The DTI Executive Committee (DTI ExCom) is headed by the Trade and Industry Secretary and is composed of the top officials of the Department. Alfredo E. Pascual, the current Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is the chair of the DTI ExCom.
The rest of the team is as follows:
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Undersecretary Ana Carolina P. Sanchez
Chief of Staff Office of the Secretary
Undersecretary Maria Blanca Kim Bernardo-Lokin
Communications Office of the Secretary
Undersecretary Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Ph.D.
Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG)
Undersecretary Ceferino S. Rodolfo, DPA
Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG)
Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona
Regional Operations Group (ROG)
Undersecretary Atty. Ruth B. Castelo
Assistant Secretary Atty. Agaton Teodoro O. Uvero
Management Services Group (MSG)
Assistant Secretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco
Office of the Secretary (OSec)
Officer-in-Charge, Consumer Protection Group (CPG)
Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut
Regional Operations Group (ROG)
Assistant Secretary Atty. Allan B. Gepty
Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG)
Assistant Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque
Regional Operations Group (ROG)
Assistant Secretary Domingo R. Tolentino Jr.
Regional Operations Group (ROG)
Executive Director Althea Karen P. Antonio
Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC)
Prior to this, he headed the formerly Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group (CEODBG) now Competitiveness and Innovation Group (CIG) of the DTI from 2018 to 2019, and the Management Services Group (MSG) from 2016 to February 2018, where he oversaw policy making and implementation of operating plans and communication support for the entire Department.
Atty. Barba is a respected name in business and law circles, having had over 20 years of experience. He was the former Managing Partner of Barba & Associates Law Offices. He is perhaps most known for his tenure in the RFM Corporation, a publicly listed corporation, where he used to be Vice President and Head of the Corporate Legal & HR Divisions; the JAKA Group, where he held several positions, eventually moving up to becoming the company’s Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel; and as an Associate at the Ponce Enrile Cayetano Reyes & Manalastas Law Offices.
Atty. Barba obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in AB Political Science, as well as his Bachelor of Laws degree, from the University of the Philippines, where he also was on the editorial board of the Philippine Law Journal. Other notable positions of his include being Governor for Southern Luzon of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) from 1997 to 1999, and Legal Counsel of the Philippine Practical Shooting Association. He is a member of the “Ang Ligaya Ng Panginoon” community.
Herminio “Third” C. Bagro III is Undersecretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the Department of Trade and Industry. He is likewise tasked to supervise several of its attached agencies, including the National Development Company and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
He has served in public sector for more than 14 years. He started as a legal assistant at the National Labor Relations Commission while studying law. After placing 8th in the 2009 bar examinations, he joined the government under the late President Benigno S. Aquino III, first as Director and later as Undersecretary and Deputy Head of the Presidential Management Staff. Crossing over to the legislative branch, he served as chief-of-staff to three-term Senator Francis N. Pangilinan, who headed successively the Senate committees on agriculture and constitutional amendments.
He is a lecturer on political law at the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law and co-founder of Twala, an all-Filipino blockchain-based digital identity and solutions startup.
He began his career in service as a student leader in high school, until he was elected UP Student Council Chairperson in 2008, during its 100th year.
He graduated from UP with degrees in Philosophy, cum laude, and Juris Doctor. He obtained his Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in New York State as a Fulbright scholar.
Ana Carolina “Carol” Sanchez is designated as Chief of Staff (COS) of the Office of the Secretary (OSEC). Usec. Carol Sanchez is a graduate of London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom with a degree in Master of Science in Social Policy and Planning for Developing Countries. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Houston, Texas (Magna cum laude), with major academic credits from Grinnell College, Iowa. She initially pursued research with the International Economics Group of the School of Economics, University of Asia and the Pacific. She then continued to establish herself as an international development professional. Usec. Sanchez has provided technical assistance to a number of public sector agencies in the Philippines for the past 20 years through international development projects. She has promoted institutional development of government agencies through the use of participatory, inclusive, and sustainable strategies; conducted studies for the efficiency of government systems and procedures at local and national levels; and authored and co-authored studies and guidelines for national programs. She has fostered collaboration among different sectors, agencies and organizational units to achieve more effective operations or outcomes, promoted accountability and transparency, and spearheaded knowledge management and communications. Her contribution to program development and management skills acquired through her experience, both as a team leader and as a specialist, were recognized by partner institutions.
