TAYABAS CITY, Quezon – Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Calabarzon Regional Director Dr. Sofio B. Quintana on Thursday urged the regional officials here to intensify coordination with legislators and local government units (LGUs) on the agency’s plans, programs and activities in the region comprising Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
Quintana presented the DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu’s priorities and challenges for the region during the two-day “1st Regional Management Conference” from March 14 to15 here, citing the need for the regional office personnel to close ranks and intensify coordination and collaborative work with local government units (LGUs) and local lawmakers.
“For instance, during the budget hearing, (Congress) Representatives are asking for the projects being implemented by the respective offices,” said Quintana as he underscored the DENR’s vital function in implementing environmental policies.
He said the expectations from the DENR regional office here is very high, and that there is a long line of activities yet to be accomplished.
He also said there were local initiatives by the LGUs and other government agencies in implementing projects like in the Taal Lake Protected Landscape without coordination with the DENR.
“We are not enemies, we are here to work together. But we have to assert our authority – that the DENR takes the lead in the implementation of environment and natural resources (ENR) laws,” he said.
He urged DENR and its stakeholders to “show to the world that ENR laws have to be respected and comply with Secretary Cimatu’s directives and challenges to be quick in their actions and enforcement.”
Quintana reminded the regional conference attendees to minimize memorandum on delayed actions on cases received from their DENR Human Resource Development Service Director Rolando Castro citing criticisms on agency’s slow processing.
He pointed out that no less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte himself has been issuing special instructions to government officials and employees to efficiently attend to the concerns of the public.
Quintana also reminded especially among the regional senior officials, Provincial and Community ENR Offices (PENROs and CENROs) to “be very quick, but cases should be decided judiciously.”
He also challenged DENR workers to heed and act fast on Cimatu’s special directives to conduct close watch of all beaches, seashores, and lakeshores within the region to avoid the Boracay experience on the damage of the premiere tourism island’s environment and natural resources.
He also reiterated Cimatu’s marching orders during the DENR Secretary’s visit to the region last Jan. 26 for the Rizal and Laguna PENROs to rehabilitate the Laguna Lake as he already received the Laguna PENRO’s plans for the country’s biggest lake.
He assured regional and field officers on whatever financial assistance needed in the implementation of the said plans for the renowned water body.
The DENR regional director also underscored the need for complementation of PENROs and CENROs in the implementation of activities based on the regional agency’s Manila Bay Site Management Office plan on the priority improvement of Manila Bay.
“I encourage everybody to work very hard, but don’t put too much stress on your health because if you are sick, you cannot work in the way you want”, he said. (PNA)
