Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez may be one of President Rodrigo Duterte’s most popular appointees, but if given a chance to run for public office, Lopez said she would rather serve the country in other ways.
“Nakita ko yung buhay ng mga congressmen at senators (I’ve seen the lives of congressmen and senators); I applaud them for wanting to serve the country, but that’s not me,” said Lopez in response to questions fielded to her during a Facebook Live session on April 23.
“Even when I was chair of ABS CBN Foundation, I’m always out on the field,” said Lopez, who was a fierce environment advocate before being tapped by the President last year to head the DENR.
Lopez added that she was not a fan of politics and is “more of an action person.”
“I don’t like sitting in the office and the job of the congressman and senators is to go there, talk about law,” explained the DENR chief, who added that she was more excited by the good that can be done by an agency like the DENR.
Lopez has a large following on social media. Her official Facebook Page has over 400,000 followers, with posts that have up to three million views, and posts that have been shared over 100,000 times.
Among the members of the Duterte Cabinet, only Lopez and Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol have over 400,000 followers. Only five secretaries have 100,000 or more followers: Lopez, Piñol, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, and Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
Critics of Lopez have accused the outspoken DENR Secretary of currying favor with the public by going after the hugely unpopular mining industry. Lopez ordered the closure and suspension of 23 mining operations for numerous violations, which has earned the ire of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, which has formally opposed the confirmation of Lopez, who was reappointed by the President last month.