Page 2 - DENR_Kalikasan_Vol5_No3

2 VOLUME 5 NO. 3 SEPTEMBER 2018

A POLICY...FROM PAGE 1 RTDs where designated as Regional Directors and had regional operations clarifies not only the level or rank
to report to their respective bureau Directors in the distinction of different Regional Directors, but also
hen Executive Order (EO) 192 was issued central office and not anymore to DENR REDs. This set their command responsibilities and accountabilities in
on June 10, 1987, the newly established up was formalized even by the implementation of DENR carrying out their tasks and functions. The DAO 2018-
Wgovernment of the late President Corazon Rationalization Plan when it uniformed all Directors 18 simply shows that the REDs are the highest authority
C. Aquino was faced in addressing two major crisis that in the Regions (whether RTDs or REDs) as Regional in the regions.
were hurting the country: one was the energy crisis that Directors, creating an impression that all Directors are
took toll in 1979 and the other was the environmental of the same level, and MGB and EMB RDs are in charge “The DENR is the umbrella organization and under it
degradation and destruction that left most of the country’s of their own regional operations. are bureaus. Whether staff or line bureaus, the bureau
forests and mountains denuded. Executive Order 131 RDs should be under the command of DENR Regional
was signed to address these problems, establishing On August 15, 2018, the DENR Administrative Executive Directors,” said MGB Assistant Director
the Department of Energy, Environment, and Natural Order (DAO) 2018-18 was issued, bringing back the Uykieng.
Resources (DEENR). However, the implementation of supervision of MGB and EMB regional operations to “The EMB and MGB RDs hold Director II job position
the EO was cut short, as it was amended by EO 192, DENR Regional Executive Directors. just like the PENROs, while the DENR REDs hold
reorganizing DEENR and renaming it as DENR or the DAO 2018-18 Director IV job position. The DENR REDs are really
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. higher in rank than Bureau RDs,” said Undersecretary
The authority to govern energy matters was vested in the Provides centralized and balanced management of Leones.
Office of the President for serious attention, while the regional operations
equal attention to protect and manage the environment DAO 2018-18 restored the centralized management and According to USec Leones, Secretary Roy Cimatu wants
and natural resources were retained in the Department. coordination of all bureau regional operations. Whether to maintain such hierarchical management structure
Executive Order 192 decentralized the DENR with six they are forestry, biodiversity, lands, environmental, for greater command responsibility and accountability.
No Regional Executive Director, PENRO, or CENRO,
staff bureaus: Forest Management Bureau (FMB), Lands or mining issues and problems, it is the DENR REDs now, can refuse blame or accountability for any wrong
Management Bureau (LMB), Ecosystems Research and who would provide the overall command concerning decisions or actions made in the regions because the
Development Bureau (ERDB), Protected Areas and them. Issues and problems emanating from these five DAO explicitly and specifically details their roles,
Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) now Biodiversity Management environmental sectors would again be weighed for responsibilities, and functions in relation to mining and
Bureau (BMB), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), check and balance and the more practical hierarchical the environment.
and Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). Each arrangement among Regional
Staff Bureau, except for the ERDB, has one Regional Directors would make it easy "The Secretary wants strong collaboration Enables effective enforcement of
Technical Director (RTD) assigned in every DENR for the DENR Secretary to in the Regions. Aside from having environmental laws in the regions
regional office in the country. All RTDs report to the implement programs and Before, the MGB and EMB
Regional Executive Director (RED) of the DENR enforce laws effectively in the MGB and EMB at the core of Regional police their own sectors in the
regional office, where they were assigned. regions. operations, he also wants the two regions. Through the DAO, the
However, in the late 1990s, according to MGB Acting Strengthens coordination of to operate down at the PENRO DENR REDs, ARD for Technical,
Assistant Director Danilo Uykieng, there came a need DENR with MGB and EMB at and CENRO level.” PENROs, and CENROs were
for the mining industry to support the continued the regional level given powers to police the mining
economic development in the country. Republic Act When MGB and EMB - Usec. Jonas R. Leones and environment sectors. They
(RA) 7942 or the Philippine Mining Act, and RA 8749 or became line bureaus, MGB were given the authority to issue
the Philippine Clean Air Act, were enacted in 1995 and and EMB Regional Directors report to their respective orders to remedy any practices
1999, respectively, and transformed the two staff bureaus National Directors for final decisions. Now that DAO that are not in accordance with the laws, to suspend
of DENR, the MGB and EMB into line bureaus. It was 2018-18 is enforced mining and environment problems operations that are life threatening, to arrest offenders
entrusted to MGB to support and sustain the continued and issues in the regions can be resolved immediately and seize illegally-sourced products, tools, equipment,
industrialization in the country by specializing and because the MGB RDs and EMB RDs can act through and conveyance used in the commission of anything
hastening the acceleration of raw minerals and mineral the supervision of the REDs without needing to get the illegal in mining and the environment.
