Senators Ejercito, Aquino welcome Lopez’s appointment to DENR

Two senators have welcomed the appointment of antimining advocate Regina “Gina” Lopez as next head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), saying she is not only fit for the the job but she will also serve with “utmost integrity and capability.”

“That would be good in the sense that Gina Lopez is a known environmentalist and second, and I think the most important thing is that she would serve with utmost integrity and capability. Hindi natin pag-iisipan na gagawa ng anomalya dahil hindi naman siya poor,” Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito told reporters.

“I think she would be a good secretary in the sense that yung kanyang advocacy in fighting for the environment siguro yan ang maisusulong niya,” Ejercito added.

Sen. Bam Aquino said Lopez would do a good job owing to her background as a staunch environment advocate.

“She will do a good job because she has been fighting for the environment for decades,” Aquino said in a statement.

The senator also believes that Lopez’s decades-long advocacy will be an important asset to the incoming administration’s drive to protect the environment.

“Akma si Gina sa posisyon dahil alam niya ang ugat ng mga problema at marami siyang solusyon na maaaring ipanukala at ipatupad para sa proteksiyon ng ating kalikasan,” he said.

Aquino noted that Lopez, a strong advocate for children, education and protection of the environment, also chairs ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission. She is also the vice chair of ABS-CBN Bayan Foundation.

Lopez accepted on Tuesday Duterte’s offer to head the DENR.

“After much introspection, I decided to accept it. Let’s see what happens,” the reports quoted her as saying.

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