By Chito Chavez The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced the appointment of Director Gwendolyn C. Bambalan as the new Cagayan Valley Regional Executive Director (RED). Bambalan replaced Antonio A. Abawag who was designated as the new officer-in-charge (OIC) RED of DENR in the Bicol Region. The change of command was held via Zoom an administered by DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations, Enforcement and Muslim Affairs Jim O. Sampulna. In her acceptance speech, Bambalan said her thrust is to strengthen the priority programs of the DENR as ordered By DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu. “But we will do some refocusing of our efforts where it is most critical and impactful to the people of Region 2,” Bambalan said. Bambalan enjoined her subordinates to “always adhere to the core values of Discipline, Excellence, Nobility and Responsibility.” “As a civil servant, it has been my advocacy also to influence DENR colleagues and fellow civil servants to become E-CHAMPS (Excellence, Collaboration, Honesty, Accountability, Managing Ability, Participation and Simple Living),” Bambalan said. Bambalan was designated by virtue of Special Order No. 2020-191 issued by Cimatu on June 5. Prior to her assignment in Region 2, Bambalan was the Assistant Regional Director for Management Services in DENR National Capital Region. From 2015-2018, Bambalan was also the Assistant Regional Director for Technical Services in Region 1 where she bagged the Civil Service Commission’s Pagasa Award. Before the implementation of the rationalization program of the DENR, Bambalan also served as the Regional Technical Director for Protected Area, Wildlife and Coastal Zone Management in MIMAROPA from 2012 to 2015. She also was the OIC Finance and Administrative Division at the Forest Management Bureau (FMB) for seven years.