THE regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-Davao is eyeing to conduct a monthly consultation in every barangay through the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) in adherence to their commitment to provide environmental services closer to the people.
In the launching of this year’s People’s Day in the region, DENR regional director alwyer Felix Alicer said that Environment Secretary Regina Lopez had instructed them to conduct the activity regularly.
“We required the CENRO to conduct similar activities like this to reach out to their field on a monthly basis then, they have to inform us of the schedule,” Alicer said in an interview with VoxPop Davao on Monday at DENR Regional Office in Lanang, Davao City.
According to the DENR chief, the first People’s Day conducted under the new administration was held last August 10 in the central office and Secretary Lopez have a directive to make a weekly consultation in various DENR offices.
“In fact, her instruction is to conduct in a weekly basis every Wednesday but we’re trying to see if we can sustain that one,” Alicer said, noting they will ensure that certain personnel are present every Wednesday to entertain and listen to the concerns of the people.
“But, every Wednesday, we make sure that they are available in their office in compliance with the instruction.”
This launching signals the start of the People’s Day in the region in bringing their efforts to provide the best service to the public and create possible solutions to the client's issues and concerns.
The CENROS field offices are expected to go out from their respective offices and bring closer the services to the barangays to reach out to the people.
Also, they can air their grievances so they can address their concerns.
Alicer assured to resolve issues rose in a certain timetable and act on it.
“We will be monitoring the compliance. I tasked the ERD for management to monitor the compliance of different sector,” Alicer said, saying that as of now, they have around 11 CENROS in Davao region.
Aside from People’s Day, they also have the hotline if the complainant is reluctant to surface to address his or her complaints.
Through the hotline, they can raise their concerns without revealing their identities.
Alicer stressed that DENR would act on certain issues provided the credibility of the complaint and it’s complain.
Meanwhile, Regional Public Affairs Office (RPAO) chief Jayvee Agas said that with this activity, it will further strengthen their relationship with their client, the stakeholders and the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to effectively implement environmental programs.
“At least, people will no longer have to travel long distance and go to DENR offices, they can just go to their barangays,” Agas said, noting that this is their commitment to the public.