DENR has too many deputies?

The Presidential Management Staff (PMS) has appointed six undersecretaries and eight assistant secretaries of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in violation of the agency’s charter, a ranking department official alleged yesterday.

The appointments, allegedly made without consulting Secretary Heherson Alvarez, are highly questionable since they violate Executive Order 192 issued by former President Corazon Aquino, the source said.

"EO 192, which created the Organic Act of the DENR, states that there should only be four undersecretaries and five assistant secretaries," said the DENR official, who requested anonymity.

The source said PMS chief Vicky Garchitorena re-appointed Ramon Paje as undersecretary for policy and technical services, and Marvin Roño as undersecretary for internal commitment and local government affairs. Only Roseller de la Peña, undersecretary for legal affairs, was removed from his post.

Others given appointment papers by Garchitorena include the brother of former Environment Secretary Joemari Gerochi, Manuel, who is undersecretary for field operations; a certain Attorney Avelino, who replaces De la Peña; a certain Macabantac and a certain Ignacio, whose positions as undersecretaries are still to be created.

"The appointment of Manuel Gerochi is part of the concession requested by the former DENR chief after he was replaced in favor of Alvarez," the official said.

The source said Executive Secretary Renato de Villa backed the appointment of Manuel as a gesture of goodwill to the former DENR chief.

Gerochi was a partymate of De Villa in his Reporma party and the man he had endorsed for the DENR post.

The source said the appointment of the new undersecretaries had pre-empted the pronouncement of Alvarez that he would start cleansing the department.

"The appointment of more undersecretaries and assistant secretaries also runs counter to President Arroyo’s call for austerity measures that would bring additional funding for government agencies," the source said.

He warned that accommodating more officials may affect employment of regular workers.

"An additional official is equivalent to at least four rank-and-file personnel in terms of salary," the source said.

At present, an undersecretary receives at least P25,000 a month while an assistant secretary gets almost P24,000.

"What is troubling is that some of the officials do not even have the technical or environmental background that can justify their appointment," the source lamented.