We, environmental justice groups, express serious concern over the appointment of Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna as the new Acting Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. designated Mr. Cuna as the new DENR chief on Friday, February 27, 2026, following the appointment of Mr. Raphael Lotilla as ambassador to the Holy See. While Malacañang cites Mr. Cuna’s long tenure- dating back to 2008 as the basis for his promotion, we believe that his track record raises urgent questions about his commitment to protecting the country’s environment and natural resources, which must be the core mandate of the DENR Secretary. We therefore call on Mr. Cuna to provide clear answers to the public regarding the following concerns.
In June 2018, the Office of the Ombudsman found Mr. Cuna, then a DENR Undersecretary, guilty of gross inexcusable negligence for issuing a registry certificate to a hazardous waste importer, despite insufficient application details and a prior notice of violation against the same company. In 2020, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) filed graft and violation charges against Mr. Cuna, alongside other DENR and Bureau of Customs personnel, in connection with the illegal importation of mixed and hazardous trash from Canada. The charges stemmed from the issuance of import clearances to a Canadian plastics company despite incomplete requirements, which allowed questionable garbage shipments into the country.
Although the Department of Justice (DOJ) dismissed the criminal charges against Mr. Cuna and three other officials in 2021—finding that the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) could not have known the containers held prohibited waste prior to inspection, and that there was “no evidence” of gross negligence or undue favors—serious questions remain. How can an official previously implicated in violations of critical environmental laws such as the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act (RA 6969) and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, now be entrusted to lead the very agency responsible for enforcing them?
These concerns are particularly urgent in light of the DENR’s aggressive push for waste-to-energy (WTE) and incineration projects—an approach that is not only hazardous and highly polluting, but also undermines the agency’s fundamental environmental mandate. Alarmingly, numerous WTE projects are already being approved and fast-tracked despite questions about their legality, and many more are under consideration, signaling a troubling policy shift that prioritizes industrial interests over ecological integrity.
Of grave concern is the government’s policy granting special privileges to so-called “pioneer WTE projects”—facilities that would process municipal solid waste and which would become operational by March 31, 2028. Despite serious concerns about toxic emissions associated with such facilities, these projects would benefit from streamlined permitting, priority access to the energy grid, and automatic designation as projects of national significance – fueling a reckless ‘waste rush’ among local government units. Furthermore, WTE projects are now included in the Green Energy Auction 6 (GEA6), a program designed to secure long-term power supply contracts. These sweeping incentives risk bypassing rigorous environmental assessments and meaningful public consultations that are essential for protecting communities and upholding environmental justice.
The DENR’s 2019 guidelines, which facilitate these WTE initiatives only deepen our concern. This direction endangers public health and threatens to undo decades of hard-won progress in ecological solid waste management. We cannot allow policies that favor polluters and jeopardize our local communities to move forward unchallenged. For the sake of our environment and our collective future, we must demand a sustainable, just alternative to waste-to-energy incineration.
We challenge Mr. Cuna to redeem himself from his involvement in the Canada trash controversy and to withdraw support for waste-to-energy incineration projects. It is time for the DENR to stand unequivocally for the environment and the people. Mr. Cuna must champion science-based governance in the protection of our natural resources and ensure that our life support systems are conserved and defended for the survival and security of all Filipinos.
If Mr. Cuna is to lead the environment portfolio, we expect him to withdraw the environmental clearances issued for reclamation, seabed quarrying, and offshore mining projects that destroy marine ecosystems. We also call on him to revoke the Interim Operational Guidance and Conditions on the Earth-Balling and Relocation of Mangroves in Exceptional Circumstances – a policy that allows the destruction of mangroves for government “flagship projects”. In the age of climate and extreme weather disasters, this policy truly boggles the mind.
We call on President Marcos and the Commission on Appointments to rigorously scrutinize Mr. Cuna’s qualifications, legal history, and whether he truly possesses the commitment to protect the environment for the Filipino people.
Signatories:
- Oceana Philippines
- Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre, Inc. (C-HELP)
- Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc.
- Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia (HCWH SEA)
- Greenpeace Philippines
For more information and interview requests, please contact:
Karl Orit
Communications Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia – Philippines
[email protected] | +63 919 457 1064 (Viber & WhatsApp)
