JOSEFINA V. ALMEDA, Ph.D. is the agency head and Executive Director III, of the Philippine Statistical Research and Training Institute. She spearheads the capacity building of all government agencies involved in data collection, processing, management, visualization, and analysis. She also manages the statistical research of the agency that addresses the attainment of programs and plans of the Philippine Development Plan and of the Sustainable Development Goals. 

The agency achieved ISO 9001:2015 Quality Certification under her administration. She contributed to the development and review of the training modules on Gender Statistics under UN Women and UNSIAP and the curriculum review of Economic Statistics with UNESCAP. She likewise was tapped to serve as resource person in the Training of Trainers of Government Officials of Asia and the Pacific Countries under UNESCAP. 

Prior to being the agency head of the PSRTI, Dr. Almeda is Associate Professor 5 of the UP School of Statistics Diliman, where she also held numerous positions such as College Secretary and Director of the Undergraduate Studies program. She is a technical consultant for statistical projects of several international and local organizations. Professor Almeda is a recipient of numerous awards and grants from the Philippine Statistical Association, Fajardo Foundation, Department of Science and Technology, and the University of the Philippines. She received the “2009 President’s Award for Innovation in Teaching” for enriching learning through evidence-based instruction from the University of the Philippines. She has been involved in local and international fora and conferences in statistics where she was a paper presenter, discussant, and main facilitator. 

Professor Almeda holds a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in Research and Evaluation from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She finished her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Statistics at the same university. She assumed the Directorship of the PSRTI in August 2017 and completed her initial term in June 2022. Following reappointment in November 2022, she remains at the helm of the PSRTI while on secondment from the UP School of Statistics, Diliman.

Nicolle Agravante is a driven 21-year old student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Statistics at Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City. An achiever, she graduated as the valedictorian both in elementary at Hindang Central School and in high school at VSU Integrated High School. In addition to her academic success, Nicolle isa dedicated student leader, currently serving as the president of the VSU Statistical Society, and is a DOST-SEI Scholar.

Beyond statistics, Nicole enjoys activities that allow her to unwind and explore her interests. These include spending time in scenic places, reading novels, playing mobile games, jogging, dancing, and playing badminton. A strong believer in self-discipline, her personal motto is “Working at my own pace but with discipline.” She finds balance in being kind to herself during tough time, embracing imperfection, and always thanking God for the guidance and blessings in her life.

Janine A. Ando is a BS Statistics student at Cebu Technological University (CTU) – Main Campus with a strong foundation in leadership, research, and data analytics. She currently serves as President of the Mathematics and Statistics Students Society and holds a position on the Board of Directors of the Arts and Sciences Student Council. In addition, Janine is an active member of the Royal Statistical Society and serves as a research assistant at CTU, where she collaborates on various research projects.

Her research interests are reflected in her work on projects such as a factor analysis on the interest of senior high school students in IT careers and studies on ecological and consumer behavior topics. Janine has been awarded for her academic and extracurricular achievements, including placements in copyreading, life sciences, and survey-making competitions. She is a CHED Estatistikolar Scholar and holds certifications in data analysis and AI essentials.

With a skill set that spans SPSS, Microsoft Excel, and advanced data-driven decision-making, Janine is committed to advancing her expertise in statistics and contributing to meaningful research in her field.

Mr. Nikkin L. Beronilla is currently employed with the Philippine Statistics Authority as the head of the Statistical Methodology Unit. Previously, he worked in the National Anti-Poverty Commission initially as the head of a research unit, and later as the Board Secretary.

Before working in the government, he worked in various fields but mainly on research. He worked as a plant breeder for sweet and hot pepper in East-West Seeds Inc. He also worked as a director for research in the Institute for Popular Democracy, a policy advocacy NGO, and as a portfolio analyst focused on mid-cap stocks in Emerging Alpha Asia Research Inc.

He finished Master of Arts in Economics and Master of Statistics in the University of the Philippines more than a decade ago. Along the way, he co-authored several researches and three of which were published in peer reviewed journals. Being a part-time agriculturist, he spends a small plot of land on weekends, but sometimes, he spends time working on data driven research.

Mr. Jaser John Dago-oc is a faculty member in the Statistics Cluster of the Division of Physical Sciences and Mathematics (DPSM) at the University of the Philippines Visayas. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Statistics from the same institution in 2022. Currently, he serves as the adviser of the University of the Philippines Visayas Statistical Society.

Mr. Nicko Angelo E. Esperanza is a Senior Statistical Specialist of the Price Statistics Division of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with a minor in Statistics from the Southern Luzon State University.

In his role as a Senior Statistical Specialist, Mr. Esperanza is responsible for editing and validating price reports submitted by the field offices. These reports are derived from the results of the retail price survey of commodities, for the generation of consumer price index. His responsibilities include ensuring the completeness, consistency and reasonableness of the data. Also, he is responsible for the generation of the average farmgate prices of palay from the results of the farm prices survey for palay.

