BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—Designated City and Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers here are asking lawmakers to turn their optional positions into permanent one through the Local Government Code of 1991.
“Many if not all of Cenros and Menros have been dedicating and committing our time and effort as frontliners of the government’s implementation of environmental programs, projects and activities,” said Joseph Openia, Menro of Aritao town.
He said that at present, Menro/Cenro position is not yet a mandate among local government units, placing them under the ‘mercy’ of new political administrations.
Openia said they have already made a dent on the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in Aritao town but now in fear of its non-sustenance once a new administration in the LGU comes in.
Among their gains on the ESWMP, he said were the creation of SWMP committees in all sectors and are now conducting regular meetings to address the implementation of SWMP programs, projects and activities, institutionalization of waste segregation and recycling among barangays, establishment of eco-park, reduction of plastic and Styrofoam use in the public market, distribution of eco-bags for the villagers and synchronized river cleanup, among others.
But Forester George Canapi, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau’s Solid Waste Management Section chief, they have already proposed the concern for a permanent position among MENROs/CENROs that should be mandated by the LGC of 1991.
“We have already tapped the support of lawmakers who also recognized the need for such position among LGUs, including members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. We hope that this will be addressed soon by amending the LGC of 1991,” he said.
Canapi was one of the lecturers during the recent Training of Trainors on Upgrading the Capability of ‘Basura’ Patrollers as Solid Waste Enforcers and Educators Team in Cagayan Valley at the Tam-an Resort in Bayombong town.
The activity was sponsored by DENR-EMB in the region.
Canapi also lamented that MENROs and CENROs have been performing their duties and responsibilities in their respective LGUs but are confronted with the unstable tenure of their positions, also affecting their morale, dedication and commitment.
He said that in one instance, a MENRO who was booted out from his employment as designated worker took all the important documents regarding the implementation of SWMP in their municipality that left them reconstructing the documents.
“We started back to zero because of the incident that is why we really recognize the mandated position of MENRO or CENRO for this matter,” Canapi said.
He said the concern needs to be addressed urgently since this is one of the factors affecting the implementation of SWMP in Cagayan Valley.