Search for Southern Leyte's Most Environmentally-Friendly LGU Taps RDE Director Veronica Reoma as Part of Evaluation Team
The provincial government of Southern Leyte is looking long and hard for the most environmentally friendly local government unit (LGU) in the months leading up to the province's founding anniversary this July. This Search is the first of its kind undertaken by the provincial government.
Southern Leyte State University's (SLSU) Research, Development and Extension (RDE) Director Veronica Reoma was tapped by the Search Committee headed by Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Management Officer (PENRMO) Eva Abad, to be a part of the pool of evaluators.
The evaluation team followed a 7-component criteria that encompasses the evaluation of the LGU’s policies and enforcement mechanisms, programs and projects, and the establishment of full time and permanent Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer.
The PENRO Eva Abad, a provincial Department of Interior and Local Government representative, a Philippine Information Agency representative and SLSU composed the first team of evaluators.
Another team composed of Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Officer Danny Atienza, a representative from the PENRMO office and a representative from the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Maasin City evaluated field conditions and performed key informant interviews in the selected barangay of the municipality.
Reoma was in the municipalities of Liloan and Saint Bernard on May 5, and in the municipalities of Anahawan and Hinundayan on May 6. RDE Research Assistant Lieza Malinao took Reoma’s place as evaluator on May 7 in evaluating the municipality of Silago as Reoma was called to a mentoring session for students of the Development Academy of the Philippines’ Master in Public Management major in Local Governance and Development, a course designed for local and provincial planners of municipalities hit by typhoon Yolanda in 2013.
PENRO Eva Abad (left) and Reoma (second from left) plow through documents in the municipality of Liloan. Photo courtesy of Ma. Monna Francia Comaya.
SEARCH FOR EVIDENCE. Eva Abad (third from right) grills officials in the municipality of Silago.