Groups supporting Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez arrived in the Senate grounds on Wednesday.
This comes, as the Commission on Appointments (CA) is set to finally decide whether or not to confirm Lopez’s appointment.
At about 11 am, Lopez will be given the chance to briefly face the CA panel.
This is the fourth time she is facing the hearing.
Before her turn, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Judy Taguiwalo will be grilled by the CA.
Taguiwalo’s appointment with the commission is at 10 am.
On Tuesday, the CA did not come up with a ruling on Lopez.
Occidental Mindoro Representative Josephine Ramirez-Sato had questioned why the cabinet member was requiring suspended mining firms to place P 2 million in a trust fund for every hectare of ‘disturbed land.’
Lopez had responded that she was using her ‘prerogative’ when she came up with the fine.
Lawmakers told Lopez that she had no right to impose such an order on miners.