A Climate Scholar’s Mission to Integrate Disaster Risk Reduction into Public Policy
In a world increasingly beset by the intensifying impacts of climate change, the challenge of creating resilient communities requires not just action on the ground—but smart, sustainable policy from the top.
As a scholar of the Sustainable Leadership Learning for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction (SLL-CDRR) program at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), Atty. Karren Cecil Panopio-Lofranco, Chief of the Litigation and Prosecution Division at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), is on a mission: to embed disaster risk management (DRM) principles into national regulations and ensure these policies align seamlessly across government agencies.
“I review bills and policies to embed disaster risk management principles in our regulations and align them with other agencies,” she says, emphasizing the strategic importance of policy coherence in building national resilience.
As an Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) student, she has acquired and strengthened skills in crafting climate policy that reflects the needs of people at the grassroots level.
“By strengthening policies to propel the work of those on the front lines, we create a unified government response,” she adds. Her vision underscores that effective disaster risk governance starts long before the storm hits—it begins with foresight, regulation, and a legal framework that empowers local and national actors alike.
For Atty. Lofranco, the law is more than a set of rules—it is a tool for change. “I am committed to shaping regulations that are responsive to the evolving needs of communities,” she asserts.
Her journey through the SLL-CDRR program reflects the initiative’s broader mission of nurturing leaders who can navigate the complex landscape of climate and disaster governance with courage, clarity, and collaboration. This is the essence of sustainable leadership—grounded in expertise, driven by empathy, and focused on long-term solutions.
As applications open for full scholarships under the Sustainable Leadership Learning for Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction program, professionals across sectors are invited to join this transformative initiative. The scholarship, now available within both the Executive Master in Disaster Risk and Crisis Management (EMDRCM) and the Master of Science in Data Science (MSDS) programs at the Asian Institute of Management, seeks to build a cadre of changemakers equipped to lead in an era defined by uncertainty and disruption.
Are you ready to drive real impact in climate and disaster risk management? Applications for the SLL-CDRR scholarships close on 13 June 2025.
