Environmental Officer now a mandatory post for LGUs

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill making the provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (ENRO) a mandatory regular plantilla position.

Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte said House Bill 6205 mandates the local government units (LGUs) to appoint an ENRO in their respective localities.

Villafuerte, principal author of the bill, said the measure would also enable the LGUs to directly address the problems concerning their environment and natural resources.

“Making the ENRO officer mandatory instead of optional would strengthen the LGUs since many environmental and natural resources problems that have emerged in recent years requires constant attention at the local government level,” he said.

Villafuerte said the bill would ensure the delivery of basic services and provide adequate facilities concerning environment and natural resources in provinces, cities, capital towns and first and second-class municipalities.

He said the bill would help develop plans and strategies relative to the environment and natural resources programs and projects nationwide.

Co-authors of the bill with Villafuerte are Reps. Diosdado “Dato” Arroyo (1st District of Camarines Sur province) and Ferdinand Martin Romualdez (1st District of Leyte province).

Under the Local Government Code of 1991, the ENRO is an optional position. Its job is to establish, maintain, protect and preserve communal forests, watersheds, tree parks, mangroves, greenbelts and similar forest projects and commercial forest, like industrial tree farms and agro-forestry projects. –Charlie V. Manalo, Daily Tribune