Department of Environment and

Natural Resources

Niño E. Dizor
Riza Mae Dela Cruz

BSCA B117
VISION

A nation enjoying and sustaining its natural resources and clean and healthy
environment.

MISSION
To mobilize our citizenry in protecting, conserving, and managing the environment and
natural resources for the present and future generations.

Structure of Department of Environment and Natural Resources

Creation of Department of Environment and Natural Resources
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had its
beginnings in the old Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). In May
1974, the DANR was split into two departments through Presidential Decree (P.D.) 461
in recognition that natural resources and agriculture are broad and differing concerns. As
such, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was mandated to ensure the
conservation, optimum utilization, and programmed exploitation of the country's natural
wealth including the aquatic resources. With the shift to a parliamentary form of
government in 1978, the DNR became the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). In 1984,
by virtue of Executive Order (E.O.) No. 697, the management of the fisheries sector
through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), was transferred from
the MNR to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The events of February 1986 brought social awareness among the Filipino people
that altered the character of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The creation of
DENR under E.O. No. 131 on January 30, 1987 and the issuance of E.O. 192 on June
10, 1987 better known as the "Reorganization Act of the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources" brought a radical shift in the Department's structure and functions.
Pursuant to the EO, the DENR became the primary government agency responsible for
the conservation, development and optimum use of the natural resources as well as the
protection and development of a sustainable environmental management system for the
benefit and welfare of the Filipino people.

The approval of the Philippine Mining Act or R.A. 7945 and implementation of DAO
No. 97-11 brought changes to the structure of the Regional Office, relieving Mines and
Geo-Sciences Sector from the Region and authorizing this Sector to perform line function.

Changes were brought by the passage and approval of the Clean Air Act or R.A.
8749 mandating the Region's Environment Sector to operate as a line Bureau.

DENR Region VIII was part of this historic evolution. The history of this office can be
traced back when it was still the Bureau of Forestry District Office No. 41 which was first headed
by District Forester Patricio Banayat under Region VII, with regional office in Cebu City
headed by Regional Director Gabino Montillo.

The creation of additional regional offices throughout the country resulted in the
dissolution and creation of some district offices. The Tacloban district office 41 separated
from Cebu and became the Bureau of Forest Development Regional Office 8 in Tacloban
City. Forester Fernando Atmospera was the first Acting Regional Director in Region 8.
Initial personnel component of the BFD Regional Office in Tacloban came from dissolved
offices in Butuan, Cagayan de Oro and others.

BFD District Offices were then created in Region 8: Leyte including Biliran Sub
Province District Office was headed by District Forester (DF) Patricio Banayat; Southern
Leyte District Office headed by DF Mico; Samar District Office headed by DF Castro;
Eastern Samar headed by DF Renato de Rueda; Northern Samar headed by DF Arcadio
Calabas.

The year 1970s to 1980s saw the logging boom in Region 8. Ordinary timber
concessions were consolidated into bigger areas and awarded as Timber License
Agreements to big time concessionaires who harvested timber for export.

Forester Arcadio Calabas succeeded Fernando Atmospera in the regional

leadership which was later passed on to Regional Director Faustino Cabrido, Isidoro
Siapno, Honorato Esteves and Mariano Machacon, respectively.

It was during RD Machacon’s time that the Wood Industry Development Authority
was created in 1985. This was shortlived when the EDSA revolution happened in Feb.25,
1986.

Since its reorganization on June 10, 1987 as the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources, the management of the office had been entrusted to the following
Regional Executive Directors:

