Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan who presided over the meeting expressed optimism for a better performance of the region for this year as she thanked the officials and all personnel for doing their tasks despite the challenges in the previous year.

 

The DENR Cagayan Valley chief has ordered to facilitate the selection and promotion process including the streamlining of the hiring of personnel under contract of service.

 

She also directed the field officials to prepare their respective implementation plans for the different programs, projects and activities for the year.

 

Under the Build Back Better Task Force activities, Director Bambalan said the DENR will continue the assessment and determination of easement areas and coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) concerned in the recovery of the areas for possible planting of bamboos and other riverbank protection measures.

 

The field officials were ordered to coordinate with the LGUs in the identification of the potential relocation sites. The Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) shall conduct geohazard assessment of the areas.

 

"We will request a meeting among the task force member agencies through the Regional Development Council to institutionalize arrangements on the creation of the regional task force," RED Bambalan said.

 

The Regional Environmental Law Enforcement Council will also meet to identify out of the box strategies to intensify forest protection activities.

 

"As a tall order of Secretary Roy Cimatu, we should work closely with law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance and prevent the cutting of trees in the forest," the regional environment chief reiterated as she directed the DENR provincial chiefs to initiate discussions with the LGUs for the strengthening or creation of their respective provincial environmental law enforcement task forces.

 

During the meeting, report on the issuance of year-end benefits in 2020 were presented by the finance officers of the DENR, MGB and Environmental Management Bureau. The status of early procurement was also presented.#