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.

Prior to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI),
Mr. Ablan was undersecretary for administration at the Department of Education (DepEd), and assistant secretary and undersecretary at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

His other government stints were at the Commission
on Elections (COMELEC), Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP Center), Provincial Government of llocos Norte, and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Mr. Ablan concurrently serves as alternate director at the National Development Company (NDC), and the Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE).

Kris is a lawyer by profession, and holds degrees from Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, the University of Auckland, and the National Defense College of the Philippines. Kris holds the rank of CESO I and is a 2021 Presidential Career Executive Service awardee for his work in freedom of information (FOl).

Prior to his appointment in 2024, Undersecretary Sunico served as the Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Unilever Philippines/Southeast Asia. Throughout his career in the private sector, Undersecretary Sunico has worked in various fields, including communications, media relations, and customer development. He has also led the implementation of projects that address the most pressing concerns of the communities all over the country, such as health and nutrition, environmental preservation, sustainable living, and livelihood. For his outstanding work, Undersecretary Sunico was conferred the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award for Corporate Social Responsibility by the University of the Philippines Alumni Association.

He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture, placing 2nd at the Licensure Examinations, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management. In addition to his illustrious career in corporate communications, Undersecretary Sunico is also a member of various civic organizations. He served as the Vice President of the Philippine Association of National Advertisers, a Board Member of the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE Philippines), and a trustee for the Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers.

Undersecretary Sunico concurrently sits as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Board of Investments (BOI), the country’s primary industry development arm and lead investment promotion agency (IPA).

Atty. Amanda Marie F. Nograles is the Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the Consumer Protection Group of the Department of Trade and Industry. Prior to DTI, she was also the Assistant Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the Department of Education.

Atty. Amanda graduated with second honors from Ateneo Law School. After taking the bar, she worked at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & delos Angeles and thereafter at Nograles Law Offices.

She graduated from Ateneo de Manila, magna cum laude with a degree in Management Economics. She is set to complete her Masters in National Security Administration from the National Defense College of the Philippines by June 2024.

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

Ms. Antonio is currently the Coordinating Officer, with the rank of Assistant Secretary, of the Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) attached to the Office of the Secretary. She coordinates the programs and activities of the DTI overseas posts known as Philippine Trade and Investment Centers (PTIC) and establishes synergies and linkages between the PTICs and DTI bureaus, Philippine- based agencies and entities, both public and private, that are actively involved in the promotion of trade and investments.

In one of her Home Office assignments, Ms. Antonio was the Chief of Staff (COS) of the Undersecretary for Industry Promotion of the DTI in Manila from 2013 until 2015. As COS, she ensured strategy alignment and implementation of the Industry Promotion Group and coordinated projects and activities of the various bureaus and agencies reporting to the Undersecretary. Moreover, she was the lead coordinator of several high level, ministerial and presidential visits in Asia, Europe and the Americas during her stint at the Home Office in Manila.

As a Foreign Trade Service Officer, she was posted as Commercial Counsellor in Bangkok (2022- 2023), Berlin (2015-2021), Madrid (2011-2012) and Paris (2005-
2011).

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.

Ms. Ma. Cristina A. Roque holds the position of Undersecretary for the MSME Development Group within the Philippines’ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

In this capacity, she leads the execution of programs and initiatives for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), focusing particularly on key areas under her supervision, including the Bureau of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, the Bureau of Marketing Development and Promotions, the OTOP Program Management Office, and the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Management Office. Additionally, she oversees the operations of the attached agencies, the Small Business Corporation and the Cooperative Development Authority.

Usec. Roque’s leadership ensures the effective implementation and advancement of strategies aimed at bolstering the growth and sustainability of MSMEs across the nation.

Undersecretary 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.

Allan B. Gepty is the Undersecretary for International Trade Group (ITG) at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) where he supervises the Bureau of International Trade Relations, Bureau of Import Services, and the Strategic Trade Management Office.

From December 2018 to November 2023, he was the Assistant Secretary of the DTI’s Industry Development and Trade Policy Group (IDTPG) where his main portfolio was on trade policy and trade negotiations at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level.

He was the country’s Senior Economic Official at the ASEAN. He also served as the country’s chief trade negotiator in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement, considered as the largest free trade deal in the world.

