Section 490. Qualifications, Powers and Duties. —

1. No person shall be appointed general services 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 on public administration, business administration and management from a recognized college or university, and a first grade civil service eligible or its equivalent. He must have acquired experience in general services, including management of supply, property, solid waste disposal, and general sanitation for at least five (5) years in the case of the provincial or city general services officer, and at least three (3) years in the case of the municipal general services officer.

   The appointment of a general services officer shall be mandatory for the provincial and city governments,

2. The general services officer shall take charge of the office on general services 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 pursuant to Section 17 of this Code and which require general services expertise and technical support services;

   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 general services supportive of the welfare of the inhabitants 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 general services officer shall:

      1. Take custody of and be accountable for all properties, real or personal, owned by the local government unit and those granted to it in the form of donation, reparation, assistance and counterpart of joint projects;

      2. With the approval of the governor or mayor, as the case may be, assign building or land space to local officials or other public officials, who by law, are entitled to such space;

      3. Recommend to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, the reasonable rental rates for local government properties, whether real or personal, which will be leased to public or private entities by the local government;

      4. Recommend to the governor or mayor, as the case may be, reasonable rental rates of private properties which may be leased for the official use of the local government unit;

      5. Maintain and supervise janitorial, security, landscaping and other related services in all local government public buildings and other real property, whether owned or leased by the local government unit;

      6. Collate and disseminate information regarding prices, shipping and other costs of supplies and other items commonly used by the local government unit;

      7. Perform archival and record management with respect to records of offices and departments of the local government unit; and

      8. Perform all other functions pertaining to supply and property management heretofore performed by the local government treasurer; and enforce policies on records creation, maintenance, and disposal;

   4. Be in the frontline of general services related activities, such as the possible or imminent destruction or damage to records, supplies, properties, and structures and the orderly and sanitary clearing up of waste materials or debris, particularly 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 other matters relative to general services; and

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