Force of Nature

Secretary Toni Loyzaga's bold vision for disaster preparedness is not just shaping the future; it is a testament to authentic leadership transcending gender By Celine Dabao

- By Celine Dabao

When asked how she would like to be remembered, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Toni Loyzaga had an unexpected word: annoying. “I hope they remember me as annoying because I asked people questions when they least expected it,” she shares. “Being annoying has its benefits. It’s important to stay curious in life, developing that skill for yourself and the benefit of others. You don't have to come to the table with the answers.”

In the early 2000s, Loyzaga was invited to take over a programme at the DENR, which she turned down. But when the World Bank asked her to join a study linking poverty and disaster management, she couldn't say no. She helped gather key government officials and non-government organisations working on such disasters as the Guinsaugon landslide in Southern Leyte, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 Filipinos.

“There was a massive need to focus on science in the decisions made behind closed doors,” she recalls. “The government was scientifically unprepared to respond. The decision is typically made in one room and imposed on the population—but those don’t work.”