She has led projects and research groups with funding support from the European Union (EU), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)/DFAT, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Usec. Sanchez has also managed the delivery of up to multi-million-dollar international development projects benefiting local government, public sector agencies, and civil society organizations. She has worked with both government and non-governmental organizations in managing and implementing institutional and capacity development activities; monitoring and evaluation and learning; performance management; assessing and designing systems and procedures; and project planning/management. Usec. Sanchez has developed programs and managed projects of an education and training center in London, UK. She likewise taught Political Economy, Development Administration, and Governance to undergraduate and postgraduate students of the De La Salle University.
Maria Blanca Kim Bernardo-Lokin is designated as Undersecretary for Communications & Legislative Affairs under the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
She is in charge of supervising the Public Relations Unit (PRU) as well as overseeing and consolidating the Department’s Communications Group, developing standards, policies and guidelines for a unified communications strategy. She is also tasked with establishing and maintaining strong relationships and partnerships with key stakeholders across traditional and online media outlets.
Undersecretary Lokin is a former Congresswoman for the Party-list group CIBAC (Citizens Battle Against Corruption), and her stint in Congress will serve the Department well in her other task as Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, where she will be the chief liaison between the Trade Department and Philippine Congress, promoting and monitoring proposed measures certified and or endorsed by the President of the Philippines, as well as those which directly concern the Department.
She was also a veteran business journalist both in broadcast and print, and has had extensive experience covering various beats as a reporter and anchor for the television network ABS-CBN and ANC, as well as the government-owned PTV4. She was also a writer for The Philippine Star, and a business columnist for The Manila Times newspaper, as well as managing editor for the Business+Class Magazine.
Undersecretary Lokin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature from the University of Santo Tomas (1989). As a legislator, she has co-authored several landmark measures on Women and Children, including the Anti-Violence Against Women & Children Act of 2003 and the Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. She is also an Appointive Director of the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) since October 21, 2022. With her assumption as Undersecretary, she is now designated as Undersecretary-In-Charge of PITC
Dr. Rafaelita “Fita” M. Aldaba is Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). She fulfills a key role in the formulation and implementation of the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S), which puts innovation at the heart of the country’s new industrial policy. Undersecretary. Aldaba is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Philippine Board of Investments (BOI), the country’s primary industry development arm and lead investment promotion agency (IPA).
Apart from manufacturing resurgence and industry roadmaps, she is leading DTI’s initiatives in establishing an inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in collaboration with other government agencies, industry, and the academe under the Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap. She is also in-charge of the competitiveness and research work of DTI, focusing on supply chain and logistics, e-commerce, accreditation of conformity assessment bodies, and trade and industrial policy.
A researcher turned policymaker, Dr. Aldaba was Senior Research Fellow and Acting Vice-President of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) prior to her previous appointment as Assistant Secretary of DTI’s Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG). She has extensive research experience, authored various publications on development issues, and conceptualized and managed research projects with various international organizations, including The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the United States Agency for International Development.
Atty. Ruth B. Castelo was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1994 and has since been continuously engaged in the practice of the legal profession. Her experience as a lawyer extends to government practice when she served as a City Attorney from 1994 to 2001, and where her litigation skills were honed. In this line of work, she was exposed to construction and government infrastructure projects reviewing construction contracts and ensuring proper implementation of the same.
In the course of her private practice, Atty. Castelo had argued before all court levels in the country, from the Metropolitan Trial Court, Regional Trial Court, the Sandiganbayan in a Division, the Court of Appeals in a Division, and the Supreme Court en banc, with the exclusion of the Court of Tax Appeals. The cases that she handled range from civil, criminal and administrative cases, among which are medical malpractice, violation of RA 3019 (The Anti-Graft Law), violation of PD 1096 (The National Building Code), construction disputes, and the like. She was engaged as a consultant for the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, particularly on construction and government infrastructure projects.
Prior to her appointment as DTI Undersecretary, she was admitted as Construction Arbitrator for the Construction Industry Arbitration Commission (CIAC) by virtue of her extensive exposure to construction contracts and litigation/arbitration of construction disputes.
Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Ph.D. Undersecretary for the IDTPG of the DTI and Vice Chairman and Managing Head of the Board of Investments was awarded DTI’s Executive of the Year in 2014, after only a year of service in DTI.
