CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – To give more teeth to environmental laws, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Calabarzon regional office has conducted paralegal training and orientation for its regional and field officers on environmental laws, rules and regulations.
Melinda Gapas-Gordo, officer-in-charge of the DENR Calabarzon Regional Strategic Communications and Initiatives Section (RSCIS), told Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that the regional office has conducted training and orientation sessions on environmental laws and policies to heighten information awareness, education and communications on their enforcement mandate.
Gordo, who also heads the DENR Regional Public Affairs Office (RPAO), also disclosed that the activities are aimed at ensuring rules and regulations concerning the environment and natural resources are properly implemented to ensure environmental protection and conservation.
She said the regional agency here has formed its Deputized Environment and Natural Resources Officers (DENROs) who undertook their initial two-day training sessions last March 13 to 14 at the Riverview Resort and Conference Center here.
She said that the DENROs serve as the regional agency’s force which ensures the implementation of environmental laws for the protection and conservation of the environment and natural resources in the region.
DENROs are composed of personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) as well as local government unit (LGU) representatives from the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon).
According to Gordo, the two-day training and orientation sessions covered topics on the DENR Vision, Mission, and Thrusts and the Constitutional mandate spelled out through Executive Orders 23 and 26 they are bound to implement.
DENROs were also briefed on their vital roles as deputized ENR Officers including knowledge on Philippine Laws on Forestry, Public Land Disposition and Titling, Salient Features of the Wildlife Act and Wildlife Permitting.
The training also discussed on Forest Resources Utilization Permitting, Protected Areas and Coastal Resources, Salient Features of Republic Act 7586 or the “Act providing for the Establishment and Management of the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS), defining its scope and coverage and other purposes”, other environmental laws, the Philippine Mining Act and Paralegal Procedures.
Enforcement Division Chief Giovanni G. Gamo stressed the importance of the training in capacitating the enforcement officers urging the DENROs to apply what they have learned from the training sessions.
He expounded on the DENROs’ delicate roles in enforcing the law pointing out to them not to compromise their security as DENR personnel as they evaluate the situation and do appropriate action accordingly.
“Your mere presence in the area as law enforcers of DENR is enough to implement the law. Don’t hesitate to ask for my assistance if need be,” assured Gamo.
Meanwhile, DENR Calabarzon Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services lawyer Arnel P. Rodriguez emphasized to the DENROs that the retooling sessions would help expand their knowledge and “what is left for you to do is act on it.”
As part of the training workshop exercises, the participants underwent evaluation from their learning sessions as they were grouped and tasked to perform their roles and demonstrate proper procedures based on the different scenarios and field operations concerning ENR issues. (PNA)