Ms. Minerva Eloisa P. Esquivias is the Assistant National Statistician and the Officer-in-Charge, Deputy National Statistician of the Censuses and Technical Coordination Office at the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). She oversees census operations and technical coordination, ensuring high-quality statistical data. She actively participates in local and international technical expert groups, focusing on standards, classification systems, population, social statistics, and official statistics. She holds a bachelor’s degree in statistics and a master’s degree in public management, combining technical and managerial expertise in her role.

Adolben L. Malabago, Jr. is a dedicated student of Mathematics at Cebu Technological University (CTU) in Cebu City, where he is actively involved in both academic and leadership roles. As a DOST-SEI S&T Undergraduate Scholar, Adolben has demonstrated a passion for mathematics and statistics, highlighted by his achievements, including championing the 26th Philippine Statistics Quiz in the provincial and regional levels and placing third nationally in 2022.

Beyond academics, Adolben holds various leadership positions, such as General Secretary of the DOST Scholars' Association in Region 7 and Associate Editor-in-Chief of The Nation Builder, CTU’s official student publication. His skills span a range of digital tools, from Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite to programming in Python and C. With interests in mathematics, statistics, music, and creative writing, Adolben is committed to both his studies and contributing positively to his university community and beyond.

Rhys Jason V. Manapat serves as a Project Development Officer III in the Social Protection Use Cases Division of the PhilSys Registry Office. With a strong background in project management and a focus on social protection initiatives, Rhys plays a critical role in advancing the integration and application of social protection systems within the PhilSys framework.

In his position, Rhys is responsible for developing and managing projects that aim to enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of social protection programs for citizens, leveraging PhilSys's national identification system. Known for his strategic planning skills and attention to detail, he has successfully contributed to various projects that promote inclusive access to government services.

Rhys’s commitment to social equity is evident in his dedication to ensuring that the PhilSys system supports individuals and families in need. His collaborative nature and problem-solving approach make him a valued team member in his division.

Dr. Norberto Espejo Milla, Jr. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Statistics at Visayas State University (VSU) in Baybay City, Leyte, where he has served since 2016. He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (2011), an MS in Statistics from the University of the Philippines-Diliman (2001), and a BS in Statistics, cum laude, from Visayas State College of Agriculture (now VSU) (1997).

Dr. Milla has an extensive teaching portfolio, including courses such as Mathematical Statistics, Time Series Analysis, Bayesian Statistics, and Regression Analysis. His professional contributions are equally notable, as he has frequently served as a resource person and evaluator at various statistical workshops, training sessions, and research reviews across the Philippines.

His research interests include machine learning, statistics education, linear and nonlinear models, and Bayesian statistics. Dr. Milla is proficient in several statistical software platforms, including R, SAS, and JASP, which he utilizes in both his research and his teaching. He is a published author in journals like Acta Medica Philippina and Annals of Tropical Research, where his studies span topics from healthcare-related stigma to the socioeconomic impacts of government programs.

Dr. Milla’s commitment to statistics extends beyond academia, as he actively participates in initiatives that promote statistical capacity-building across various sectors in the Philippines.

Rianne Aybil U. Penaredondo is currently a Project Development Officer II in the PhilSys Registry Office-PhilSys Advocacy Unit of the Philippine Statistics Authority since 2021. Her previous experience included being a Project Manager II in the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

She is currently pursuing graduate school for Masters in Public Administration in the Central Colleges of the Philippines. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communication from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

She earned a Harvard University Certification for Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking through their online learning initiative and course in 2020 and is experienced in the field of communication working as an Executive Secretary cum Publication Specialist in a non-government organization.

Ruby Fe J. Rubio is a graduate of the Bachelor of Library and Information Science program at Bulacan State University and has been a licensed librarian for six years at the Philippine Statistics Authority. She is currently pursuing a Master of Library and Information Science at La Consolacion University of the Philippines. Her work experience focuses on library management, and in August 2023, she presented the Digital Library System as one of the innovations of the PSA.

Engr. Royden Hisoler Rusiana is an Electronics Engineer with a career spanning over 27 years in government service, currently serving as the Cebu Provincial Officer for the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Engr. Rusiana is a graduate of the Cebu Institute of Technology - University with a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Communications Engineering (1996). He has held several notable positions, including Regional Cyber Security Focal and RA Officer for the Philippine National Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI).

In addition, he is the President of the Philippine Institute of Cyber Security Professionals (PICSPro), Cebu Chapter, and has served as a focal person for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management from 2012 to 2021. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was a member of the Regional IATF for crisis response. Engr. Rusiana also led the TV White Space Pilot Project (2012-2015) to provide free WiFi in underserved areas of Bohol, a project deployed during the 2013 Bohol earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda.

Engr. Rusiana has undergone extensive cybersecurity training, including the ASEAN-Japan Cybersecurity Capacity Building Centre in Bangkok, CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) certification, and specialized training in Cybersecurity for Industrial Control Systems from the US Department of Homeland Security. He is a certified expert in various fields of cybersecurity, encompassing incident response, digital forensics, and information security management. His dedication to public service and cybersecurity infrastructure has made a significant impact on digital government and telecommunications across the Visayas region.