The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines welcomes the nomination of Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga as the new secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga’s science background and her many years of experience at the helm of esteemed institutions Manila Observatory and the multi sectoral National Resilience Council means she brings a deep understanding of the ‘twin missiles’ that has our country in its crosshairs: climate change and nature loss.  We are further encouraged by Ms. Yulo-Loyzaga’s reaction to her nomination, in which she signals the direction of ‘managing the environment for inclusive, resilient and sustainable development’. The notion that economic development and nature are on opposite sides of a pendulum is a false dilemma. Nature is always on both sides of the equation. Nothing is more fundamental than nature.

The promise of Ms. Yulo’s leadership is that science will be used more as the basis and arbiter of decisions, which is an approach very aligned to WWF’s. We look forward to continued partnership with the DENR and with other government institutions and sectors in the effort to secure our shared future. WWF hopes to see better integration across government programs affecting the environment, so that resources and impact are multiplied and initiatives do not negate each other.

WWF remains committed to act as resource, support, implementer, and adviser and also to be a ‘critical partner’ as required by our mission to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. We join in the collective hope that the laudable commitments made by our government will be followed through to implementation, and that Filipinos will truly unite to change the ending for our country.