Professional Profile
Present Work
SENIOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
National Economic and Development Authority
2020 – present
Assigned in the Policy Formulation and Planning Division, Ray specifically handles infrastructure development policies and plans encompassing transportation, water supply, sanitation, and energy. He also handles secretariat work for the Regional (Subnational) Land Use Committee. Among his contributions included the digitalization of procedures in reviewing physical plans of provinces and highly-urbanized cities.
Ray also initiated the localized institutionalization of road safety data collection in Western Visayas through the creation of an inter-agency group to foster coordination and to ensure evidence-based policymaking and investment programming.
With a long experience in graphic design since his college days, he also designs the layout of several reports and produces data visualization materials assigned to him.
TV Appearances
Work Experience
Road Safety and Planning Engineer
Department of Public Works and Highways
2015 – 2020
Ray began his career in civil engineering in the DPWH Regional Office VI Planning and Design Division. Among his assignments included road inventory, asset management, feasibility study, and road safety.
The impactful projects Ray has contributed in included the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project, the Iloilo North Bank Road (now known as the Iloilo Sunset Boulevard), and the Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway. He also provided technical assistance in the provision of road safety features in existing and proposed projects of the DPWH in Western Visayas.
Collaborating with other agencies has also made Ray in demand with other government institutions. He has been a supportive partner of the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development in their road safety initiatives. He also facilitated capacity development in highway safety design with local government units as well as those conducted by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Regional Office VI.
Moderator (Technical Adviser)
University of San Agustin Publications
2016 – 2017
Despite having no formal degree in journalism, Ray has extensive experience in journalism during his college days and holds the title of longest-serving editor-in-chief of the University of San Agustin Publications since its foundation in 1928. During his college days as editor, his flexible skill in writing as well as designing the publications have earned the organization several titles of Best Newspaper and Best Magazine in both the subnational and national levels. In fact, he was also named as one of the Ten Outstanding Campus Journalists in the National Campus Press Awards in 2012 organized by the University of St. La Salle and also the IWAG Award, a regional award for exemplary student writers. After becoming a licensed civil engineer, he was appointed as moderator of the same organization and held the term for one year. With that, he broke record as the first engineer to earn such position.
Several agencies and offices including the Philippine Information Agency have tapped Ray into various capacity building activities up to date. He serves as resource person or trainer in online writing, photojournalism, and publication design which has a wide array of trainees ranging from students to government and private sector personnel.
Junior Instructor
University of San Agustin – College of Technology
2015 – 2017
In the beginning of his career, Ray went on part-time teaching at the University of San Agustin while also studying his Master of Engineering degree at Western Institute of Technology in Iloilo City. He was also a full-time engineer at the Department of Public Works and Highways that time.
With a lot of energy and enthusiasm, he handled project study, engineering mechanics and structural theory for both the civil engineering and architecture students. While teaching, he was also assigned to oversee The Tech Record, the official publication of the college from 2015 to 2016. Eventually, he was appointed moderator of the University of San Agustin Publications in 2016.
Memberships
Supported Campaign
Latest from my Blog
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We only have one life to spread so thinly and to find its true meaning. So here are some things I want to say to my younger self at 30.
Should I Get a Credit Card Part 2: The Disadvantages
There are a lot of points to consider in having a credit card that you can only find in the boring terms and conditions that we more often forget to read or take for granted.
Ilonggo Engineer 