8 DENR field offices in Central Luzon abolished

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – Eight technical and field offices of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon have been abolished as part of the government’s rationalization program.

Under Executive Order (EO) 366, dissolved were the offices of the regional technical directors for forestry; lands; protected areas, wildlife and coastal zone management services and the ecosystems research and development service.           

Also abolished were the DENR’s community environment and natural resources offices (CENROs) in Baler, Aurora; Talavera, Nueva Ecija; Bacolor, Pampanga, and Botolan, Zambales. 

EO 366 or the Rationalization Plan was signed in October 2004 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The order provides for a review of the operations and organization of the executive branch and options and incentives to affected government employees.

Thirty-two of 64 regional technical offices nationwide will be abolished following the revision of DENR’s organizational and staffing pattern.

The functions of the four technical offices were absorbed by the office of the assistant regional director for technical services and the OARD for management services.

Of the 16 CENROs in the region, 12 other field offices were retained, such as those based in Dingalan and Casiguran, both in Aurora; Muñoz Science City and Cabanatuan City, both in Nueva Ecija; Camiling and Tarlac City in Tarlac; San Rafael and Tabang in Bulacan; Bagac and Dinalupihan in Bataan,  and Masinloc and Olongapo City in Zambales.