GovMedia Summit - Philippines- March 17, 2026

Jonathan is the Acting Chief Information Officer at the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), where he leads core systems modernization and digital transformation initiatives. With over three decades of experience in IT, cybersecurity, and data privacy, he has driven efforts to strengthen GSIS’s security posture, streamline operations, and align with international standards.

Under his leadership, GSIS became the first Philippine government agency to achieve ISO 27001:2022 certification. As former Data Protection Officer, he established GSIS’s privacy program in line with the Data Privacy Act of 2012. Jonathan holds multiple certifications and has served in leadership roles at Citibank, JP Morgan Chase, KBC Bank, and CTBC Bank, combining global experience with local insight to enable innovation through emerging technologies.

David L. Almirol Jr. is the Undersecretary for E- Government of the Department of Information and Communications Technology. He is a 2021 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardee for Science, Engineering, and Technology. He was also named as the Filipino Technology Icon of the Year by Asia Pacific Luminaire Awards and earned dozens of other honors both locally and regionally in the fields of information technology.

He is a computer science graduate at the University of the Cordilleras - a systems analyst and full-stack programmer. He has over 15 years of solid system development and integration experience. A champion of e-government platforms and ease-of-doing- business solutions.

Police Colonel Alexander Arcas Lorenzo is licensed Electronics Communications Engineer currently designated as the Chief of the Cybersecurity Unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group. He is a highly accomplished PNP officer with a strong background in cybersecurity, transnational crime, and crisis management. Throughout his distinguished service, including his roles as Chief of Staff at the DILG Office of the Undersecretary for Peace and Order and City Director of the Zamboanga City Police Office, he has led critical initiatives in crime prevention, public safety, and high-stakes crisis operations.

Police Colonel Lorenzo is presently pursuing a Master in Cybersecurity at the Asian Institute of Management. He also holds advanced degrees in public safety and professional studies, complemented by international training in hostage negotiation and human trafficking investigations. His exemplary service has earned him numerous awards, and he is widely recognized for his strategic insight, operational excellence, and unwavering dedication to national security.

Dr. Marcelino Q. Villafuerte II is Deputy Administrator for Research and Development of the DOST-PAGASA. Prior to his current post, he was Assistant Weather Services Chief and Career Scientist I at the same agency, and was the head of Impact Assessment and Applications Section (IAAS) of the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division of PAGASA. He obtained his Master of Science in Atmospheric Science degree from Ateneo de Manila University and subsequently, his doctorate degree specializing in Climatology from Tokyo Metropolitan University. He led a number of research projects aiming to improve the climate services in the Philippines, which included the development of an online platform for near-real time monitoring of extreme rainfall, sub-seasonal prediction of tropical cyclones, development of high-resolution historical climate data, and provision of multi-decadal climate projections, among others. His research interests include the application of science, technology and innovation in further improving our forecasting capability on weather, climate, and hydrological events, as well as translating meteorological data into a more actionable and accessible disaster risk reduction-related information.    

Mimrah Mahmood is the Vice President of Enterprise for Asia Pacific at Meltwater, bringing over 20 years of experience in digital media and intelligence. He works closely with government agencies and large public-sector organisations to develop robust frameworks for communications, policy impact, and reputation reporting. As a trusted advisor to complex, multi-stakeholder institutions across APAC, Mimrah provides strategic guidance on data-driven decision-making, media and social intelligence, and issue monitoring to support transparency, public engagement, and informed policy outcomes.

Dr. Franz A. de Leon is the Director of the Advanced Science and Technology Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-ASTI) and concurrently a Professor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman (UP Diliman). He assumed the position as Director of DOST-ASTI on 15 April 2021.

Dr. de Leon attained his BS Electronics and Communications Engineering and MS Electrical Engineering at UP Diliman in 2003 and 2005, respectively. He later obtained his PhD in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton at United Kingdom in 2014. His research interests include digital signal processing (DSP) for audio and communications, music information retrieval, audio engineering, and adaptive filters and linear arrays.

Dr. de Leon has over 18 years of teaching experience in his alma mater, UP Diliman, under the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute where he teaches Signals and Systems, Digital Signal Processing, Digital Audio Signal Processing, among other things. Dr. de Leon has received a number of accolades as a faculty researcher and has led various R&D projects from DOST and UP Diliman. He was a visiting researcher at the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, and a Research Fellow at the Kyushu Institute of Technology in Japan.

