The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the primary agency responsible for the conservation, management, development, and proper use of the country’s environment and natural resources, specifically forest and grazing lands, mineral resources, including those in reservation and watershed areas, and lands of the public domain, as well as the licensing and regulation of all natu
ral resources as may be provided for by law in order to ensure equitable sharing of the benefits derived therefrom for the welfare of the present and future generations of Filipinos. To accomplish this mandate, the Department shall be guided by the following objectives:
1. Assure the availability and sustainability of the country's natural resources through judicious use and systematic restoration or replacement, whenever possible;
2. Increase the productivity of natural resources in order to meet the demands for forest, mineral, and land resources if a growing population;
3. Enhance the contribution of natural resources for achieving national economic and social development;
4. Promote equitable access to natural resources by the different sectors of the population; and
5. Conserve specific terrestrial and marine areas representative of the Philippine natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations. The DENR had its beginnings in the old Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR). In May 1974, the DANR was split into two departments through P.D. 461 in recognition that natural resources and agriculture are broad and differing concerns. As such, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was mandated to ensure the conservation, optimum, utilization, and programmed exploitation of the country's natural wealth including the aquatic resources. With the shift to a parliamentary form of government in 1978, the DNR became the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). In 1984, by virtue of Executive Order No. 697, the management of fisheries sector through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), was transferred from the MNR to the Minitry of Agriculture. The events of February 1986 brought social awareness among the Filipino people that altered the character of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The creation of DENR under Executive Order No. 131 on January 30, 1987 and the issuance of Executive Order 192 on June 10, 1987 better known as the "Reorganization Act of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources" brought a radical shift in the Department's structure and functions. Pursuant to the Executive Order, the DENR became the primary government agency responsible for the conservation, development and optimum use of the natural resources as well as the protection and development of a sustainable environmental management system for the benefit and welfare of the Filipino people. The approval of the Philippine Mining Act or R.A. 7945 and implementation of DAO No. 97-11 brought changes to the structure of the Regional Office, relieving Mines and Geo-Sciences Sector from the Region and authorizing this Sector to perform line function. Changes brought by the passing and approval of the Clean Air Act or R.A. 8749 mandating the Region's Environment Sector to operate as line Bureau. To date, an interim structure has been organized to cater to the needs and demands of constituents in the Mainland Provinces and Island Provinces. Implementation of DAO 99-14 dated May 05, 1999 provided for the redefinition of functions and realignment of administrative units in the Regional and Field Offices. DAO 99-52 dated December 15, 1999 prescribed a detailed defenition of functions for the realigned regional divisions that finally spelled-out the development and reforms initiatives. Recognizing the need to accelerate the sectoral and economic development through improved delivery of services in the provinces and cities of Region IV, Executive Order 103 was approved on May 17, 2002, creating Region IV-A and Region IV-B, while Aurora province was transferred under the territorial and administrative jurisdiction of Region III. Region IV-A comprising the provinces of CAvite, LAguna, BAtangas, Rizal and QueZON with ten (10) cities was named as CALABARZON while the Region IV-B composed of the island provinces of MIndoro Occidental and Oriental, MArinduque, ROmblon and PAlawan provinces with two (2) cities was dubbed the MIMAROPA Region. The DENR CALABARZON Region is headed by a Regional Director (RD). In each province, a Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) is maintained and in some cluster of municipalities, a Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) is established where such is deemed necessary.
