Environment Secretary Lito Atienza led the launching of the regional people?s hour in Puerto Princesa City, acting with dispatch problems raised to him by sectors from various parts of Palawan.

Atienza also awarded 104 free patents to qualified residents, covering a total area of 150 hectares.

?The conduct of regional people?s hour provides me an opportunity to not only look into the major problems affecting our rural folks, but also on how our people in the field handle their responsibilities,? Atienza said. ?The mandate given us by law is very critical?environmental protection. But at the same time, we have to ensure that the people, particularly the less privileged ones, get benefitted by the country?s natural wealth. That?s the essence of environmental governance.?

Atienza said he initiated the holding of the people?s hour at the central office in April last year. ?In barely two months, I came to realize that most of the people who came to my office were from the provinces?from as far as Mindanao, and they were poor.?

The only department in the executive branch with such kind of outreach program, Atienza said the people?s hour is consistent with President Arroyo?s program to bring the government closer to the people.

In all the sessions of the regional people?s hour that were conducted, including those in the central office, land ownership dominates the issues, Atienza said. ?This is understandable. Land constitutes the basic resource capital among the people, considering that farming remains the primary livelihood in the countryside.?