Page 4 - Urban-Escape-Issue-1

4 URBANescape

DENR creates four field offices for Metro Manila

nvironment secretary Roy A.
ECimatu signed on Thursday, 07
January 2019, an Administrative
Order creating four (4) field offices
under DENR National Capital Region
to strengthen the monitoring and
enforcement of environmental laws
in Metro Manila, the country’s most
densely populated area.

The move, according to Cimatu, is
part of the Duterte administration’s
ongoing effort to make government
services more accessible to the people,
particularly those in Metro Manila.
“The creation of the four field offices
in the DENR-NCR aims to strengthen
the enforcement of environment and
natural resources laws and promote
focused and area-based operations,”
DENR Administrative Order No.
2019-02 states.
This would bring, according to
Cimatu, “the programs, projects, and Territorial Jurisdiction of
services of the department closer to DENR National Capital
the public.” Region Field Offices
North Field Office
In the same vein, the new field offices
would enhance coordination between East Field Office
the DENR, other regional offices of West Field Office
government agencies in Metro Manila
tasked by the Supreme Court to clean South Field Office
up Manila Bay, as well as the 17 local
government units that comprise the
region. offices, Dir. Caancan said that Office would have jurisdiction over
“service delivery and response time the cities of Taguig, Parañaque,
“The creation of the field offices of DENR National Capital Region Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, and the
is a welcome development”, Dir. would definitely improve, as clients municipality of Pateros.
Jacqueline A. Caancan, Regional from Muntinlupa or Las Piñas need
Executive Director of DENR National not travel long to our office here in Quezon City, Marikina City and Pasig
Capital Region, explained. “Other Quezon City to avail of our services”. City would fall under the East Metro
regions, they have Provincial/ Manila field office, while the cities
Community Environment and Natural Each field office would have separate of Manila, San Juan, Mandaluyong,
Resources Office (PENRO/CENRO). jurisdiction over the region’s 16 cities Makati and Pasay would be covered
We don’t have those in Metro Manila, and one municipality. by the West Metro Manila field office.
despite being the second most The field offices will be headed by a
populous region in the country with The North Metro Manila Field office Chief Environmental Officer and his
close to 13 million inhabitants.” would cover the cities of Caloocan, deputy. Every field office will have
Valenzuela, Malabon and Navotas three sections.
With the establishment of the field while South Metro Manila Field
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