Tuesday, 18 February 2025

EVENT TITLE: Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc (PLANADES) inks partnership with EMB-NCR to establish and manage the Environmental Review Fund

18 February 2025, Quezon City, Philippines — Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc (PLANADES) reaffirms- its partnership with the Environmental Management Bureau- National Capital Region (EMB-NCR) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the establishment and management of the Environmental Review Fund.

February 13, 2025 marked a significant milestone as PLANADES and EMB-NCR formalized their partnership at the EMB-NCR Conference Room. Dr. Mark Anthony Morales represented PLANADES as its president with Engr. Maria Dorica Naz-Hipe as EMB-NCR’s Regional Director were the signatories of the MOA.  

“By the establishment of our oversight committee and with our Memorandum of Agreement, – all activities pertaining to the planning and disbursement of our review fund, shall be transparent.” Engr. Naz-Hipe, said. Engr. Naz-Hipe emphasized the MOA signing’s significance in solidifying PLANADES’s partnership with EMB-NCR. This continues PLANADES’s role as EMB-NCR’s role as the latter’s Environmental Review Fund manager.

“So now, we are here to formalize and to usher in a new stage in our partnership – and we are all very confident that this would be ushering in more productive engagements with our two institutions and hopefully would be of great assistance sa mga kababayan natin…” Dr. Morales, enthusiastically remarked as a commitment to helping the government in their processes and the people in ensuring transparency and integrity.

As witnesses, Dr. Tabassam Raza, executive director of PLANADES, Engr. Divina C. Camarao, Chief of the Clearance and Permitting Division of EMB-NCR, and Ms. Gemma G. Cariño, Chief of the Finance and Administrative Division were present. Also present at the ceremony were EnP. Arlene D.R. Santiago, Corporate Secretary, and Ms. Jenie G. Darang, Accountant (Consultant) And Human Resource Associate of PLANADES.

After the MOA signing, the first meeting of the Review Fund Steering and Oversight Committee happened discussing DAO 2001-09 “General Guidelines for the Establishment and Management of the EIA Review and Support Fund” emphasizing the role and functions of the committee.

PLANADES partnership with EMB-NCR is a manifestation of its commitment to the progressive development of human, financial, and technological capital through its standards and values in improving the quality of life of communities

Access the news from DENR EMB-NCR here.

REFERENCES:

EMB-NCR (2025). EMB-NCR partners with PLANADES for the establishment and management of the environmental review fund. Retrieved from https://ncr.emb.gov.ph/emb-ncr-partners-with-planades-for-the-establishment-and-management-of-the-environmental-review-fund/