Paje unfazed by appointments body’s snub

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje: Not bothered AFP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Environment Secretary Ramon Paje on Thursday said he was not bothered by the continuing reluctance of the Commission on Appointments (CA) to confirm his ad-interim appointment three years into his term.

Paje said his job involved a balancing of interests between environmental protection and promotion of industries (such as mining), which might have led some of the commission members to question some of his decisions.

“There’s always a left and right. If you make a decision toward conservation, or environment, industry will object. If you decide in favor of industry, environment groups will object,” he said at the Christmas party hosted by his agency for environment reporters.

“The true challenge is how to put yourself in the middle. That’s sustainable development. That has always been my formula. I cannot be swayed completely toward destructive industries, cannot be swayed toward conservation,” he added.

He said he has been on the job for more than three years and the complaints raised against him are related to the decisions he makes.

Paje said it was no longer about his fitness as a nominee.

“What they’re talking about already is the result of my passion. The CA is to determine the fitness of the post, where the job is not yet involved, but since I’ve been here for more than three years, that’s what they talk about,” he said.

Paje also said he was not threatened by the apparent interest of certain political personalities in his post.

“I don’t feel threatened… I just perform my work. It all depends on the President,” he said.