1.Marcelino V. Dalmacio - July 22, 1987 to February 1988

2.Fortunato S. Arcangel - February 1988 to February 1989
3.Leopoldo L. Ulanday - March 1989 to March 1990
4.Rosalio B. Goze - March 28, 1990 to January 22, 1992
5.Augustus L. Momongan - January 23, 1992 to January 1996
6.Israel C. Gaddi - January 18, 1996 to April 22, 1999
7.Al Rashid Ishmael - January 18, 1999 to July 27, 1999
8.Wilfredo Pollisco - July 28, 1999 to August 24, 1999
9.Pedro B. Calixto - August 25, 1999 to January 18, 2000
10.Oscar C. Dominguez - January 21, 2000 to April 23, 2001
11.Pedro V. Calixto - April 23, 2001 to July 7, 2003
12.Leonardo R. Sibbaluca - June 7, 2003 to December 15, 2006
13.Alfredo S. Pascual - December 2006 to January 12, 2009
14.Regidor M. De Leon - January 12, 2009 to November 10, 2009
15.Primitivo C. Galinato, Jr. - November 10, 2009 to June 22, 2011
16.Rogelio T. Trinidad - June 27, 2011 to June 8, 2012
17.Manolito D. Ragub - June 9, 2012 to December 19, 2013
18.Leonardo R. Sibbaluca - December 20, 2013 to September 06, 2017
19.Arleigh J. Adorable - September 28, 2017 – November 21, 2017
20.Crizaldy M. Barcelo - November 22, 2017 - PRESENT
Power, Functions and Responsibility
As provided for under Section 4 of E.O. 192, the DENR is mandated to be the primary
government agency responsible for the conservation, management, development and
proper use of the country's environment and natural resources, including those in
reservations, watershed areas and lands of the public domain, as well as the licensing
and regulation of all natural resources utilization as may be provided by law in order to
ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present
and future generations of Filipinos. Based on the above mandate, the DENR envisions to
pass on to Filipinos a renewed hope in people's ability to chart a new direction for
development and a legacy of a self-sustaining environment, mindful of people's rights to
a life of dignity. The DENR's mission is to be the dynamic force behind people's initiatives
in the protection, conservation, development and management of the environment
through strategic alliances and partnerships, participate processes, relevant policies and
programs and appropriate information technology towards sustainable development.
To accomplish the department's mandate, the following objectives serve as basis for
policy formulation:
 Assure the availability and sustainability of the country's natural resources through
their judicious use and systematic restoration or replacement, whenever possible;
 Increase the productivity of natural resources in order to meet the demands for
forest, mineral and land resources of a growing population in a manner consistent
with environmental protection and enhancement;
 Enhance the contribution of natural resources for achieving national economic,
political, social development and ecological integrity;
 Promote equitable access to natural resources by the different sectors of the
populations;
 Maintain a desirable level of environmental quality;
 Conserve specific terrestrial and marine areas representative of the Philippine
natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations.
The powers and functions of the DENR, per Section 5 of E.O. 192, are as follows:
 Advise the President on the enactment of laws relative to the development, use,
regulation and conservation of the country's natural resources and the control of
pollution;
 Formulate, implement and supervise the government's policies, plans and
programs pertaining to the management, conservation, development, use and
replenishment of the country's natural resources.
 Promulgate rules and regulations in accordance with law governing the
exploration, development, conservation, extraction, disposition, use and such
other commercial activities tending to cause the depletion and degradation of our
natural resources;
 Exercise supervision and control over forest lands, alienable and disposable lands,
and mineral resources and impose appropriate payments, fees, charges, rentals
and any such form of levy and collect such revenues for the exploration,
development, utilization or gathering of such resources;
 Undertake exploration, assessment, classification and inventory of the country's
natural resources using ground surveys, remote sensing and complementary
technologies;
 Promote proper and mutual consultation with the private sector involving natural
resources development, use and conservation;
 Undertake geological surveys of the whole country including its territorial waters;
 Establish policies and implement programs for the:
o Accelerated inventory, surveys and classification of lands, forest and
mineral resources using appropriate technology, to be able to come up with
a more accurate assessment of resource quality and quantity;
o Equitable distribution of natural resources through the judicious
administration, regulation, utilization, development and expansion of natural
resource-based industries;
o Promotion, development and expansion of natural resource-based
industries;
o Preservation of cultural and natural heritage through wildlife conservation
and segregation of national parks and other protected areas;
o Maintenance of a wholesome natural environment by enforcing
environmental protections laws; and
o Encouragement of greater people\'s participation and private initiative in
natural resource management.
 Promulgate rules and regulations necessary to:
 Accelerate cadastral and emancipation patent surveys, land use planning and
public land titling:
 Harness forest resources in a sustainable manner, to assist rural development,
support forest-based industries, and provide raw materials to meet increasing
demands, at the same time keeping adequate reserves for environmental stability;
and
 Expedite mineral resources surveys, promote the production of metallic and non-
metallic minerals and encourage mineral marketing.
 Regulate the development, disposition, extraction, exploration and use of the
country's forestland and mineral resources;
 Assume responsibility for the assessment, development, protection, conservation,
licensing and regulation as provided for by law, where applicable, of all natural
resources; the regulation and monitoring of service contractors, licensees,
lessees, and permittees for the extraction, exploration, development and utilization
of natural resource products; the implementation of programs and measures with
the end in view of promoting close collaboration between the government and the
private sector; the effective and efficient classification and sub-classification of
lands of the public domain; and the enforcement of natural resources laws, rules
and regulations;
 Promulgate rules, regulations and guidelines on the issuance of co-production,
joint venture or production sharing agreements, licenses, permits, concessions,
leases and such other privileges and arrangement concerning the development,
exploration and utilization of the country's natural resources and shall continue to
oversee, supervise and police our natural resources; to cancel or cause to cancel
such privileges and arrangements upon failure, non-compliance or violations of
any regulations, orders, and for all other causes which are in furtherance of the
conservation of natural resources and supportive of the national interest;
 Exercise exclusive jurisdiction on the management and disposition of all lands of
the public domain and shall continue to be the sole agency responsible for the
classification, sub-classification, surveying and titling of lands in consultation with
appropriate agencies;
 Implement measures for the regulation and supervision of the processing of forest
products, grading and inspection of lumber and other forest products and
monitoring of the movement of timber and other forest products.
 Promulgate rules and regulations for the control of water, air and land pollution;
Promulgate ambient and effluent standards for water and air quality including the
allowable levels of other pollutants and radiations;
 Promulgate policies, rules and regulations for the conservation of the country's
genetic resources and biological diversity, and endangered habitats; which will be
presented to the Cabinet for the President's approval;
 Formulate an integrated, multi-sectoral, and multi-disciplinary National
Conservation Strategy, which will be presented to the Cabinet for President's
approval;
 Exercise other powers and functions and perform such other acts as may be
necessary, proper or incidental to the attainment of its mandates and objectives.