Cagayan Valley has new DENR chief

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 2 has a new Regional Executive Director.

The change of command took place on Jan. 11, 2019 at the Narek Hall, DENR Regional Office, Tuguegarao City officiated by Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas R. Leones.

USEC Leones relayed to the two regional heads the marching order of Secretary Roy A. Cimatu to focus on river rehabilitation. “The rivers must be clean,” said the national planning top official.

Incoming Regional Executive Director Antonio A. Abawag said “the swapping could be for the betterment” as he urged everybody to do his tasks and “continue to work on the priority programs of our Secretary.” “Let’s respect one another. That’s basic,” the new Cagayan Valley environment chief emphasized.

The reshuffling of REDs was announced by Secretary Cimatu during the New Year’s Call on Jan. 5, this year at the DENR Central Office, Quezon City.

The designation of Atty. Abawag as OIC, RED is contained in Special Order No. 2019-06 issued by Secretary Cimatu on Jan. 7, 2019.

Director Abawag took over the leadership from OIC, Regional Executive Director Gil A. Aromin who is designated as OIC, RED of DENR Region 5, where Atty. Abawag came from.

Prior to his designation as OIC, RED in the Bicol Region, Atty. Abawag was the Assistant Regional Director for Management Services in the same region after serving as ARD for Technical Services from 2015 to 2017 in CALABARZON. He was also the Regional Technical Director for Forestry in Region 5 for four years.

A licensed forester, he worked as a CENR Officer for 10 years and became the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENR) Officer of the different provinces in Region 5.

He first joined the DENR in 1979 as Senior Forester at the then Bureau of Forest Development in Region 5.

A Director III by position, Atty. Abawag was appointed Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) IV on August 23, 2013. # DENR ROII/CCC