Since 2013 as IDTPG Assistant Secretary, Dr. Rodolfo has provided key support in authoring the country’s international trade strategy, and in coming up with the Philippine Trade Negotiation Agenda. In negotiating international trade agreements, he strengthened the One Country, One Voice program (OCOV), DTI’s institutional consultation mechanism, involving a broad range of stakeholders. OCOV significantly contributed to ensure the country’s readiness to pursue free trade agreements (FTAs) with key trading partners, address outstanding economic and trade issues, provide employment opportunities for Filipinos, particularly in rural areas, and maximize the benefits of economic integration.
His work also included the country’s substantive participation in various international fora, such as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and heightened awareness of key DTI programs and initiatives geared towards strengthening the competitiveness of local industries, particularly micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He communicated both the opportunities and challenges of the country’s various trade engagements to guide businesses, academe, government agencies, and civil society.
From 2000 – 2010, Dr. Rodolfo served as the Senior Policy Adviser for the IDTPG. He designed, developed, and facilitated stakeholder consultations, capacity-building programs, and undertook research on trade and industry. He also provided assistance in evaluating trade-related programs of development partners, specifically in the areas of capacity building, public advocacy, organizational development, and broadening stakeholder participation. He provided technical advice on the development of the country’s trade negotiating positions.
Dr. Rodolfo is the first Filipino participant in the Strategic Management Program of the Industrial Management Institute (IMI), sponsored by the IMI and by the Islamic Development Bank, held in Tehran, Iran in 1995. He is a faculty member of the School of Management (SMN) of the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) since 1991 and was appointed Vice Dean of the SMN and Academic Director of the Advanced Management Program of the SMN in 2011. He also joined the International Faculty Development Program of the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain in 2007.
Dr. Rodolfo obtained his Economics Degree from the School of Economics of the University of the Philippines and his Master of Science in Industrial Economics, on full scholarship from the Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany, from the Center for Research and Communication (CRC), now known as UA&P. He also holds a Doctoral Degree in Public Administration (DPA) from the National College of Public Administration and Governance of the University of the Philippines.
Ms. Flordelona L. Amate serves as one of the Department Undersecretaries and spearheads the overall implementation of the Pangkabuhayan sa Pagbangon at Ginhawa (PPG) program of the Department. As the lead for the entrepreneurship development program, PPG, she represents the Department in various inter-agency committees, and coordinates with regions and stakeholders involved.
Her team has been actively implementing various initiatives and interventions to train and hone entrepreneurs in the country. Most importantly, as an active part of the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Team, she ensures that proper aid is executed and cascaded to regional offices through the conduct of livelihood assistance, coaching, and counseling during calamity response operations. Through distribution of livelihood packages, the PPG program helps for the recovery of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by calamities.
Mr. Ireneo V. Vizmonte serves as the Undersecretary for the Management Services Group (MSG).
Mr. Vizmonte was appointed as Undersecretary of the DTI in February 2018. As Undersecretary for the MSG, he supervises the six offices under it, namely: Financial Management Service (FMS), Human Resource and Administrative Service (HRAS), Information Systems Management Service (ISMS), Knowledge Management and Information Service (KMIS), Planning and Management Service (PMS), and Resource Generation and Management Service (RGMS).
Prior to his appointment, Undersecretary Vizmonte was DTI-MSG Assistant Secretary from 2015 to 2018, and Director of the Financial and Management Service from 2003 to 2015. Other government agencies he has worked for include the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (1997-2002; Senior Deputy Administrator from 1999-2001), the International Coffee Organization Certifying Agency (1988-1997; Chief Trade and Industry Development Specialist, 1992-1997), and the Ministry of Human Settlements Region IV (1982-1987; Division Chief, 1986-1987).
Undersecretary Vizmonte holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (1981) and a Diploma in General and Strategic Management from the Maastricht School of Management (2005) in the Netherlands.
Ms. Blesila A. Lantayona started her career in the civil service in NEDA Region XI. She then moved to the DTI, first in various technical positions, then as Provincial Director of DTI Davao Del Sur, and eventually as Assistant Regional Director of DTI Region XI, Davao City. Prior to her appointment as DTI Assistant Secretary, she was the Regional Director of the Department of Trade & Industry, Region 3. She is recently appointed as the Officer-in-Charge of ROG.
