Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza will launch the Regional People’s Hour for Region DENR-4B (Mimaropa) at the City Coliseum in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan.

Atienza is also expected to award land patents to qualified residents of Palawan.

“The launch of the People’s Hour in Puerto Princesa is the fourth in a series of regional launchings that we will be conducting nationwide as part of our continuing effort to provide the people with better access to the programs and other services of the DENR,” Atienza said.

Last year, Atienza led the launching of Regional People’s Hour in Pangasinan for Region 1, in Iloilo City for Region 6 and in Davao City for Region 11.

In all the previous regional launchings, Atienza acted on various local problems, including land disputes which have caused several years of aggravation to claimants. Atienza also awarded more than 300 land patents to farmers under the department’s Handog Titulo Program.

Atienza said the Regional People’s Hour is in accordance with President Arroyo’s program to “bring the government closer to the people.”

He added the People’s Hour is primarily intended for rural folks, especially those belonging to the marginalized sectors like the upland farmers and fisherfolks, to personally express their issues and concerns to the Environment secretary.

Atienza holds the People’s Hour at the central office in Diliman, Quezon City, every Thursday, starting at 10 in the morning until noon. A number of cases are brought to the attention of the Environment secretary by various individuals involving far and wide issues ranging on land ownership, upland disputes and mining.