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MANILA, Philippines — The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) has thrown its support behind the appointment of Raphael Lotilla as the new secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
The appointment of Lotilla, the former energy secretary, as head of the DENR is a “testament to his competence and dedication to public service,” COMP chairman Michael Toledo said.
“We are confident that his extensive experience as a professor, lawyer, chief executive officer, legislative liaison and energy secretary will be invaluable in this new role,” Toledo said in a statement.
Toledo said the mining industry is elated to see under the leadership of Lotilla the fruition of President Marcos’ vision of maximizing the potential of the country’s minerals sector.
Toledo added that they hope Lotilla would continue the programs of former DENR secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga aimed at creating an enabling environment for mining operations such as the reduction of the mining and exploration permitting process as well as other investment-friendly initiatives.
“We offer Secretary Lotilla our full support and cooperation as we work together to achieve common goals for the benefit of our host communities and our country as a whole,” he said.
“We are eager to partner with Secretary Lotilla in programs that would enhance the environmental, social and governance performance of mining contractors such as what our members are doing through the Chamber of Mines’ Towards Sustainable Mining program,” he added.
The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) also welcomed the appointment of Lotilla as the next DENR chief.
PNIA said Lotilla’s experience in public policy, sustainable development and regulatory governance positions him well to continue advancing responsible mining practices and to reinforce the role of the minerals sector in inclusive national growth.
The group noted that Lotilla brings to the DENR a legacy of policy leadership grounded in law, sustainability and public service given his decades-long engagement in energy, environmental reform and institutional development across government, academia and the private sector.
“We view his appointment as an opportunity to sustain and deepen the momentum toward a more predictable, science-informed and investment-ready regulatory environment,” PNIA said.
PNIA said it looks forward to working with Lotilla in aligning environmental stewardship with the goals of industrial transformation and competitiveness.
“We remain committed to our shared vision of a modern, accountable and globally competitive mining industry that generates long-term value for the environment, communities and the Philippine economy,” PNIA added.
