The Chairmen

SECRETARY RAMON M. LOPEZ

Public Sector

He started a solid professional economic, trade and industry development career in government from (1981-1993).  Presidential Management Staff (1981), the Department of Trade and Industry (1982-1989) and NEDA  (1989-1993).  He has extensive experience in  trade and industry development planning, at the forefront of the Tariff Reform Program, Industry development programs, setting up of ASEAN and APEC cooperation programs, technical studies on Countervailing Duty cases, critical consumer products’ price structures and the development of the Foreign Investment Act.  This included policy and program development, and project evaluation functions. 

This was followed by a continuous career in the business sector (1994-June 2016), with over 22 years of experience, having been a top executive of RFM Corporation wherein he covered strategic planning and business development, marketing, mergers and acquisitions and equity investors group.

Simultaneously, he has been the Executive Director of the advocacy group Go Negosyo for the past 11 years (October 2005- June 2016), initiating and implementing all its programs that empower the youth and aspiring entrepreneurs, micro and small entrepreneurs, the underprivileged sectors such as the PWDs, women and out-of-school youths. For the past 3 years, he has been co-hosting the weekly Go Negosyo radio program.  He has also been giving lectures and mentoring to tens of thousands of entrepreneurs through Go Negosyo seminars, workshops, summits, books and social media.

With this extensive amount of experience in various government agencies, private sector and non-government organizations, Lopez has gained the admiration and respect of the business, financial and investor communities in the Philippines and abroad.

 Ramon M. Lopez topped his Master in Development Economics at Williams College in Massachusetts, USA (1988) and finished his AB Economics degree at the University of the Philippines, Diliman (1981). 


 

 


 

GUILLERMO M. LUZ

Private Sector Co-Chair

Guillermo Luz is Associate Director of Ayala Corporation, the holding company of one of the  oldest and largest business groups in  the Philippines, with business activities in real  estate development,  banking and financial services, telecommunications, water, infrastructure development and management, automotive dealership and distribution, business process outsourcing, electronics, manufacturing solutions, and new investments in power, renewable  energy and infrastructure.

He was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Ayala Foundation from December 2006 to May 2011, a foundation which  manages projects in education, environment, entrepreneurship, arts and culture, and community development. He also served as Director of Ayala Museum from January 2010 to May 2011. 

He was Executive Director of the Makati Business Club, a leading business organization and think tank, from 1987 to 2006 and served on its staff since 1983. 

GML

 




Former Chair

 


 

CBB AMB. CESAR B. BAUTISTA
 Private Sector


 Amb. Bautista was the Former Ambassador Extraordinary and  Plenipotentiary to the  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of  Ireland, and Republic of Iceland. He served at the Department of Trade and Industry for five years, the last half of the time as its Secretary. He was the Chairman of several economic  agencies in the Philippines including the Board of Investments, Export Development  Council, and Industry and Development Council.

He started his career with Caltex (Philippines) Inc. as a refinery engineer. He moved on to the Philippine  Refining Company, Inc. - UNILEVER - the leading consumer goods company worldwide, where he rose from the ranks to become President and Chairman in 1986.

Amb. Bautista holds a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He also attended postgraduate management courses within the Unilever "University System", including the Chief Executive Course at IMEDE (now International Institute for Management Development).

Amb. Bautista is a recipient of the Presidential Order of Merit and was conferred the Order of Sikatuna - Rank of Datu. He has twice been named the Outstanding Chemical Engineer by the Institute of Chemical Engineers and installed into the Hall of Fame.

Upon his return to the private sector in 2003, the President appointed him co-chair of the Task Force for Globally Competitive Industries and the National Competitiveness Council. He chairs the English Speaking Union (Phil) and sits in the boards of the Institute of Corporate Directors, European IT Services Foundation, Institute of Solidarity for Asia, and other organizations.

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Served at the Department of Trade and Industry for five years, the last half of the time as its Secretary. In this capacity, he played the key role in the development of trade and investment with emphasis on Small and Medium Enterprises. He was the Chairman of a broad number of key economic agencies in the Philippines including the Board of Investments, Export Development Council, Industry and Development Council, WTO/AFTA Advisory Commission, the National Development Corporation, The Presidential Committee on National Museum Development, Cabinet Committee on Tariff and Related Matters, Economic Growth Areas/Zones, etc. He was the Monetary Board Member, representing the President and the Cabinet Man in charge of Region III. He was also named the Chairman of the Presidential Economic Monitoring and Mobilization Task Force to address the impact on Asian financial contagion in the country. Ambassador Bautista is a recipient of the Presidential Order of Merit.

