By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Negros Island Region (DENR-NIR) Director Al Orolfo said the removal of Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) head Andrea Untal is normal and part of the DENR revamp of personnel nationwide.
In terms of the protests conducted by Green Alert Negros (GAN) in response to the staffing change, Orolfo said he respects their actions, calling it “freedom of expression.”
In a radio interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod, the DENR-NIR chief said they were following orders from the central office in Metro Manila.
Last Friday, GAN conducted a protest outside the DENR-NIR office.
In a statement released by GAN, they called Untal’s removal “a big loss to DENR in the province, particularly in pursuing issues on illegal structures inside the Northern Negros Natural Park (NNNP).”
Untal was replaced by former Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Cadiz City head, Edgardo Rostata./WDJ