Powering the Future: Accelerating Grid Modernization for Energy Security and Sustainable Development

Nazrin Camille Castro is the manager of the Philippine branch of The Climate Reality Project. Having worked for almost a decade in the development sector, Nazca has gained political and technical expertise on climate policy development and advised key government officials to help shape and advance the country’s climate agenda, specifically in strengthening climate finance access, youth and stakeholder engagement, and climate advocacy-building, nationally and regionally. She led the organization of the 2016 CVF Leadership Events that launched the 2016 Low Carbon Monitor Report, one of the first reports on keeping the 1.5ºC goal of global warming as well as the 13 panel sessions of the 2018 Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) Virtual Summit, the first high-level online dialogue with heads of state. She also engaged in collaborative researches on Sustainable Insurance Facility (SIF) and climate risk insurance for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sectors of Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines. She earned her degree in Political Science at De La Salle University, where she was an academic scholar. She does yoga and helps out in the family’s events designing services.

Assistant Secretary, National Renewable Energy Program, Department of Energy (DOE)

Ronald Holmes obtained his Bachelor of Arts in History-Political Science at De La Salle University-Manila. Since 1985, he has been with DLSU’s Department of Political Science. Armed with exemplary leadership skills, Holmes jumpstarted the different programs in the department while serving as its chairperson from 1990-1996.
I am a guardian of democracy. I am La Salle.
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Through the years, he has served different roles as a Lasallian administrator, becoming Executive Director of the De La Salle University System in 1999, Executive Vice President of the College of Saint Benilde from 2000-2004, Executive Vice President of De La Salle Santiago Zobel from 1999-2000 and 2004-2008, and Director for Institutional Planning, Research and Advocacy Office of De La Salle University from 2009-2011.

Mr. Holmes’ heart for service has not been limited to the academe. His heart is big enough and brave enough to embrace the whole country, also serving as co-chair of the Technical Working Group on Faculty and Staff Development Grants of the Commission on Higher Education from 2015-2017; Acting Executive Director of the Philippine Social Science Council from 2011-2013; Chair for the Technical Panel for the Social Sciences and Communications of the Commission on Higher Education from 2012-2013; and Chair for the Committee on Political Science Technical Panel for the Humanities, Social Sciences and Communications of the Commission on Higher Education from 1995-2011.

His biggest role for the country, which he took on starting 2008, is serving as President of Pulse Asia Research, Inc., a private, non-stock and non-profit research organization that conducts social science research projects. Most of the people who work in this organization are educators from top universities in the Philippines. It is the most well-known organization when it comes to election surveys. Its regular national survey, Ulat ng Bayan (Report of the Public), publicly assesses the performance of the country’s top agencies and key national officials. Leading this organization exposes him to death threats during the election season, but this does not hinder him from serving his country and fellowmen.

Prof. Victor Andres “Dindo” C. Manhit is the Founder and Managing Director of the Stratbase Group and President of its policy think-tank, Albert del Rosario Institute for Strategic and International Studies or the ADRi. Stratbase is a full service advisory and research consultancy group, specializing in building the relationship of corporate clients with the various sectors of Philippine society to promote their specific interests and address their corporate concerns.

For more than a decade, Prof. Manhit and the Stratbase team have been developing innovative and disruptive political and legislative strategies that position clients for success. A well-regarded strategist, he has built winning public affairs campaigns integrating message development, public relations, and the mobilization of grassroots support. With his extensive experience, he helps clients understand the interplay between business and government, and the impact of legislative, regulatory, and electoral outcomes on their business strategies. He also provides top-level strategic analysis and thought leadership on global issues in the Philippines.

Elsewhere, he was Philippine Country Manager for BrooksBowerAsia and now Managing Director of the renowned BowerGroupAsia (BGA), whose unmatched expertise and experience had helped clients develop strategic expansion initiatives in the Asia Pacific Region.

A former Chair and recently retired Associate Professor of the Political Science Department of De La Salle University, Prof. Manhit was also a Senior Fellow of the Jesse M. Robredo Institute of Governance (JMRIG) in the same institution. He has authored numerous commentaries and papers on geopolitical issues, governance and political reforms. Today he regularly contributes articles and columns to leading newspapers Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business World.

Atty. Pedro “Pete” H. Maniego Jr. is a Fellow and Trustee of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), and Chairman of ICD’s Fellows Committee and Strategy Execution Pathway (StEP) Committee. Currently, he is the Senior Policy Advisor of ICSC, Energy Advisor of the Climate Change Commission, Chairman of the Energy Lawyers Association of the Philippines, and consultant to several energy firms. As Chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board from September 2010 to June 2016, he spearheaded the implementation of the various mechanisms under the Renewable Energy Act leading to the installation of new renewable energy plants of around 2,000 MW. He was Co-Champion of the Power and Energy Working Group of the National Competitiveness Council from 2017 to 18, Chairman of the UP Engineering and Research Foundation from 2015 to 17, and Trustee of the Judicial Reform Initiative from 2017 to 19. At present, he serves as director of Armscor Global Defense Inc., RASLAG Corp., Chairman of Secure Arms Guns and Ammo Inc., Of Counsel of Dime & Eviota Law, Adviser to UPERDFI, and lecturer at the Ateneo School of Government, UP Law Center and ICD.

Majah-Leah V. Ravago is Associate Professor at the Department of Economics at the Ateneo de Manila U. She was the Program Director of the 2014-18 USAID grant – Energy Policy and Development Program. In 2016, she was awarded the Outstanding Young Scientist in the field of Economics by the National Academy of Science and Technology. She earned her BS in Business Econ. and MA in Econ. from the U of the Philippines and her PhD in Economics from the U of Hawai‘i in 2012 as East-West Center Fellow.