Ramon Paje

Secretary Ramón Jesús P. Paje is the 19th secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Prior to his appointment, he was DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations and Executive Director of the Minerals Development Council under the Office of the President in concurrent capacity.

Education and early career

A holder of a doctorate degree in public administration and a top-rank Career Executive Service Officer (CESO I), Paje's appointment marks the second time in the DENR's 23-year history to have the proverbial "bottom-to-top" success by a rank-and-file employee.

Fresh from college, Paje began his civil service career in 1982 as a junior forester conducting field inspection of reforestation projects of then Bureau of Forest Development (now the Forest Management Bureau), then rose from the ranks serving the environment and natural resources sector in various capacities, including undersecretary for environment and programs development, assistant secretary for management services, director for human resources development, among others.

Paje is a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna (UPLB). He finished his M.A. in Urban and Regional Planning and Doctor of Public Administration at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City. He has a Certificate on Environmental Economics and Policy Analysis from Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Awards

In 1996, the newly installed DENR chief received the following awards: Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) from the Philippine Jaycees, Outstanding Professional of the Philippines from the Professional Regulation Commission, and the Outstanding Alumnus in Government Service from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños. In 1999, he was the Dr. Jose Rizal "Huwarang Pilipino Awardee" for public service given by the Parangal ng Bayan Awards Foundation.

Family

Sec. Paje is married to Joseliza Santos, with whom he has two children.

As DENR Secretary

Undersecretary Paje takes-over the helm of the Environment Department from Horacio Ramos. It was earlier speculated that Ramos will be retained for one year after the ban on appointing defeated candidates has been lifted and senatorial bet Neric Acosta can replace him.

References

Preceded by Horacio Ramos

Philippine Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources 2010 – Present

Succeeded by Incumbent