CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — Bulakenyos benefitted from the pilot rollout of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Express Permitting on Wheels in Marilao, Bulacan, bringing environmental services closer to communities and making government transactions more accessible, convenient, and responsive to public needs.
The activity, launched on April 14 at the Diamond Hall, 2nd Floor Annex Building, New Marilao Municipal Hall in Barangay Patubig, Marilao, enabled residents, entrepreneurs, project proponents, and other stakeholders to access frontline services from the regional office of the DENR, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) without having to travel to distant offices.
According to Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, for years, securing environmental permits and clearances meant that entrepreneurs, facility and project proponents had to take days off work and spend heavily on transportation to reach distant regional government offices.
“President Bongbong Marcos Jr.’s directive is clear: the Government must reach the people, delivering visible action that brings real, measurable relief to our communities,” he added, noting that the initiative reflects a more accessible approach to public service, where government offices go directly to local communities instead of requiring applicants to bear the burden of repeated travel and added expense.
DENR Regional Executive Director Ralph Pablo said the event demonstrates the agency’s commitment to making environmental services more efficient, understandable, and responsive to the needs of the public.
laws and system walkthroughs to help the public better understand permitting procedures and compliance requirements.
It has facilitated the processing of various permits, certifications, and regulatory transactions, while also providing direct technical guidance to applicants seeking assistance on environmental compliance, land-related concerns, and geoscience information.
The activity also supported the agency’s greening efforts, with 1,000 seedlings distributed to some 160 local residents.
This two-day activity also featured discussions on environmental laws and system walkthroughs to help the public better understand permitting procedures and compliance requirements.
Help desks of the DENR and its line bureaus will remain open to public until April 15, 5:00 p.m. (UnliNews Online)
