Cagayan de Oro City. The Office of the DENR Assistant Secretary for Field Operations-Mindanao and Legislative Affairs Joan A. Lagunda recently conducted visits to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENROs) of Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte on January 13-15, 2021.

The official visit was aimed to meet with DENR Field employees and at the same time conduct ocular inspection to some existing DENR-CENRO Monitoring Station/Checkpoints in Bukidnon and Lanao del Norte.

It is also intended to introduce to both Offices the services of the Environmental Crime Division of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to the Department, particularly in the enforcement and filing of cases to all environmental violators.

In her visit to CENRO Talakag and PENR Office of Bukidnon in Malaybalay City. ASec Lagunda was welcomed by OIC PENR Officer Vergilino P. Alima along with the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officers namely, CENR Officer Felicisimo C. Escuadro of CENRO Valencia City, OIC, CENR Officer Virgilio N. Batocail of CENRO Don Carlos, OIC, CENR Officer Arnulfo T. Osio of CENRO Talakag and OIC, CENR Officer Morito B. Estifano of CENRO Manolo Fortich.

ASec Lagunda lauded PENRO Officials and employees for the effort in attaining over and above their usual targets and accomplishments. She also recognized PENRO Bukidnon for being a “Good Performing” Office and encourage personnel to help one another to maintain the good status of the Office.

She also instructed PENRO and CENRO Officials to consult and get the concerns of the local chief executives and legislators in their respective areas and refer to them the importance of the passing of DENR priority bills specifically, the Sustainable Forest Manage (SFM) Act, Environmental Protection and Enforcement Bureau (EPEB) Act, Revised Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act, and the Boracay Island Development Authority.

Moreover in Lanao del Norte, ASec Lagunda visited CENRO Iligan City, CENRO Kolambugan and PENR Office of Lanao del Norte in the municipality of Tubod, LDN. She was welcomed by PENRO Lanao del Norte Mamacaya M. Lucman and CENRO Iligan City OIC, CENR Officer Raof O. Abdullah.

In her acquintance with PENRO and CENRO Iligan City Officials and employees, she briefly discussed roles and functions of the Legislative Affairs in the approval of all DENR Priority Bills. She also commended PENRO-Lanao del Norte Officials and employees for the well-ordered placement of their office and the wearing prescribe office uniforms of its employees.

ASec Lagunda being the former Assistant Secretary for Administration and Human Resources is very much particular in office improvements and proper wearing of uniforms. She also reminded PENRO and CENRO officials to repaint office buildings following the agreed and required color (Blue and Green) in the recently concluded DENR Mindanao Cluster Command Conference Cum Strategic Planning held last January 11-13, 2021.

Lastly, ASec Lagunda paid a courtesy visit to Iligan City Lone District Representative Hon. Congressman Frederick W. Siao. ASec Lagunda thanked the good Congressman for the all-out support to the Department’s Priority Bills which is already lobbied in the Lower House. Cong. Siao, on the otherhand expressed his gratitude to the DENR for the accommodation and immediate action and response on the concerns of his constituents in Iligan City. He hoped that the partnership between the DENR and his Office will remain strong in the futures to come.

Throughout the said visita tion of DENR Field Offices in Northern Mindanao, ASec Lagunda introduced Atty. Marvin R. Matamis of the Environmental Crime Division of the NBI to PENROs and CENROs. Atty. Matamis discussed issues and concerns that the NBI can be of help in the implementation of ENR laws to include the filing of cases to violators. He also encouraged PENROs and CENROs to contact the Bureau whenever it needs assistance during operations. (#TayoAngKalikasan RSCIG # 01-025-2021)