Ang Pahayagan

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Residents and stakeholders in Bulacan benefited from the pilot rollout of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Express Permitting on Wheels in Marilao, bringing government environmental services closer to communities.

The two-day activity, which began on April 14 at the Diamond Hall of the New Marilao Municipal Hall in Barangay Patubig, allowed residents, entrepreneurs, and project proponents to access frontline services from the DENR regional office, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) without traveling to distant offices.

Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna said the initiative addresses long-standing challenges in securing environmental permits and clearances, which previously required applicants to take time off work and spend on transportation.

He cited the directive of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to make government services more accessible, emphasizing the need for agencies to bring services directly to the people.

DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the program reflects the agency’s commitment to improving the delivery of environmental services.

“Through DENR Express Permitting on Wheels, we are bringing essential environmental services closer to our stakeholders and making compliance easier, faster, and more convenient,” Pablo said.

The rollout included discussions on environmental laws, system walkthroughs, and on-site processing of permits, certifications, and other regulatory transactions. Technical assistance was also provided to applicants seeking guidance on environmental compliance, land-related concerns, and geoscience information.

As part of the activity, around 1,000 seedlings were distributed to about 160 residents to support the agency’s greening efforts. Help desks of the DENR and its line bureaus remained open to the public until April 15 at 5 p.m.