She has also worked in 10 provinces in the People’s Republic of China including Beijing and Hong Kong as consultant for the 2nd biggest French electrical contracting company. Likewise, she was part-time Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Government and Management (MBA Department) at the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City and at the Don Honorio Ventura Technical State University in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Undersecretary Lantayona earned her BS Degree in Agriculture major in Economics (cum laude) from Xavier University (Ateneo de Cagayan), Cagayan de Oro City. She also holds an MBA Degree in International Business from Ecole Europeenne des Affaires (European School of Management) in Paris, France.
Undersecretary Abdulgani Macatoman heads the Office of Special Concerns of the DTI. In a concurrent capacity, he is also serving as the Undersecretary for the Trade and Promotions Group (TPG). He is a former Chairman of Foreign Chamber Council of the Philippines (FCCP); chairman emeritus of Bangsamoro Federal Business Council Inc.; a former Executive Director of PSPA Philippine solar power alliance; and the Former President and CEO of the Global Empire International Group of Companies.
He finished his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Accounting (1991); Bachelor of Laws (1995), and Master of Business Administration (1999) from the University of the East.
He began his public service career by becoming a Consultant in the Office of the President of the Republic of the Philippines and Executive Officer in the Department of Education Culture and Sports (DECS); Consultant of the Philippine Center of Transnational Crime (PCTC), the Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, and currently, under President Rodrigo R. Duterte, as Assistant Secretary in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
He also has received numerous awards and recognitions as a businessman, consultant and public servant. Among these awards are: Ten Outstanding Young Filipinos in 2012, an award from Philippine Cancer Society; Golden Choice Awardee Global Enterpreneur of the year by the Inding Indi Short Film Festival and Asian Humanitarian Businessman of the year by the Global Officials of Dignity (GOD) Awards 2017; “Warrior Communicator Award” bestowed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas (Philippine Army) and the Civil-Military Operations Group Armed Forces of the Philippines. He is also the Global Muslim Entrepreneurial Awardee during the 3rd International Muslim Entrepreneurial Leaders in Tehran Iran. He was hailed by the Philippine Council of Management (PHILCOMAN) as Management Man for 2017 during the 41st National Management Congress.
Assistant Secretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco has been with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for 18 years, starting as Division Chief of CITEM’s Corporate Planning Division in 1999. She describes herself as a highly motivated, dedicated public service professional with significant contribution and experience in planning, monitoring & evaluation, performance management, public administration, and public policy formulation.
In 2012, as the Director of the DTI’s Corporate Planning Service, she initiated the adoption of the Performance Governance System (PGS) in the DTI, and was instrumental in having the PGS approved by the CSC as the DTI Strategic Performance Management System in 2014. These efforts resulted in the Department of Trade and Industry being named by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) as one of the country’s first “Islands of Good Governance” in 2015, in recognition of efforts the department, to implement sustainable and transformative reforms in public service, a recognition shared with 11 other public sector agencies.
Prior to joining the Executive branch, Assistant Secretary Pacheco was part of the Legislative Branch (Senate of the Philippines) where she served under Senator Leticia Ramos Shahani and Senator Loren Legarda. As HEA of the Senate Committee on Agriculture under Senator Shahani, she was involved in the enactment of several laws on agriculture, notably the (i) Agricultural Tarrification Act; (ii) Philippine Fisheries Code; (iii) Joint Resolution Creating the Congressional Commission on Agricultural Modernization. In 1998, she joined the office of newly elected Senator Loren Legarda, as Director IV, responsible for admin and finance, last February 14, 2018 Jean was promoted to Assistant Secretary of the Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group (CEODBG).
Before entering government, Assistant Secretary Pacheco was involved in policy formulation in organizations such as the Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD), and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), where she served 5 years as head of International Affairs Division.
Assistant Secretary Pacheco is a loyal Thomasian having obtained her secondary, undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Santo Tomas. She also received a degree in Masters in Public Policy from Massey University in Auckland, New Zealand.
