Board of Trustees

Forest Foundation Philippines is governed by a Board of Trustees, who are all united in their passion to protect and conserve our forests.

Ms. Edwina Garchitorena

Chairperson of the Board of Trustees

Ms. Edwina Garchitorena is the Director of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Oceans Philippine Program. As Director, she currently leads the Philippine team in building science capacity among fishery managers and other stakeholders. She has over two decades of experience in environmental conservation. Prior to working with EDF, she has worked with the Environmental Science for Social Change and the DENR.

Hon. Maria Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga

Vice Chairperson

Hon. Maria Antionia Yulo-Loyzaga is the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). She previously served as President of the National Resilience Council. She was a member of the United Nations International Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Science and Technology Advisory Group (STAG) and Asia Pacific Science and Technology Academia Advisory Group (APSTAAG). She, likewise, served on the Science Advisory Board of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk International Center of Excellence-Taipei (IRDR ICoE). She was also a member of the Board of Directors of the UNDRR’s Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies (ARISE) Philippines initiative.

Ms. Maria Aurora Francisco-Tolentino

Secretary and Treasurer

Ms. Maria Aurora Francisco-Tolentino is an independent consultant providing training, technical assistance, and expert advice to non-profit organizations locally and internationally. She previously served as Chief Executive of the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium. She also served as Executive Director of the Philippine Business for Social Progress until 1998, helping the Foundation earn the 1992 Award for Excellence in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management.

Mr. Dennis Joseph Salvador

Chairperson of the Programs Committee

As Executive Director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Mr. Dennis Joseph Salvador is responsible for managing the organization and its efforts to save the Philippine Eagle and the rainforest. He has been part of PEF since 1990, garnering numerous services awards, and accruing experience and skill in strategic planning, policy implementation, and program design.

Mr. Lorenzo New

Trustee

Lorenzo New, a tenured generalist, began his tour as the Environment, Science, Technology, Heath, and Energy Unit Chief at the Embassy of the United States of America in Manila, Philippines, on September 15, 2022. He served most recently as Counterterrorism Officer at the U.S. in Jakarta, Indonesia.  Previously, he served as Environment, Science, Technology and Health Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, Coordinator to the Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property in the U.S. Department of State’s Economic Bureau, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname, and Consular Officer at the American Institute in Taiwan.

Hon. Ralph Recto

Trustee

Hon. Ralph Recto currently serves as the Secretary of the Department of Finance (DOF). Previously, he held the position of representative for Batangas’ 6th district and served as the House Deputy Speaker from 2022 to 2024. Prior to these roles, he served three terms in the Senate (2001-2007, 2010-2022) and was appointed Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director General of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) in 2008. His political career began as the representative of Batangas’ 4th district from 1992 to 2001.

Mr. Thomas Kaluzny

Trustee

Mr. Thomas Kaluzny, the Deputy Director for the Environment Office, has been with USAID for 13 years serving at five overseas posts and one Washington-based assignment prior to his arrival to the Philippines. Over that time, Tom has directly managed or led teams who planned, designed, and implemented approximately $1.9 billion in USAID-funded development programming within the agriculture, environment, economic growth, health, and infrastructure sectors.

Ms. Tanya Hotchkiss

Trustee

Ms. Tanya Hotchkiss is one of the founding members of the Hotchkiss Foundation. From 2012 onwards, she served as its Executive Director and the School Administrator of the Hotchkiss Learning Center, focusing on the foundation’s island conservation program and the school’s Eco-Scouting program in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. She also served as the Fundraising Officer of the Philippine Eagle Foundation from 2003 to 2006. Ms. Hotchkiss is currently the Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Cantilan Bank, a rural bank that caters to over 100 underbanked communities in Mindanao.

Leadership

Atty. Jose Andres Canivel

Executive Director

Atty. Jose Andres “Onggie” Canivel has more than 15 years of experience in environmental advocacy and policy development. He previously served as Development Assistance Specialist of the Office of Energy and Environment of USAID Philippines and Executive Director of Environmental Legal Assistance Center (ELAC).