Caraga Region was created through Republic Act 7901 which was approved on February 25, 1995 by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Also designated as Region XIII, the region is situated in the northeast section of Mindanao. It is bounded on the North by the Surigao Strait, on the West by the Provinces of Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, on the South by the Province of Davao del Norte and on the East by the Pacific Ocean.
It is divided into five provinces: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands; four cities: Butuan, Surigao, Bislig and Tandag, 67 municipalities and 1,309 barangays with a total population of 2,298,035.
It covers a total land area of 18,846.97 square kilometers which represents 18.48% of the total land area of Mindanao and 6.37% of the country. The region is richly endowed with natural assets and is most noted for its wood based and mining industries.
Provinces |
Total Area |
A & D |
Forestland |
Agusan del Norte |
288,438 |
84,134 |
204,304 |
Agusan del Sur |
829,719 |
216,043 |
613,676 |
Surigao del Norte |
201,710 |
95,969 |
105,741 |
Surigao del Sur |
513,770 |
168,544 |
345,266 |
Dinagat Province |
80,205 |
17,661 |
62,544 |
TOTAL |
1,913,842 |
682,351 |
1,331,491 |
THE EMB
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Caraga evolved as a line bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was organized in January 2000. It is mandated for the implementation of various environmental laws, rules and regulations particularly:
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- Presidential Decree 1586 known as the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System;
- Republic Act 6969 known as Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990;
- Republic Act 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999;
- Republic Act 9003, known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000;
- Republic Act 9275 known as the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004; and
- Republic Act 9512 known as the Environmental Awareness & Education Act of 2008.
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EMB Caraga is presently having a workforce of forty (42) personnel headed by a very dynamic Regional Director Engr. Ester A. Olavides. Sixteen (16) personnel are holding permanent positions while the rest are on job order status.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE [view directory…]
Office of the Regional Director
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- Supervise/manage in the implementation of all environmental programs, projects and activities within Caraga Region.
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Ecological Solid Waste Management
- Establish the Regional Ecology Center;
- Institutionalize the national programs to manage the transfer, transport, processing and disposal of solid waste in the region; and
- Conduct monitoring, site assessment and evaluation of disposal facilities for upgrading of dump sites.
Planning, Programming, Statistics and MIS Section
- Undertake planning & programming, monitoring, and assessment of programs/activities of the region.
- Coordinate overall activities of the region on establishing and maintaining management information system and database that will provide updated information.
- Provide updated and timely statistics and information for planning purposes and information dissemination.
Administrative and Finance Division
- Provide general administrative services
- Human Resources Management
- Records
- Property
- Other forms of support to operations
- Render Budgeting, Cashiering and Accounting Services.
Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Division
- Undertake all activities relative to the implementation of the EIS System (P.D 1586);
- Take charge in the review and processing of applications for Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) for projects under Environmentally Critical Areas, and;
- Conduct compliance monitoring of projects issued with ECC.
Pollution Control Division
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Implement all programs and activities in accordance to:
- RA 8749
- RA 9275
- RA 6969
- Undertake regular monitoring of air and water sampling stations to determine the air & water quality of the region;
- Conduct compliance monitoring of firms to environmental laws;
- Survey firms with air pollution sources, wastewater discharges and hazardous waste generation; and
- Evaluate and process applications for permits pursuant to RA 8749, RA 9275 and RA 6969.