DENR XII holds turn-over rite for its Land Mgt. Services: Sequito replaces Magarang

(Koronadal City, 26 January 2011) – The officials and employees of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region XII (DENR XII)  recently witnessed another change in leadership in the Land Management Services (LMS). This is pursuant to the continuing organizational development and  management reform implemented under the leadership of Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje.               Outgoing Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Lands Sacaruddin L. Magarang formally handed the command of responsibility to incoming RTD for Lands Geronimo L. Sequito, Tuesday this week (January 25, 2011) in a simple ceremony held at the LMS Office.               Earlier, Director Magarang questioned the mode of replacing him on the grounds that a mere special order emanating from the Regional Office cannot supersede a special order coming from a higher office.  Magarang assumed office way back in December 2009 on the strength of a directive issued by the Office of the DENR Secretary.               "The issuance of DENR Special Order 2011 – 70 has ended the issue," Magarang, a licensed Forester and a law graduate, declared with a feeling of relief during the event. The said order was signed by Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo, DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations on January 24, 2011 affirming Regional Special Order No. 2011 – 001 issued on January 4, 2011 by Regional Executive Director Alfredo S. Pascual.               In his acceptance speech, Dir. Sequito expressed his deep respect for the outgoing chief whom he called as his mentor having been once his superior. Magarang was Sequito's provincial officer  when the latter was still the Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO) of the DENR covering the second District of South Cotabato, previously based in the Municipality of Surallah. "I will continue the management principles and practices that you have started," Sequito said to Magarang who will soon leave for Manila for his new assignment.               Director Sequito, a licensed Forester and a master's degree holder, started his career as a Casual Forester of the Department 36 years ago. He has a total of 14 years of experience as a field official and has a wide background in forest management. He hopes to bring his more than a dozen years of managerial experience in the field to his new assignment in land management which he considers challenging but not new to him. This executive has always been cited for outstanding performance having been a recipient of the DENR Eagle Award (CENRO Category) and Outstanding PENRO Award for six consecutive years now.   This second top ranking regional official traces his roots from Iloilo and is married to Lilian nee Recto of Cawayan, Negros Occidental with whom he has two sons who are now both professionals. He is a doting grandfather to two school-aged grand children. (MCalungsod-Locsin/DENR XII)