Marcos Jr. picks Yulo-loyzaga to be next DENR secretary

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. is eyeing to appoint a research and climate change resilience advocate to become the next head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Press Secretary Beatrix “Trixie” Cruz-angeles on Tuesday announced the President has officially nominated Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-loyzaga, wife of former professional basketball player Joaquin “Chito” Loyzaga, for the said position.

“Her nomination will still be subject to the fulfillment of the required documents,” Angeles said in a news statement.

She said Loyzaga advocated for “more scientific research on climate and disaster resilience” during her stint as chairperson of the International Advisory Board of the Manila Observatory, a Jesuit scientific research institute.

Loyzaga is currently affiliated with the Manila Observatory as part of its board of trustees, according to the institute’s web site.

She also served as the Senior Advisory Board of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’s (AFP) Command and General Staff College.

Once officially appointed, Loyzaga will be tasked to address the environment-related agenda of Marcos Jr., which includes ensuring local mining operations will be “clean.”

The President wants to boost government revenue from locally mined ore before the said raw materials are exported.

Loyzaga was the second Cabinet nominee announced by Marcos Jr. this week after Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, who is being considered to become the secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE).

Marcos Jr. has yet to complete the members of his Cabinet. Among the departments that still have no secretaries are the Department of Health and the Department of Science and Technology.