CCC exec welcomes Gina Lopez appointment, PH ‘on right track’

The country is on the right track of achieving its dream of a “low-emission and climate-resilient future” with the appointment of Regina “Gina” Lopez as the new head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), an official of the Climate Change Commission (CCC) said on Friday.

CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said he is optimistic that the country could significantly reduce its greenhouse gas emissions with Lopez at the helm of the DENR.

Lopez is a known advocate for environment and renewable energy. She also chairs the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation.

De Guzman said Lopez was most welcome as the Philippines undergoes transition from fossil-based energy use to cleaner and sustainable sources of energy.

“With ABS-CBN Foundation chairperson Gina Lopez at the helm of the DENR, we are confident that we are on the right track to achieve our dream of a low-emission and climate-resilient future for the country,” he said in a statement.

READ: Gina Lopez accepts DENR post

“We are honored to have Ms. Lopez as a partner in our journey toward our ultimate goal of a green economy, which offers enormous opportunities for green jobs for the Filipino people,” added De Guzman, vice chairperson and executive director of the CCC.

He noted Lopez’s  strong opposition to coal-powered plants due to their adverse impact on health, the environment of host communities and livelihood of residents.

Just last week, the Commission began its task of reviewing the government’s energy policy to pave the way for a swift transition to renewable and sustainable energy.

READ: PH energy source review underway; shift to renewables in focus

The CCC, together with the DENR, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), has six months or until the end of the year to conduct a national review and craft a framework development on energy, as mandated by Commission Resolution No.2016-001 it issued last month.

The CCC is under the Office of the President and is the lead policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate state programs and ensure mainstreaming of climate change in national, local and sectoral development plans toward a climate-resilient and climate-smart Philippines.

It promotes and facilitates the convergence of government policies, plans and programs for climate and disaster resilience.

De Guzman said the policy review is vital in fulfilling the country’s commitments under the Paris climate agreement to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. RAM