Antimining and environmental groups on Tuesday expressed support behind the decision of incoming President Rodrigo R. Duterte, naming Gina Lopez of ABS-CBN Lingkod Bayan Foundation to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) post.
Sources said Lopez had already decided to accept the Cabinet offer, but wants Duterte to be the first to know of her decision before making an official announcement. A known antimining advocate, Lopez was appointed in 2010 by President Aquino as chairman of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC).
“Tatawag daw muna siya kay President Duterte to let him know. I don’t know kung natawagan na niya,” the source told the BusinessMirror in an interview.
“This is a welcome development for the environmental and climate advocacy in the country. Gina Lopez has been consistent in the advocacy to protect the environment, particularly against large-scale destructive mining, and in recent months, has been a voice to phase out coal plants and mining in the country,” Gerry Arances of the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development (CEED) said.
Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of the Alyansa Tigil Mina (ATM), said Lopez has a proven track record in championing ecotourism, sustainable livelihoods, community-based enterprises and supporting communities that have been negatively impacted by destructive mining.
“The Lopez family has also recently announced that they will divest from coal-power plants [and] reduce their exposure to fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy,” he added.
The professional background of Lopez as managing director of the ABS-CBN Foundation will be very helpful in her environmental advocacy, Garganera said.
“Probably, the most important factor is Ms. Gina’s role in convening the Green Thumb Coalition to produce the Green Agenda and elaborate the Green Scorecard for the candidates of the 2016 elections,” he said. ATM is a member of the Green Thumb Coalition.
Garganera is confident that with the proper and adequate support from the various environmental groups, Lopez will complement very well the change that the Duterte administration is aspiring for.
Clemente Bautista, national coordinator of the Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan-PNE), said the group stands witness to Lopez’s leadership and determination in defending the environment and urged Lopez to accept Duterte’s offer to head the DENR.
“We joined Lopez in the ‘No to Mining in Palawan’ national-signature drive that gathered 10 million signatures. We linked arms with her in demanding justice for murdered Palawan environmentalist Dr. Gerry Ortega,” Bautista said.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP), for its part, issued a statement affirming its commitment to responsible mining.
“In light of recent developments, the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines would just like to stress its continuing advocacy for responsible mining to benefit Filipinos not just in mining communities, but around the country. This, as we stress the need for a Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary who has a solid background on the intricacies of natural-resources management and someone who is able to balance economic growth and the needs of the people with that of environmental protection, the protection of indigenous communities and the society,” the COMP said.
2 comments
Gina Lopez is in an environmentalist. No problem about that. But her family has business interests, too.
Conflict of interest.