Engr. Toribio Noel L. Ilao is a results-oriented public servant and senior executive with over two decades of dedicated service in infrastructure support operations, equipment asset management, and program implementation in the Philippine government. As Director IV of the Bureau of Equipment (BOE) under the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), he is entrusted with overseeing national programs on DPWH fleet modernization, dredging operations, and equipment lifecycle governance — contributing to the Department's broader goal of delivering safe, sustainable, and service-oriented public infrastructure.
Under his direction, BOE spearheads the life-cycle management of over 7,000 units of water-based and land-based equipment fleet nationwide, administers lifecycle planning and performance benchmarking for district and regional fleets, and supervises the operational readiness of dredging vessels and flood control support systems. These responsibilities span across the archipelago — from strategic disaster response mobilization, including flood-control program through dredging-by-administration, to routine road maintenance support — ensuring that public works operations continue to meet field demands in a reliable, cost-effective, and coordinated manner.
Throughout these public service initiatives, Engr. Ilao has consistently placed a premium on teamwork, inter-agency collaboration, and inclusive leadership, recognizing that progress in public infrastructure is best achieved when driven by shared vision, empowered technical teams, and cohesive field operations across all levels of government.
With deep regards for public accountability, Engr. Ilao has led initiatives in project and program management involving strategic refleeting programs, disaster response logistics for DPWH mandated responsibilities, overland fleet deployment, and strategic dredging operations. His leadership has helped institutionalize transparent, risk-informed systems anchored in whole-of-life asset planning and reliability-centered maintenance.
Through the prudent adoption of innovation, he has enabled BOE to apply cutting-edge technologies such as fleet management digitalization, smart telematics, AI-assisted diagnostics, and performance-based asset management systems — thereby enhancing operational readiness, safety, and maintenance across all DPWH regional and field units.
Engr. Ilao remains a committed learner and contributor to global practice. He has participated in key international conferences including the 2025 NAFA Institute and Expo (Long Beach, California), the 2023 IPWEA Fleet Management Conference (Brisbane, Australia), and the 2023 Dredging and Reclamation Conference (Singapore). Over the last ten (10) years, he has likewise been invited to share insights in selected global forums on government fleet innovation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and public-sector asset strategy.
He holds a Master of Innovation and Business from the Asian Institute of Management, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He further completed advanced executive programs at the University of Oxford Saïd Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management, and the London School of Economics and Political Science — focusing on technology strategy, artificial intelligence in public leadership, design and systems thinking, risk and crisis management, and senior executive leadership for government transformation. He also holds certifications in Blue Ocean Strategy, Mastering Business Models (Strategyzer), and other strategic innovation tools that support the Bureau’s transformation agenda in line with DPWH priorities.
Engr. Ilao also had the opportunity to contribute to earlier discussions leading to the development of the ISO 55001 Asset Management Standard, which evolved from PAS 55. This early exposure instilled in him a lasting commitment to standards-based, transparent, and citizen-focused infrastructure management.
Engr. Ilao has been recognized internationally for his contributions to public fleet management and asset governance. In 2023, he and the DPWH Bureau of Equipment were invited by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) to collaborate on equipment modernization strategies, resulting in consistent technical exchanges in the Philippines. He previously presented a technical paper on “International Fleet Management in the Philippines” at the 2019 IPWEA Conference in Brisbane. From 2019 to 2021, he was featured in a three-part interview series by IPWEA’s FLEET Intouch magazine, which highlighted BOE’s operational transformation and resilience strategies across more than 7,000 islands. Earlier in his career, he co-authored a research paper on Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) for SMEs, presented at the 2006 International Applied Reliability Symposium in Kuala Lumpur—demonstrating his long-standing engagement in adapting technical standards for developing country contexts.
His credentials include:
· Certified Senior Asset Management Practitioner (Asset Management Council)
· Certified Asset Management Assessor (CAMA), WPiAM
· Professional Certificate in Asset Management Planning and Infrastructure Financial Management (ProCert IFM), IPWEA
· Career Executive Service Eligible, CES Board
· Licensed Mining Engineer, PRC Philippines
These certifications are closely aligned with his mission in BOE—to ensure international best practices, financial responsibility, and long-term reliability in government-owned infrastructure and fleet assets.
Since 2008, Engr. Ilao has served as a lecturer at the University of the Philippines – National Engineering Center, where he teaches Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Operational Risk Management, empowering the nation’s engineers with practical and ethical decision-making tools.
He is an active member of respected global organizations, including the Asset Management Council, Institute of Asset Management, Institute of Risk Management, Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA), the Project Management Institute (PMI), and the NAFA Fleet Management Association.
Through his quiet leadership and steady public service, Engr. Ilao continues to advocate for integrity, strategic foresight, and innovation—helping DPWH sustain infrastructure systems that are efficient, resilient, and responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.