Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje has trained his eyes on central office personnel to clean up as he launched the DENR’s internal contest “Search and Recognition of Environment-friendly and Clean Offices” this month.

“All DENR offices nationwide have long been undertaking ecological waste management like waste segregation and recycling, and energy and water conservation as part of our mandate. However, this is the first time that we are going to give rewards to offices in the central office that have consistently been taking good environmental practices as an incentive,” Paje said.

According to Paje, the move is not only to boost productivity but also to promote the well-being of the personnel.

“The incentive that the monitoring group would come up with, will somehow be something that our people will be looking forward to, but the objective of the search program is primarily to boost our people’s productivity as we believe that a clean and well-organized work environment reduces stress and makes people happy and productive,” explained Paje.

In Memorandum Circular No. 2011-02, Paje designated Undersecretary Manuel D. Gerochi to head the Cleanliness and Orderliness Group (COG) which shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the program. DENR Assistant Secretary Corazon Davis shall serve as the group’s vice-chairman, with two representatives from the employees’ union, Katipunan ng mga Kawani ng Kalikasan as members, along with Directors Ramon Ezpeleta, Adeluisa Siapno and Ric Enriquez.

Under the directive, the group is authorized to conduct surprise inspections of the offices.

Among the criteria set for the contest include adherence to the principles of good housekeeping (40%), ecological waste management/environmental management system (40%), and records and materials disposal (10%).

Paje said there will be three winners, each of which will receive cash prizes. He, however, refused to say how much the cash prizes would be as the COG has yet to discuss it. Awarding of winners is slated in June in time for the celebration of Environment Month.The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has found another ally in the private sector in rehabilitating c