DENR-6 ranks 2nd in public service hotline

By Jennifer P. Rendon

You call, they listen.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Central Office recently cited DENR Region 6 for its exemplary handling of the Hotline 8888/DENR Action Center.

DENR-6 ranked second among all regional offices in Visayas and Mindanao, achieving a 100 percent resolution rate of Hotline 8888/DENR Action Center tickets for the calendar year 2023.

Atty. Francis Glenn Arceta, DENR-6 Regional Focal Person, received the citation during the Capacity Building Seminar Workshop on DENR Action Center/Hotline 8888 Operations and Ticket Resolution held at Parklane International Hotel in Cebu City on July 5. Joe-Mar Perez, head of the DENR Action Center/Hotline 8888, presented the plaque of recognition.

Hotline 8888, also known as the Citizens’ Complaint Hotline and the President’s Hotline, is a 24/7 national public service hotline operated by the government of the Philippines.

On October 14, 2016, then-President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 06, “Institutionalizing the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Hotline and Establishing the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center.”

The order allows the public to report poor government front-line service delivery and corrupt practices in all government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions, and other instrumentalities of the government.

In the case of DENR-6, land matter concerns comprised the largest number of tickets lodged in Hotline 8888 in 2023, totaling 32. Environment and administrative-related concerns had two cases each, while forestry had one case.

Hotline 8888 of DENR-6 has actively assisted complaints, grievances, and requests through calls, text messages, and emails from the public.

In a press statement, DENR-6 said Arceta’s team has diligently coordinated all concerns with the respective offices, especially with the Surveys and Mapping Division (SMD) and field offices.

“Our EMB and MGB regional offices and most of our provincial office counterparts were also given high praise and recognized for their dedication and effort in handling Hotline 8888/DENR Action Center concerns referred to them,” Arceta said.

Meanwhile, Forester Raul Lorilla, DENR-6 OIC Regional Executive Director, said sincere service to the people sometimes goes beyond the comforts of the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. work shift.

“Some messages or emails arrive after we clock off from work. Other times, coordination may have been done on weekends. We continue to serve anyway because we understand that people rely on us to assist them in their concerns,” he added.

Lorilla cited that the process of resolving environmental issues has always been complex.

However, DENR-6, through its Hotline 8888/DENR Action Center Focal Persons, continues to find ways to serve the public by addressing and resolving various concerns.

The 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Hotline provides the public with a speedy means of reporting complaints and grievances against government agencies, officials, and employees through text, call, or email to the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center located at the Office of the President.