Changing of guard. DENR-7 OIC-Regional Executive Director Isabelo R. Montejo (right) 
received the key of responsibility from Director Maximo O. Dichoso (left) in a 
turnover on June 13, 2012. DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje issued Special Order Number 2012- 422 
on June 8, 2012 designating Montejo as the new head in Central Visayas

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 has a new regional executive director (RED). This developed after DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje issued Special Order Number 2012- 422 on June 8, 2012 designating Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo as OIC-Regional Executive Director in Central Visayas. Dr. Montejo replaced Director Maximo Dichoso who is now reassigned as Regional Executive Director of the DENR, region 3 in Pampanga.

DENR-7’s newly installed Regional Executive Director Isabelo R. Montejo said the reassignment of key officials is part of the continuing organizational development instituted by DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje to pursue its various flagship or priority programs and projects on environmental protection and management.

Montejo is a holder of a doctorate degree in Management in Public Administration in 1997 and a master’s degree in Business Administration in 1995, both at the University of the Visayas (UV).  He earned his BS in Forestry at the Visayas State College of Agriculture, now Leyte State University (LSU) in 1982. He rose from the ranks from a forester in 1983, and lately a Regional Technical Director for Forestry before his assumption as head in region 7.

In a turnover ceremony speech held this morning, Dichoso regarded his stay in region 7 as short but a very fruitful one. “It is a very big opportunity for me to work with the best region in the Philippines,” he said. Dichoso also expressed his confidence that the region is in good hands under the administration of the new DENR 7 Executive Director Montejo.

On the other hand, Montejo promised to enforce the “matuwid na daan” particularly on governance, technical, and policy aspects, and urged everyone to join him hand in hand in continuing the reforms instituted by Secretary Paje for better and enhanced delivery of public service.  “We will make a difference and I need all of you to support me so that we can all deliver our tasks on time with effectivity and efficiency,” he added.

He also emphasized the priority programs of DENR as espoused by Secretary Paje, namely, (1) Eliminate opportunities for graft and corruption, 2) Clean Air, 3) Clean Water, 4) Ensure compliance to environmental regulations, 5) National Greening Program, and 5) Cadastral Survey.

Meanwhile, Montejo created a 13-member Executive Committee (EC) with DENR-7 Regional Executive Director as chair to deliberate, discuss, strategize and decide relevant environmental issues and concerns.  The members are Regional Directors of two line bureaus, four Regional Technical Directors, four support division chiefs, and chiefs of Regional Public Affairs and Human Resources Development.

The EC will meet every Mondays, and the Planning and Management Division will act as its secretariat.

Some 6.084 million pesos of information technology (IT) equipment were distributed to the various offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 including its 12 field units in Central Visayas.  DENR 7 Regional Executive Director Maximo O. Dichoso said these equipment which are considered as high capacity and high powered are necessary in pursuing the computerization efforts of the region particularly land information pertaining to cadastral maps, approved land survey, public land applications, and titles.

DENR Undersecretaries Ernesto Adobo and Demetrio Ignacio Jr. led the turnover and delivery of the said equipment on March 23, 2012 at the DENR-7 Training Hall, Banilad, Mandaue City, with the presence of provincial environment and natural resources officers (PENROs) and community environment and natural resources officers (CENROs). In a turnover speech, Undersecretary Ignacio pointed out the three-year improvement or upgrading of the information technology infrastructure of DENR that will operationalize a national greening program (NGP) website to be managed by cenros, digitize land records, and establish connectivity among field offices.

“This is the initial deployment of IT equipment and by June this year we shall have used a voice over internet protocol (VOIP) all over the regions including its field offices so that we would be able to know the situation on the ground and respond to issues in real time,” Ignacio said. He further said that DENR Secretary Ramon JP Paje envisioned that after three years of IT upgrading program which is considered the most electronically advanced, all permit applications would be received and released via computer or through the internet.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Adobo said that these equipment will be used to eventually drumbeat the “big ticket” programs of DENR such as the NGP and the cadastral survey. “This is the biggest IT turnover and deployment thus far and I am instructing to our field officers to ensure that these equipment are used to its specified purposes for better public services,” Dichoso added.