THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it hired 147 new lawyers to boost its frontline enforcement functions.
DENR-Environment Management Bureau Assistant Secretary and concurrent director Juan Miguel T. Cuna said the lawyers will be deployed in Community Environment and Natural Resources Offices (CENROs) to aid the regional offices in prosecuting violators.
“In my experience in the past, if there are people that we’d prosecute or reprimand for violations of policies and certain laws, the cases aren’t continue due to technicalities,” he added.
“It’s important that we have lawyers on the front lines so that legally, the cases we file will prosper.”
Mr. Cuna noted that the Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy A. Cimatu ordered the reinforcement of frontline offices like the CENROs, as enforcement is the department’s biggest need.
“I don’t think we can reach the number [of lawyers] that we want but the hiring of 147 lawyers for the front line is a really big step in the right direction in being able to assist the field personnel in pursuing violations,” he added.
“[The CENRO is] the front line office in terms of proximity to the people. The lawyers can help the personnel on the proper procedure so cases can actually be filed.” — Anna Gabriela A. Mogato
