Rody didn’t think twice on Gina

The President asked, why are you just giving me suggestions, why not help me? And the rest is history

It all started with a simple conversation with President Rodrigo Duterte when Gina Lopez was chosen to become Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary.

The President did not think twice about appointing her as member of his Cabinet after hearing Lopez’s discourse on a better national environmental policy during an environmental forum which Lopez herself initiated.

“She had a lot of suggestions about the environment. The President asked, why are you just giving me suggestions, why not help me? And the rest is history,” Sen. Bong Go said, reminiscing the experience in Davao when Lopez’s fate had already been decided by Mr. Duterte.

Doing job too well

Lopez then served as DENR secretary only for a few months as her stint was cut short by the Commission on Appointment’s (CA) rejection of her appointment but Mr. Duterte appealed to the CA to reconsider specially as he considered Lopez to be merely doing her job and doing it well.

Nonetheless, she extended her service to environmental causes outside of the department through television network ABS-CBN’s programs, and lately with G-Diaries with her brother Ernie Lopez which promoted ecotourism.

Lopez passed away at 65 after succumbing to brain cancer last Monday.

Employees paid tribute to Lopez during the arrival of her remains at the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center yesterday. Lopez served as chairman of the ABS-CBN Foundation.

Passionate Cabinet member

Go related how Lopez’s ethos was prominent in her role as an advocate of the environment. “I had the honor of working with her when she was the environment secretary of the Duterte administration. As a former colleague in the government, I know how passionate, dedicated and humble she was as a public servant and as an earth warrior,” said Go in a statement.

“We were friends for more than 10 years. She was a fearless advocate and a tireless philanthropist, dedicating most of her life for the betterment of her fellow Filipinos. Her exceptional dedication in protecting our environment has no equal today,” he added.

Go lauds Lopez for being a model for public service and of compassion to her fellowmen, and hopes her legacy continues in the generations to come.

“Thank you for your service to the Filipinos, to all the causes you fought, especially for the environment,” he said.