DENR directors to run after erring companies

In a move to expand accountability of key field environment officials, Environment Secretary Michael Defensor announced that enforcing closure orders against polluting firms should now be carried out by no less than his alter egos at the regional levels - the regional executive directors.

In a memorandum, Defensor has tasked his 16 executive directors to immediately assume the task of carrying out the Cease and Desist Orders issued by the Pollution Adjudication Board. The responsibility of executing CDOs used to be with the regional directors of the Environmental Management Bureau.

Citing the regional executive director as the principal head of DENR's regional organization and operations, Defensor noted that "enforcement of environment and natural resources laws and regulations at the field level should be done in a coordinated and unified manner to ensure improved and faster service" to the public.

EMB is a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which, like the Mines and GeoSciences Bureau, the regional offices headed by regional directors, oversee the implementation of environment and mining regulations and policies respectively.

On the other hand, the DENR has 16 regional offices headed by REDs under whose control include the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers, Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers and four Regional Technical Directors in each region covering forestry, lands, protected areas and wildlife, and ecosystem research.

Both EMB and MGB maintain their respective bureau officers in the country's 16 regions alongside with DENR's regional offices headed by the REDs.

Secretary Defensor likewise transferred to the REDs some 13 key administrative powers over officers and personnel at the regional offices of the EMB and MGB.

Salient of which are the authority to approve suspension, reassignment and dismissal of erring EMB and MGB field personnel including the approval of retirement and resignation of the two bureau's regional personnel. - Jasmin R. Uy