The grumblings of a group of environment department employees fed up with personnel movements under the administration of Secretary Gina Lopez erupted in a lunchtime rally on Friday.
Black-clad employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), mostly from the Human Resource Development Service (HRDS) office, gathered outside the DENR鈥檚 main office to express support for two HRDS officials facing transfer supposedly after being blamed for the Civil Service Commission鈥檚 disapproval in March of the appointment of Lopez鈥� undersecretary Philip Camara as Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO).聽Some of the employees at the rally bore signs asking for Camara鈥檚 removal.
The employees expressed outrage over a draft order transferring HRDS Director Rolando Castro and Personnel Division Chief Miriam Marcelo to other positions.
One of the reasons Camara鈥檚 application for the PENRO post was disapproved was because Marcelo did not sign it.
The employees blamed Camara鈥檚 lack of civil service eligibility, a qualification for the PENRO post, for his disapproval. Camara is from the private sector, formerly the Philippine Biochar Association president. He was brought in by Lopez as undersecretary for field operations.
鈥淎ng pagdisapruba sa appointment ng isang taong ni walang civil service eligibility ay isinisisi po sa HR, partikular na sa aming director at personnel chief. Kailan pa naging kasalanan ng HR ang hindi pagkakaroon ng eligibility?鈥� a statement from the employees read, referring to Camara.
鈥淣gayon may isang taong gustong maghari sa DENR, powerful daw ito at ang tanging pinapakinggan ng ating kalihim, ang gustong magpaalis sa ating HRDS director at personnel chief dahil lamang sa hindi niya nakuha ang kaniyang gusto,鈥� the statement read.
鈥淪a ating kalihim, alam niyo po ang tama at mali. Nasaan ang sinasabi niyong social justice?鈥� the statement added.
The statement was being read by DENR employee Dada Cendana when Lopez arrived to talk to the group.
Taking the microphone, Lopez assured the employees she has talked to the employees鈥� union and said there was a 鈥渕iscommunication鈥� and 鈥渕isunderstanding of the situation.鈥�
鈥淒ENR right now doesn鈥檛 have the skills to do [area development] because what鈥檚 it鈥檚 done all its life is regulation鈥f I鈥檓 going to make a difference, I need the right people. And that鈥檚 why I got Philip Camara鈥攈e鈥檚 a farmer, he鈥檚 an expert in area development, and right now he鈥檚 doing programs in the Caraga region where I would be able to help the farmers and fishermen there,鈥� Lopez said.
鈥淚 wrote that he doesn鈥檛 have to follow the usual PENRO things because he鈥檚 co-terminus with me,鈥� Lopez said. 鈥淔rom [Camara鈥檚] point of view, I gave an order and [Marcelo] didn鈥檛 follow,鈥� Lopez said.
But Lopez also praised Marcelo, saying she liked the personnel division chief and that she was 鈥渉onest.鈥� 鈥淚t was not her intention to go against me, she鈥檚 just following what she sees as the rules鈥 understand.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檓 not saying anyone is right or wrong, I just want you to understand鈥o nothing has happened鈥nd we鈥檙e going to sit with the union鈥nd I give you my commitment that I鈥檓 not going to do anything that is unfair,鈥� Lopez assured the employees.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e scared鈥o not worry at all. I鈥檓 not going to do anything without consulting you,鈥� Lopez told the employees.
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing a DENR secretary can do alone. I realize absolutely your value in the organization. We make change together,鈥� the Secretary added.
The human resources employees, however, remained unimpressed, noting Lopez had made the same commitment on Thursday, and yet signed the order calling for the HRDS officials鈥� transfer. The order was not executed only because it was not 鈥渂arcoded鈥� or finalized yet, the employees said.
鈥淣aiintindihan namin na kailangan niya si Usec. Camara. Susuportahan namin siya. Pero kailangan niya malaman na kailangan niya rin ng tulong namin at hindi lang ni Camara,鈥� Cendana said, of Lopez.
Should Lopez go back on her word, the employees warned of bigger rallies. 鈥淪ana po kung ano yung sinabi niya kanina, yun talaga mangyari,鈥� Cendana said, after the rally. JE/rga