PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is pushing for the creation of local environment and natural resources offices (ENROs) in other municipalities in Palawan to improve the delivery and implementation of environmental programs.
PENRO officer-in-charge Felizardo Cayatoc said the creation of local ENROs is vital in localities to manage natural resources, particularly in towns that have high tourist arrivals, where there is an urgent need for regulation and enforcement of environmental laws.
“Sana ay aktibo ang mga municipal ENROs nila kasi sila ang tututok sa environment plans and programs sa kanilang mga bayan. Ang kailangan talaga ay mayroong visible na office at permanent na tao kasi marami ng na-devolved sa local government unit (LGU) naenvironment and natural resources functions (I hope their municipal ENROs are active because they are the ones that need to focus on environment plans and programs in their towns. What is needed is for them to be visible and permanent personnel as a lot of responsibilities and functions have been devolved to the local government unit and natural resources),” he said.
Among the LGUs in Palawan with ENROs and permanent officers include Puerto Princesa City, Rizal, Brooke’s Point, Narra, Quezon, Aborlan, Roxas, and Taytay. El Nido has its municipal ENRO but its officer’s status is designated, Cayatoc said.
The towns of Coron, Culion, Linapacan and other smaller towns still have no local ENRO and officers.
“Hindi pa alam kung maka-create ba ang Linapacan LGU kasi titingnan pa kung kaya, kasi napakaliit ang kanyang internal revenue allotment (We don’t know yet if the Linapacan LGU can create one because its internal revenue allotment is limited),” he said.
The local ENRO is responsible for the execution and implementation of programs like solid waste management, water quality monitoring, reforestation, forest protection, and conservation of natural resources.
Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is among the laws that LGUs have to strictly implement or face sanctions.
These involve the management and operations of the town’s final disposal facility, which is a sanitary landfill for its residual wastes, the establishment of the materials recovery facility for recyclable wastes, and other waste reduction measures. (Gerardo Reyes, Jr./PNA)
