Raphael Lotilla
Raphael Lotilla | |
|---|---|
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| 33rd Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources | |
Ad interim | |
| Assumed office May 23, 2025 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Toni Yulo-Loyzaga |
| 7th and 13th Secretary of Energy | |
| In office July 11, 2022 – May 23, 2025 | |
| President | Bongbong Marcos |
| Preceded by | Alfonso Cusi |
| Succeeded by | Sharon Garin (OIC) |
| In office March 22, 2005 – July 18, 2007 | |
| President | Gloria Macapagal Arroyo |
| Preceded by | Vincent S. Pérez |
| Succeeded by | Angelo Reyes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 16, 1958 Sibalom, Antique, Philippines |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines Diliman (B.S., B.A., LL.B) University of Michigan (LL.M) |
| Occupation | Professor, businessman, government official |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Raphael Perpetuo "Popo'" Mercado Lotilla (born June 16, 1958) is a Filipino lawyer, businessman, and government official serving as the 33rd secretary of environment and natural resources (ad interim, pending Commission on Appointments approval) since 2025, under President Bongbong Marcos. He previously served as the 7th and 13th secretary of energy under Presidents Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2005–2007) and Bongbong Marcos (2022–2025), respectively.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Lotilla was born on June 16, 1958, in Sibalom, Antique.[2] His brother, Jose Perpetuo Lotilla,[2] is a lawyer who is an independent director of Security Bank and a former Transportation and Communications undersecretary, and ran in the 2016 Philippine House of Representatives elections as the second nominee of the Ang Kasangga party-list.[3]
Lotilla studied at the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he obtained his Bachelor of Science in Psychology (1980), Bachelor of Arts in History, and Bachelor of Laws (1984). He then attended the University of Michigan, where he obtained his Master of Laws in 1987.[4]
Career
[edit]Lotilla began his career as an assistant professor of law in 1985 at the University of the Philippines Diliman.[5] He was also an adjunct faculty at the Asian Institute of Management.[4]
Lotilla also served as a legal consultant at the Office of the Senate President, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and for some senators beginning in 1987. He was also named as the legal adviser of the National Economic and Development Authority in 1990.
Lotilla served as PSALM Chief Operating Officer. He served as president and chief executive officer of the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM).
He was Deputy Director-General (DDG) from 1996 to January 2004. He was the supervising official of the secretariat of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). As adviser of LEDAC, his key reform bill was the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 that privatized the power sector's entire supply chain.[6]
Lotilla's first term as the secretary of energy was under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo from 2005 to 2007. His second term began on July 11, 2022, under President Bongbong Marcos.[7]
On May 22, 2025, President Marcos ordered members of his cabinet to tender their courtesy resginations in the aftermath of the May 12, 2025 midterm elections.[8][9] He will be taking the role of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary, replacing Toni Yulo-Loyzaga.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Former GMA Cabinet member appointed energy secretary by PBBM". Philippine News Agency. July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ a b "Raphael Lotilla Biography". PeoPlaid. July 11, 2022. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ Sabillo, Kristine Angeli (April 13, 2016). "LIST: Watchdog names 'political dynasties' in partylist system". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ^ a b "Raphael Perpetuo M. Lotilla". Asian Institute of Management. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ "Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla". Department of Energy Philippines. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Popo Lotilla, who once rejected a chief justice nomination, back as DOE Secretary". Abogado. July 11, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ "Arroyo's energy secretary Popo Lotilla is Marcos' choice as DOE chief". GMA News. July 11, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022.
- ^ "Marcos calls for courtesy resignation of all Cabinet secretaries in 'bold reset'". ABS-CBN News. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "No defiance here: Cabinet members follow Marcos call to resign". Politiko. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 5, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Cabato, Luisa (23 May 2025). "Bersamin: Marcos accepts resignations of DENR, DHSUD secretaries". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 23 May 2025.
- Living people
- 1958 births
- Arroyo administration cabinet members
- Bongbong Marcos administration cabinet members
- Filipino academics
- 20th-century Filipino businesspeople
- Academic staff of De La Salle University
- Academic staff of the University of the Philippines
- Academic staff of the Asian Institute of Management
- Secretaries of energy of the Philippines
- People from Antique (province)
- 21st-century Filipino businesspeople