Mr. Ronnel O. Abrenica serves as the Assistant Secretary for the DTI Consumer Protection Group (CPG) and concurrently oversees the DTI Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau (FTEB). He assists the Secretary and CPG Undersecretary in the formulation, determination, and implementation of consumer protection, business regulation, and fair trade laws and policies, including technical regulations, in the country. From 2018 to 2021, he served as FTEB Director and still concurrently holds the designation. He supervises all the Bureau’s divisions and spearheads the promulgation of the rules and regulations necessary to carry out the mandate of FTEB. In 2017, Assistant Secretary Abrenica served as the Director of the DTI Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB) wherein he developed plans, programs, and administrative techniques for the attainment of CPAB’s functions and objectives as CPG’s policy and advocacy champion. Prior to his public service in DTI, Assistant Secretary Abrenica worked as Council Secretary for Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Executive Director for Youth and Sports in Davao City under the administration of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. He also worked in the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as the Chief of Staff of Chairman William B. Ramirez and as its concurrent Executive Director for Operations. Assistant Secretary Abrenica obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Medical Technology at San Pedro College in Davao City and took up Bachelor of Laws at the University of Mindanao.
Atty. Ann Claire Credo-Cabochan is Assistant Secretary for Consumer Protection Group (CPG), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). As such, she contributes to the policy and regulatory work undertaken by CPG bureaus: Bureau of Philippine Standards; Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau; and, Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau. Assistant Secretary Cabochan continues to build on her experience as Director of the DTI Bureau of International Trade Relations, the position she occupied prior to her promotion, and in which capacity she functioned as ASEAN Senior Official, APEC Senior Official for Trade, and lead Philippine delegate to disputes brought before the World Trade Organization. More particularly, she shepherds various initiatives to help steer the course of Consumer Protection in the ASEAN and APEC regions. A keen advocate of Sustainable Consumption, Assistant Secretary Cabochan actively works for its mainstreaming in various fora.
Also a Certified Public Accountant, Assistant Secretary Cabochan had occasion to lead the DTI Bureau of Philippine Standards and the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board, a DTI attached agency. Before joining DTI, she had stints at the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel, the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Borne of her work experience, her fields of specialization include Corporation Law, International Trade Law and Policy, Regional Economic Integration, International Trade Agreements and Negotiations, Regulatory Coherence and Good Regulatory Practices, and Consumer Protection.
Assistant Secretary Cabochan has extensive experience in the academe as full-time Accountancy professor at Silliman University; part-time Law professor at the Lyceum of the Philippines and the Arellano University School of Law; and, part-time College of Arts and Sciences and Graduate School of Business professor at the San Beda University.
She is married to Atty. Jonas L. Cabochan and is a mother of one.
Atty. Allan B. Gepty is a lawyer with diverse experience in the field of litigation, commercial law, international trade, and intellectual property. He joined the Department of Trade and Industry as an Assistant Secretary for Industry Development and International Trade Policy in December 2018. Prior to his appointment, he was a Commissioner of the Philippine Tariff Commission. He also served as Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines from 2010 to 2017.
Before his stint in government, he was an active law practitioner, and consultants of various companies in business development, investments, and project integration. He also served as the Corporate Counsel and Asst. Corporate Secretary of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), and Technical Assistant for the Private Sector of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) from 2003 to 2009.
He is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at The Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania, U.S.A. He finished his law degree from the San Beda College, Manila in 1997, and his Master of Laws degree from the University of Santo Tomas, España, Manila, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude. He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce major in Economics from the same university, where he graduated Cum Laude in 1992. He is a recipient of the President Manuel L. Quezon Leadership Award and one of the Outstanding Alumni of the University of Santo Tomas, College of Commerce in the field of law in 2017.
He is a member of the academe teaching Public International Law, Intellectual Property Law and Corporate Law.
DTI Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga spearheads “One Town, One Product: Next Generation” or OTOP Next Gen, a project which aims to offer a package of public-private assistance in order for MSMEs with minimum viable products to come up with new or better offerings with significant improvement and innovation in the areas of quality, product development, design, standards compliance, marketability, production capability, brand development building from the gains of OTOP first generation. She is the mother of the late DTI Assistant Secretary Christopher Albert Du-Naga, who shared the same passion with her in providing realistic and practical support to MSMEs throughout the country.
Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga hails from the province of Masbate where she served as Municipal Mayor in the town of Dimasalang in 2007 with an advocacy in eco-tourism and sustainable livelihood projects. She successfully introduced various programs which trained and developed individuals in micro-businesses using their local raw products. Her vision of creating globally competitive businesses for MSMEs focusing on locally developed products emanated from her service in the local government. Having also served as Municipal Administrator in her town, she was able to develop plans and strategies, and implemented the same with high rate of success. Her projects particularly focused on matters relating to long-term benefits and sustainability for the business owners, with an idea that successful business will not only advantage the owner, but the whole community in general.
