President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga as Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) announced Thursday.
Yulo-Loyzaga took her oath before the President in a ceremony at Malacañang Palace on Wednesday. Marcos congratulated her and thanked her for accepting the role, highlighting her expertise in disaster resilience.
“The President also conveyed his full support for the new special envoy as she advances the administration’s agenda on climate action, renewable energy integration, and disaster risk reduction,” the PCO said.
The President expressed confidence that Yulo-Loyzaga would help promote sound environmental governance and strengthen the country’s resilience against disasters.
She previously served as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) from 2022 until her resignation in May 2025, following a Cabinet performance review. At the time, Malacañang said she could be appointed to another government post.
Yulo-Loyzaga brings extensive experience in disaster risk management, having served as director of the UN International Office for Disaster Risk Reduction Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies, president of the National Resilience Council, and member of the UNDRR Asia Pacific Science and Technology Advisory Group. She was also executive director of the Manila Observatory from 2007 to 2016.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Ateneo de Manila University and her Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University.