Raphael Lotilla is the new Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), after Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga filed her resignation on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
The following day, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced that Lotilla, who was incumbent Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) before the move, will replace Yulo-Loyzaga.
This is in relation to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s prior call for the courtesy resignation of his Cabinet and other ranking government officials, in the aftermath of the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.
In announcing the Cabinet revamp, President Marcos stated: “It’s time to realign government with the people’s expectations. The people have spoken, and they expect results—not politics, not excuses. We hear them, and we will act.”
According to the statement released by Presidential Communications Office (PCO), “the request for courtesy resignations is aimed at giving the President the elbow room to evaluate the performance of each department and determine who will continue to serve in line with his administration’s recalibrated priorities.” [1]
Moreover, the President said, “This is not about personalities—it’s about performance, alignment, and urgency.”
“Those who have delivered and continue to deliver will be recognized. But we cannot afford to be complacent. The time for comfort zones is over.”
PCO clarified that this step marks a clear transition from the early phase of governance to a more focused and performance-driven approach.
The President also noted that while many have served with dedication and professionalism, the evolving needs of the country require a renewed alignment, faster execution, and a results-first mindset. [1]
Secretary Lotilla’s appointment brought about mixed reactions from the mining and resources sector as well as different environmental groups.
The Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (COMP) expressed their optimism and support for the newly-appointed Secretary.
COMP Chairman and President, Michael T. Toledo, said, “The appointment of Mr. Raphael Lotilla as Environment and Natural Resources secretary is a testament to his competence and dedication to public service. We are confident that his extensive experience as a professor, lawyer, chief executive officer, legislative liaison, and Energy secretary will be invaluable in his new role.”
“We are particularly excited to see under Sec. Lotilla's leadership the fruition of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.'s vision for maximizing the full potential of the Philippine minerals development industry in improving the lives of present and future generations of Filipinos without compromising the integrity of the environment.”
“We offer Sec. 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.”
“We also thank former Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga for her steadfast leadership, and we look forward to continued collaboration under Sec. Lotilla’s guidance.”
Meanwhile, Greenpeace Southeast Asia Executive Director Jasper Inventor stated, “Sec. Lotilla takes over the DENR at a time of worsening climate, pollution, and biodiversity crisis. We urge him to stay true to the mandate of the DENR to protect and conserve the environment for the welfare of present and future generations of Filipinos.” [2]
Seasoned Lawyer and Government Official
Raphael Perpetuo "Popo'" Mercado Lotilla was born on June 16, 1958 in Sibalom, Antique. A lawyer, businessman, and government official, he was the 33rd Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (ad interim, pending Commission on Appointments approval). In the past, he served as the 7th and 13th Energy Secretary under Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2005–2007) and President Marcos Jr. (2022–2025), respectively.
He graduated from the University of the Philippines Diliman as a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (1980), Bachelor of Arts in History, and Bachelor of Laws (1984). Lotilla also studied at the University of Michigan, where he obtained his Master of Laws in 1987.
His career started as an assistant professor of law in 1985 at UP Diliman, and was also an adjunct faculty at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM). He also served as a legal consultant at the Office of the Senate President, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and for some senators beginning in 1987. In 1990, he became the legal adviser of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
Looking Back
When President Marcos Jr. began his term in June 2022, he clearly instructed the DENR to maximize the country’s mineral resources for economic development, while protecting the environment as the same time.
Yulo-Loyzaga, who was then the chair of the International Advisory Board of the Manila Observatory and technical adviser for the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation, was nominated as Environment Secretary in 2022 for her expertise in disaster risk reduction. [3]
Prior to these appointments, she was the Executive Director of the Manila Observatory from 2007-2016. Within this period, she was appointed to the Department of Science and Technology’s Committee on Space Technology Applications and to the UNESCO National Commission’s Committee on Science and Technology.
In 2013, Yulo-Loyzaga was recognized by the Armed Forces of the Philippines for her contributions to the Philippine military’s emergency disaster response operations during Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda locally. [4]
As DENR Secretary, she is best remembered for her scientific and research-based approach to addressing some environmental concerns. For instance, under her leadership, the DENR commissioned a study assessing the impact of the Manila Bay reclamation projects on surrounding communities.
In February 2025, she pointed out that many of these reclamation projects are not integrated into the flood management plans of the surrounding local government units. She also noted that the livelihoods of fisherfolk would also be at risk. [3]
During her tenure, the DENR stated in 2025 that it would adopt parallel processing for mining permits, in contrast to the current sequential process. This streamlines the process by allowing operators to secure permits in three years instead of six. [3]
Yulo-Loyzaga emphasized the importance of setting the balance between the mining sector and the environmental sector. She then tendered her courtesy resignation as ordered by Mr. Marcos, saying: “I serve at the pleasure of the President and trust in his wisdom on what is best for the country.”
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References:
[1] Presidential Communications Office (May 21, 2025). “President Marcos Calls for Courtesy Resignations of Cabinet Secretaries”.
https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/president-marcos-calls-for-courtesy-resignations-of-cabinet-secretaries/
[2] https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/press/
[3] https://rollingstonephilippines.com/state-of-affairs/politics/toni-yulo-loyzaga-denr-secretary/
[4] https://www.ics-shipping.org/person/maria-antonia-yulo-loyzaga/