Her experience in business traces back decades ago, when she and her husband built various successful businesses during their early years. Assistant Secretary Du-Naga has under her belt, extensive and firsthand knowledge and skills in growing trade from humble beginnings. Her sophisticated approach in the industry finds its roots from her vast background in her business ventures, and further enhanced by her previous local governance.
Assistant Secretary Demphna Du-Naga’s unwavering passion to help MSMEs place a spot in the global market penetrates deep to the hearts of the local enterprises through her personal and sensible approach, carefully tailored to the potentials of each venture.
Prior to becoming Assistant Secretary, Ameenah A. Fajardo — a chemical engineer and academician by profession — has managed to gather extensive experience in both government and business sectors.
Assistant Secretary Fajardo was once a Chief of Staff at the House of Representatives. She also became an Executive Assistant to the Rizal Provincial Government, where she served as the head of the livelihood activities of the Ynares Eco System (YES). She is also responsible for the “Fidel Iodized Salt for the Barangay Health Workers (BHW) Livelihood Program,” which has been throughout the entire country.
She has been actively participating and a volunteer for Disaster Rescue Programs in coordination with Foreign Investors and counterparts, notably for Tropical Storms Ondoy and Yolanda.
Assistant Secretary Fajardo has constantly been lauded for her accomplishments, receiving the Gintong Ina Award for Socio-Economic Community Service in 2001 and the Alay Sa Pamilya Award in 2003, for her dedication to public service especially pertaining to Livelihood Training and Programs for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) whereby, she has successfully launched and joined Trade Fairs for our OFW Sector in coordination with different Governmental Offices.
Currently, as the Assistant Secretary of DTI, she handles Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW), Persons with Disability (PWD), Comprehensive Social Benefits Program for the Wounded in Action – Killed in Action (WIA-KIA) AFP-PNP Personnel, Project Entrep, Strike Team for Indigenous People, and Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster.
Ms. Rosario Virginia C. Gaetos is a tried and tested government official and DTI veteran, with an illustrious career in export and tourism promotions. As Director of the Center of International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), her most noteworthy achievements include the rebranding of the Manila FAME and IFEX, and spearheading a strong global branding campaign for Philippine export products. In 2016, she served as concurrent Office-in-Charge of the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP), where she oversaw its reorganization and redirection of its strategic thrusts.
Prior to Assistant Secretary Gaetos’ DTI stint, she worked at the Department of Tourism (DOT), where she helped then-Secretary Richard Gordon in campaigns that revitalized the country’s tourism industry (“WOW Philippines,” “Visit Philippines”). She was also appointed as Philippine Commissioner for the World Expo Aichi 2005, and helped achieve for the Philippines the very first Gold Award from the Expo organizers. In addition, she headed the DOT’s Japan Team for two years, establishing the country’s first Travel Café in Tokyo, and resulting in the Philippines highest number of tourist arrivals from Japan in 2005.
She is also a pioneering force for the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions/Events (MICE) industry in the country, and has served as President/Secretary General of the Asian Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus (AACVB). Under her leadership, the association launched the “Asia Now” campaign which helped highlight Asia as a MICE destination.
Assistant Secretary Gaetos obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Foreign Service from the University of the Philippines, and her Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
Mr. Raymond Albert H. Batac is currently designated as the Assistant Secretary heading the Foreign Trade Service Corps in Manila, Philippines. Prior foreign postings include Washington, DC, USA, Brussels, Belgium and Geneva, Switzerland. Professional career began in the banking industry in credit finance eventually, becoming a business development manager at Citibank N.A. specializing in personal banking. In 2004, joined the Foreign Trade Service Corps of the Department of Trade and Industry, assigned as special assistant to the Secretary of Trade and Industry and, subsequently, as chief officer to the Senior Undersecretary of Trade and Industry dealing mainly with bilateral and regional trade negotiations.
Mr. Napoleon K. Juanillo Jr., Ph.D. is Assistant Secretary for Competitiveness and Innovation of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI-OACIG). He oversees the programmatic implementation and establishment of the Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIICs), directs the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of plans, programs, projects, and activities of the Innovation and Collaboration, Startup Development and Creative Industry Groups, and in socializing DTI’s innovation and competiveness policies, programs and initiatives among the agency’s stakeholders.
