The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has partnered with Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines to review the systems and processes in the two line bureaus of the DENR: the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the DENR, represented by Secretary Antonia Loyzaga, and Alex Cabrera, chairman emeritus of Isla Lipana & Co., at the DENR Central Office in Quezon City.

PwC Philippines is a professional services firm engaged in delivering audit and assurance, and tax and advisory services within and outside the Philippines.

Loyzaga said the recent DENR Field Operations Management Conference has shown areas in the agency where there are gaps in their processes and have the potential for synergy.

“This will be an opportunity to actually address those gaps and to build value on the efforts done by everyone in the department,” Loyzaga said.

Under the leadership of Loyzaga, the DENR recognizes the need for organizational transformation through governance and risk-management as it evolves and adapts to the changing environment and social landscape. This involves critically evaluating the DENR’s existing processes, compliance, and identifying opportunities for improvement.

In support of the DENR’s transformation initiatives, the project with PwC aims to review the existing policies of the MGB and EMB to identify the major gaps on their processes and functions.

MGB is mandated to formulate and implement policies and programs pertaining to geology and the exploration, development, conservation, and utilization of mineral resources; while EMB is the primary line bureau responsible for the formulation, supervision, and implementation of policies and programs in relation to the prevention and control of pollution, as well as waste management, and environmental impact assessments.

The project shall conduct comprehensive assessment using appropriate governance, risk management, and compliance tools to review and assess risks in the existing systems and processes of MGB and EMB.

It shall also develop a five-year transformation roadmap with corresponding action plans and recommendations for improvement to strengthen the DENR towards a better organizational performance.

Through the MoU, PwC shall provide technical partnership and assistance to deliver the DENR’s desired outcomes of strengthening the agency and its bureaus, particularly the existing systems and processes in the MGB and EMB.

At the end of the project, PwC shall submit a Completion Report with the results of organizational/process diagnosis and assessment; observations and areas for improvement, and indicative five-year transformation roadmap.

Cabrera said that PwC Philippines, as a company that believes in integrity and sustainability, is impressed with the DENR’s plan, which focuses not only on top-level strategic initiatives but also includes sampling a few critical departments referred to as “the center of gravity.”

“If we are able to solve these important issues at the most difficult spots of the agency, then it will be no problem solving the rest of the issues,” Cabrera said.

Also present during the MoU signing were DENR Undersecretary for Organizational Transformation and Human Resources Augusto dela Peña, Chief of Staff and Supervising Undersecretary for Strategic Communications Marilou Erni, and DENR Legal Affairs Services Director Norlito Eneran; and PwC representatives Geraldine Apostol, Alvin Dave Pusing and Aaron Manalete.

Loyzaga had previously said that under her leadership, there will be a comprehensive review of the DENR’s people, processes, products, and services to ensure that the agency will “respond to all stakeholder needs in relation to the directives of the President” and the preservation of the environment and the country’s natural resources.