Former Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), succeeding Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga. This reassignment was confirmed today by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin during a press briefing.
Lotilla, a seasoned legal expert with extensive government service, is expected to bring his expertise to the DENR. In the interim, Undersecretary Sharon Garin will serve as the Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Energy (DOE). A certified public accountant and lawyer by profession, Garin has been instrumental in overseeing the DOE’s Financial Services Bureau, Legal Services Bureau, and Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee.
The reshuffle is part of a broader reorganization within the administration, which saw several key departments undergoing leadership changes, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s call for the courtesy resignations of all Cabinet secretaries to “recalibrate his administration following the results of the recent elections.”
Among the notable shifts was the appointment of Frederick Go as Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs, and the return of Gilberto Teodoro Jr. as Secretary of National Defense.
Lotilla’s transition comes after he voluntarily stepped down as Energy Secretary, submitting his resignation in line with Marcos’ directive. In his statement Thursday, Lotilla said, “I resigned as DOE secretary because I wanted Marcos to ‘have a free hand in reorganizing his Cabinet for the remainder of his term and to express my full support for his presidency.’”
He emphasized the value of reassessment at mid-term: “The mid-term is an excellent opportunity for taking stock and re-energizing the government’s efforts to serve our people better.”
Lotilla also stressed the DOE’s ongoing commitment to energy development: “We at the department and its attached agencies are one with the President in working together to realize a future for all Filipinos where energy is accessible and affordable, reliable and resilient, and clean and environmentally sustainable.”
Lotilla was appointed DOE chief in 2022.
What are your thoughts on this Cabinet reshuffle? Share your views with us.
Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community to stay up to date on the latest energy news.
There are no comments
Add yours