturist, a provincial veterinarian, 
and 
a 
PROVINCIAL 
, 
15 
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER." 
16 
SECTION 2. In relation thereto, Article 115(b) of the Implementing Rules and 
17 
Regulations of Republic Act No. 7160 is accordingly amended to read as follows: 
18 
"Article 115. Appointive Provincial Officials. (a) The mandatory appointive provincial 
19 
officials are as follows: 
20 
(1) secretary to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan; 
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(2) provincial treasurer; 
1 


1 
(3) provincial accountant; 
2 
(4) provincial budget officer; 
3 
(5) provincial planning and development coordinator; 
4 
(6) provincial engineer; 
5 
(7) provincial health officer; 
6 
(8) provincial administrator; 
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(9) provincial legal officer; 
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(10) provincial agriculturist; 
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(11) provincial social welfare and development officer; 
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(12) provincial veterinarian; 
II 
(13) provincial general services officer; 
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(14) PROVINCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER" 
l3 
SECTION 3, Separability Clause, - If any provision, or part hereof is held invalid or 
14 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
IS 
valid and subsisting, 
16 
SECTION 4, Repealing Clause, - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
17 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary (0 or inconsistent 
18 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly, 
19 
SECTION 5, Effectivity Clause, - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
20 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation, 
Approved, 
2