Who is Juan Miguel Cuna, the new acting DENR chief?

Juan Miguel T. Cuna has been named the new acting Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), taking over leadership of the agency after the previous secretary was assigned to a diplomatic post. 

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. appointed Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna as acting head of the DENR on February 27 2026, according to an announcement by the Palace Press Office. 

Cuna assumes the role from former secretary Raphael Lotilla, who is being assigned as ambassador to the Holy See. 

Cuna is a lawyer and long-time government official with decades of experience in public service and environmental governance. According to his professional profile, he holds the rank of Career Executive Service Officer (CESO) and has served in various roles within the DENR, particularly in field operations and environmental law enforcement. 

Before rising to undersecretary, Cuna served in key positions such as:

• Undersecretary for Field Operations — Luzon, Visayas, and Environment at DENR, where he coordinated enforcement and environmental programs across major regions. 
• Leadership roles in DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the agency’s technical arm responsible for implementing environmental standards and regulations. 

Cuna, who is referred to in official DENR communications as Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna, CESO I, is a Career Executive Service Officer and has held senior leadership roles within the agency prior to his designation as acting secretary.

In the past, Cuna’s name has appeared in relation to the DENR’s handling of environmental issues, such as the “Canada trash” importation case, where he was among officials charged in 2020 for alleged improper processing of imported waste.

The case was widely reported and involved multiple DENR and customs personnel. The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Cuna for three months and indicted him for graft in June 2018 over his alleged mishandling of the imported Canadian waste. 

Meanwhile in a statement, the DENR formally recognized Cuna as the new acting Secretary of the Department, noting his extensive experience within the agency and in public administration — credentials it said position him well to sustain and advance the DENR’s ongoing programs and policy initiatives.

“We are confident that Secretary Cuna will provide strong leadership and continue the DENR’s work with professionalism, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship,” the statement read.

The department also expressed its gratitude to former Environment Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla for his service and leadership over the past eight months.

“Under his stewardship, the DENR continued to pursue its mandate of safeguarding the country’s environment and natural resources in alignment with national development priorities,” the agency said.

The DENR added that it remains committed to its core mission “to protect the environment, promote sustainable development, and uphold the welfare of present and future generations of Filipinos.” — RSJ, GMA Integrated News