Prior to his scheduled confirmation hearing before the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA), Secretary Roy A. Cimatu on Monday received unanimous support from career executives and rank-and-file employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Officers and members of the DENR-Association of Career Executives (ACE) and the Kalipunan ng mga Kawani sa Kagawaran ng Kalikasan (K4) have all spoken out in favor of Cimatu, who is yet to face the CA for his first confirmation hearing.
ACE and K4 issued separate resolutions expressing their support for Cimatu and these were read by their representatives during the regular flag-raising ceremony at the DENR.
Human resource practitioners in the department also came out with a manifesto of support for Cimatu’s confirmation.
Addressing DENR officials and employees, Cimatu said he was “humbled by your show of support.”
“For me, these manifestations of support are more difficult to get than the confirmation from the 25 members of the CA,” Cimatu said.
DENR-ACE is composed of officials and employees who are Career Executive Service Officers (CESOs) and Eligibles (CESEs). K4, on the other hand, is the umbrella organization of all employees’ associations within the DENR central and field offices, as well as bureaus and attached agencies.
Speaking on behalf of the DENR-ACE, its president and DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones said that for a short span of three months, they have already witnessed Cimatu’s “professionalism, courage and commitment to succeed.”
“Since his assumption of office at the Department, Secretary Cimatu has demonstrated excellent decision-making skills in dealing with sensitive environmental issues and in providing solutions to the problems encountered by the Department,” Leones said.
DENR-ACE also prepared an endorsement letter addressed to the CA.
In its endorsement letter, DENR-ACE stated that Cimatu’s attributes of being a “dependable leader” and “battle-tested crisis manager” were what the agency needs as the country’s environment and natural resources face degradation and over-exploitation.
K4, on the other hand, called Cimatu’s appointm ent by President Rodrigo Duterte as “laudable,” with the former Armed Forces chief being a known public servant whose service had been “nurtured by time and experience” in government.
In a resolution read by K4 president Emma de Lima, the union noted Cimatu’s support f or causes brought to him by the union.
“As a public servant, [Cimatu] understands and feels the concerns of government employees,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the agency’s HR practitioners described his leadership as focused on results, motivated, and with emphasis on delivery of exceptional public service.
They also described his management as “down-to-earth” and respectful of employees’ civil rights. ###
