Move to make ENRO permanent backed

Recognizing the important role of a city/ municipal environment and natural resources officer, a provincial resolution was passed in support of a pending bill in Congress seeking to make the position permanent.

Authored by Board Member Thadeo Ouano, the resolution states that the Cebu Provincial Government recognized the importance a municipal environment and natural resources officer in implementing environment laws such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Climate Change Act. Implementation of these laws requires a focal person and office in all classes of local government units.

House Bill no. 334 or An Act changing the appointment of the environment and natural resources officer from optional to mandatory is currently pending before the House Committee on Local Government.

“House Bill No. 334 coincides, complements and supports the Cebu Province initiative for a more responsive and effective ENRO in its component cities and municipalities,” Ouano’s resolution reads.

If passed, the law will require provinces, cities and municipalities in the Metropolitan Manila areas and elsewhere where such levels or classes of cities/municipalities are capable of paying for the services of such persons to appoint an environment and natural resources officer.

But Ouano said that environmental and natural resources problems and related catastrophic damages make no distinction between levels or classes of municipalities.

“The mandatory appointment of an NERO in provinces, cities and every class of municipalities in all parts of the country has become not only necessary, but imperative and essential,” he said.