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Hon. Cynthia Villar (recorded)
Senator at Senate of the PhilippinesCynthia Aguilar Villar earned her degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of the Philippines, which recognized her as the 2017 UPAA Most Distinguished Alumna. She completed her Masters in Business Administration at the New York University.
She chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, and the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources since 2013 until now. Besides pursuing and enacting relevant laws, she also led numerous initiatives to empower farmers, among which is the establishment of TESDA-accredited farm schools, which have so far reached over 2,367 all over the country.
Hon. Agnes Miranda (recorded)
Assistant Secretary-designate for Planning and Project Dev’t and Director for Planning and Monitoring Service, CESO III of Department of Agriculture
Hon. Benjamin Madrigal Jr.
Administrator at Philippine Coconut AuthorityBenjamin Rasgo Madrigal Jr. is the incumbent Administrator and Member of the Philippine Coconut Authority Board. He took office on January 27, 2020. Since, he has actively and proactively worked on various initiatives such as the reinvigoration of the coconut industry in Northern Luzon and conduct of regional industry stakeholders’ fora as a localized avenue for various coconut industry stakeholders to convene and discuss challenges, issues, opportunities, and areas for growth and development of the local coconut industry. Further, he is working closely with the Department of Agriculture in ensuring that the Authority’s initiatives and programs are aligned with the DA’s Eight (8) Paradigms to level up Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Coconut Authority (DA-PCA) has embarked on a transformation journey to become a more efficient and credible organization that is responsive and proactive to the needs and issues confronting the coconut industry.
He also is a retired military General, who assumed the highest position in the Armed Forces of the Philippines as the 51st Chief of Staff, AFP for almost ten (10) months prior to his compulsory retirement from the military service. General Madrigal retired from the active military service on September 28, 2019 after having served more than thirty-eight years of highly meritorious and dedicated service.
Dr. Glenn Gregorio
Center Director of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO-SEARCA)Glenn B. Gregorio is a professor at the Institute of Crop Science, College of Agriculture and Food science UPLB and currently the Center Director of Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEAMEO-SEARCA). Recently appointed as Chairman Technical Panel for Agriculture by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), and steering committee member of the Philippines Department of Agriculture Biotechnology program.
His career was developed at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) as Plant Breeder and Sr. Scientist of IRRI’s Plant Breeding Genetics and Biotechnology Division. He worked on rice breeding and genetics for tolerance to abiotic stresses and research management. He had a 3-year experience as crop breeding manager in a private Seed Company. He is a agri-entreprenuer as co-Founder of Binhi Inc, an agri-research startup company on micropropagation and seed business.
He published more than 120 scientific journals, Book Chapter, Policy papers and manuals. His numerous awards include the following: Ten Outstanding Youth Scientists of the Philippines (TOYS) during his high school time; Outstanding Young Scientist (OYS) in the field of Genetics; Honorary Foreign Scientist of the Rural Development Administration of Korea; The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Philippines; Ho Chi Minh Medal award for “Having Great Contribution to the cause of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam”; Crop Science Achievement Awards in Crop Research, R&D Management, and honorary fellow in various years.
Dr. Gregorio was also conferred the rank of Academician by the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST)-Philippines. Recently recognized as 2020 UPLB College of Agriculture and FoodScience Distinguished Alumnus for Rice Genetics and Breedingand 2021 Filipino Faces of Biotechnology. He is one of the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit champions.
Jesus "Jun" Ralota III
Founder of Happy FarmerJun is the founder of Happy Farmer established in 2014. He is currently advocating for the establishment of MAC or Mindanao Agriculture Center with the support of E. Zobel Foundation. It is the vision of Happy Farmer to increase new generation of farmers by making farming cool, just, and profitable. With MAC, local healthy food will be accessible, available, and affordable. The MAC facility is designed to be holistic and sustainable and can be replicated in other parts of the country.
Happy Farmer was a semi-finalist for BPI Sinag in 2018.
When not working , he is a part-time Vinyl DJ playing 80s and 90s music. Both Jun and his wife Vida are Judo blackbelts who have competed in local and international tournaments.
They reside in Davao City with their 11 cats.
Jun strongly believes in….Happy Wife, Happy Life.