Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu challenged officials of Region X to improve the forest cover of their respective area of jurisdiction during the Expanded Executive Committee Meeting on January 30, 2020 in Cagayan de Oro City.

“As much as possible let us protect the forest and improve the forest cover”, Secretary Cimatu told regional officials. He disclosed the shift of growing bamboos under the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP). He also directed the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers to visit project sites and closely monitor the implementation of ENGP in their respective areas.

“Your performance on the National Greening will be a gauge for your promotion”, he added.

On the Solid Waste Management Program, Secretary also challenged regional officials to coordinate with local government officials and provide technical assistance on their compliance to the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 particularly on establishment and operation ofsanitary landfill.

At present, there are 13 operational sanitary landfills in Northern Mindanao and with 7 in Bukidnon, Camiguin with 1 (cluster for five municipalities), 3 in Lanao del Norte and 2 in Misamis Oriental. The DENR extends technical assistance to the cities and municipalities of Misamis Occidental for them to establish a sanitary landfill.

The meeting was also graced by Chief of Staff and Undersecretary for Operations – Visayas and Mindanao, Rodolfo Garcia, Regional Executive Director (RED) Arleigh J. Adorable, Environmental Management Bureau Regional Director (RD) Reynaldo S. Digamo, Mines and Geosciences Bureau RD Efren B. Carido, Assistant RD for Management Services Felix S. Mirasol, Jr., Assistant RD for Technical Services Aldrich S. Resma, PENROs, CENROs, division chiefs and other officials of the regional office.

Meanwhile, Secretary Cimatu and USEC Garcia with regional officials visited the sanitary landfill in Barangay Pagalungan and the proposed eco park in Barangay Carmen of local government of Cagayan de Oro City. Secretary Cimatu was apprised of the initiatives of the city government on the implementation of the provisions of RA 9003 by no less than Mayor Oscar S. Moreno. He was impressed with the implementation of Solid Waste Management by the city government of Cagayan de Oro.

While in Region X, Secretary Cimatu and USEC Garcia also had a meeting with the Provincial and Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices of Bukidnon at CENRO-Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. He discussed the priority programs of the Department during the meeting. #TayoAngKalikasan RPAO 02-045-2020