Atienza reshuffles DENR regional executive directors

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza has started the revamp of under-performing regional executive directors of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

This developed, as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) disclosed it will also enforce a revamp of regional directors to streamline operations.

Atienza issued Special Order No. 2001-01 sacking six regional directors while seven directors were reshuffled.

Primitivo Galinato Jr. replaced Samuel Peñafiel as Cordillera Administrative Region director, Laureano Lingan Jr. replaced Clarence Baguilat as Region 2 director, Edilberto Buiser replaced Benjamin Tumaliuan as Region 13 director, Corazon Davis replaced Victor Ancheta as Region 1 director, Leonardo Sibbaluca replaced Celso Loriega as Region 7 director, and Ricardo Calderon replaced Lormelyn Claudio as Region 6 director.

Atienza also designated Antonio Principe as Region 3 director, Jose Andres Diaz as National Capital Region director, Regidor De Leon as Region 8 director, Maximo Dichoso as Region 9 director, Ernesto Adobo Jr. as Region 10 director, Jim Sampulna as Region 11 director and Raquil-Ali Lucman as Region 12 director. Nilo Tamoria was retained as Region 4-A director, Marcial Amaro as Region 4-B director, and Joselin Marcus Fragada as Region 5 director.

The DENR officials were instructed to immediately clear themselves from all their accountabilities and report directly to their new assignments on Jan. 9. They were barred from bringing their service vehicles to their new assignments.

DENR officials who were revamped but have no current assignments were directed to report to the office of the chief of staff on Jan. 9.

“(This is) in the interest of the service and consistent with the continuing organizational development of the DENR,” Atienza said. “No less than President Arroyo expects from the department a more vibrant management of our environment and natural wealth and we will do just that.”

“Any illegal activity in their respective jurisdictions, especially illegal logging, illegal mining, and degradation of water bodies and protected areas, the directors would be made responsible and liable. If warranted, charges will be filed against negligent DENR officials,” he said.

Atienza had warned under-performing regional directors to “shape up or be shipped out” as part of the impending revamp in the agency.

He vowed to “crack the whip” within the DENR to ensure a more effective and efficient enforcement of environmental laws.

He said a major reorganization of the department is set and key positions will be replaced and vital roles will be redefined.

Atienza said he plans to re-shuffle under-performing regional executive directors of the department.

“While we have done so much at the DENR, I know that we can do even more. That is why I urge all our employees and personnel to start the year right by redefining themselves (because) our environment and natural wealth are vital to the country’s economic well-being,” Atienza stressed.

He also announced that the DENR would now work closely with local government units and its environmental partners such as Bantay Kalikasan, Ecological Waste Coalition, Mother Earth-Philippines and other non-government organizations (NGOs).