DENR Region XI

The Regional People’s Hour (RPH) is one strategy being implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to provide people with better access to government. This strategy will bring DENR closer to the people particularly the marginalized sector because this will allow them to interact or personally express their present and unresolved Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) issues and concerns to the top officials of the department.

Further, this is also considered as one good feedback mechanism for the DENR to better know the issues and problems faced by individuals or the community that need urgent attention and solutions.

The RPH launching in Davao City last September 20, 2008 was held at Greenheights Business and Convention Center, Diversion Road, Buhangin, Davao City together with the distribution of land patents to various beneficiaries. It was spearheaded by the four (4) Undersecretaries namely: USEC for Staff Bureaus Manuel D. Gerochi, USEC for Policy and Planning Demetrio L. Ignacio, USEC for Field Operations Eleazar P. Quinto and USEC for Administration, Finance and Legal Atty. Mary Ann Lucille L. Sering. The USECs represented Secretary Jose L. Atienza, Jr.

The RPH launching in Davao City was coupled with various activities such as the blessing of the Philippine Mining and Development Corporation (PMDC) Davao Office on September 19, 2008. Further, Coastal Clean up activity in line with the celebration of the International Coastal Clean along the shoreline of Barangay Hizon, Davao city; blessing of the new LMS Building in Bangkal, Davao City; and, interaction with DENR-XI employees were conducted on September 20, 2008.

The RPH launching in Region-XI was an overwhelming success. Region-XI’s strategies were carefully mapped out and all those involved in the RPH all did proper and constant coordination, open communication and used their initiatives to ensure its success. DENR-XI employees were fully committed to do their share during the RPH launching in the Region.