Paje wants all tree-planting reports notarized

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje has ordered the notarization of all reports submitted by his 16 DENR regional executive directors and other field officers playing key roles in the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) in an apparent move to remove doubts on the veracity of NGP reports submitted to his office.               

Paje said these DENR field officers will now be required to appear before a notary public attorney to swear on the correctness of their accomplishment reports before submitting them to the DENR’s head office in Quezon City.               

“The intention is also to raise the agency’s competence in providing accurate reports to our people and the President,” explained Paje, adding that the reports will in turn be submitted to the Commission on Audit (COA) for validation.               

Paje described the requirement as a “necessary measure” to heighten transparency and accountability, as he stressed that his order applies to all DENR’s regional directors, heads of line bureaus, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officers or PENROs, and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers or CENROs.                

“I expect concerned DENR officials to be more truthful and diligent in the preparation of their reports,” he added.               

Earlier, Paje asked the COA to audit some 1.5 billion tree seedlings that would be produced and planted in 1.5 million hectares under the NGP between 2011 up to 2016.               

Paje said this tree-planting project aims to increase environment stability. He added that biodiversity conservation is crucial to the Philippines because it is one of the 17 “mega diverse countries” and it is considered a biodiversity hotspot, having the third largest rate of deforestation on the planet.