BAGUIO CITY – Former Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-CAR) regional director Reynaldo S. Digamo formally turned over his position to newly-installed EMB-CAR regional director Maria Victoria Abrera during simple rites held at the EMB-CAR compound Tuesday afternoon.
The turnover of the EMB-CAR leadership was pursuant to Special Order No. 2019-24 that designated Abrera was the EMB-CAR regional director and Special Order No. 2019-28 that designated Digamo as the officer-in-charge of EMB Region 10 in Cagayan de Oro City both issued by Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu.
Digamo served the EMB-CAR for 3 years and one day before he was reassigned to his new position in Region 10.
“I came to the Cordillera as a virtual stranger over three years ago. Now, I will be leaving the Cordillera not only with an established family but also a built community,” Digamo stressed in his valedictory address to the EMB-CAR personnel and visitors who graced the occasion.
He claim that he meant business in the strict enforcement of environmental laws, rules and regulations because he values the decent state of the environment that should be passed to the coming generations of inhabitants considering that the Cordillera is one of the few regions in the country that is blessed to have a good state of environment worthy of preserving and protecting.
Digamo claimed that he will leave the region with a heavy heart because he was able to learn to love the rich history and culture of the Cordillerans that is why he will always make it a point to come back to the Cordillera even if he is not an adopted son of the Cordillera considering that he values the place where he was able to gain the support of concerned government agencies, the local governments, private partners, stakeholders, environmentalists and individuals and groups in efforts to sustain the gains of environmental preservation and protection.
EMB Assistant Director Vizminda A. Osorio witnessed the turnover rites between Digamo and Abrera and assured that the agency will remain steadfast in the implementation of the appropriate programs and projects geared towards improving the state of the region’s environment which is asset in maintaining the beautiful sceneries that are frequented by foreign and local visitors.
She vouched for the integrity and credibility of Abrera as a performing EMB official even when they were working together in the central office that contributed in the recognitions given to the EMB Region I as one of the best performing offices in the country over the past several years.
Abrera explained to the EMB-CAR officials and employees that the programs and projects that have been in place will be sustained without the prejudice of introducing the needed innovations that will result to the improvements of programs and projects beneficial for the greater majority of the populace considering that they deserve to live in a good state of the environment worthy of being passed to the next generations of Cordillerans.
By Dexter A. See
