Gina Lopez plans to go back to ABS-CBN Foundation if not confirmed by CA

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez on Thursday said she is planning to go back to her work as an environment advocate if she is not confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Lopez was asked by reporters after the Asia CEO Forum about possible plans if her appointment does not go through the CA.

"Ay wala. I’ll go back to [ABS-CBN] na," Lopez said.

Lopez was the managing director of ABS-CBN Foundation before being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the DENR. She was reappointed by Duterte to the post after the CA bypassed her appointment last month.

The Lopez family controls ABS-CBN, with her brother Gabby Lopez serving as chairman of the broadcasting giant.

The CA will decide on her appointment once the Congress resume session on May 2.

She expressed confidence that she can institute permanent change at the DENR even if she doesn't stay there for long.

"The policies are there. Whatever policy I executed stays in DENR, if they change it I’ll expose them," she said in jest.

"If you expose it and let the people know, then do it... I [want to] use my position now to institute policies which will bring on the common good," she added.

Six months to a year

Lopez said she needs just six months to a year at the DENR to implement meaningful change.

"Give me six months to a year and if I don’t I’ll resign. Kasi I know I can do it kasi ang daming pera ng government. I’ll just need good people," she said.

Earlier in the forum, Lopez said she promised Duterte results.

"I told the President, if I don't deliver just fire me," she said.

The mining industry has opposed Lopez's confirmation to the post with disagreements over her policy decisions. She has also clashed with other members of the Duterte Cabinet over the issue.

Asked how she dealt with the politics, Lopez said she has turned to meditation.

"I meditate every morning...When the President offered me the job, my first concern was, [as] my meditation teacher told me politics is really messy, so I was thinking do I really wanna go there?" she said.

"What happened the morning after he offered me the job, I don't know I felt like the energetic heart of the country and I felt like if I could stay true, it just might work," she added. —JST, GMA News