MARIA LOURDES G. FERRER, CESO III

Director, DENR-ERDB

Ms. Maria Lourdes G. Ferrer acts as the Director of the Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau. Dir. Ferrer’s competency in leadership, planning and policy formulation, and field operations for the environment and natural resources was manifested in various positions she held in the environmental sector. Before being designated as the ERDB Director last January 6, Dir. Ferrer served as the Regional Executive Director of DENR MIMAROPA (2020-2021) Director of the DENR Policy and Planning Service Office (2017-2020); Director of the Program Implementation Unit Fields Operation Office (2013-2017); Deputy Executive Director and Officer-in-Charge of the Manila Bay Coordinating Office (2016-2017); and Director of the Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Office (2005-2012).

Dir. Ferrer is also known and respected in her field for her vast experience in project management and coordination. For years, she provided the overall direction for the preparation and review of the DENR’s plans and programs in consistent with the Philippine Development Plan. In 2017, she also led the apprising of the Operational Plan for the Manila Bay Coastal Strategy for CY 2017-2022. For seven years, she also spearheaded the coordination of all DENR-implemented foreign-assisted and social-funded programs and projects with donor and oversight agencies in the implementation.

Aside from developing strong skills in financial and economic analysis, Dir. Ferrer is also widely trained in various aspects of environmental management. She attended formal international trainings in Italy, Sweden, Lao PDR, and Tanzania. She also finished courses on environmental management and policy from the Galillee College in Israel and Macquarie University in Australia. She gained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and a Program for Development Economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a Master’s degree in MS Environmental Management from Philippine Women’s University.

Dir. Ferrer now takes the lead in providing the DENR with new and timely science-based information on ecosystems and natural resources. Through Dir. Ferrer’s headship, ERDB strives to exert its role as the primary source of information for the formulation of sound and strategic programs, projects, and policies in the DENR.