TACLOBAN CITY -- “It is my challenge to all officials and employees of the DENR to put to heart the mission of the Department in involving the citizenry in the performance of our mandate of protecting, conserving, and managing the environment and our natural resources,” said Secretary Roy A. Cimatu of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Secretary Cimatu issued the challenge during his recent visit to offices of DENR in Region VIII where he had the chance to have an interface meeting with officials and employees of the Department in the region.

He emphasized that there are laws in place that will serve as templates in the implementation of the Department’s mandate such as the Clean Air Act, Water Code of the Philippines, Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, among others.

“We have made headways in the implementation of our priority programs like that of the Boracay and Manila Bay Rehabilitation which have been replicated in the different regions. The key to that has always been our aggressive collaboration with other sectors and stakeholders, both in the public and private. We have to sustain this momentum,” added Secretary Cimatu.

Secretary Cimatu, together with Asec. Arleigh Adorable, assistant secretary for Field Operations-Visayas and his entourage, visited the DENR Regional Office, PENRO-Leyte, and CENRO-Ormoc. (GTT/DENR-8)