DENR regional offices revamped

The Department of En- vironment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reshuffled its field officials to push its environmental programs designed to develop local communities nationwide.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez said yesterday the revamp has affected 17 DENR regional offices, a vital step, she stressed, toward her five- year development plan for the department.

Her medium- term plan, Lopez said, is anchored on so- called sustainable integrated area development (SIAD) and in line with the “AmBisyonNatin 2040,” the government’s 25-year vision of making the Philippines a predominantly middle- class society by 2040.

Lopez said the restructuring would allow more efficient implementation of the SIAD approach in environmental programs and projects, especially those that directly impact the marginalized sector, such as the Enhanced National Greening Program, a massive reforestation initiative that doubles as a poverty alleviation measure.

Based on Lopez’s plan, SIAD would serve as the DENR’s framework for localizing development, creating social enterprises in the countryside and building “mini economic zones” that can generate employment, livelihood and equitable income-generating activities in communities.

The DENR chief is confident that the restructuring would steer the DENR to carry out its mandate as one of the government’s social justice champions.

Named regional directors are Francisco Moreno for Region 1; Gil Aromin for Region 2; Francisco Milla, Region 3; Arsenio Tanchuling, Region 4A; Natividad Bernardino, Region 4B; Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez, Region 5; Jim Sampulna, Region 6; Emma Melana, Region 7; Leonardo Sibbaluca, Region 8; Felix Mirasol, Region 9; Paquito Melicor, Region 10; Edwin Andot, Region 11; Reynulfo Juan, Region 12; Charlie Fabre, Region 13; Ludy Wagan, National Capital Region; Ralph Pablo, Cordillera Administrative Region; and Al Orolfo, Negros Island Region.

“In area development, the key thing here is people’s access to environment, and if you want to develop an area, you have to develop the people,” Lopez said.

Under the plan, Lopez will designate key DENR field officers as site managers for area development management program (ADMP) sites.

Initially, the DENR has designated 29 priority areas: 13 in Luzon, 6 in the Visayas and 10 in Mindanao.