Advisory Committee
Abraham M Mandac
Abraham M Mandac has a long history of work in the field of agriculture, including experience in management, project design and formulation, project appraisal and monitoring and evaluation, and consultancy. He has worked with various organizations and institutions, including the United Nations International Drug Control Program, United Nations Development Program, International Rice Research Institute, and the Asian Development Bank.
Mr. Mandac has expertise in a range of agricultural areas, including farming systems, rice production, farm economic analysis, applied farming systems research, land use, agricultural extension, and post-harvest technology and biomass utilization. He has also held various roles in education and training, including teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels, developing and delivering training programs, and designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems for training programs.
Throughout his career, Mr. Mandac has demonstrated strong skills in project design and formulation, monitoring and evaluation, and working with government and project counterparts to achieve successful outcomes in the field of agriculture.
Nelson Miranda Bautista
Nelson Miranda Bautista has 40 years of experience in seed production and soil technology. He has expertise in the areas of seed production, inventory management, program development, coordination with seed net, seed companies, seed growers cooperatives, and local government units (LGUs), implementation of community seed banking, and reporting on the performance of regions with regards to high quality seed utilization.
In terms of soil technology, Mr. Bautista is skilled in soil analysis, soil pH determination, determination of soil organic matter, textural analysis, and soil fertility trials. He has also conducted lectures on the aspects of soil fertility.
Overall, Mr. Bautista has a strong background in the field of agriculture and is well-equipped to handle tasks related to seed production and soil technology.
Vicente L. Domingo
Vicente L. Domingo is an agriculturist with over 50-years experience in rural development, agriculture, and forestry. He has held various management roles in private companies and banks, including the International Rice Research Institute, ESSO Fertilizer and Chemical Co., Agro Nutrients Inc., Rohm & Haas, and the Agribusiness Development Bank.
In recent years, Mr. Domingo has developed several programs to improve the production and income of farmers and fisherfolks, including Bio-Farming Systems, Seedbanks, Foodbanks, Soilbanks, Treebanks, Greenbanks, Fishbanks, and Smart Farms. He has also established the University of the Earth to train young farmers, the River Alternative Irrigation Network and System (RAINS) to irrigate river banks, and the Volunteers for International Rural Growth Organization (VIRGO) to provide employment to unemployed Philippine agriculturists. Additionally, Mr. Domingo is involved in Bio-Energy, using gasifiers to provide electricity to remote villages and irrigate farms. He is currently serving as Chairman of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Guarantee Funds, which sources out funds to provide credit guarantees to small farmer and fisherfolk organizations.
Mr. Domingo is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, College of Agriculture, with postgraduate training in Farm and Home Development on Supervised Credit and Community Development. He has also completed postgraduate studies in Law and a Master in Business Administration. He has received several awards, including the Most Enterprising Agricultural Writer from the Philippine Association of Agriculturists and the Most Distinguished Alumni from UPLB Kappa Phi Sigma Conservation Development Society.
Mr. Domingo has also published several books and manuals and has served as a resource person and speaker for various organizations, including Sen. Gloria M. Arroyo, Rotary Clubs, Full Gospel Christian Fellowship, Capitol Christian Fellowship, and the Philippine Association of Agriculturists.
Wilfredo B Leano
Wilfredo B Leano is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. He has held various positions in the agricultural sector, including Agricultural Economics Interviewer at the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, Graduate Assistant at the Bureau of Plant Industry, Farm Technologist at the Land Authority, Agricultural Extension Officer at the Land Authority, Settlement Welfare Supervisor at the Land Authority, Senior Agricultural Project Coordinator at the Department of Agrarian Reform, and Regional Director at various regional offices of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).
In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Leano has received several scholarships, study grants, fellowships, and has participated in conferences in countries such as Egypt, England, Malaysia, Taiwan, Italy, Spain, Canada, the United States, South Korea, and Japan. He has also served as a board member and officer for various organizations, including the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, Philippine Association of Land Reform Beneficiaries, and the Philippine Association of Technologists in Agriculture.
Dr. Pilar F Fontelar
Dr. Pilar F Fontelar is an expert in interdisciplinary education with a focus on agriculture development in developing nations. They received their Doctor of Philosophy degree in this field from Texas A&M University in 1990. Their dissertation focused on the thinking abilities of “hard science experts” and “soft science experts.” They received a scholarship from the Freedom from Hunger Rotary Foundation for their studies. They also holds a Master of Agriculture degree in wildlife and fishery science, with a focus on fisheries extension and communication, from Texas A&M University.
They received a fellowship from the United States Agency for International Development for the Freshwater Fisheries Development Program. Dr. Fontelar also holds a Bachelor of Science in fisheries, with a major in inland aquaculture, from the College of Fisheries at the University of the Philippines. They has participated in an agriculture development program in Central America and has taken an educational tour to study agriculture development and international aquaculture in Honduras, the United States, Japan, China, Korea, and Thailand.
Dr. G. Arumugam
Dr. G. Arumugam is a highly qualified individual with expertise in a range of fields including agri-plantations, biotechnology, phycology, plant tissue culture, computer applications, garden design, biofertilizers, biocontrol agents, Siddha and Ayurvedic medicines, herbal science, and alternative medicines. He has received extensive training from a variety of institutions including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, the Sugarcane Breeding Institute, the Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, the International Crop Research Institute for Semi Arid and Tropics, the Indian Institute of Spice Research, the Indian Cardamom Research Institute, the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, the Indian Institute of Horticulture, the Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, the National Diary Research Institute, the National Research Centre for Oil Palm, the Kerala Agricultural University, the University of Agriculture Sciences, the Indian Institute of Science, the Institute of Microbial Technology, the Indian Institute of Technology, the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the Central Drug Research Institute, the Biotech Consortium of India, the Department of Biotechnology, the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, the Tropical Botanical Garden Research Institute, and the National Botanical Research Institute.
Jose A. Lorenzo
Professional registered Forester for fifty one (51) years, since graduating from the UP Los Banos College of forestry, until today, he has always been connected with the private sector.
Profession
Professional Registered Forester
(PRC-BOF Cert No. 000369, November 13, 1972)
Present Position
President, Woodland Domain, Inc.
President, Forest Services, Inc.
Concurrent Positions
Adviser, Philippine Wood Producers Association (on Forestry, Industrial Tree Plantation and Environment)
Forester Consultant timber and tree plantation companies
Past Chair and still a member of Board for Foresters, Professional Regulation
Dr P.Rethinam
- Senior Scientist, Central Plantation Crops Research Institute.
- Additional Director General (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), Asia Pacific Coconut
- Executive Director, Community, Jakarta Director National Oil Palm
Prof Dr. C. Surendran
- Formerly Tree Breeder and Director Forest
- College and Research Institute (1996 – 2003), Presently Distinguished Scientist Genetics and Plant Breeding
Dr K.V. Ahamed Bavappa
- Principle Scientist Plantation
- Crops FAO Consultant
- Member, Biogreen India
- Board Member Biodiversity
Prof Dr S.R.Sreerengasamy
- Principal Scientist
- Genetic Engineering
- Gene mapping & Molecular Biology
- Distinguished Scientist
- Former Director, Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Combatore.