Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga has issued a series of special orders on January 23, 24, and 25, creating new positions and designating key officials with specific tasks and functions.
Some of the officials were named to newly created positions or offices and somehow duplicating existing the functions of other offices or officials who already have multiple functions under their present designation.
On January 23, invoking “in the interest of the service,” Loyzaga assigned Undersecretary Ignatius Loyola A. Rodriguez as undersecretary for Special Concerns and Legislative Affairs.
The function of the newly created position is to maintain an awareness of development that might affect the DENR, its property, personnel and prepare reports for the DENR chief. It was noted that this is may have the same function of the existing Office of the Undersecretary for Legal Affairs and Administration.
With his new designation, Rodriguez will also assist in the review of documents for the signature of the Secretary, including correspondences, certifications, memos, circulars, orders, permits, contracts, and agreements, to ensure that they comply with relevant statutes and regulations.
As the undersecretary for the said office, Rodriguez will also handle priority areas, which necessitates special and immediate attention. Meanwhile, Carlos Primo C. David has been assigned as undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science, another newly created position, to supervise the Geospatial Database Office; lead discussions in policy formulation, and required changes in the regulatory functions of DENR bureaus and attached agencies.
As undersecretary for Integrated Environmental Science, he will also be tasked to promote the use of science in the performance of all DENR bureaus and attached agencies; in policy formulation in the regulatory functions of the DENR, and liaise with the different National Government Agencies on scientific and technical matters.
Assistant Secretary Joan A. Lagunda, meanwhile, is reassigned to the Office of David.
The DENR currently has the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), the agency’s principal research and development unit.
In another order, Loyzaga has designated Undersecretary Marilou G. Erni as undersecretary for Strategic Communications who will supervise the Strategic Communication and Initiative Service (SCIS) on top of her present assignment as chief of staff of DENR.
Subsequently, Loyzaga has named Karmela Beatriz L. Galura as Director for Strategic Communications. The DENR chief has also directed the Financial Management Service to allocate funds for the SCIS.
On January 11, Loyzaga has given Undersecretary Augusto D. dela Peña the assignment as Supervising Undersecretary of the Human Resource Development Service, formerly assigned to Undersecretary Ernesto D. Adobo Jr.
As such, dela Peña is now the DENR’s undersecretary for Organizational Transformation and Human Resources.
Meanwhile, in view of the retirement of Director Tirzo P. Parian, Loyzaga has named Arleigh J. Adorable as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Assistant Secretary for Field Operations-Western Mindanao.
Assistant Secretary Marcial C. Amaro Jr. has been named as Director of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) replacing former OIC Director Natividad Bernardino. Armida P. Andres was named as OIC Assistant Director of the BMB.
For the EMB, Loyzaga has named Gilbert Gonzales as director. He will be performing the function as EMB Director in concurrent capacity as OIC Assistant Secretary for Luzon and Visayas. Esperanza A. Sajul was named as Assistant Director of the EMB.
Meanwhile, Director Wilfredo Moncano was assigned to the Office of Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo Jr., leaving the position of Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau vacant.