PMEA Blog

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Lito Atienza today issued a special order reorganizing the Department’s regional executive directors (REDs) nationwide.

“The reassignment of our regional executive directors is part of our continuing organizational development. No less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expects from the department a more vibrant management of our environment and natural wealth and we will do just that,” Atienza said.

“While we have done so much last year, I believe we can do more. With the new team, I expect more effective environmental governance, particularly in the enforcement of environmental laws,” the DENR chief added.

According to Atienza, the regional officials will not only exercise authority but also observe accountability. “Any illegal activity in their respective jurisdictions, especially illegal logging, illegal mining and degradation of water bodies and protected areas, the REDs will be made responsible and liable. If warranted, charges will be filed against negligent DENR officials,” Atienza stressed.

The newly assigned regional executive directors are as follows:

• Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. - Cordillera Administrative Region (formerly detailed to the Legal Division of the Forest Management Bureau)
• Corazon C. Davis - Region 1 (formerly RED of DENR-NCR)
• Laureano B. Lingan, Jr. - Region 2 (formerly Regional Technical Director for Forestry, Region 2)
• Antonio G. Principe - Region 3 (formerly with the Office of Undersecretary for Field Operations)
• Jose Andres L. Diaz - National Capital Region (formerly Assistant Director of Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau)
• Nilo B. Tamoria - Region 4-A
• Marcial C. Amaro, Jr. - Region 4-B
• Joselin Marcus E. Fragada - Region 5
• Ricardo L. Calderon - Region 6 (formerly RED of Region 11)
• Leonardo R. Sibbaluca - Region 7
• Regidor M. de Leon - Region 8 (formerly RED of Region 3)
• Maximo O. Dichoso - Region 9 (formerly RED of Region 10)
• Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr. - Region 10 (formerly RED of Region 9)
• Jim O. Sampulna - Region 11 (formerly RED of Region 12)
• Raquil-ali M. Lucman - Region 12 (formerly Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) for Misamis Occidental, Region 10)
• Edilberto S. Buiser - Region 13

Under DENR Special Order No. 2009-01, all the newly assigned REDs are directed to report to their new assignment on January 9. As such, they were ordered to clear themselves from all their accountabilities from their prior assignments.

To emphasize their accountability to DENR resources, the reshuffled officials were barred from bringing their service vehicles to their new assignments.

Source: DENR Website