Outgoing DENR chief welcomes new post

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Acting Environment Secretary Eleazar Quinto welcomed yesterday his new position in Malacañang as he formally turned over the department leadership to Horacio Ramos, former director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.

Quinto, who served as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) chief for only 36 days, was appointed director general of the Presidential Coalition Affairs Office.

“We serve at the pleasure of the President and go where she needs us, and I will follow her orders like any good soldier,” he said.

“I will be in familiar ground in Coalition Affairs (because) before coming to the DENR, I was the longest-serving director general of the unified Liberal Party, where my role was to manage the day-to-day affairs of the party and act as coordinator for its officials, linking its leadership here in Manila to its farthest chapters in the provinces.”

“It has been a great honor and privilege to have served in the DENR and with such sterling, hardworking and dedicated public servants,” Quinto said.

“Much of the good I have achieved in my more than three years at the DENR is because of the quality of people the department has.”

He thanked President Arroyo for the trust she gave him to lead the DENR even just for a short while.

Quinto is credited with reinvigorating and streamlining the DENR, making sure that projects were aboveboard, on time, and in compliance with environmental laws.

He said one of his major achievements was the elimination of red tape in the department.

“There had been no queue lines outside my office or people asking for their permits and papers to be acted on.”

He said he also strove to promote efficiency and professionalism among the DENR staff since all field personnel and two line bureaus were under his purview as undersecretary for field operations before.

“It was my desire in ensuring professionalism to curb graft and corruption within the DENR that prompted me to reorganize the department shortly after taking over,” Quinto said.

“However, my move was met with stiff opposition from only one out of the five undersecretaries and 10 of the more than 400 middle managers that the DENR has.”

He said of the 10 who signed the complaint with the Commission on Elections, eight had complied with his special order.

Earlier, Quinto filed a case with the Office of the Ombudsman against Undersecretary Ramon Paje for usurpation of authority and official function, grave misconduct, insubordination, and conduct prejudicial to the best interests of the service.

The complaint, filed last Jan. 25, sought to penalize Paje for issuing an order that reshuffled personnel of the department, in direct contest to the special orders issued by Quinto, who assumed office as DENR acting secretary last Dec. 29.

“I may have stepped on the personal interests of some in my quest to fulfill my mandate as DENR secretary, but genuine public service entails making such decisions,” he said.

“Doing what’s right, with firmness and conviction, can be costly but I cannot do otherwise.”

“Looking back, in the short time I was given, God knows I did my best,” he said.               – Katherine Adraneda