Institutionalzing the Appointment of Economic and Investment Promotion Officers

Offin of the ecuary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 FEB -9 P1:49 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1804 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICERS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OR THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991 EXPLANATORY NOTE

Section 1, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution mandates that all sectors of the

economy and all regions of the country shall be given optimum opportunity to develop. It is through this mandate that as early as 2010, there have been efforts to encourage provincial governors and city mayors to designate Economic and Investment Promotion Officers (EIPO). In line with the administration's thrust to build a strong and resilient economy aimed at inclusive and continued growth, it is high time that we institutionalize the appointment of EIPOs in local government units who shall serve as local investment promotion officers and as the focal persons for local economic development. They shall be responsible for streamlining the process for start-ups and in supporting business operations and continuity. The designation of an EIPO would draw efforts to increase competitiveness and enforce ease of doing business that will enable local businesses to thrive in the country. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. MARK A. VILLAR ROC

• Dilatt Office of the Encortary TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) First Regular Session 26 FEB -9 P1:49 SENATE RECEIVED BY: S. No. 1804 Introduced by Senator MARK A. VILLAR AN ACT INSTITUTIONALIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICERS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7160 OR 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 of Republic Act No. 7160 is hereby amended to read as

2 follows: "SEC. 443. Officials of the Municipal Government - (a) There shall be in each municipality a municipal mayor, 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. FOR FIRST AND SECOND CLASS MUNICIPALITIES, THERE SHALL ALSO BE A MUNICIPAL ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER. (b) In addition thereto, the mayor may appoint a municipal administrator, a municipal legal officer, a municipal agriculturist, a municipal environment and natural resources officer, a municipal social welfare and development officer, a municipal architect, a municipal information officer. THE MAYOR OF THIRD TO FIFTH CLASS MUNICIPALITIES MAY ALSO APPOINT A MUNICIPAL ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER.

XXX"

Sec. 2. Section 454 of the same Act 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, secretary to the sangguniang panlungsod, a city treasurer, a city assessor, a city accountant, 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] a city general service officer AND A CITY ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER. XXX"

Sec. 3. Section 463 of the same Act 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 ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER. XXX"

Sec. 4. A new section to be denominated as Section 490-A under the new Article

Twenty-One of Book III, Title Five, of the same Act is hereby inserted to read as follows: "ARTICLE TWENTY-ONE. - THE ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER

SEC. 490-A. QUALIFICATIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES. - (A) NO

PERSON SHALL BE APPOINTED ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER UNLESS THE PERSON IS A CITIZEN OF THE PHILIPPINES, A RESIDENT OF THE PROVINCE, CITY, OR

MUNICIPALITY WHERE SUCH PERSON WILL BE APPOINTED, OF GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, A HOLDER OF A COLLEGE DEGREE PREFERABLY IN ECONOMICS, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, OR BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, OR ANY RELATED COURSE, AND A FIRST GRADE CIVIL SERVICE ELIGIBLE OR ITS EQUIVALENT. THE ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER MUST HAVE ACQUIRED EXPERIENCE IN ECONOMIC OR INVESTMENT POLICY MAKING OR MANAGEMENT OR RELATED FIELD FOR AT LEAST FIVE (5) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE PROVINCIAL AND CITY ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT OFFICER, AND THREE (3) YEARS IN THE CASE OF THE MUNICIPAL ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT OFFICER. FOR THE PROVINCIAL, CITY, AND FIRST AND SECOND CLASS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS, THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER IS MANDATORY AND OPTIONAL FOR THIRD TO SIXTH CLASS MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENTS. (B) THE ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER SHALL TAKE CHARGE OF THE ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICE AND SHALL: 1. FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT THE LOCAL INVESTMENT AND INCENTIVES CODE; 2. FACILITATE THE PREPARATION, COORDINATION, AND EXECUTION OF LOCAL ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION POLICIES, PROJECTS, AND ACTIVITIES OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT; 3. FACILITATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SYSTEMATIC, COORDINATED, AND SUSTAINED PROMOTION AND MARKETING OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT AS AN INVESTMENT LOCATION; 4. PROVIDE BASIC INFORMATION ON THE BUSINESS POTENTIALS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNIT TO PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS TO ATTRACT MORE INVESTMENTS TO FLOW IN THE COMMUNITY;

5. ADVISE THE SANGGUNIAN, GOVERNOR, OR MAYOR AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THE GENERATION OF INVESTMENTS AND ON SUCH OTHER MATTERS RELATIVE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; 6. ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND UPDATE A LOCAL ECONOMIC DATABASE CONTAINING RELEVANT FACTS AND FIGURES; 7. COORDINATE WITH THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN THE PROMOTION OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES; 8. COORDINATE WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN CARRYING OUT INVESTMENT PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS; 9. CONDUCT INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ON LOCAL AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON INVESTMENTS; AND, 10. EXERCISE SUCH OTHER POWERS AND PERFORM SUCH OTHER DUTIES AND FUNCTION AS MAY BE PRESCRIBED BY LAW OR ORDINANCE."

Sec. 5. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from

the approval of this Act, the Secretary of Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the Presidents of the League of Provinces, League of Cities and League of Municipalities and the Secretary of Budget and Management, shall promulgate the rules and regulations implementing the provisions of this Act. The implementing rules and regulations issued pursuant to this section shall take effect thirty (30) days after its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Sec. 6. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,