MANILA (2nd UPDATE) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen Toni Yulo-Loyzaga as the next Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Palace said on Tuesday.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Loyzaga's nomination as the next DENR chief "will still be subject to the fulfillment of the required documents."

Loyzaga was the executive director of the Manila Observatory, and the chairperson of its International Advisory Board. She also served as the technical adviser of the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.

She is also part of the AFP’s Command and General Staff College's senior advisory board.

The DENR earlier said that the agency will urge the new President to continue the rehabilitation of Boracay and Manila Bay, two coastal areas that former Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu focused on.

Cimatu stepped down as DENR chief in February due to health reasons. He has since been replaced by two officers-in-charge, with the most recent appointment made by former President Rodrigo Duterte days before he steps down from office.

• DENR to urge Marcos admin to continue Boracay, Manila Bay rehabilitation
• DENR chief Cimatu resigns due to health reasons: Palace

'HOPEFUL'

In a statement, Masungi Georeserve said it supports Loyzaga's nomination as the next environment chief given her background in disaster resilience and track record in environment studies.

The nature reserve in Rizal is a subject of harassments and encroachment despite being a protected landscape.

• Probe sought over reported resort construction, illegal activities in Marikina Watershed

"We recognize her invaluable leadership as a former Executive Director of the Manila Observatory (MO). After typhoon Ondoy, the MO led the scientific studies which proved the impacts of the Upper Marikina Watershed's deforestation to increased flood risk in towns and cities," Masungi said.

"The science is clear: restore the watershed to protect the people. We are hopeful that the new Secretary will share our vision and those of many others, to make Masungi and the Upper Marikina Watershed free from quarry interests and other intrusive developments," the organization added.

Earlier this year, Marcos said the Philippines should take advantage of its mineral resources, noting that he is open to "sustainable" mining, but is wary about open-pit mining operations.

"Ang laki ng ating mga natural resources dito sa Pilipinas. Dapat siguro lalo na in these difficult times, we should take advantage of that," Marcos said in an earlier interview.

"However, we have seen some of the disasters that have happened when it comes to mining, ay kailangan natin talagang iwasan yan," he said.

(We have a lot of natural resources in the Philippines. We should, especially in these difficult times, we should take advantage of that. However, we have seen some of the disasters that have happened when it comes to mining, we need to really avoid those.)

• Marcos Jr. open to 'sustainable' mining, wary of open-pit mining