BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla began his second term as Secretary of the Department of Energy under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 27, 2022. Previously, he held the same position from 2005 to 2007 under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

With extensive experience in the energy sector, Secretary Lotilla also served as President and CEO of PSALM, overseeing the privatization of generation assets. He also held senior roles at the National Economic and Development Authority and contributed to environmental sustainability in East Asia through the GEF-UNDP PEMSEA program.

Secretary Lotilla is a graduate of the University of the Philippines, with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and History, and holds Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Michigan Law School.

Undersecretary Sales, an experienced petroleum explorationist specializing in operations geology and petroleum basin evaluation, leads key bureaus at the Department of Energy. He oversees the Resources Development Bureau (ERDB), Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), and provides advisory roles on offshore wind and geothermal energy matters. His leadership includes spearheading basin evaluations across the Philippines and Southeast Asia.

Prior to joining the Department of Energy, Undersecretary Sales served as Vice President for oil and gas exploration at Philodrill Corporation until 2022. With 19 years as a consultant at Filipinas Energy Inc., he also contributed his expertise to COMEXCO Ventures, Inc., TD Exploration Pte. Ltd., and other industry entities.

Undersecretary Sales graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science in Geology in 1980 and passed the geology board examination the following year.

Mr. Oliver B. Butalid was appointed President and CEO of the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) on July 3, 2023, after a Special Board Meeting. Previously, he held leadership positions including at the Board of Investments (BOI), Philippine Mining Development Corporation (PMDC), Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Subicwater, and the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI).

President Butalid holds a Masters of Business Economics from the University of Asia and the Pacific, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics from the University of the Philippines Diliman. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and the Institute of Solidarity in Asia (ISA).

Maria Jasmine S. Oporto earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of the Philippines College of Law.  She is a member of the Philippine Bar and the New York State Bar. She holds a Masters Certification in Compliance and Risk Management from Australia Compliance Institute and a Certification in Comparative International and American Law from the Center for American and International Law/Southwestern Legal Foundation in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.

She is an experienced Chief Legal Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary and has worked in said capacity with publicly listed companies like Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. and Aboitiz Power Corporation, among others.

She was appointed as a Director of the Philippine National Oil Company in June 2024.  Aside from PNOC, she is also an Independent Director of Cebu Landmasters, Inc. where she sits as Chairman of the Board Corporate Governance and Board Risk Management Committees. 

She is also active in volunteer works. She is a fellow at Institute for Solidarity in Asia and a Teaching Fellow at Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Philippines. She is also a member of NextGen Organization of Women Corporate Directors of the Philippines and Women’s Corporate Directors (WCD), an international organization of women directors of publicly listed companies.

Director Ma. Cristina Sheila Cabaraban assumes a crucial role on the Board of Directors of PNOC, bringing a distinguished background from the private sector. Prior to her appointment, she made valuable contributions to power project development encompassing renewable energies, emerging technologies, and conventional energy sources.

Director Cabaraban finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. She also served as the President of the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines. She earned recognition as a NUFFIC Fellow from Maastricht School of Management and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Engineering Management.

Mr. Joel R. Caminade previously served as a Director of the Land Bank of the Philippines Leasing and Finance and Corporation. He was also a former Assistant Governor and a former President of the Rotary Club of Tacloban. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Regents of Visayas State University, a Director of the Philippine Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade, Inc and also a member of the Board of Trustees of the government’s APO Production Unit Inc.

His financial acumen is essential for guiding PNOC’s strategic initiatives. His insights and expertise help ensure informed, effective decisions that support the organization’s sustainable growth and success in the energy sector.

Director Caminade finished his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of San Jose Recoletos in Cebu City.

Director John J. Arenas brings extensive public service experience in senior roles within various GOCCs. Since 2017, he has served as the President and CEO of PNOC Renewables Corporation. Previously, he held the positions of President and CEO at PNOC and served as a board member and OIC President and CEO of John Hay Management Corporation from 2007 to 2016.

Under his leadership, Director Arenas conducted energy audits for numerous local government units and implemented solar demonstration projects as part of the Government Energy Management Program. His strategic direction and collaboration with stakeholders have significantly contributed to PNOC Renewables Corporation’s growth and impact in the renewable energy sector.

He has also provided consultancy services to several organizations, including the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, PAGCOR, and the National Security Council.

Director Arenas holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from San Beda University-Manila, a degree in International Affairs from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has completed post-graduate studies at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

Director Nonong brings over 34 years of extensive experience in infrastructure development within the Philippine Government and an international development organization. His expertise spans infrastructure planning, policy formulation, project management, public-private partnerships (PPP), procurement, climate change initiatives, and local infrastructure development.

Previously, he served as Head Executive Assistant to the NEDA Secretary in 1998 and Director of the Project Monitoring Staff in 2001. In 2005, he assumed the role of Assistant Secretary at the DOE before transitioning to the World Bank, where he spent 14 years focusing on transport and energy infrastructure.

Director Nonong has played a crucial role in conducting Implementation Completion Reports (ICRs), providing comprehensive analyses of project outcomes, particularly in geothermal resource assessments and coordinating with national authorities.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the Philippines Diliman and a Master’s degree in Engineering (Transportation) from the University of California Berkeley. He placed second in the Civil Engineering licensure exam and holds career executive service (CES) eligibility.

Atty. Neil L. Nabuab has extensive knowledge and experience in corporate housekeeping, litigation, international and local commercial arbitration, toll and energy, financial technology, international and local money laundering cases, among others. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 2018 and passed the Philippine Bar Exams in 2019. He has a Certificate in Data Protection from the Center for Research & Communication of the University of Asia & the Pacific in 2024.