News

New DENR chief learns the ropes on first day

Carolyn Bonquin, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 11 03:16 PM

Newly appointed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu spent his first day learning the ropes in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Read more »

New DENR chief Cimatu vows to 'safeguard' mining laws

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 10 06:46 PM

MANILA - New Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu vowed to "safeguard" Philippines' mining laws, after taking over the controversial post on Wednesday. Read more »

Duterte says cannot scrap mining law

Reuters
Posted at May 10 04:11 PM

 MANILA - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday the government cannot scrap an existing mining law but added that he wants to implement stricter measures. Read more »

Palace: Duterte both pro-environment and pro-responsible mining

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 10 05:36 PM

MANILA - Malacañang on Wednesday said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is both pro-environment and pro-responsible, as the government continues to deal with the rejection of the appointment of erstwhile Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.  Read more »

Duterte's old soldier seeks middle path to settle mining malaise

Manolo Serapio Jr., Reuters
Posted at May 10 09:05 AM

The new Philippines environment minister on Tuesday said he wants to balance conservation and mining interests, signaling intent to settle a bitter dispute that has been one of the biggest economic conundrums of Rodrigo Duterte's presidency. Read more »

Palace defends Cimatu's DENR appointment

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 10 01:04 AM

Malacañang defends the appointment of former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Roy Cimatu as the new environment secretary.  Read more »

Palace: Cimatu can balance environment, miners’ concerns

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 09 11:28 PM

MANILA – Malacanang on Tuesday said President Rodrigo Duterte appointed former military chief Roy Cimatu because he felt the latter can balance the concerns of environmentalists and mining groups. Read more »

New DENR chief says possible to balance mining, nature

Reuters
Posted at May 09 03:26 PM

The new environment minister for the Philippines said it was possible to strike a balance between allowing mining and protecting natural resources, adding that he wanted time to assess mine closures ordered by his predecessor. Read more »

Duterte clarifies 'lobby money talks' quip

Dharel Placido, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 09 01:30 PM

President Rodrigo Duterte backpedaled on his earlier comment that "lobby money" worked against former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez, whose appointment was rejected last week by the Commission on Appointments.  Read more »

Green groups to keep eye on new DENR chief

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 09 01:05 PM

Environmental groups vowed to keep an eye on the priority projects of the newly appointed secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, retired general Roy Cimatu. Read more »

New DENR chief says can allow responsible mining

Reuters
Posted at May 09 12:00 PM

MANILA - The Philippines' new Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said on Tuesday he can allow mining in the country as long as it is done responsibly, and he would do his job well in the interests of the Filipinos. Read more »

Cimatu is new DENR chief

Robinson Ninal, Malacanang Photo
Updated as of May 09 10:28 AM

President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath of office for the newly-apppointed Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu prior to the start of the 15th Cabinet meeting at the State Dining Room of Malacañan Palace. Also in the photo is Special Assistant to the President Bong Go. Read more »

Gina Lopez meets environmental activists

Jimmy Domingo, Greenpeace handout photo
Posted at May 08 10:06 PM

Gina Lopez thanks environmental activists who called for her re-appointment as environment secretary infront of the DENR headquarters in Quezon City on Monday evening. Environmental groups criticized the rejection of Lopez as environment secretary last May 3, citing the alleged influence of big businesses in the decision made by the Commission on Appointments. Read more »

Greenpeace wary of new environment chief, hits lack of 'significant' record

Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 08 09:26 PM

Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace on Monday expressed its dismay and disappointment on the appointment of former ambassador Roy Cimatu as the new Environment Secretary. Read more »

Gina Lopez welcomes Cimatu's appointment as DENR chief

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 08 09:03 PM

MANILA- Former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Monday welcomed the appointment of former Armed Forces of the Philippine chief of staff and retired general Roy Cimatu as her replacement. Read more »

Miners 'cautiously optimistic' with Cimatu as new DENR chief

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 08 07:05 PM

Miners said they are 'cautiously optimistic' with the appointment of Roy Cimatu as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Read more »

Ex-AFP chief Cimatu replaces Lopez as Environment secretary

ABS-CBN News
Updated as of May 08 08:29 PM

MANILA (UPDATED)-- Former Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff and retired general Roy Cimatu has been appointed acting environment secretary, replacing Gina Lopez. Read more »

Environmentalists block DENR gate to protest Lopez's CA rejection

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 08 10:06 AM

Members of environmental group Greenpeace Philippines on Monday blocked the gates of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Quezon City to protest the Commission on Appointments' (CA) rejection of Gina Lopez. Read more »

Palace: Duterte respects independence of CA

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 07 10:30 AM

Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte's remark on the involvement of "lobby money" in the rejection of Gina Lopez as environment chief was not meant to diminish the integrity of the Commission on Appointments (CA). Read more »

Lopez says MGB head Jacinto is 'the worst’

ABS-CBN News
Posted at May 06 05:59 PM

MANILA- Former Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Saturday accused Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) Director Mario Louie Jacinto as the “worst.” Read more »