He recently served as Director IV, Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management at the Commission on Higher Education. He was formerly Assistant Professor at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Asec. Juanillo is also twice a recipient of competitive research grants from the Illinois Council for Food and Agricultural Research. He was Dean, College of Arts and Sciences and Director for Research, Planning and Resource Development at San Beda University. He has handled consulting projects globally and was Senior Advisor for the USAID-STRIDE project.
A social entrepreneur, he is President/CEO of the AccessHealth Hospital, the AccessHealth Catheterization Laboratory and Heart Institute, and the Institutes of Wellness and Disease Prevention, Bicol AccessHealth Centrum; Founder, The NewFields STEM Schools, and Founder/CEO of The Institutes for Research, Innovation and Scholarship (The IRIS).
Domingo “Dominic” R. Tolentino, Jr. took his Oath of Office before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as Assistant Secretary (Asec) of the Department of Trade and Industry, Regional Operations Group, at the Malacañang Palace on 03 March 2020.
Asec Tolentino lives by PRRD’s motto “by working together, we build a nation where citizens are empowered.” and former DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, “more grassroot approach in programs and livelihood intervention to widen the reach of the marginalized sectors providing skills, jobs, business.”
Asec Dominic, as he is fondly called, is designated by virtue of Department Order 20-52, tasking him as the following major programs of this administration;
National Coordinator, Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB)
National Coordinator, Diskwento Caravan
ROG In-Charge, Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program
Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary, he served as the Director of the Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau of the DTI-Consumer Protection Group, in which he ensured regulation of importation as provided by trade agreements and conduct market surveillance and enforcement to ensure compliance with trade and industry law, among others.
Further, Asec Tolentino is a former Director of the Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau, the office that develops advocacies and policies to ensure a fair marketplace for both the consumers and businesses. He is responsible for heightening consumer awareness program and bringing basic necessities and prime commodities to the Barangay and likewise the Serbisyo sa Barangay. He handles policy and advocacy programs. Asec. Tolentino hails from Cavite City and comes from the Tolentino Clan.
He is a known to be a seasoned operations management executive with expertise in Marketing, Promotion, Local Government Administration, Planning, Urban Development, Project Management, Trade and Industry, Consumer Policy, Advocacy and Protection.
Before joining the DTI, he spearheaded the Resettlement Program to uplift the living conditions of the disadvantaged people of the community, developed, and implemented a comprehensive and integrated housing development and resettlement programs, the Chief of the Housing Development and Resettlement Department and former Cavite Majority Leader of the Cavite Provincial Legislator and National Chairman of Board Member League.
He is part of the economic team who is responsible for lowering the inflation by saturating the rice in the market. Former Head Executive Assistant of the Department of Labor and Employment and also a former Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) Trade Tourism.
He represented the Philippines during the ASEAN Regional Forum on the Promotion of Sustainable Consumption and one of DTI’s representatives to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on Digital Marketing and Promotion held in Varas, Chile last 20-26 August 2019. Also in the ASEAN-USPTO Workshop on Intellectual Property Enforcement, Public Awareness and Consumer Behavior last 07-09 November 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ms. Asteria C. Caberte was appointed as the Assistant Secretary of the DTI – Regional Operations Group on July 22, 2020.
Prior to her appointment as DTI Assistant Secretary, Ms. Caberte was the Regional Director of DTI-Central Visayas (Region 7) for 20 years. She was conferred the Executive of the Year Award in 2013 under the System on Performance, Rewards and Incentives of the Department. She also received the Secretary’s Award for the Conduct of Diskwento Caravan for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.
Her leadership has enabled DTI Region 7 to be among the Department’s outstanding regional agencies from 2014-2018 and among the best performing agencies in the country today.
During her stint as regional director, the DTI Region 7 Quality Management System (QMS) was consistently certified as ISO 9001:2008 compliant starting in 2010. The Regional Office’s smooth transition to ISO 9001:2015 certification in 2017 and the maintenance of its good QMS in 2018 and 2019 may be attributed in part to her exemplary management ability.
Asec. Caberte’s career in the civil service commenced in the Ministry of Industry Medium and Small Coordinated Action Program (MASICAP). She then made a headway to DTI as Bohol’s Provincial Director from 1992 to 1998. She was later appointed as the Regional Director of DTI Region 7.
She obtained her BS Degree in Business Administration major in Economics from the University of San Carlos (Cebu City) and holds an MBA Degree in Business Management from the University of the Philippines (Cebu City).
