Group urges Marcos to appoint ‘pro-people’ DENR chief amid Cabinet shakeup

May 23, 2025 , 11:32 PM

By Gabriel Kim Leal

(May 23, 2025) – An environmental coalition is urging President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to appoint a new environment secretary who will prioritize science-based policies, community-led conservation, and the protection of environmental defenders.

This came after the resignation of former Environment secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, one of several officials who stepped down following Marcos’ directive for a Cabinet revamp.

“With the [Department of Environment and Natural Resources] Secretary position now vacant, the challenge of upholding our environmental rights by promoting pro-people and science-based mechanisms to conserve and protect our diversities and recognizing environmental defenders becomes even more pressing,” said the Panatang Luntian Environment Coalition in a statement.

The statement was shared by the Masungi Georeserve in its Facebook page.

On Thursday, more than 30 officials submitted courtesy resignations. While Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin was among them, he was retained by Marcos. In a media briefing Friday, Bersamin said Loyzaga was not kept on due to alleged “underperformance” and “frequent” travel abroad.

Loyzaga’s term at the DENR drew flak from environmental groups, particularly for greenlighting major development and resource extraction projects.

One flashpoint was the long-running dispute between the DENR and the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal. The DENR earlier canceled a 2002 supplemental agreement with Blue Star Construction Development Corporation — affiliated with the Masungi Georeserve Foundation — over supposed violations.

Supporters of the Georeserve say the move jeopardizes years of conservation work and sets a dangerous precedent for environmental protection in the country.

“Despite these challenges, environmental defenders from rural communities to urban advocates continue to safeguard our last ecological frontiers. Yet their efforts are too often met with violence, intimidation, and repression from both corporate interests and state forces,” added the group.

The group called on Filipinos to actively defend biodiversity and hold both the government and private sector accountable.

“Let us ensure that environmental protection remains a national priority, and that future DENR leadership strengthens rather than dismantles the progress made by grassroots toward ecological sustainability,” stressed the group.

(JREC)

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