Dr. de Leon served as Interim Chair of the Asia Open RAN Academy from 29 June 2022 to 24 April 2023.

Mayor Joy Belmonte is the first elected woman Mayor of Quezon City, the largest city in Meto Manila. She champions the protection of women, children, and the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as climate action and inclusive economic empowerment.

Under her leadership, Quezon City has earned over 500 local and international awards, including five consecutive unmodified opinions from the Commission on Audit, five straight Seals of Good Local Governance, four consecutive Most Competitive City recognitions from the Department of Trade and Industry, and multiple Most Business-Friendly City awards from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry. City programs such as iRISE-UP, GrowQC, and QC Birth Registration Online have also
been honored in the Galing Pook Awards.

Mayor Belmonte was awarded the Gawad Lingkod Bayan ng Pangulo, the country’s highest distinction for public servants who have contributed to community empowerment and governance reforms. She serves as National Chairperson of the League of Cities of the Philippines, Acting Executive Vice President of Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, and is a convenor of Mayors for Good Governance.

She has received major accolades for environmental sustainability, human rights, and gender inclusivity—including being named a Resilience Champion by the National Resilience Council, a United Nations Environment Programme Champion of the Earth, and one of Forbes’ 50 Sustainability Leaders in 2024. She was also awarded the Commission on Human Rights’ Gawad Tanggol Karapatan and the Equality Champ Award by the Philippine Financial Inter-Industry Pride. She espouses servant leadership, participatory governance, and data-driven decision-making.

With nearly three decades of experience across diverse domains, including strategy management, business transformation, financial management, and leadership, she has established herself as a trailblazer in driving organizational growth and excellence.

Currently serving as the Undersecretary and Executive Director of the Public-Private Partnerships Center of the Philippines, Ms. Blanco-Latorre has also held key leadership roles in prominent organizations such as Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and AIA Philippines.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Ms. Blanco-Latorre is a dedicated educator, sharing her knowledge as a professor at Asia Pacific College and Enderun Colleges, and actively contributing to various professional and community organizations.

She is a lifelong learner and a distinguished alumna of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Usec. Blanco-Latorre graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and earned her Master of Business Administration through the Regis Program at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business. She also holds professional certifications from the Fellow Life Management Institute and has completed advanced leadership programs at Stanford Graduate School of Business, including the Standford LEAD Program, where she was recently recognized as a Distinguished Scholar.

Mr. Bently Roxas is currently the Director IV of Knowledge Management and Information Technology and the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of the Department of Health. He is a distinguished Technology and Cybersecurity expert and an EduTech specialist with a career marked by Academic Excellence and Industry Leadership. Director Roxas has served as a consultant for prestigious organizations such as the World Education Congress Based in India and the National Security Council of the Philippines.

His numerous Awards include the Favorite IT Executive of the Year at the 18th People's Choice Awards in Singapore, Cybersecurity Global Excellence Award at 20th Annual Cybersecurity Awards in Malaysia and Excellence in ELearning and One of the Fabulous EduTech Leader at World Education Congress in India.

Robert S. Paguia, JD, MPM is presently connected with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), an attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), where he serves as the Chief of the International Cooperation on Cybercrime Division (ICCD) and the designated Data Protection Officer (DPO). As the ICCD Chief and the designated DPO, he reports directly to the Director of the Cybercrime Policy, Plans and Coordination Office (CPPCO).

He is a Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCT) having completed, passed and issued a Certificate of Achievement dated 20 June 2024 with Certificate Number 337670.

Colonel Francel, a distinguished alumna of the Philippine Military Academy's "Sanghaya" Class of 2000, serves as a commissioned officer in the Philippine Army's Signal Corps. With a career spanning 29 years, she has excelled in technology-driven roles, contributing to security, research, teaching, operations, and administration.

She has held diverse positions, including VVIP protection as a member of the Presidential Security Group and critical roles during the COVID-19 pandemic as Information Systems Officer for the Task Force and Head Executive Assistant to the Chief Implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19.