supply. On the other hand, the increasing air and water approval of their respective Bureau Directors. The DENR REDs, PENROs and CENROs are provisioned
pollution caused by industrialization, led the government to be members and participate in the committees under
to turn EMB’s focus more on its own sector to effectively Strengthens coordination of DENR with MGB and EMB environmental laws, rules, and regulations. DENR REDs
address pollution problems. at the lowest level of field operations are required by law to participate proactively as member
The MGB and EMB remained part of DENR, but The DAO also strengthens the coordination of DENR of the Mine Rehabilitation Fund Committee (MRFC)
both, in some sense, became autonomous in terms of with MGB and EMB at the provincial and community and Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT), while the
implementing policies and enforcing laws. Their former level. Before, the PENROs and CENROs have no PENROs and CENROs are required to participate
jurisdiction over mining and environment problems. effectively in the MMT of MRFC. Membership and
They handle staff bureau concerns such as those related participation in these committee and team would help
to forestry, biodiversity and lands. With the issuance ensure compliance of companies in relation to mining
of DAO 2018-18, the PENROs and CENROs, under requirements and regulations.
the supervision of REDs, act as field commanders in
The DAO also specifies the powers and responsibilities
their respective area of jurisdiction (provinces and of the REDs, PENROs, and CENROs in relation to
Official Newsletter of the communities) and are deputized to enforce mining and enforcing PD 1586 or Establishing an Environmental
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES environmental laws and provide additional manpower
Vol. 5 No. 3 SEPTEMBER 2018 and technical support at the MGB and EMB Regional Impact Statement System Including other Environmental
A publication of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Offices. Management Related Measures and for other Purposes,
through the Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service with office RA 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, RA
address at DENR Building, Visayas Avenue, Diliman, 1101, Quezon City “The Secretary wants to strengthen the coordination 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, and RA
EDITORIAL STAFF of DENR with EMB and MGB at the lowest level of 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
field operations. EMB and MGB have regional offices, 2000.
Usec. Benny D. Antiporda but they have none in the provinces and communities,
Adviser Strengthens unity of command and command
Hiro V. Masuda, DBA where the actual mining and environment problems responsibility
Editor-in-Chief exist. Ang problema kasi ng environment at ng mining ay
Maria Matilda A. Gaddi nasa level ng CENRO and PENRO, so can you imagine To operationalize unity of command and effectively
Managing Editor why we are having problems on law enforcement. For carry out command responsibility, the DAO gives the
Alvin D. Gatbonton example in Region 3, if the problem is in Bataan, but the REDs the authority to recommend jointly with the MGB
Associate Editor Regional Office is in Pampanga, how can the problem and EMB Directors to the Secretary the following: a)
Adona P. San Diego be immediately addressed? But now that we have reassignment/recall/designation of EMB and MGB RDs;
Martina R. Constantino
Fatima R. Leya PENROs and CENROs who can monitor and enforce b) appointment of EMB and MGB RDs, and c) filing of
Writers mining and environmental laws, problems can be easily administrative complaints against EMB and MGB RDs.
Andrea Ana Sarian solved. The Secretary wants strong collaboration in the
Lay-out and Graphic Editor Regions. Aside from having MGB and EMB at the core With such mechanism the REDs have the leverage of
Eduard Dominic D. Ocado of Regional operations, he also wants the two to operate maintaining or putting in place the right, most bright
Marjun N. Jumao-as and skillful, or most effective EMB and MGB RDs he can
Jasper L. Lumagbas / down at the PENRO and CENRO level,” Undersecretary
Rhoderic M. Los Bañez best work with. It also gives the REDs a leeway to get
Photographers/Infographics Jonas R. Leones explained. away or get rid of inefficient, ineffective, and/or corrupt
Melvin B. Soriano Enables greater accountability EMB and MGB RDs. (Alvin D. Gatbonton)
Distribution and Circulation
Defining the hierarchical management structure for