Bringing environmental permitting services directly to El Nido enabled local businesses and project proponents to process applications closer to home, with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) MiMaRoPa serving 147 clients and releasing 41 permits and clearances during its three-day “DENR Express: Permitting on Wheels” program in June.
The EMB MiMaRoPa said the mobile permitting activity was held from June 23 to 25 at the conference room of a hotel along Balinsasayaw Road. It brought technical and evaluation personnel to El Nido so clients no longer had to travel to the agency’s regional or field offices for environmental permitting services.
The bureau said it received 29 permit applications during the three-day activity and immediately processed and released 41 environmental permits and clearances. These included 20 Pollution Control Officer (PCO) accreditations, six Wastewater Discharge Permits, four Hazardous Waste Generator IDs, four Permits to Operate for air pollution source installations, two Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs), and one Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC).
EMB MiMaRoPa also assisted 20 clients with requests under the Company Registration System, six of which were processed during the activity. Technical personnel likewise helped clients submit Online Self-Monitoring Reports, Compliance Monitoring Reports, and addressed other concerns related to environmental compliance.
The bureau distributed more than 500 information, education, and communication (IEC) materials to participants during the event. It also issued 78 official receipts through its payment booth over the three-day program.
In a social media post issued on July 6, EMB MiMaRoPa described the initiative as part of its continuing effort to make government services more accessible.
The agency said bringing its services directly to communities aims to improve environmental compliance among projects in the region while supporting tourism and sustainable development.