She also commanded the 7th Signal Battalion in Northern Luzon, overseeing Command, Control, Communications, and Cyber (C4) systems, driving modernization, and implementing innovative strategies in her area of operations.

Colonel Francel's exceptional achievements have earned her international acclaim. She was recently a TEDx Speaker highlighting her advocay on the revolutionary “Cyber for Peace Initiative”…

  In 2023, she was named Global Cybersecurity Woman Leader of the Year, chosen from various nominees across 62 countries. She is among the Top 30 Women in Security in ASEAN in 2021 and one of the Top 10 Women in Cyber Security in the Philippines in 2020. She has been recognized by international entities as an Epic Woman in Cyber and Wonder Woman in Tech. She was featured in the International Cyber News magazine during Cybersecurity Month 2023—the first Filipino honored in its pages.

She was also appointed as the Responsible AI Governor of the Philippines by the Global Council for Responsible AI.

As the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ first-ever female Spokesperson in the AFP’s 89 years of existence, Colonel Francel balances her roles as a Certified Ethical Hacker, Certified Secure Computer User, an international lecturer, and a staunch advocate for Women, Peace, and Security. She is a mentor, gender and development (GAD) trainer, a development practitioner, judoka, a pistol expert, and devoted mother of two wonderful sons.

A trailblazer in both military and cybersecurity fields, Colonel Francel exemplifies resilience, innovation, and leadership, inspiring many through her dedication and advocacy.

Hero Singun is a seasoned IT professional with a Bachelor of Science and Master's degree in Information Technology. He brings five years of private practice as a web developer and digital marketing specialist, honing skills in crafting robust digital solutions for diverse clients. Currently, he serves as Chief of the Information Systems Management Division under the Information and Communications Technology Service at the National Bureau of Investigation. Previously, as Section Chief of the Information Systems Development Section at the Bureau of Immigration, he led in-house system development, driving efficiency and innovation in public sector IT infrastructure.

Ms. Arlene A. Romasanta is an ICT Leader and Manager with more than 27 years of experience in the field of ICT. Among her expertise are ICT Governance, Management & Leadership, Digital Transformation, Data Governance, Project Management, Systems & Infrastructure Development, Business, Process and Systems Analysis, Strategic Planning, Research and Development, Productivity & Quality Management & Assessment, Internal Audit and Knowledge Management.

She represents the Philippines in various leadership and technical sessions local and international. Earned additional post graduate degrees from the Netherlands, Singapore, Korea and Australia, all in the field of ICT ranging from project management, CIO course, AI and Blockchain, Digital Transformation, Enterprise Architecture and Data Management.

She received local and international awards and recognitions for the projects that she managed and for her exemplary performance in the job. Her most recent awards include the Cyber Woman of the Year 2024, Top Filipino on Linkedin for Inspiration and Learning 2023 & 24 and a Global Champion and Philippine Winner of the South East Asia Legend CIO at the World CIO 200 Summit as one of the CIOs who pushed for digital transformation for operational efficiency, contributory to lessening the carbon footprints, which leads her to be the Philippine Ambassador for the World CIO 200 Summit 2023 to 2025 under the Global CIO Forum. Has been regarded as a respected ICT Expert for serving as technical resource person, adviser, consultant and Subject Ma[er Expert (SME) in various organizations such as government, academe, and industry in the areas of digital transformation, data governance, data analy?cs and others. She can be trusted as someone with integrity, who can deliver, has the genuine concern and pure intent for public service and the capacity to leverage ICT for growth and development. Driven by the passion to serve God and contribute positive changes for the good of many.

Currently, she is serving as the IT Director and Chief Informa?on Officer (CIO) in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Knowledge and Information Systems Service (KISS) and a former Chief/Informa?on Technology Officer in the Data Warehouse and Analytics Division (DWAD), Management Informa?on Systems Service (MISS) of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). She is now the President of the CIO Forum Philippines and the Global CIO Forum Philippine Chapter. Her experience and leadership throughout the years evolved in the implementation of digital transformation programs through identification, development and implementation of critical and/or strategic information systems and applications, development of standards and policies, database and infrastructure, training and development, stakeholder engagement and collaboration, technologies and innovation. Newly appointed President and Board of Trustee in the CIOF and President of the Global CIO Forum Philippines Chapter.