He started his career with Caltex (Philippines) Inc. as a refinery engineer. He moved on to the Philippine Refining Company, Inc. - UNILEVER - the leading consumer goods company worldwide, where he rose from the ranks to become President and Chairman, in 1986. He also served as Chairman of two other companies, Biocon (Philippines) Inc. (an Irish firm on seaweed processing) and Inter Natinal Starch Corp. (affiliate of U.S. National Starch Corp).

Ambassador Bautista holds a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University in the United States and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Philippines.  He attended postgraduate management courses within the Unilever "University System" including IMEDE's Chief Executive Course.  In 1998, the University of the Philippines recognized him as the "Most Outstanding Alumnus".  In 2010 he was named one of the "Top 100 Engineers" in the course of the centennial of UP College of Engineering.  He was also awarded "The Distinguished Alumnus Award" by the Ohio State University.

The Philippine Federation of Professional Organizations recognized him as the Most Outstanding Professional in 1989. He had twice been named the Outstanding Chemical Engineer by the Institute of Chemical Engineers and installed into th eHall of Fame.

Ambassador Bautista was conferred the Order of Sikatuna - Rank of Datu - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on August 2003 in Malacanang.

Upon his return to the private sector after his UK assignment in 2003, the President appointed him co-chair of the Task Force for Globally Competitive Industries and the National Competitiveness Council. He chairs the English Speaking Union (Phil), seats in the boards of Institute of Corporate Directors, European IT Services Foundation, Institute of Solidarity for Asia, Foundation for Global Concerns, Asia-Europe Foundation, Foundation for IT in Education, Philippine Quality Award Foundation, Inc., am

Served at the Department of Trade and Industry for five years, the last half of the time as its Secretary. In this capacity, he played the key role in the development of trade and investment with emphasis on Small and Medium Enterprises. He was the Chairman of a broad number of key economic agencies in the Philippines including the Board of Investments, Export Development Council, Industry and Development Council, WTO/AFTA Advisory Commission, the National Development Corporation, The Presidential Committee on National Museum Development, Cabinet Committee on Tariff and Related Matters, Economic Growth Areas/Zones, etc. He was the Monetary Board Member, representing the President and the Cabinet Man in charge of Region III. He was also named the Chairman of the Presidential Economic Monitoring and Mobilization Task Force to address the impact on Asian financial contagion in the country. Ambassador Bautista is a recipient of the Presidential Order of Merit.

He started his career with Caltex (Philippines) Inc. as a refinery engineer. He moved on to the Philippine Refining Company, Inc. - UNILEVER - the leading consumer goods company worldwide, where he rose from the ranks to become President and Chairman, in 1986. He also served as Chairman of two other companies, Biocon (Philippines) Inc. (an Irish firm on seaweed processing) and Inter Natinal Starch Corp. (affiliate of U.S. National Starch Corp).

Ambassador Bautista holds a Master's Degree in Chemical Engineering from Ohio State University in the United States and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Philippines.  He attended postgraduate management courses within the Unilever "University System" including IMEDE's Chief Executive Course.  In 1998, the University of the Philippines recognized him as the "Most Outstanding Alumnus".  In 2010 he was named one of the "Top 100 Engineers" in the course of the centennial of UP College of Engineering.  He was also awarded "The Distinguished Alumnus Award" by the Ohio State University.

The Philippine Federation of Professional Organizations recognized him as the Most Outstanding Professional in 1989. He had twice been named the Outstanding Chemical Engineer by the Institute of Chemical Engineers and installed into th eHall of Fame.

Ambassador Bautista was conferred the Order of Sikatuna - Rank of Datu - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on August 2003 in Malacanang.

Upon his return to the private sector after his UK assignment in 2003, the President appointed him co-chair of the Task Force for Globally Competitive Industries and the National Competitiveness Council. He chairs the English Speaking Union (Phil), seats in the boards of Institute of Corporate Directors, European IT Services Foundation, Institute of Solidarity for Asia, Foundation for Global Concerns, Asia-Europe Foundation, Foundation for IT in Education, Philippine Quality Award Foundation, Inc., among others.  He represents the Philippines in the ASEAN eminent persons groups, and is the Point of Contact with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).  He is currently a board director of a number of private corporations.

AMB. Cesar B. Bautista
(private sector)

  • Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Replublic of Ireland and Republic of Iceland
  • Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO)
  • Former Special Presidential Envoy to Europe
  • Former Secretary of Trade and Industry
  • Former Chairman and CEO of Unilever Philippines

ong others.  He represents the Philippines in the ASEAN eminent persons groups, and is the Point of Contact with the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).  He is currently a board director of a number of private corporations.

AMB. Cesar B. Bautista
(private sector)

  • Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Replublic of Ireland and Republic of Iceland 
  • Former Permanent Representative to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) 
  • Former Special Presidential Envoy to Europe 
  • Former Secretary of Trade and Industry 
  • Former Chairman and CEO of Unilever Philippines