(Salutations)

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS CAUSED DISTRESS TO US FOR 22 MONTHS NOW. IF THIS IS NOT ENOUGH, THE RECENT SUPER TYPHOON ODETTE  HAS LEFT A BROAD AND DEEP TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION. SAD AS WE ARE FOR OUR SEVERAL EMPLOYEES FROM THE VISAYAS AND MINDANAO  WHO ARE NOW LANGUISHING IN SORROW DUE TO THE DEVASTATION FROM ODETTE,  WE ARE STILL HERE TO CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.

MAY THIS SEASON BE OUR STRENGTH  AS WE PRAY FOR OUR EMPLOYEES AND THEIR FAMILIES,  AND FOR OTHER FILIPINOS DURING THIS VERY HARD PERIOD IN THEIR LIVES.

INDEED,  THESE AND OTHER CRISES EXPERIENCED DURING THIS YEAR,  SHOULD REMIND US OF OUR NEED FOR REDEMPTION AND SALVATION.  THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST SIGNALS THAT COMPLETE SALVATION, // AND ACCORDINGLY  WE MUST REJOICE AND CELEBRATE HIS BIRTH.

THIS IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE OF US WHO WERE SPARED FROM THE DAMAGE DONE BY COVID-19 AND SUPER TYPHOON ODETTE,  TO COMMISERATE WITH  AND TO ASSIST THE VICTIMS,  IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE THEME OF OUR YEAR-END ASSEMBLY,  “PATULOY NA MALASAKIT AT PAGTUTULUNGAN,  SAGOT SA PANDEMYA NGAYONG PASKO.”

TO STAY TRUE TO OUR THEME,  THE DENR ASSOCIATION OF CAREER EXECUTIVES AND K4  ARE PLANNING A DONATION DRIVE  FOR MEMBERS OF OUR DENR FAMILIES  WHOSE LIVES WERE SEVERELY AFFECTED BY SUPER TYPHOON ODETTE.

THE DENR EMPLOYEES UNION IS PLANNING TO DO THE SAME.  I HAVE ALSO INSTRUCTED THE DENR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO FIND WAYS  TO BRING THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT TO OUR DENR EMPLOYEES IN THE VISAYAS AND MINDANAO.

LET THE COMPASSION AND GENEROSITY OF THE DENR WORKFORCE MANIFEST IN THIS TRYING TIME.  I HOPE THAT YOU FIND IT IN YOUR HEART TO EXTEND HELP.  DURING DIFFICULT TIMES,  WE SHOULD COME TOGETHER AND LET THE BAYANIHAN SPIRIT COME TO FORCE.

IT IS BY SINCERELY CARING FOR EACH OTHER AND OUR BRETHREN, /AND BY MEANINGFULLY HELPING ONE ANOTHER, THAT WE CAN BEST CELEBRATE THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON  AMIDST THE PANDEMIC AND OTHER CHALLENGES.

INDEED,  THIS IS NOT JUST AN OPPORTUNITY  BUT ALSO A CHANCE TO FULFIL OUR MORAL OBLIGATION.

ON THIS NOTE,  I EARNESTLY THANK EVERY MEMBER OF OUR DENR FAMILY  FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE MANY ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DENR,  NOT JUST AS A SINGLE AGENCY, BUT ALSO AS THE LEADER OF SEVERAL INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCES,  AND NOT ONLY FOR THIS YEAR, BUT ALSO FROM THE DAY I ASSUMED OFFICE AS YOUR SECRETARY, AS WELL AS FOR MY REMAINING MONTHS IN OFFICE.

THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS SHOWN GREATER POLITICAL WILL TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HERITAGE  THAN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS HAD.  OUR ESTEEMED PRESIDENT RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE AND I  HAVE DRIVEN YOU HARD,  BECAUSE WE HAD SO MUCH CONFIDENCE THAT YOU COULD MEASURE UP TO, IF NOT EXCEED,  OUR EXPECTATIONS, FROM THE CLEAN-UP OF BORACAY ISLAND  TO THE RESTORATION OF THE COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS OF MANILA BAY,  TO THE CLOSURE OF ALL ILLEGALLY OPERATING DUMPSITES NATIONWIDE,  TO THE INTENSIFIED ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS,  TO THE REHABILITATION WORKS OF THE BUILD BACK BETTER TASK FORCE, AND MANY MORE —  AND YOU DELIVERED, NOTWITHSTANDING THE DISRUPTIONS CAUSED BY THE PANDEMIC  AND BY NATURAL DISASTERS.

I AM PROUD INDEED IN ALL THAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER, AND I AM HAPPY KNOWING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR GAINS IN THE MONTHS AHEAD.

MY WORK AS THE DENR SECRETARY CAME EASY BECAUSE I AM WITH COMPETENT WORKFORCE.  AND SO, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART,  THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!

MALIGAYANG PASKO SA ATING LAHAT,  AT ATING IPAGPATULOY ANG PAGMAMALASAKIT AT PAGTUTULUNGAN,  NGAYONG PASKO AT SA MGA PANAHON PANG DARATING.

MABUHAY PO TAYONG LAHAT, AT MABUHAY ANG DENR!