Photo courtesy of DENR-5
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol is taking its permit services to far-flung communities through its year-round Permitting on Wheels program.
Environmental Management Bureau Bicol Director Geri-Geronimo Sañez said the program targeted towns with poor connectivity and limited access to government offices.
The next stop was set in Palanas, Masbate, on June 25 and 26, a town far from Masbate City and among the areas prioritized by the bureau.
The mobile service will also visit Siruma, Camarines Sur, in July; Bulan, Sorsogon, in August; Daet, Camarines Norte, in September; Caramoan, Camarines Sur, in October; Iriga City in November; and Tabaco City, Albay, in December.
Sañez said the program was meant to cut the burden on clients who would otherwise have to travel to the regional office for guidance on permits and clearances.
He said the service helped applicants access the online system, understand requirements, and properly submit reports despite connectivity problems in their areas.
The bureau clarified that permits would not be automatically approved on site, as the activity focused on guiding clients through the correct process.
The one-stop setup covers concerns on tree-cutting permits, chainsaw permits, land matters, foreshore lease agreements, and other DENR transactions with help from EMB, the provincial environment office, and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau.