Prior to his appointment at the DTI, he was a Commissioner of the Philippine Tariff Commission. From 2010 to 2017, he served as Deputy Director General of the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines, and from January 2015 to October 2015 as its
OIC- Director General. As such, he represented the country at the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

He is a lawyer by profession with diverse experience in international trade, intellectual property, public international law, commercial law, and litigation.

He is a Senior Fellow in Public Service at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. He is also 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 in 2016. 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 member of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Sub Committee for the Revision of the Rules of Procedure for Intellectual Property Rights Cases. He is an active member of the Academe at the College of Law and Graduate School of Law. He is an author of a
book, Intellectual Property Law Compendium. He is a recipient of many awards including the prestigious Presidential Medal of Merit
from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and the Gawad Dr. Pio Valenzuela for Government Service both in 2023.

He is a reserved officer of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) with the rank of Major

Dr. Leonila T. Baluyut is a distinguished leader in the field of trade and industry, renowned for her exceptional journey from grassroots involvement to her current prominent role as Assistant Secretary.

With over three decades in service, Dr. Baluyut is a Career Executive Service Officer (CESO). She continually demonstrated her dedication to fostering economic growth, championing innovation, and empowering communities. Her professional career started as a Financial Analyst at the DTI – Central Luzon Region. She served in key positions as Provincial Director and became Regional Director in the same region. All her outstanding contributions led to her current position’s appointment.

Dr. Baluyut remains at the forefront of industry trends through continuous learning and immersive engagements in countries like Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Germany, France, Italy, and Switzerland. These experiences have enriched her understanding on economic, trade, investment, SME development and social development as a global thought leader in her field. She was a member of the Philippine Delegation to Geneva, Switzerland on the United Nations’ Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

Her exceptional contributions have been recognized where she was awarded the prestigious Angeles University Foundation The Outstanding Alumni (AUF TOA) Award, and the Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award. Her unwavering commitment to service excellence solidified her reputation as the industry’s trailblazer.

Dr. Baluyut actively engages in various civic, non-governmental, and voluntary organizations and served as Board Adviser to the Pampanga State Agricultural University.

Dr. Baluyut’s academic journey is characterized by her relentless pursuit of excellence. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as Academic Scholar, furthered her education by obtaining a Master’s in Management major in Business Management from the University of the Philippines. She was enriched with her diverse executive and leadership training experiences where she advanced from various executive and leadership disciplines from prestigious institutions in Singapore including the Nanyang Technological University, Civil Service College, and the Asian Institute of Digital Transformation. Her academic achievements culminated in the completion of her Doctor of Business Administration degree, Magna Cum Laude.

Asec. Baluyut’s intellectual contributions extend to research and publications as she co-authored and published two business research papers.

Agaton Uvero is currently an Assistant Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in charge of the Fair Trade Group as well as the Supervising Head of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP). He has previously worked in various capacities in the House of Representatives, Senate, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Finance (DOF).

Early in his career, he worked as an international trade manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers before setting up a consulting partnership which specializes in international trade, logistics and supply chain. He has provided advisory services and training for many of the Top 1000 corporations, multinational firms, professional and industry associations and business chambers.

He has worked on various technical assistance programs funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and USAID. In 2017, he authored the book “Understanding International Trade, Tariffs and Customs”. A lawyer and a licensed customs broker, he has degrees in Philosophy and Law (Juris Doctor) from UP Diliman and is an alumnus of East West Center (New Generation Program). He is a lecturer at the UP Law Center and Ateneo School of Law (MCLE Program) on topics such as international trade, tariff and customs.

Kristian Ablan is a career public servant, having been in government service for 18 years. He currently holds the post of Assistant Secretary and Supervising Head of the Management Services Group. Prior to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Mr. Ablan was undersecretary for administration at the Department of Education (DepEd), and assistant secretary and undersecretary at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO). His other government stints were at the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Public-Private Partnership Center (PPP Center), Provincial Government of llocos Norte, and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Mr. Ablan concurrently serves as alternate director at the National Development Company (NDC), and the Philippine Guarantee Corporation (PHILGUARANTEE).

He is a lawyer by profession, and holds degrees from Ateneo de Manila University, the University of the Philippines, the University of Auckland, and the National Defense College of the Philippines. Kris holds the rank of CESO I and is a 2021 Presidential Career Executive Service awardee for his work in freedom of information (FOl)

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;

1. National Coordinator, Livelihood Seeding Program – Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (LSP-NSB)
2. National Coordinator, Diskwento Caravan
3. 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.