Is a mining magnate eyeing DENR throne?

As Christmas greetings made the rounds, so did quieter whispers of an unsettling rumor: that a major mining company shareholder is allegedly being groomed to take the helm of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

- MYRNA M. VELASCO

This raises a troubling scenario: Is current Environment Secretary Raphael “Popo” Lotilla already on borrowed time—despite being barely a year into his post?

The mining magnate, who has parlayed business success into political clout, is reportedly being tapped for—or is eyeing—the DENR portfolio.

This comes even as the individual's company allegedly faces contentious tax issues and royalty disputes with host communities. According to the grapevine, this DENR hopeful is stepping aside from a political role, seemingly to clear a path for a higher perch at the department.

Just this September, Republic Act No. 12253 introduced a seismic shift in large-scale metallic mining. The law enforces a tiered royalty regime, windfall profit taxes, and strict “ring-fencing” to rein in excess profits and plug longstanding revenue leaks in the extractive industry.

This statute stands at the heart of the DENR’s deliverables. It forces industry players to reckon with both their environmental responsibilities and their financial obligations to the state, while also compelling firms to account for regulatory breaches. But if a key industry player with sprawling operations is handed the DENR portfolio, where does public regulation end and private interest begin?

Beyond environmental oversight, the DENR is on the front lines of climate accountability. It is currently collaborating with the Climate Change Commission (CCC) to finalize the new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), which will uphold the country’s carbon reduction pledges under the Paris Agreement.