* Delivered by Undersecretary Ernesto D. Adobo Jr. *
(Salutations)
ISANG MAKAKALIKASANG HAPON SA ATING LAHAT!
WE ARE ALL PUBLIC SERVANTS HERE. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT BEING IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE IS A MATTER OF CHOICE. ON THE OTHER HAND, DECIDING TO STAY IN THE SERVICE FOR QUITE A WHILE IS DESTINY. MOST OF US HERE ARE PRE-DESTINED TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS OUR MISSION.
IN ACCOMPLISHING OUR MISSION, WE FACE CHALLENGES AND SUCCESSES. WHETHER WE FAIL OR SUCCEED, THE BEST PART OF UNDERGOING THE PROCESS IS MEETING AND KNOWING PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF OUR MISSION.
FROM BEING AN ACCOMPLISHED CHIEF OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION AND DETECTION GROUP, REGIONAL FIELD UNIT 11 OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE TO BECOMING AN UNDERSECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, UNDERSECRETARY EDILBERTO LEONARDO WAS CALLED TO A SIMILAR AND EQUALLY CHALLENGING MISSION – BECOMING AN ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENDER.
USEC LEONARDO RIGHTFULLY DESERVES HIS APPOINTMENT AS HE IS NO STRANGER TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, ONLY THIS TIME, THIS KIND OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE CONSERVATION, PROTECTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED HIS EXPERTISE IN CONDUCTING INSPECTIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS OF ENR VIOLATIONS.
IN MAY 2021, HE TOOK THE HELM OF PROTECTING AND DEFENDING THE COUNTRY’S BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY AND PROTECTED AREAS. THIS, PLUS HIS REGULAR RESPONSIBILITIES AS UNDERSECRETARY FOR SPECIAL CONCERNS.
AS BMB DIRECTOR, HIS ADVOCACY OF “REWILDING NATURE TO ULTIMATELY SAVE OURSELVES” WAS GREATLY REFLECTED EVEN IN HIS SHORT STINT.
USEC AND BMB OIC DIRECTOR LEONARDO WILL BE BEST REMEMBERED FOR BEING INSTRUMENTAL IN THE LAUNCHING OF THE “BUHAY-ILANG SA SIYUDAD PROJECT,” THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE 34TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF BMB. THIS PROJECT CLOSED OUT CERTAIN AREAS WITHIN THE NINOY AQUINO PARKS AND WILDLIFE CENTER TO LEAVE PHILIPPINE NATIVE TREES UNTOUCHED AND GUARDED AGAINST ANY HUMAN INTERFERENCE.
IT IS A PART OF THE LARGER AIM OF THE BUREAU IN REVITALIZING URBAN BIODIVERSITY AND PROVIDING MORE GREEN SPACES IN A HIGHLY INDUSTRIALIZED ZONE.
HE ALSO ISSUED POLICIES AND GUIDELINES ON CAVE PROTECTION AND INTEGRATED PROTECTED AREA FUND MANAGEMENT DURING HIS TERM.
TODAY, AS BMB DIRECTOR, USEC LEONARDO WILL BE PASSING ON THE BATON TO THE EQUALLY COMPETENT AND SEASONED OFFICIAL OF DENR, SULTAN DATU TUNGKOL SAIKOL, WHO SHALL CONTINUE THE LEGACY OF PROTECTING AND DEFENDING OUR COUNTRY’S BIODIVERSITY TO SUSTAIN ITS BENEFITS TO THE FILIPINO PEOPLE.
DIRECTOR SAIKOL HAS RIPENED IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE BY BEING TASKED AS FORMER REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT BUREAU, OIC-REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSISTANT REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR MANAGEMENT SERVICE IN DENR REGION 12, AND DEPUTY MINISTER-DESIGNATE OF THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, NATURAL RESOURCES, AND ENERGY OF THE BANGSAMORO AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO.
I AM CONFIDENT THAT DIRECTOR SAIKOL WILL LIVE UP TO THE CHALLENGE OF LEADING THE HARDWORKING AND DEDICATED PERSONNEL OF THE DENR-BMB.
CONGRATULATIONS TO USEC ED LEONARDO AS THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR SPECIAL CONCERNS. OF COURSE, HE WILL NOT BE A STRANGER TO BMB AS HE HAS ALSO BEEN DESIGNATED AS SUPERVISING UNDERSECRETARY OF THE BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT BUREAU.
HE CONTINUES HIS MISSION AS DEFENDER AND PROTECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES.
I ALSO WISH ALL THE BEST TO DIRECTOR TUNGKOL SAIKOL AS HE ASSUMES HIS POST AS THE NEW DENR-BMB DIRECTOR. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT YOU WILL ENJOY THE SUPPORT AND COOPERATION OF THE ENTIRE BMB FAMILY BECAUSE THIS IS HOW IT WORKS IN THE DENR FAMILY.
BUT I GUESS YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS. AFTER ALL, YOU HAVE BEEN IN THIS FAMILY FOR DECADES.
TO USEC LEONARDO AND DIRECTOR SAIKOL, MAY YOUR LIFE’S MISSION CONTINUE TO BE IN SYNC WITH OUR DEPARTMENT’S MISSION OF MOBILIZING OUR CITIZENRY IN PROTECTING, CONSERVING, AND MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MARAMING SALAMAT, AT MABUHAY!
