Atty. Jonas R. Leones has more than 28 years of experience in various technical, legal and managerial capacities under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

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He currently serves as the Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs of the Department with a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO), Rank I. He also supervises the department’s Foreign-Assisted and Special Projects Service (FASPS). The DENR Secretary recently named him as the Department Spokesman. The Undersecretary further coordinates all international environmental concerns including implementation of international environmental treaties and participation in international bodies and conferences (see www.denr.gov.ph). His office published the book, “International Agreements on Environment and Natural Resources” in 2016. He also serves as the Philippine focal point in the International Review Panel Steering Committee of the United Nations Environment Program. He is also a member of the Pollution Adjudication Board and served as its Secretary and Legal Counsel, in concurrent capacity from August 2005-July 2013.

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He previously served as Undersecretary for Environment and International Environmental Affairs and concurrent Director of the Environmental Management Bureau. He supervised the implementation of policies and programs on air and water quality, toxic wastes and hazardous substances, solid waste management, environmental impact assessment of projects and climate change.

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Atty. Leones holds a Master’s Degree in Public Management from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from New Era University, Quezon City in 2005 and passed the Philippine Bar Examination in 2006. As a full scholar, he also finished his Master’s degree in Environmental Science from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Laguna in 2000, and his Bachelor’s of Science in Forestry degree in 1990, where he received the College of Forestry Award for Leadership. He garnered Eight Place in the Forester’s Board Examination in 1991.

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In 2016, he received the following awards: (1) Outstanding Professional in the Field of Forestry by the Professional Regulation Commission; (2) Outstanding Alumnus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños School of Environmental Science and Management and (3) Outstanding Alumnus, University of the Philippines Los Baños Alumni Association.

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He is the President of the DENR Association of Career Executives in the Philippines and a member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Society of Filipino Foresters, Inc. and Beta Sigma Fraternity. He was born on April 10, 1969 in Bulacan, is married to Mary Ann Leones, and has two sons.