President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has officially appointed Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna as the Acting Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Cuna succeeds Raphael Lotilla, who has been designated as the Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See.
In a Palace briefing, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the appointment, highlighting Cuna’s extensive track record within the department and his deep expertise in environmental law.
Acting Secretary Cuna is a seasoned public servant with over two decades of experience in legal and environmental governance. His career milestones include:
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DENR Leadership: Served as Director from 2010 to 2015, later rising to Assistant Secretary and Undersecretary in 2017.
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Field Experience: Served as a Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) from 2008 to 2010.
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Legal & Academic Background: A former law professor at the Arellano Law Foundation and Director IV (Legal Officer) at the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office (PLLO) from 1998 to 2001
Malacanang assured the public that the leadership change would not disrupt the agency’s ongoing programs or mandate. Undersecretary Castro emphasized that both Cuna and Lotilla are working closely to facilitate a seamless handover. “Upang masiguro ang tuloy-tuloy na operasyon sa DENR, nagpapatuloy ang matiwasay na transisyon sa pagitan nina Secretary Lotilla at Cuna,” Castro stated. (To ensure the continuous operation of the DENR, a peaceful transition is ongoing between Secretary Lotilla and Cuna.)
The PCO also noted that the process for submitting the names of acting secretaries for official confirmation is currently underway.
