Review of envi laws highlights 2nd regional mancon

Revisiting environmental policies highlighted the Regional Management Conference of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) held on July 23-24.

 

In the conference conducted through combination of physical and virtual methods, the field officials were reoriented on foresty and biodiversity management regulations where they were able to clarify issues.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan has earlier ordered stricter adherence to environmental laws in the implementation of DENR programs and activities.

 

The regional environment chief underscored the importance of policy discussion especially among program implementers and law enforcers. “We have to have common understanding so that iisa ang kanta natin from Batanes to Nueva Vizcaya,” Director Bambalan said as she ordered the regional and field officials to not depart from existing ENR laws in implementing programs.

 

Atty. Claire Jamero and For. Raul Briz of the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) discussed DENR Administrative Order 97-32 or the “1997 Rules for the Administrative Adjudication of Illegal Forest Products and the Machinery, Equipment, Tools and Conveyances Used in Connection Therewith” and DENR Administrative Order 94-07 (Revised Guidelines Governing the Issuance of Certificate of Origin for Logs, Timber, Lumber and Non-Timber Forest Products), respectively.

 

Republic Act (RA) 11038 otherwise known as the Expanded National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 2018 was presented by Norma Molinyawe of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB). The National Caves and Cave Resources Management and Protection Act or RA 9072 was discussed by Jeff Oria, also from the BMB.

 

During the management conference, RED Bambalan called for a wider engagement of field offices in the implementation of Clean Air, Clean Water, Solid Waste Management and Geo-hazard Assessment and Responsible Mining. These priority programs of the DENR are spearheaded by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

 

“We are relying on the PENROs and CENROs in the implementation of these programs on the ground,” Director Bambalan said emphasizing the order of Secretary Roy A. Cimatu for an integrated implementation of programs by the DENR, EMB and MGB.

 

The conference was graced by Undersecretary Jim O. Sampulna, Assistant Secretary Nonita S. Caguioa, Assistant Secretary Joan A. Lagunda, Assistant Secretary and concurrent BMB Director Ricardo L. Calderon and FMB Director Lourdes C. Wagan.

 

During the meeting, the PENROs and CENROs presented their accomplishments for the first semester of Calendar Year 2020 where activities with negative slippage were discussed and addressed.#