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Saturday, October 21, 2017
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ILOILO City – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 has hired 412 new forest protection officers (FPO) to enforce environmental laws.
They can arrest poachers and confiscate illegally transported forest products, according to Regional Director Jim Sampulna.
The new FPOs underwent a one-day orientation on environmental laws recently.
“Love your country and work with integrity. You are no longer just a civilian. You can now apprehend illegal cutters in your areas of responsibility,” Sampulna told them.
At the orientation, the FPOs were also acquainted on the history, mandate, vision, mission, goals, and organizational structure of the DENR.
Their functions, duties and the protocol on apprehension were also discussed.
“If you are not able to apprehend say, the illegal cutters are armed, call your heads – the community or provincial environment officer. We will provide the needed assistance,” Sampulna told the FPOs.
FPOs do foot patrol at their assigned forest areas. They augment the forest protection efforts of DENR forest rangers.
“You must each have the mobile number of your respective community or provincial environment officers for easy access,” said Sampulna.
Currently, DENR Region 6 has a ratio of one forest ranger patrolling an area of 1,000 hectares.
“With the hiring of the 412 new FPOs who will work alongside our forest rangers, forest protection activities in Western Visayas are intensified. We look forward to the stricter implementation of our environmental laws to protect and conserve the country’s environment and natural resources,” said Sampulna.
Six congressmen in Western Visayas contributed to the P13-million fund which made possible the hiring of FPOs, the director also revealed. They were
Richard Garin (1st District, Iloilo), Arthur Defensor Jr. (3rd District, Iloilo), Paolo Everardo Javier (Lone District of Antique), Fredenil Castro (2nd District, Capiz), Mercedes Alvarez (6th District, Negros Occidental); and Sharon Garin (AAMBIS-OWA party-list). (DENR-6/PN)
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