CONFIRM GINA LOPEZ AS PHILIPPINE ENVIRONMENT CHIEF

By Bayawanon

Regina "Gina" La'o Lopez belongs to the one of the most illustrious, affluent and respected families of the Philippines, the Lopez family being a business and political family of the country. Her family is the owner of many companies in the Philippines like the ABS-CBN, Maynilad, Meralco, University of Iloilo to name a few. Despite her being a part of a very affluent family she had chosen to serve the community and humanity for free.

She went to Africa to serve the poor people there as a part of her social responsibility. She came back to the Philippines to extend her advocacy to a wider extent by becoming an environmentalist by way of heading the cleaning of the Pasig River through the Save the Pasig River Project, by leading the preservation of the last watershed of Metro Manila through the Save the La Mesa Dam Program and by espousing opposition to irresponsible mining in the paradise island of Palawan via the Save Palawan Movement.

These social responsibilities and environmental advocacies of Gina Lopez are so commendable and I believe that she deserves a Magsaysay or a Nobel Award for environmental advocacy for her dedication to balance environment with modernism, not to mention the fact that she was doing such super tasks for free.

Gina Lopez would have dedicated herself in their family businesses and earn hundreds of millions instead of serving the society for free. Her perks and income at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as of the moment are just minute or so small compared to what she would have earned on possible corporate gains she may have had she decided to stay in the corporate world.

She would not have made numerous opponents because of her opposition to irresponsible mining and she would have enjoyed a blissful and peaceful life had she not accepted the environment portfolio from the president of the republic. Secretary Lopez would have enough privacy and would have not have problems regarding public office had she chose to be a private person and not the other way around. Such selfless acts are considered as patriotism and the same deserves a retribution from the state.

By virtue of the foregoing rationales, it is but normal and fitting for the Commission on Appointments of both the Senate and the House to confirm Secretary Gina La'o Lopez since she is a gem that the Filipino people and the Philippine Republic can seldom see and discover for their betterment as a people and as a country.