DENR CALABARZON Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria said the purpose for the creation of the satellite office is to have a focus on the implementation of the mandates of the Department within the urban side of the province of Laguna.

“Ang impression sa DENR, magaling lang ‘yan sa kabundukan at kagubatan dahil iyon ang pinag-umpisahang sektor ng DENR. Nakakaligtaan na ‘yung isang ecosystem na napakahalaga: ‘yung urban ecosystem. Ito pong satellite office, ang focus nito sa mandato ng DENR ay ‘yang urban ecosystem dahil ‘yung proximity sa Manila ng bahaging ito ng Laguna ay kakap’raso na lang, at ‘yung kaunlaran na binabato ng Manila ay ito po ang sumasalo. Kaya po lalong nagiging mapang-hamon ‘yung usapin ng urban ecosystem,” Tamoria explained.

Tamoria also said the creation of the said satellite office is an initial step only, and that they are looking forward to the establishment of a Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Binan City.

“Ito pong pagkakaisa natin ngayon, ang pagbibigay niyo ng lugar para magamit bilang tanggapan, ang direksyon po nito ay hindi lang satellite office. Ang amin pong proposal ay mag-create ng CENRO sa urban side ng province of Laguna para po mas maging makatotohanan at talagang magkaroon ng focus ang aming tanggapan sa pakikipag-isa sa lokal na pamahalaan. Dahil sa instruction ni Secretary (Roy Cimatu) na magkaroon ng separate CENRO dito sa urban side ng Laguna, sisikapin po natin na bago magtapos ang panunungkulan ng ating kalihim ay mapirmahan niya ang Administrative Order creating the CENRO of Binan” Tamoria said.

Located along National Highway, Brgy. Lalakay, Los, Banos, Laguna, DENR-PENRO Laguna directly implements the mandates and programs of the Department within Districts 1 and 2 of Laguna, and the lone districts of Binan, Calamba and Santa Rosa. The said office also supervises DENR-CENRO Sta. Cruz which, on the other hand, covers Districts 3 and 4 of Laguna.

Considering the current situation of DENR-PENRO Laguna serving as implementing and supervising office, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu had a verbal instruction to create an additional CENRO in the northern portion of the province in October 2019. By November 2019, a technical working group was created to prepare the draft Department Administrative Order for the proposed creation of CENRO Binan. The draft Order was endorsed to the DENR Central Office on January 10, 2020.

In a meeting on February 12, 2020, Undersecretary for Field Operations, Jim Sampulna mentioned that the DENR-PENRO Laguna may create a satellite office while waiting for the approval of the said Order. The said office then requested the city government of Binan for a certain area within their premises for the establishment of the DENR-PENRO Laguna Satellite Office. Binan City Mayor, Atty. Walfredo Dimaguila, Jr. responded positively and provided an office space inside the City Hall.

During the MOA signing, Dimaguila signified his full support to the plans, programs, and activities of DENR CALABARZON. He said they are willing to extend whatever assistance the satellite office might need, especially in addressing environmental issues and concerns.

The DENR-PENRO Laguna Satellite Office covers four cities, namely, Binan, Santa Rosa, San Pedro, and Cabuyao. Laguna PENR Officer Ronilo Salac said the satellite office is already open to receive clients.###