DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources-Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) chief Al Orolfo was removed from his post after he allegedly stopped a hydropower project in the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP).
Special Order No. 2017-359 dated April 27 signed by DENR Secretary Regina Paz Lopez designated Livino Duran as officer-in-charge of DENR-NIR office, replacing Orolfo.
The turnover rites will be held on Friday, May 5, at the DENR-NIR office in Bacolod City.
Duran was the Assistant Regional Director for Forest Management Services of DENR in Western Visayas prior to his latest assignment.
Orolfo was directed to report to the central office, specifically at the Office of Undersecretary for Field Operations and Staff Bureaus Marlo Mendoza.
Both Orolfo and Duran were also directed to inform Lopez in writing of their compliance of the order.
The order also stated that the reshuffling takes effect immediately and shall remain in force until otherwise revoked.
However, the order didn’t mention why Orolfo was terminated from his post.
Complaints
Orolfo told SunStar Bacolod Wednesday, May 3 that the central office received numerous complaints on how he runs the DENR-NIR.
One of which is his decision to stop the implementation of the mini-hydropower plant in Barangay Bunga, Salvador Benedicto covered by the NNNP.
Orolfo said his office stopped the hydropower project due to numerous violations, including the National Integrated Protected Areas System Act of 1992.
He said the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau also found that the project has no Environmental Compliance Certificate and that it also failed to submit a requirement to National Irrigation Administration for its use of the canal.
There was also a disagreement on the total land area to be covered by the project, which prompted the community to complain, he said.
Orolfo said there is an ongoing field investigation by the environment officers from the affected localities.
Another complaint pertains to the recalled miscellaneous lease agreement application for further study.
Orolfo maintained that there were no discrepancies in the way he ran the NIR regional office and that he only implemented the law.
Orolfo was assigned as the first regional director of DENR-NIR when the new region was established through executive order signed by former president Benigno Aquino III on May 29, 2015.
He assumed the post on January 2016, with no personnel and office, he said.
Initially, the DENR-NIR occupied an office space at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office for the first few months until they moved to an office building on Lacson Extension in Barangay 39 in June last year.
The DENR-NIR now has 72 personnel, Orolfo said.
He added that under his leadership, the DENR-NIR saw Negros Occidental being declared as one of the seven Ramsar sites in the country, and as an East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Orolfo thanked the local officials in Negros and the Negrenses in general for their support in building a sustainable environment as he urged them to support his successor.
Duran, for his part, said he will continue the programs started by his predecessor, and will check the area development of Negros Island.
He added that he will first meet with the environment officers, division chiefs, and key officers to look into the agency’s programs, accomplishments, and operations.
Duran is no stranger to Negros. He headed the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro)-Negros Occidental from 2003 to 2009.
Two months ago, DENR also reshuffled eight field officials in NIR, including the two provincial directors.
Penro-Negros Occidental head Andres Untal was replaced by Edgardo Rostata, whose previous assignment was in Cadiz City as head of its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Untal was assigned to DENR-NIR while Rostata was succeeded by Renato Sabinian.
Penro-Negros Oriental head Charlie Fabre is now assigned in Caraga Region, replacing Viernov Grefalde, who was previously assigned at Penro-Negros Oriental.
Bago City Cenro head Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, who is now assigned at DENR-NIR, was replaced by Concordio Remoroza from DENR-NIR while Rosievel Dimatulac from the regional office now heads Cenro-Kabankalan City.